Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

If you have a question you would like answered (be it strategy cards, Playgrid, etc.) please contact me and I will post the question and answer on this page! Note that rules/strategy answers will come straight from WotC.

Any answers to rulings posted on this page came directly from Wizards of the Coast.

Can I play Burst Of Speed after any kickoff or punt (even if the chart/strat card states "no return")?
Yes.

Offense plays Long Routes before swiping plays, and for one reason or another the play has to be redone (Fingertips, for example). Before the redo, can the defense play any cards (i.e. Aggressive Coverage), or do you just go through all the swipes again and play any cards after?
Basically the swiping sequence starts all over again; so, before swiping plays again the defensive coach may play a strategy card followed by the offensive coach.

If I recover a fumble on the opponents 30, can Runback be played, then Quick Return?
Yes, that is totally legal.

If "chance for turnover" come up on the PlayGrid and the opponent plays Force Fumble. Could I play Tuck The Ball In (on a run) or Air It Out (on a pass) to send the turnover further downfield? Would this be legal?
Yes, that would be a legal play.

Can cards such as Big Play, Spin Move or Great Block be used with Back And Forth, or are these cards not to be used for special teams?
No. Those cards (and thos similar) cannot be used with Back And Forth on special teams.

Aggressive Coverage reads "Defense strategy card that reads "Until the end of this drive, strategy cards can't add yards to passing results (but otherwise work), and on each chance for a penalty, your team commits illegal use of hands (a 5-yard penalty and an automatic first down)." Does the penalty stipulation apply only to pass plays or to runs as well?
Just to passing.

Can you use Coverage Sack after a Great Block or after the PlayGrid indicates "sack--5 yard loss?"
Yes.

Force Of Will reads "if you swipe a running back this down, double the result (even if it's a loss), and turnover cards can't be played this down." If my running back wasn't asked to be swiped, can turnover cards still be played?
Yes. Turnover cards can be played in this instance. (Originally ruled that Force Of Will prevented turnover cards from being played regardless of player swiped; new revised ruling states otherwise.)

Blind-Side Rush reads "If you swipe a linebacker this down, double the result if it's a loss and your opponent's key player leaves the game for 2 downs." If the LB was not swiped, does the opponent's key player still leave the game for 2 downs?
No.

If I have QB Akili Smith as my kick returner can he also fill the role as a backup quarterback if my #1 quarterback is injured?
Yes. A spcial teams player can play during special teams play or as an injury substitution.
This ruling came from the NFL Showdown instruction booklet, not from WotC Customer Support.

When a "chance for injury" appears on the PlayGird, can either offense or defense play injury cards?
Yes.

How do injuries work? What happens to my WR#2 and backup WR (if any) if my WR#1 is out due to injury?
If your WR#1 is injured and if you have a backup WR, that backup fills in for WR#1 for the duration stated on the injury card. If your WR#1 is injured, the PlayGrid calls for your WR#1 and you have no backup, you must use the missing player button.
Thanks to Oddball, Talenn, Bad Moon and Jake for their input and assistance on this question.

How do the "sort by" cards work (Timing Pattern, Power Back, Spy, etc.)?
These cards have you swipe the player with the better attribute that is asked on the card (i.e. speed on Timing Pattern).
Thanks to Talenn for the info.

The strategy cards from the 1st And Goal expansion are used "before swiping plays" (Support The Weak Side, Aggressive Coverage, etc.). Are these cards played before or after plays are called?
The sequence of play is as follows: Plays are called, strategy cards can then be played before plays are revealed and swiped. Players are called, and strategy cards that let you manipulate which player is being called are played. The result is obtained, and then players alternate playing strat cards (defense first) until both players pass at which time you calculate the overall result of the play.
Thanks to Talenn for the info.

How long does Trick Plays stay in play? What happens if I force a turnover and become offense?
Trick Plays is discarded. Trick Plays is played like this: It can stay in play as long as you have cards in your hand to discard to it (you may opt to discard itself to discontinue using it). As your opponent swipes their #2 player, you have the option of either (1) discarding a card from your hand or (2) discarding Trick Plays. If you do not have any cards in hand to discard, you MUST discard Trick Plays. Basically, you keep Trick Plays out as long as you want as long as you have cards in hand to discard to it.
If you have Trick Plays out, and you recover a turnover (be it Blown Route, Force Fumble, etc), you cannot contunue to keep Trick Plays in play; it must be discarded.
Thanks to Oddball, KJtheMAN and Syrinx for help with this question.

When my opponent plays Trick Plays and the Playgrid asks for my quarterback, must I hit the "missing player" button?
Yes. I am awaiting word on what happens if the offense has a backup QB.

Do you need to spend the points to have a kick returner (KR)?
Yes. It is not madatory, however, to purchase a kick returner. If you want one, the extra points must be spent (half points paid).

To play Back And Forth do you have to purchase a special teams player or can it be any active player (not on the bench)?
You must have a special teams player (half points paid) in order to use the Back And Forth card.
Thanks to Ga73Dogs for the info.

Does the use of Aggressive Coverage prevent Air It Out, Thread The Needle and other cards which change the result of the play from a 0 yard gain to a positive yard gain?
Yes, that is exactly what it does.
Thanks to Curt A. for this info.

