The One with the Football

Season 3, Episode 9, Aired
EDIT

Episode Summary

Emotions become the feast of the day when the gang plays a game of touch football on Thanksgiving as Joey and Chandler argue over who gets to date a beautiful Dutch woman and Ross and Monica argue over winning in a case of sibling rivalry.
9.2
out of 10
EPISODE RATING: Superb
292 votes
  • Your Rating: 10
    "Perfect"
  • Your Rating: 9.5
    "Superb"
  • Your Rating: 9
    "Superb"
  • Your Rating: 8.5
    "Great"
  • Your Rating: 8
    "Great"
  • Your Rating: 7.5
    "Good"
  • Your Rating: 7
    "Good"
  • Your Rating: 6.5
    "Fair"
  • Your Rating: 6
    "Fair"
  • Your Rating: 5.5
    "Mediocre"
  • Your Rating: 5
    "Mediocre"
  • Your Rating: 4.5
    "Poor"
  • Your Rating: 4
    "Poor"
  • Your Rating: 3.5
    "Bad"
  • Your Rating: 3
    "Bad"
  • Your Rating: 2.5
    "Terrible"
  • Your Rating: 2
    "Terrible"
  • Your Rating: 1.5
    "Abysmal"
  • Your Rating: 1
    "Abysmal"
Rate It

Watch Online

Amazon
Buy
iTunes
Buy
VUDU
Buy/Rent

Cast & Crew

See All EDIT

Fan Episode Reviews (18)

See All

  • Good episode that showed the group playing a simple game

    9.5
    "Superb"
    By Mischa, Dec 05, 2011 Report Abuse
    Really highlighted the strengths of each character, as well as the show overall. Joey and Chandler fighting over a lady, Monica and Ross' sibling rivalry, Phoebe's football strategy, Rachel's almost winning the game in a surprising twist. It was a really powerful episode.

    DO YOU AGREE?

    1 0

  • 309

    10
    "Perfect"
    By Canogaparkcindy, Nov 03, 2010 Report Abuse
    One of the best episodes of the entire series, although the plot wasn't huge: Just a couple friends playing football, it was some of the best writing I've seen in a while. I really do have to commend Ira Ungerleider here, she wrote this episode perfectly.

    I wouldn't call this episode underrated but it definitely deserves some more recognition. This episode kept me intrigued throughout the whole thing, not to mention it was funny. The classic Ross vs. Monica sibling rivalry was hilarious.

    It was also great aftermath after the Chandler & Janice fallout, considering any scenes between them this season were dreadful. Rachel was the one that stole the show here though. From her going "really long" to her making the touchdown in the end, she was really great here.

    The end was pretty funny and it was a perfect conclusion, it still leaves the fans debating on who really won the football game and who was in the wrong there. Great episode of Friends, instant classic.moreless

    DO YOU AGREE?

    1 0

  • i think the episode is very cool it is so funny and i will look it ever and ever

    9.6
    "Superb"
    By Inora1990, Oct 14, 2010 Report Abuse
    i need the text in english from the start of the episode becaus we must act it in the school and i didn't have the text, what should i do? i must act it on wednesday my teacher want to film us and then she gives us a mark please help me we need the text. the episode was so cool it was so funny i love friends i have seen all episodes it's one of the best sit comes i knwo and i hope it comes soon against in germany. i hope you can understand me, im not really good in english. thanks for reading.moreless

    DO YOU AGREE?

    0 2

  • Perfect

    10
    "Perfect"
    By dillonpickle, Nov 29, 2008 Report Abuse
    The One with the Football is the best Friends episode. It describes how Ross and Monica are fighting which is the best part of the episode. The great camera shots also make this a great episode. The only flaw in the episode however is the Dutch girl. Instead of using that character, they should of used that time used for the Dutch girl to use to make the main conflict better between Ross and Monica. The idea of Rachel being bad was great. Also when she threw the football right into Monica's head. And when Phoebe flashed Chandler. And when Ross was charging towards Monica at the end. It was a GREAT EPISODE!moreless

    DO YOU AGREE?

    0 0

  • "I'm sorry, Dutch, I didn't catch that last part?"-Joey

    10
    "Perfect"
    By efc1991, Jan 15, 2008 Report Abuse
    Emotions become the feast of the day when the gang plays a game of touch football on Thanksgiving as Joey and Chandler argue over who gets to date a model and Ross and Monica argue over winning in a case of sibling rivalry. This episode is just legendary, I couldn't stop laughing throughout the entire episode, it was just full of classic quotes including one of my favourite ones which is:

    Monica: Losers walk.
    Ross: Yeah? Losers talk.
    Chandler: No, no, no. Actually, losers rhyme.


