What is play action?

Play action is a football strategy in which the quarterback fakes a handoff to the running back before throwing the ball. The purpose of play action is to confuse the defense and create openings for receivers to catch the ball downfield. The fake handoff often draws defenders towards the line of scrimmage, leaving the secondary defense vulnerable to deep passes. Play action is typically employed in situations where the offense wants to gain big yardage quickly, such as on third-and-long or when the team is trailing late in the game. However, it can also be used effectively to set up shorter passes and runs by keeping the defense off balance. Successful play action requires a strong running game and a quarterback who can sell the fake effectively.