TWO MINUTE DRILL · THE PLAYBOOK
Football timeout strategy: 17 seconds left
Stop the running clock before planning another play. You trail 20–21 at their 28, already in field-goal range, with one timeout and 17 seconds left.
Should you use the timeout or try to gain more yards?
A timeout followed by the 45-yard kick wins this fixed drill, 23–21, with 12 seconds left. A sideline pass after a 15-second huddle gains seven yards but leaves no time for a kick.
Play this situation →SAME START · TWO PLANS
Compare the calls, one step at a time
Stop the clock, then kick
- Time left
- 0:17
- You–Opponent
- 20–21
- Down
- 3rd & 5
- Ball
- Their 28
Same start. Compare the calls.
Use the timeout to keep the down and remove the preparation cost. The ball is already in range.
Stop the clock, then kick
Use the timeout to keep the down and remove the preparation cost. The ball is already in range.
| Call | Setup + play | Left | Ball | Down | Clock | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start | — | 0:17 | Their 28 | 3rd & 5 | Running | 20–21 |
| 1. Timeout | 0s | 0:17 | Their 28 | 3rd & 5 | Stopped | 20–21 |
| 2. Field goalHurry | 0s + 5s | 0:12 | Their 28 | Drive finished | Stopped | 23–21 |
Drive won: 45-yard field goal. Good. Three points put you ahead. This single-drive challenge ends with the kick.
Huddle before an extra pass
Take a 15-second setup, then throw a six-second sideline pass. The gain cannot preserve a kick after time expires.
| Call | Setup + play | Left | Ball | Down | Clock | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start | — | 0:17 | Their 28 | 3rd & 5 | Running | 20–21 |
| 1. Sideline passHuddle | 15s + 6s | 0:00 | Their 21 | Drive finished | Stopped | 20–21 |
Drive lost: The play ended. So did the clock. The play finished, but no time remained for another snap. You needed to reach the winning score on this one.
What should you take into the next drive?
Plan the scoring play before choosing extra yardage. Stopping the clock creates time; a catch that reaches the boundary after zero cannot create another snap.
Is a timeout the only winning choice?
No. A direct kick with Hurry also wins here: five seconds to get set plus five for the kick leaves seven seconds. This comparison shows what the timeout preserves, rather than claiming every running clock requires one.
Why not spike the ball?
A spike is legal here on third down and costs two seconds plus a down in this game. It leaves fourth down and 15 seconds for the kick. With a timeout available, you can stop the clock without spending that down. Never assume the same spike is safe on fourth down.
Does thinking about the choice use time?
No. Thinking time is free in this game. Only a submitted action advances the model clock. The slow plan loses time because Huddle charges 15 seconds while the clock is running, not because you took time to read.
How does this compare with real football?
These are original teaching situations with fixed results, not plays from a real match. The official 2026 NFL rulebook, Rule 4, covers timing and timeouts; Rule 8 covers the legal immediate spike. Real plays, preparation times, catches and kicks are uncertain. This game uses five-, 15- and 35-second preparation, a two-second spike, guaranteed kicks of 52 yards or less and an automatic extra point. A score ends the single drive. Read the full game rules.
Try the 38-second no-timeout comparison, explore all eight football practice drills, or make your own calls from this start.