    Its great I always laugh at that, I also like the the part where there playing football and the sports music comes on the whole scene is laugh out load funny.moreless

    DO YOU AGREE?

    1 0
 

Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

See All

  • Trivia

    ADD TRIVIA
    • Goof: When Chandler runs into the wall it is clearly made of cardboard, shown by the way he almost knocks it over. Edit
    • Inside joke: Phoebe plays this game wearing a "That Girl" T-shirt, including the caricature of Marlo Thomas that was that ABC show's logo. This is either a joke or a problem for the Friends universe, because Marlo plays Rachel's mother in three other episodes of Friends. The series also does something similar with another guest star, Tom Selleck. Edit
    • Goof: after the first touchdown, Monica immediately gives the score as 7-0. Scoring 7 points per TD is typical of sandlot games (it's 6 in the real game) because there's usually no kicking game and therefore neither field goals (3) nor kicked extra points (1) - but then how how is Ross's team "up by two" before the climactic play? The only possible way would be a safety - a tackle in a team's defended end zone, which scores two points - but these are so rare, they would owe it to the audience to say so. Edit

  • Notes

    ADD NOTES
    • International Episode Title: Czech Republic: Fotbal (Football) Edit
    • According to Dateline "A Farewell to Friends," this is Courteney Cox Arquette's favorite episode. Edit
    • Suzanna Voltaire is from America, and does not have an accent. She added the accent while auditioning for Margha. When they found out she was American, the crew was shocked. Edit

  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • Rachel: There was a Geller Cup? Ross: Yes, it was the trophy you got if you won the game. But our dad said nobody won that game, and he was sick of our fighting. So he took the trophy... (Ross pauses) threw it in the lake. Chandler: Was the curse lifted? Edit
    • Monica: We are playing for women everywhere. Okay, just think about every lousy date that you ever had, okay, every guy who kept on the TV while you're making out... Phoebe: Oh, my God! You dated someone with a glass eye too?! Edit
    • Monica: Huddle up. Joey: All right, huddle up, right over here. Phoebe: Wait for me! Wait for me! Wait for me! Oh cool, this is my first huddle. Monica: Okay. Phoebe: Okay, so what do you guys really think of Chandler? Monica: Okay, Phoebe you know what you're doing right? Phoebe: Yeah. Monica: Okay, Joey's gonna catch it, and you and I are gonna block. Phoebe: What's block? Monica: Phoebe, I thought you said you know what you're doing? Phoebe: I thought you meant in life. Edit

  • Allusions

    ADD ALLUSIONS
    • In the final football play where Rachel catches Monica's Hail Mary pass, the background music is the home run theme from the 1984 film The Natural starring Robert Redford. Edit
    • The shirt that Phoebe is wearing is That Girl, a show that Marlo Thomas, who plays Rachel's mom Sandra Green, was on from 1966 to 1971. The face on the shirt is Marlo Thomas. Edit
    • Chandler: Well why don't you have Captain Hook explain it to her? Captain Hook is the villain in Peter Pan. Edit

Show Forums

See All
Last Activity
Replies

Watch Friends Full Episodes

See All

Related Shows

Season 3 Episodes

See All
Ep 25
The One at the Beach
Ep 24
The One with the Ultimate ...
Ep 23
The One with Ross's Thing
Ep 22
The One with the Screamer
Ep 21
The One with a Chick and a...
Ep 20
The One with the Dollhouse
Ep 19
The One with the Tiny T-Shirt
Ep 18
The One with the Hypnosis ...
Ep 17
The One Without the Ski Trip
Ep 16
The One with the Morning A...
Ep 15
The One Where Ross and Rac...
Ep 14
The One with Phoebe's Ex-P...
Ep 13
The One Where Monica and R...
Ep 12
The One with All the Jealousy
Ep 11
The One Where Chandler Can...
Ep 10
The One Where Rachel Quits
Ep 9
The One with the Football
Ep 8
The One with the Giant Pok...
Ep 7
The One with the Race Car Bed
Ep 6
The One with the Flashback
Ep 5
The One with Frank Jr.
Ep 4
The One with the Metaphori...
Ep 3
The One with the Jam
Ep 2
The One Where No One's Ready
Ep 1
The One with the Princess ...

Contributors

Become a contributor
More
Less

TV Listings

Full Listings
BROWSE | Shows | Videos | News | Listings | Forums | People | Photos | TV.com Blog

CBS Entertainment | About TV.com | About CBS Interactive | Jobs | Advertise

© 2012 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. | Privacy Policy | Ad Choice | Terms of Use