The strategy cards Long Routes, In Motion and Force Of Will which could double the result of the play. Is the play doubled after the Playgrid result or after other strategy cards are played?
Apply the results of these cards AFTER all other results and cards have been applied. Cards like Afterburners would automatically be doubled along with the rest of the result.
Thanks to Curt A., Ga73Dogs and Oddball for this info.

If the offense plays Long Routes prior to the play, the pass is complete and the defense plays Deep Coverage, does the Long Routes resolve before the Deep Coverage since it was played earlier in the play?
Apply the effects of cards like Long Routes after everything else.
Thanks to Curt A. for the submission.

Does just playing Facemask penalty card offset another penalty or do you need to make the roll first?
You need to make the roll for Facemask to count.
Thanks to Curt A. for the submission.

What are the stats for a "missing player" (if I use the missing player button)?
The stats for the missing player is straight 10's.
Thanks once again to Ga73Dogs for the clarification.

I play Force Of Will and my running back is swiped; the PlayGrid, however, comes up with no gain. I use Tuck The Ball In for a 15 yard gain. Would it be doubled to 30?
Yes.

Say the above situation was done, but my opponent plays Stuff. Will the Force Of Will still be in effect for the redo?
No. The play is redone from scratch (Force Of Will only affects the initial swipethrough; it will not affect a redo).
I do not agree with this ruling. Ga73Dogs received a different answer when he asked this same question, and it is one I am partial to for this reason: The card specifically states "If you swipe a running back this down..." which means the card would be in effect for the whole play/down. My two cents.

My opponent has Trick Plays in play and has just played Support The Weak Side to guarantee a "chance for turnover." I call an inside run and play Clear The Middle. Since I do not have a center and my opponent does not have a nose tackle, can the opponent still play Force Fumble although our key players could not be swiped?
A Force Fumble could not be played in this instance. You use the stat of what is used (card or missing player button), not what is swiped. The stat for the missing player button is 10; therefore, if both coaches use the missing player button, Force Fumble could not be played as the defense does not have power advantage.

If a "chance for turnover" appears on the Playgrid, can I play Quick Return?
Not by itself, no. You must first play a card that allows you to recover a fumble or intercept a pass.
As an added note, this card can be played if the ball is recovered on or inside the opponent's 25 yard line.

My opponent kicked off to me and I get the ball at my own 5 yard line. I play Back And Forth and end up losing five yards, putting me in the endzone. What is the result of this play?
The result would be a touchback (your ball at your 20 yard line).

My foils will not swipe through the 2002 (old) PlayGrid.
Solution: Using another card behind your foil, bend both cards back as you swipe. Doing this will make your foil card brush as close as possible to the reader. I have a team that uses three foils and each swipe on the first try with this technique. I even managed to get my stubborn Marshall Faulk foily to swipe with this technique.
Click here for more PlayGrid tips.

When playing strategy cards, what is the timing for card actions? (i.e. A pass is called and results in a 0 yard gain. Defense plays Coverage Sack and offense plays Thread The Needle. What is the end result of this play?)
Really, there is no "timing". You apply the cards immediately after being played. If the defense plays Coverage Sack then the offense couldn't play Thread The Needle because the play is a loss and Thread The Needle can't be played on a loss.
Thanks to Ron Schmidt for this submission.

How many strategy cards may a player use during any single play?
An example...running back gains 5 yards, uses Second Effort for 10 more yards and then Big Play (with 6 discards) for 45 total yards gained; totally legal.
Thanks again to Ron Schmidt for the info.

My opponent just intercepted a pass with Blown Route. Could I use Fingertips to redo the play and negate the turnover?
Yes.

My opponent just penalized my team; could I use Fingertips to redo the play and negate the penalty?
Yes.

Do I need any other cards in hand to play Work The Clock?
No. The card reads "each coach with any cards in his or her hands chooses and discards 2 of them--1 if he or she only has 1."

When exactly do I play the card Clear The Middle? Do I play it before or after I swipe my player?
The card is played before you swipe your player.
Note: This ruling only pertains to the 2002 PlayGrid. Since the timing of which players are swiped changed with the 2003 PlayGrid, Clear The Middle is now useless.

I just lost yards on a play, and I use Great Block to reduce the yards lost to zero. Could I then play Thread The Needle or Air It Out to gain yards?
No. Thread the Needle and Air It Out state "even on a GAIN of zero yards..."; Great Block "reduces a LOSS to zero yards."

My opponent just interepted a pass with Blown Route. My key player's power is higher than my opponent's key player. May I use Force Fumble to get the ball back?
No. Originally, WotC stated that Force Fumble could be played in such an instance. However, Wizards was contacted (12/6/01) and their guru stated that this should not be the case. Current ruling is...a Force Fumble CONNOT be played after a Blown Route is played and recover the ball after the result.
Oddball and Jim was kind enough to get the skinny on this question (many thanks).

My opponent just interepted a pass with Blown Route in the endzone. My key player's power is higher than my opponent's key player. May I use Force Fumble to get the ball back and score a touchdown?
No; see above question.

Do I have to show my opponent the exact play I ran?
Originally, no (from WotC Support); tournament rules, yes. It is important in certain instances to show which play it was, especially if someone played Clear The Middle (contingent on Inside Run), Blown Route (result is determined if pass was short or long), Deep Blitz (if defense play had Blitz in the name), etc.
Thanks to Ga73Dogs for bringing this to my attention.

Any comments, suggestions, etc, please let me know.