Canadian and American football have a lot of shared history and similarities, yet there are significant differences as well. A prevalent misconception is that the CFL is inferior in quality and that any NFL player could easily excel there. This is far from the truth.
Chad Johnson experienced this firsthand when he played for the Montreal Alouettes in the CFL. He was impressed by how talented the CFL’s defensive backs were, mentioning many could easily play in the NFL. While the NFL is the biggest league, the CFL has some amazing players too. So, what sets apart football in the U.S. and Canada? Let us find out right after you play at a casino online.
Breaking Down CFL History
Canadian football originated in 1861, much like rugby. The game embraced contemporary rules in 1880, thanks to Walter Camp at the U.S. College Football Rules Conference. Camp implemented significant alterations to football. This involved altering the method of ball snapping, introducing a new scoring system, and even maintaining 11 players on each team. As football grew in popularity in the early 1900s, it led to the establishment of the legendary and spectacular NFL in 1920.
By then, Canadian football began adopting rules similar to American football.
Key dates in Canadian football:
- 1861: First documented game played
- 1869: Hamilton Football Club (later the Tiger-Cats) founded
- 1891: Canadian Rugby Union formed
- 1909: Grey Cup was established after Albert Grey, Governor General of Canada, donated the trophy
- 1958: The Canadian Football League (CFL) was established, adopting the Grey Cup as its championship
The Creation of the NFL
In 1960, a newly formed football league known as the AFL started to rival the NFL. This new league transformed how football is played in the present day. The inaugural Super Bowl took place in 1967 and was named the AFL-NFL World Championship Game. The AFL and NFL competed against each other, but they combined into a single league with two conferences prior to the 1970 season.
CFL’s Expansion to the US
The CFL briefly expanded into the U.S., aiming to boost its finances. While the league had always been Canadian, financial troubles in the 1990s led to the decision to explore the American market. The expansion was brief, but it added a fun chapter to CFL history.
How Are They Different?
With the history out of the way, let us talk about the key differences in the game itself.
The first thing fans might notice in a CFL game is the difference in downs. Unlike American football’s four downs, Canadian football only has three. With fewer downs, first-down plays aim to gain more yards than in the NFL or NCAA.
Canadian football’s three downs make it common to go for it on third and short. While the NFL has started using analytics to go for it on fourth down more often, the CFL has always done this. Many Canadian teams even have a quarterback just for short-yardage plays on third down or near the goal line.
The CFL has always emphasized the importance of passing because teams have fewer plays to work with. Recently, the NFL has also become more focused on passing.
The Number of Players in a Game
In the 1800s, Walter Camp cut the number of players to 11. Canadian football keeps 12 players per team, probably because its field is wider. In the CFL, the extra player is usually a slot receiver since the tight end is rarely used. Sometimes, an extra lineman may join the passing game.
When it comes to defense, the NFL typically uses two safeties, while the CFL prefers one safety and two halfbacks.
What is a Rouge?
When you’re watching a Canadian football match and a team earns a single point from a kickoff, punt, or unsuccessful field goal, it is referred to as a rouge.
A rouge is given when:
- The ball is dead in a team’s goal area, or
- The ball touches or crosses the deadline or sideline in the goal area and hits the ground or a player beyond these lines.
This rule means a game can be won from a missed field goal or punt that goes through the end zone. It can end up leading to some surprising finishes, like the 2010 game between Montreal and Toronto.
In American football, points are scored as follows: a touchdown is worth six points, a field goal is worth three, and a safety is worth two. These scoring methods are the same in Canadian football.
Field Size
When watching a Canadian football game, you’ll see the field is bigger than in American football. The Canadian field is longer and wider, with longer end zones. The goalposts are also placed at the front of the end zones, so if the ball hits the posts, the play is stopped.
The ongoing debate over which league is harder to score in comes down to a few key points. In the CFL, teams have to travel a longer distance and have fewer downs to score. In contrast, it is much tougher to find open space on an American field.
Miscellaneous Differences To Keep in Mind
CFL teams have two timeouts per game, while NFL teams have three per half. In the CFL, returners do not get fair catches and need a five-yard buffer to catch the ball. The CFL has a three-minute warning, not a two-minute one. The clock stops after each play in the last three minutes of a game, like in college games. CFL overtime rules are like NCAA rules, with teams taking turns with the ball.
In the CFL, if a ball is fumbled out of bounds, the last team to touch it keeps possession. The NFL requires clear possession to be established. On top of that, the CFL’s Grey Cup Championship is 58 years older than the Super Bowl.
No matter which league you prefer, the key is to enjoy football. The CFL and NFL have unique features and challenges, but each offers super exciting games.
Leave a Reply