The offense, led by a quarterback, aims to advance the ball down the field by running or passing it to teammates. The defense, meanwhile, employs various tactics to stop them, including tackling the ball carrier or intercepting passes.

Scoring occurs through touchdowns, where a player carries or catches the ball into the end zone, or field goals, where a team kicks the ball through the opponent’s goalposts. The team with the most points after four quarters wins the game.