NFL Strategy

About this board game

NFL Strategy is a two-player football game with an approximately 150-minute play time, first released in 1970. It focuses on selecting and executing plays rather than relying on team statistics.

Each player secretly chooses a play card. The offense selects from its available offensive plays, while the defense chooses a defensive play. One special teams card is also included. The defensive card is placed on top of the offensive card, creating a set of possible results visible through clearly marked “windows.”

To determine which outcome applies, roll two six-sided dice and add the results together. The total identifies the window the players consult, revealing the result of the play. This creates a structured resolution system in which the hidden choices are tested by the dice roll.

Field position also matters during resolution. The result takes into account whether the ball is located on the left hash mark, the right hash mark, or the center of the field.

• Secretly selected offensive and defensive plays
• Defensive cards with visible outcome windows
• Two-six-sided-dice resolution system
• Results affected by the ball’s position on the field
• One special teams card included

Earlier editions of NFL Strategy used a spring-loaded bead instead of dice. Players flipped the bead to determine which window to examine, giving those versions a different method for revealing the result.

With its concealed choices, play cards, and window-based outcomes, NFL Strategy presents football as a contest of calling plays and carrying them through the game’s resolution system.