When Does the Clock Stop in NFL Games?

Many NFL fans are curious about when the game clock actually stops during play. Here’s a quick rundown of the NFL’s clock rules to help you understand when the game clock stops and starts.

Introduction

In the National Football League (NFL), the clock rules are different than in other levels of football. The NFL plays two halves of 15 minutes each, with a 12-minute intermission between halves. There is also a two-minute warning at the end of each half. After the two-minute warning, if the trailing team has the ball, the clock will stop when:
-The ball goes out of bounds.
-A first down is gained (the clock will start again when the ball is handed off on the next play).
-A penalty is called.

If the leading team has the ball, the clock will stop when:
-The ball goes out of bounds.
-A first down is gained (the clock will start again when the ball is handed off on the next play).
-A penalty is called.

In addition, if neither team scores during the final two minutes of either half, or if either team scores to tie the game during the final two minutes of either half, then the game will go into overtime. During overtime, each team gets one possession to score, and there are no timeouts. If neither team scores, or if both teams score field goals on their respective possessions, then the game ends in a tie.

The Official Rules

In the NFL, the clock usually stops during the following situations: when a player goes out of bounds, when a penalty is called, or when a play is reviewed by instant replay. However, there are a few other circumstances when the clock might stop, as well. Let’s take a look at the official rules governing the clock in NFL games.

Starting and Stopping the Clock

The clock starts when the ball is snapped on both offensive and defensive plays, with a few notable exceptions. If the quarterback is in the shotgun formation (more than seven yards from the center), the clock doesn’t start until he touches the ball. If he hands off or pitches to a runner behind him, the clock starts when the runner touches the ball. And if he throws an incomplete forward pass, the clock doesn’t start until either an eligible receiver touches it, or it goes out of bounds.

The clock also stops under certain circumstances:
-It stops immediately after each play, until the next snap
-After a first down is awarded and the officials set the next down marker
-When a penalty is called
-When a timeout is called
-When a change of possession occurs
-When a player goes out of bounds
The game clock might also stop for other reasons that are announced by the referee, such as injuries or emergencies.

The Two-Minute Warning

The two-minute warning is a notification given to the players, coaches, officials, and television viewers when two minutes remain on the game clock in each half of an American football game. After the two-minute warning has been called, no further out-of-bounds stops the clock.

The two-minute warning does not stop the clock if the team with the ball commits a foul that would normally cause the clock to stop. However, if the team with the ball causes the game clock to run out (such as by committing a false start or delay of game foul), then possession is awarded to their opponent at the spot of the foul, and there is no two-minute warning on that play.

Common misconceptions

It is a common misconception that the play clock in the NFL stops when the quarterback is sacked. In reality, the play clock continues to run even when the quarterback is sacked, and it is reset to 40 seconds only when the ball is declared dead by the officials.

The Clock Never Stops

One of the most common misconceptions about NFL games is that the clock never stops. This is not true! The clock actually does stop in NFL games, but only under certain circumstances.

Here are some of the things that can cause the clock to stop in an NFL game:
-An incomplete pass (out of bounds, dropped, etc.)
-A penalty
-A change of possession
-A timeout
-The two-minute warning

The Clock Stops on Incomplete Passes

A common misconception is that the clock stops on every incomplete pass in football, but that’s not necessarily the case. Incomplete passes do stop the clock in some situations, but not all.

Here’s when the clock stops on incomplete passes:
-When the receiver is out of bounds
-When a forward pass hits the ground
-When there is a change of possession
-After a sack

Conclusion

The clock generally stops during the following situations in NFL games:

-When a player goes out of bounds
-After a change of possession (e.g., when the ball is intercepted)
-After a penalty is called
-When a quarterback throws an incomplete pass (this is known as the “two-minute warning”)
-During an official’s review of a play