How to Use line of scrimmage in a Sentence

line of scrimmage

noun phrase
  • It’s been around for quite a while, and that play takes the line of scrimmage out of it.
    Brian Wacker, Baltimore Sun, 26 Mar. 2024
  • Gordon then burst through the line of scrimmage for 19 yards, the biggest run of the day.
    Miami Herald, 16 Aug. 2025
  • The starters on both sides of the line of scrimmage have shown improvement.
    Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 4 Aug. 2025
  • The Vikings will only have to look across the line of scrimmage to see how far a castoff can take them.
    Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News, 17 Oct. 2024
  • During his six seasons with the Ravens, Clark lined up in the box to stop the run at the line of scrimmage.
    Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 4 June 2024
  • Quarterback Bo Nix was steady, but the Ducks won the game at the line of scrimmage (on both sides of the ball).
    Jon Wilner | , oregonlive, 10 Sep. 2023
  • The 331-pounder stones runners in their tracks and breaks up passes at the line of scrimmage.
    Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 28 Apr. 2025
  • Archie Manning was the quarterback and called all the plays at the line of scrimmage.
    Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 17 Oct. 2023
  • The Browns will crowd the line of scrimmage with 10 guys and play tight man coverage.
    Lance Reisland, cleveland, 30 Aug. 2023
  • Moody’s first attempt against the Packers was blocked at the line of scrimmage.
    Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 21 Jan. 2024
  • As the screen wiped to a shot of the teams facing off at the line of scrimmage, the game clock on NBC’s airwaves showed 10:56 left in the game.
    Jody Rosen, New York Times, 2 Dec. 2023
  • Smith explained later that the idea was to get James closer to the line of scrimmage.
    Jeff Miller, Los Angeles Times, 24 Dec. 2023
  • The Beavers make plays behind the line of scrimmage, with 17 tackles for loss and six sacks through two games.
    Ndaschel, oregonlive, 15 Sep. 2023
  • Their most glaring concern has to be the battle at the line of scrimmage.
    Evan Merrill, The Enquirer, 2 Sep. 2023
  • On third-and-2 from the 12, Reed caught a pass around the line of scrimmage and used a downfield block from Dontayvion Wicks to reach the end zone.
    Steve Megargee, Chicago Tribune, 29 Nov. 2024
  • Adams and staff would wonder, watching Bo Nix stroll to the line of scrimmage and scrap the system.
    Luca Evans, Denver Post, 30 May 2025
  • Look up, and there’s the safety creeping toward the line of scrimmage.
    Matt Barrows, Sacramento Bee, 30 Jan. 2024
  • What about when a penalty moves the line of scrimmage, as happened with the Lions?
    Ben Blatt Francesca Paris, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2024
  • The Chargers showed a blitz look, with seven players at the line of scrimmage.
    Daniel Popper, The Athletic, 2 Dec. 2024
  • Prescott was checking about 70 percent of the plays at the line of scrimmage last season.
    David Moore, Dallas News, 28 Mar. 2023
  • On the other side of the line of scrimmage, the defenses are stacked and loaded with ways to stop the football.
    Chris Hays, Orlando Sentinel, 19 Dec. 2024
  • Tart surged through the line of scrimmage and squared up Hampton just after the exchange.
    Daniel Popper, New York Times, 25 July 2025
  • There’s going to be a commitment to us owning the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball.
    David Ammenheuser, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Apr. 2025
  • Nix did not complete a pass beyond the line of scrimmage throughout the first half.
    Ryan McFadden, The Denver Post, 29 Sep. 2024
  • But almost everything for the 49ers starts near the line of scrimmage.
    Rainer Sabin, Detroit Free Press, 25 Jan. 2024
  • The offensive line is making more calls at the line of scrimmage.
    Sportsday Staff, Dallas News, 13 Sep. 2023
  • Stevenson gains yards and Henderson has been getting stuffed at the line of scrimmage.
    Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 21 Jan. 2026
  • The Hurricanes’ offensive line has to own the line of scrimmage, so my eyes will be on them.
    Andrew Greif, NBC news, 19 Jan. 2026
  • Deone Walker picks off Bo near the line of scrimmage.
    Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 17 Jan. 2026
  • Shakir’s heavy usage behind and near the line of scrimmage often serves as an extension of the running game.
    Josh Shepardson, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'line of scrimmage.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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