⚽ FootballGrade 10Reading: grades 7-9Pythagorean theoremWord problemsBar modelsSquare rootsMissing addends
The Gridiron Playbook Heist
Just hours before the kickoff of the ultimate championship game, the Head Coach realized the top-secret playbook was gone! A mysterious figure was spotted running off the field. You must analyze the evidence, solve the puzzles, and help the team get their playbook back before the whistle blows.
Suspects
Possible suspects
Cross off a row as each clue rules it out. On screen, tap a row.
21 of 21 still in play
| Name | Signature Move | Special Gear | Throwing Hand | Hair Accessory | On-Field Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T J Watt | bullet pass | visor shield | left handed thrower | blonde dreadlocks | slippery turf |
| Saquon Barkley | beast mode | visor shield | right handed thrower | neon green headband | slippery turf |
| Jalen Hurts | diving catch | gps smartwatch | right handed thrower | blonde dreadlocks | slippery turf |
| Micah Parsons | ankle breaker | noisemaker helmet | right handed thrower | blonde dreadlocks | blitz pressure |
| Davante Adams | bullet pass | sticky gloves | left handed thrower | neon green headband | slippery turf |
| Derwin James | ankle breaker | gps smartwatch | right handed thrower | blonde dreadlocks | blitz pressure |
| Dak Prescott | beast mode | visor shield | left handed thrower | neon green headband | loud crowd noise |
| Patrick Mahomes | sonic sprint | heated cleats | right handed thrower | crimson dye | loud crowd noise |
| Travis Kelce | bullet pass | noisemaker helmet | left handed thrower | crimson dye | loud crowd noise |
| Aaron Rodgers | sonic sprint | noisemaker helmet | right handed thrower | crimson dye | blitz pressure |
| Josh Allen | sonic sprint | heated cleats | right handed thrower | blonde dreadlocks | blitz pressure |
| Justin Jefferson | bullet pass | gps smartwatch | right handed thrower | blonde dreadlocks | blitz pressure |
| George Kittle | diving catch | gps smartwatch | left handed thrower | blonde dreadlocks | slippery turf |
| Lamar Jackson | ankle breaker | heated cleats | left handed thrower | crimson dye | loud crowd noise |
| Deebo Samuel | beast mode | sticky gloves | left handed thrower | crimson dye | blitz pressure |
| Tyreek Hill | bullet pass | noisemaker helmet | left handed thrower | blonde dreadlocks | blitz pressure |
| Stefon Diggs | beast mode | noisemaker helmet | right handed thrower | blonde dreadlocks | blitz pressure |
| Christian McCaffrey | diving catch | sticky gloves | right handed thrower | blonde dreadlocks | loud crowd noise |
| Kirk Cousins | beast mode | visor shield | right handed thrower | neon green headband | loud crowd noise |
| Myles Garrett | beast mode | visor shield | left handed thrower | blonde dreadlocks | blitz pressure |
| CeeDee Lamb | diving catch | gps smartwatch | right handed thrower | neon green headband | loud crowd noise |
Clue 1
Pythagorean theorem
The assistant coach sketched a tactical bar model on the whiteboard to divide up the scouting tape. Solve this visual breakdown to reveal a clue about what gear the thief avoided.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
T
125
30
26
T
125
123
68
111
26
T
125
65
5
65
100
51
T
125
85
26
123
68
30
26
123
T
125
26
65
50
34
26
123
T
125
29
legs 35 and 120, hypotenuse =T
legs 27 and 120, hypotenuse =A
legs 18 and 24, hypotenuse =H
legs 28 and 96, hypotenuse =N
legs 14 and 48, hypotenuse =C
legs 25 and 60, hypotenuse =D
legs 10 and 24, hypotenuse =E
legs 16 and 30, hypotenuse =L
legs 32 and 60, hypotenuse =R
legs 36 and 105, hypotenuse =G
legs 24 and 45, hypotenuse =O
legs 20 and 21, hypotenuse =S
legs 3 and 4, hypotenuse =I
legs 40 and 75, hypotenuse =W
0/14 letters found
Clue 2
Word problems
We calculated the training facility's energy usage using a multi-step word problem. Solving this equation points us to a major clue about the suspect's throwing hand.
