Canadian and American football share a lot of history and similarities, but there are also important differences. A common myth is that the CFL is of lower quality and any NFL player could very easily dominate there. Now, clearly, this is nothing like the truth.

In fact, Chad Johnson experienced this firsthand when he played for the Montreal Alouettes in the CFL. He was really 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 read this Casinochan review.

Breaking Down CFL History

Canadian football started in 1861, similar to rugby. The game adopted modern rules in 1880, thanks to Walter Camp at the U.S. College Football rules convention. Camp made some major changes to football. This included changing how the ball was snapped, adding a new point system, and even having 11 players per team. And when football became more popular in the early 1900s, it brought us the creation of the iconic and epic 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 established after Albert Grey, Governor General of Canada, donates the trophy
• 1958: Canadian Football League (CFL) established, adopting the Grey Cup as its championship

The Creation of the NFL

In 1960, a new football league called the AFL began competing with the NFL. This new league changed the way football is played today. The very first Super Bowl was in 1967 and was called the AFL-NFL World Championship Game. The AFL and NFL were rivals, but they merged into one league with two conferences before 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. Every now and then, 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?

If you are watching a Canadian football game and a team scores a single point from a kickoff, punt, or missed field goal, that is called a rouge.

A rouge is given when:

• The ball is dead in a team’s own goal area, or
• The ball touches or crosses the dead line 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. In the last three minutes of a game, the clock stops after each play, 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. Both the CFL and NFL have their unique features and challenges, but they each offer super exciting games.