A play action pass is a type of American football play. The play action, or "PA" for short, is the opposite of the draw play. Whereas a draw play tries to fool the defense by looking like a pass play, then becoming a running play, a play action pass appears to be a running play, but is actually a pass play. Play action passes are usually used against defenses that gear up to stop the run. By looking like a run at first, the offense hopes to get the defense to "bite" on the run fake and be out of position downfield for the pass.

Offensive action during a play action pass

• The quarterback takes the snap and drops back to hand-off to the running back.
• The running back gets ready to take the hand-off.
• The quarterback quickly pulls the ball back from the hand-off position, trying to hide it from the defense. He then looks downfield for an open receiver.
• The running back continues to move upfield as if he has the ball in his hands.
• The offensive line comes off the ball to run block, but goes into pass protection soon afterward.
• The receivers "sell" the running play by appearing to block at first, then break off into their routes.

PA passes are used to get the linebackers and defensive backs to hestitate in dropping into their pass coverage, giving the receivers more room (and time) to get open behind them.

Play action passes are difficult to run effectively if a team does not have at least a threat of a running game. A team without a good rushing attack will have a hard time fooling the defense into thinking a run is coming.

A run-oriented team will tend to employ play-action passes in order to keep the defense "honest" and, in fact, most teams actively watch the defensive reaction to their running plays waiting for the opportunity to call a play-action pass and take advantage of a defense that is reacting too aggressively to the run.

American football plays