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Awitnesssawthevillainwas .
R
27
57
95
87
7
87
28
74
D
E
D
7
87
R
27
O
W
E
R
27
Quarterback lined up 9 rows of 3 playbooks. How many playbooks in all?R
Quarterback found 23 water bottles yesterday and 5 more today. How many water bottles in all?A
There were 109 footballs. 14 were used up. How many footballs are left?G
There were 113 water bottles. 39 were used up. How many water bottles are left?N
There were 108 helmets. 21 were used up. How many helmets are left?H
There were 27 water bottles. 20 were used up. How many water bottles are left?T
There were 59 whistles. 2 were used up. How many whistles are left?I
0/7 letters found
Clue 3
Bar model word problems
The quarterback ran a deep diagonal post route. By using the Pythagorean theorem to find the exact distance of his path across the turf, we recovered a clue about the thief's weakness.
Draw a bar model to solve each word problem. Its answer reveals a letter — write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Someonescaredthevillainoffwith .
B
108
40
91
39
25
44
58
E
S
S
U
58
E
Quarterback has 12 times as many water bottles as a teammate. The teammate has 9 water bottles. How many water bottles does quarterback have?
draw a bar model
Answer:→B
One group collected 13 footballs and another group collected 27 footballs. How many footballs in all?
draw a bar model
Answer:→L
There were 85 whistles in all. 27 whistles were used. How many whistles are left?
draw a bar model
Answer:→R
The red team has 29 footballs and the blue team has 4 footballs. How many more footballs does the red team have?
draw a bar model
Answer:→Z
The red team has 79 helmets and the blue team has 35 helmets. How many more helmets does the red team have?
draw a bar model
Answer:→P
Quarterback has 182 water bottles, packed 2 to a bag. How many bags can be filled?
draw a bar model
Answer:→I
Quarterback has 117 footballs, packed 3 to a bag. How many bags can be filled?
draw a bar model
Answer:→T
0/7 letters found
Clue 4
Square roots
The groundskeepers marked off a perfect square of turf for the halftime show. Finding the square root of its total area reveals the hair evidence dropped near the fifty yard line.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
T
11
18
6
14
5
6
19
6
18
24
22
23
8
9
19
22
6
22
15
6
24
22
8
9
5
2
17
20
23
6
15
14
sqrt(121) =T
sqrt(225) =R
sqrt(361) =N
sqrt(81) =O
sqrt(4) =K
sqrt(64) =L
sqrt(529) =B
sqrt(400) =I
sqrt(196) =S
sqrt(484) =D
sqrt(576) =A
sqrt(324) =H
sqrt(25) =C
sqrt(289) =F
sqrt(36) =E
0/15 letters found
Clue 5
Missing addends — the last clue
The offensive drive tracker is missing some key plays to match the final score. Solve for the missing yardage to unlock the final piece of the culprit's identity.
First solve each problem. Then find each answer in the list below and cross that sentence out. One sentence will be left — that's exactly what the villain did!
Step 1 — solve these
16 + ___ = 19
28 + ___ = 40
9 + ___ = 13
40 + ___ = 45
12 + ___ = 19
3 + ___ = 14
5 + ___ = 15
11 + ___ = 20
13 + ___ = 15
25 + ___ = 31
37 + ___ = 45
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain swipes the lucky game ball, then escapes through the stadium tunnel.
2.The villain steals the team mascot mascot suit, then jumps over the locker room gate.
3.The villain snatches the golden whistle, then vanishes into the cheering crowd.
4.The villain snatches the golden whistle, then escapes through the stadium tunnel.
5.The villain intercepts the championship playbook, then sprints past the security guards.
6.The villain swipes the lucky game ball, then vanishes into the cheering crowd.
7.The villain steals the team mascot mascot suit, then vanishes into the cheering crowd.
8.The villain intercepts the championship playbook, then jumps over the locker room gate.
9.The villain swipes the lucky game ball, then jumps over the locker room gate.
10.The villain intercepts the championship playbook, then escapes through the stadium tunnel.
11.The villain grabs the golden championship ring, then sprints past the security guards.
