Pass – either a “Forward Pass” or “Lateral”

Pass Defender – a defensive player, usually a “Defensive Back” though sometimes a “Linebacker” or even “Lineman” in charge of “Covering” “Receivers”

Pass Interference – unfairly obstructing a player’s ability to catch the ball; defensive pass interference results in the ball being spotted at the location of the foul with an automatic first down; offensive pass interference is a 10 yard penalty

Pass Pattern – the route run by a “Receiver” in a pass play

Pass Protection – a blocking plan arranged for the offensive line to protect the “Quarterback” during passing plays, usually differs from “Run Protection” in that the focus is more about keeping defenders from getting into the “Back Field” than opening holes by pushing defenders backward
 
Pass Route – See “Pass Pattern”

Pass Rush – defensive players attempting to break through the “Offensive Line” to try and sack the “Quarterback” before he can throw the ball

Passing Game – the team’s ability to successfully pass the ball

Penalty – the consequences of committing a “Foul”

Personal Foul – a 15 yard penalty resulting from an illegal maneuver that endangers another player’s health and unnecessarily risks causing bodily harm, such as a “Late Hit” or “Unnecessary Roughness”

Pick – when two “Receivers” cross and one bumps the other’s covering defender to delay him, or an “Interception”
Pick Off – See “Interception”

Pigskin – a slang term for the football, even though it’s made from leather

Piling On – a 15 yard penalty called for jumping on a “Ball Carrier” after he’s already been tackled

Pitch – the “Quarterback” laterals the ball to a running back in motion 

Pitch Out – See “Pitch”

Placekick – either a “Kickoff” “Field Goal” or “Extra Point” so called because they’re kicked from a stationary position

Place Kicker – oddly enough, the player in charge of “Placekicks”

Play -- an offensive or defensive plan for a “Down” of football 
 
Play-Action Pass – when the “Quarterback” fakes a “Hand-off” to a “Running Back” before a pass play to deceive the defense

Playbook – a collection of “Plays” drawn up and collected, usually in a notebook

Play Clock – the clock that measures the amount of time a team has between plays

Playmaker – a player who is well known for making successful plays

Playoffs – the system of determining the championship team through an eliminating tournament

Pocket – the area of the field behind the offensive line and between the two offensive  tackles

Point After Touchdown (PAT) – See “Extra Point”

Point Spread --  a sports betting device intended to equalize uneven teams for gambling. A favored team must win by a certain number of points for bettors to get paid. In sports bookmaking, the margin of the final score can be more important than who wins or loses.

Pooch Kick – See “Squib Kick”

Possession – control of the ball, can refer to a team or an individual

Post Pattern – a route a receiver runs that begins parallel with the sideline and cuts toward the “Goal Post”

Post-Season – play after the regular season, from the “playoffs” to the “Super Bowl”

Power Sweep – when two or more linemen “Pull” from the usual formation to lead a running back downfield on a “Pitch” to the outside

Preseason – exhibition games played before the “Regular Season” begins, the results don’t count for a team’s standing, and the games are mostly played for warm up and to test new players

Previous Spot – the location of the ball before the previous play, generally used in the case of penalties

Primary Receiver – this receiver is the “Quarterback’s” preferred choice on a pass play

Pulling – when an offensive player – usually a lineman – moves from his normal position on the field to block for a ball carrier 

Pump Fake -- a feinted pass attempt meant to throw a defender off guard to clear an opening for a pass in another direction

Punt – the ball is dropped and kicked into the air before it hits the ground; used almost exclusively on fourth down to secure better field position when transferring the ball to the other team

Punter – the player on the team who “Punts”

Punt Return – catching a punted ball and running it toward the kicking team

Pylon – a bright orange marker placed at the corners of the End Zones