Guide · controls & strategy

How to play the NFL 2-minute drill game

The 4th Call puts you on the sideline for the end of a close game. You get the score, the clock, the timeouts and 22 players with real NFL rosters. Call every play, manage the clock, and win it. Every call is graded against every option you had.

Play today's gamePractice any spot

• Controls
• Calling plays
• The clock
• Defense
• Grades & score
• Modes
• How to run a 2-minute drill
• FAQ

Controls

Calling plays on offense

The playbook has 27 calls in five tabs: Run, Short pass, Deep pass, RPO (run-pass option) and Trick. Each card shows the play drawn on the field, its formation (Shotgun, Gun Trips, I-Form, Pistol…) and how risky it is. Field goals, punts and kneel-downs appear when they matter, and on fourth down they sit right at the top.

• Runs: pick the strong side (toward the tight end, an extra blocker) or the weak side (fewer blockers, fewer defenders).
• Passes: choose the receiver and his route on the field, then add a signal: Play action (fake the handoff), Roll out (move the pocket, fewer sacks) or Sideline (get out of bounds after the catch to stop the clock).
• Read the defense: before each snap you get a pre-snap read of what the defense is showing. It's right about 7 times in 10.

Managing the clock

When the clock is running between plays, you also choose how fast to get to the next snap. The tempo starts on the usual choice, so you can snap in one tap:

Or stop it: Timeout (you have up to three), Spike (stops the clock, costs a down) or Kneel when you lead. Near the end, Run it down lets the clock run to 0:03 and then calls timeout for a last kick.

Calling the defense

When they have the ball you pick from 19 defensive plays in four tabs, Madden style:

Every defense stops something and gives something up; none is best against everything. You also decide when to burn your timeouts to save clock for your own drive.

How calls are graded

Before the result is shown, the game plays out the rest of the game thousands of times for every option you had, and compares your call's win chance with the best one. A good call that fails still counts as good, and a bad call that works still counts as bad.

• Great call: the best call, or within 0.75 points of win chance
• Close: within 2.5 points
• Costly: within 6 points
• Big miss: more than 6 points off

Your Performance score (0–100) is 55% Decisions (how much win chance you gave up over the game) and 45% Result (a win scores 75–100, a loss 0–25, higher inside its band the harder the spot). The Daily score goes on the leaderboard.

Game modes

How to run a two-minute drill

The two-minute drill is the hurry-up offense at the end of a half: move the ball fast while saving the clock. The same principles win in the game.

1. Know what stops the clock

• An incomplete pass stops it until the next snap.
• A runner or receiver out of bounds stops it. In the NFL it stays stopped in the last two minutes of the first half and the last five of the game; in the game, inside the final two minutes.
• The two-minute warning stops it once, at 2:00.
• A timeout or a spike. A spike costs a down; a timeout doesn't.
• A completed pass or run that stays in bounds keeps it running. In the NFL a first down does not stop the clock.

2. Use the sideline and the middle differently

Outs, comebacks and the Sideline signal get the ball out of bounds and stop the clock, for fewer yards. Digs and crossers over the middle gain more but keep the clock running, so pair them with a timeout, a spike or a no-huddle snap.

3. Save timeouts for the end

A timeout is worth most when the clock is running late in the drive, or to set up a field goal. Spiking early saves a timeout but burns a down you may need on third or fourth.

4. Play for field-goal range when a field goal wins or ties

Down by three or tied, you don't need the end zone. Get into range, run the clock down, and kick with as little time left for the other team as you can.

5. On defense, don't play soft too early

Prevent stops the deep ball but gives up easy yards underneath and lets them work the clock. Mix coverage with pressure, and keep your timeouts if you might get the ball back.

FAQ