NFL Decoded, Learn the NFL from zero

Plain explainers of how the game actually works: the rules, the stats, the teams, and why any of it matters.

Start with the stats

Latest Decoded Blogs

What Does a Wide Receiver Do? The Art of Getting Open

November 7, 2026

Puka Nacua drew 24 targets in one game. A receiver’s real skill is getting open; the catches everyone counts come after that is already done.

NFL Week 8: Tampa Bay barely threw the ball, and won anyway

November 3, 2026

Tampa Bay beat Atlanta 16-0 without a single completed pass. The full NFL Week 8 results, plus what a block in the back actually requires.

Raiders Week 8: A kickoff return did what the run game couldn’t

November 3, 2026

A 95-yard kickoff return ended a four-game losing streak. The run game that caused the streak is exactly where it was in October.

NFL Rivalries

NFL’s oldest & most-played rivalry

How the rivalry flipped

The Cowboys 1970’s power decade

How one resignation called it

Why this one is always so close

Football 101, guides, stats and the big one.

Super Bowl Homepage banner/ header image. American flag background

Super Bowl Decoded

Every winner, the records, and how to watch it wherever you are, including the time-zone maths for Europe.

Hw Football is played Homepage banner/ header image. Game play icons on black background.

Football Decoded

Want to get to the bones of the game? Start with breakdowns on offense, defense, special teams, and who actually calls the plays.

How NFL Works Homepage banner/ header image. Purple and black square background.

How the NFL Works Decoded

Start here. The season, the playoffs, the two conferences, and how the whole thing fits together from zero.

NFL Rules Homepage banner/ header image. Referee jersey pattern background.

NFL Rules Decoded

Scoring, positions, penalties and overtime, each explained plainly with every term defined the first time it appears.

NFL Stats Homepage banner/ header image. blue and black striped background

NFL Stats Decoded

Passer rating, QBR, sacks, point differential. What the numbers actually measure, and when they mislead.

NFL Teams Homepage banner/ header image. White text, black border and team colours vertical stripes.

NFL Teams Decoded

All 32 clubs ranked by championships, the rivalries you’d inherit, and how to pick a team if you’re starting out.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Gridiron Decoded?
A site that explains the NFL to people who were never taught it. Plain explainers of the rules, the stats, the teams and how the season works, with every term defined the first time it comes up. I write it all myself, and I assume you know nothing about the sport.
What does gridiron mean?
Gridiron is a nickname for American football, taken from the look of the field. When the game was young the pitch was marked out in a grid of lines, which resembled a gridiron, the metal grate you cook over an open fire. The name stuck even after the markings changed.
Do I need to know anything about American football to read this site?
No. That’s the entire point. Every page assumes you’re starting from zero, and anything that sounds like jargon gets explained on the spot. If you’ve only ever watched five minutes of a game and had no idea what was happening, you’re exactly who I’m writing for.
Who writes Gridiron Decoded, and how does it stay free?
I’m Alison, and I write every page here. I’m a sports marketer, and what pulled me to the NFL was how deeply its fans know the game. The site stays free through sponsored placements, which are always clearly labelled, with every paid link marked as sponsored.

Still have more questions?

Email me at partners@gridirondecoded.com .

Sponsorship enquiries are welcome, and I’ll consider genuine guest editorials, interviews or insight-driven content if it comes from someone who actually works at the company and has something useful to say to a reader learning the NFL.