The goal of the offense is, most generally, to score points. To accomplish this goal, coaches and players plan and execute plays based on a variety of factors: The players involved, the opponent's defensive strategy, the amount of time remaining before halftime or the end of the game, and the number of points needed to win the game.

When it comes to selecting a play, coaches and quarterbacks consider various factors. They analyze the defensive formation, identify potential weaknesses, and devise a plan to exploit them. The offensive play calling is often categorized into three broad types: run plays, pass plays, and trick plays.

Scoring is done by the team on offense. Their objective is to get the ball to the end zone of their opponent. This is done by either running or passing the ball down the field. The team on offense has four downs to move the ball 10 yards forward. A down is basically an attempt to move the ball forward.