12.The villain intercepts the championship playbook, then vanishes into the cheering crowd.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Gridiron Playbook Heist
Culprit: Stefon Diggs (beast mode · noisemaker helmet · right handed thrower · blonde dreadlocks · blitz pressure)
- Clue 1 (Pythagorean theorem): "THE TARGET DID NOT WEAR HEATED CLEATS"legs 35 and 120, hypotenuse = 125 (T) · legs 27 and 120, hypotenuse = 123 (A) · legs 18 and 24, hypotenuse = 30 (H) · legs 28 and 96, hypotenuse = 100 (N) · legs 14 and 48, hypotenuse = 50 (C) · legs 25 and 60, hypotenuse = 65 (D) · legs 10 and 24, hypotenuse = 26 (E) · legs 16 and 30, hypotenuse = 34 (L) · legs 32 and 60, hypotenuse = 68 (R) · legs 36 and 105, hypotenuse = 111 (G) · legs 24 and 45, hypotenuse = 51 (O) · legs 20 and 21, hypotenuse = 29 (S) · legs 3 and 4, hypotenuse = 5 (I) · legs 40 and 75, hypotenuse = 85 (W)
- Clue 2 (Word problems): "RIGHT HANDED THROWER"Quarterback lined up 9 rows of 3 playbooks. How many playbooks in all? = 27 (R) · Quarterback found 23 water bottles yesterday and 5 more today. How many water bottles in all? = 28 (A) · There were 109 footballs. 14 were used up. How many footballs are left? = 95 (G) · There were 113 water bottles. 39 were used up. How many water bottles are left? = 74 (N) · There were 108 helmets. 21 were used up. How many helmets are left? = 87 (H) · There were 27 water bottles. 20 were used up. How many water bottles are left? = 7 (T) · There were 59 whistles. 2 were used up. How many whistles are left? = 57 (I)
- Clue 3 (Bar model word problems): "BLITZ PRESSURE"Quarterback has 12 times as many water bottles as a teammate. The teammate has 9 water bottles. How many water bottles does quarterback have? = 108 (B) · One group collected 13 footballs and another group collected 27 footballs. How many footballs in all? = 40 (L) · There were 85 whistles in all. 27 whistles were used. How many whistles are left? = 58 (R) · The red team has 29 footballs and the blue team has 4 footballs. How many more footballs does the red team have? = 25 (Z) · The red team has 79 helmets and the blue team has 35 helmets. How many more helmets does the red team have? = 44 (P) · Quarterback has 182 water bottles, packed 2 to a bag. How many bags can be filled? = 91 (I) · Quarterback has 117 footballs, packed 3 to a bag. How many bags can be filled? = 39 (T)
- Clue 4 (Square roots): "THE SCENE HAD BLONDE DREADLOCK FIBERS"sqrt(121) = 11 (T) · sqrt(225) = 15 (R) · sqrt(361) = 19 (N) · sqrt(81) = 9 (O) · sqrt(4) = 2 (K) · sqrt(64) = 8 (L) · sqrt(529) = 23 (B) · sqrt(400) = 20 (I) · sqrt(196) = 14 (S) · sqrt(484) = 22 (D) · sqrt(576) = 24 (A) · sqrt(324) = 18 (H) · sqrt(25) = 5 (C) · sqrt(289) = 17 (F) · sqrt(36) = 6 (E)
- Clue 5 (Missing addends): surviving statement (box 1) → Stefon Diggs16 + ___ = 19 = 3 · 28 + ___ = 40 = 12 · 9 + ___ = 13 = 4 · 40 + ___ = 45 = 5 · 12 + ___ = 19 = 7 · 3 + ___ = 14 = 11 · 5 + ___ = 15 = 10 · 11 + ___ = 20 = 9 · 13 + ___ = 15 = 2 · 25 + ___ = 31 = 6 · 37 + ___ = 45 = 8
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 10 math
- Math topics
- Pythagorean theorem, Word problems, Bar models, Square roots, Missing addends
- Reading level
- grades 7-9
- Theme
- The Gridiron Playbook Heist — set in Gridiron Stadium during the Pro Bowl prep
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects