What it is

A pancake is a block so strong that the defender is knocked flat on his back, like a pancake on a plate.

In a game

Linemen like to record pancakes because they show that the blocker has won the one-on-one battle. Some teams keep track of the number in a game.

More detail

It is not an official stat in the league, but fans and coaches enjoy it. A pancake needs leverage, with the blocker’s hands inside the defender’s chest and a drive from the legs.