Most NFL fans understand that games last 60 minutes unless they go to overtime. But that’s 60 minutes of time on the clock. We all know it takes more than an hour to play a football game – there are commercial breaks, halftime, and frequent clock stoppages.
That’s why we wanted to take a closer look at the actual NFL game duration. How long does it take to play the average NFL game?
How Long Does an NFL Game Last?
The average NFL game length is three hours and 12 minutes of real-time. That’s from the opening kickoff until the end of the fourth quarter – or of overtime, where relevant. As an average, that means some games are a little shorter and some a little longer.
Still, it’s rare to have an NFL game finished in less than three hours. And without overtime, it’s unusual for an NFL game to go much beyond three and a half.
An NFL game typically features between 15 and 20 minutes of live action. This is because each individual play in a football game usually lasts no longer than five to seven seconds. The play clock in between each play is 40 seconds, and unless the offense is trying to hurry up and get to the next play as soon as possible, they’ll use most of that time to prepare. So live action takes up a relatively small percentage of the full duration of the game.
Broadcasters do a good job of showing replays and providing analysis to help fill the space between each play. This keeps fans engaged and entertained during NFL games, so those three or more hours are part of the whole experience.
How Long Is Halftime in the NFL?
Halftime is 12 minutes in the NFL. This contrasts with college football, which has a 20-minute halftime period. It’s been this way since 1990 when the NFL decided to change the duration of halftime from 15 minutes to 12 minutes.
What Is NFL Overtime Like?
During the regular season, NFL games that end in a tie have a 10-minute overtime period. If the team that possesses the ball first in overtime scores a touchdown or there is a defensive touchdown, the game ends. Otherwise, both teams will have at least one offensive possession. Once both teams have had one possession, the team that’s ahead or is the first to break the tie wins. However, if the game remains tied after the 10-minute overtime, the game ends in a tie.
During the playoffs, NFL overtime rules are a little different. For starters, the overtime period is 15 minutes. Also, both teams are guaranteed at least one offensive possession even if the team to possess the ball first scores a touchdown. If the game is tied after each team’s first overtime possession, the game continues until the tie is broken. This means that if the game remains tied after the first 15-minute overtime session, the teams will continue to play 15-minute overtime sessions until the deadlock is broken.
How Long Do Commercials Last During NFL Games?
During a regular-season NFL game, commercials tend to make up roughly 50 minutes of the broadcast. That’s around 25% of the length of the game. There can be up to 16 commercial breaks during NFL games – eight in each half. There is always a commercial break after the first quarter and after the third quarter. There are also commercial breaks at the 2:00 warning in the second quarter and at the 2:00 warning in the fourth quarter.
This means there are two mandatory breaks in each half of an NFL game with six optional commercial breaks in each half – whenever there is a break in the action. Fans who watch an NFL game from start to finish will likely see between 15 and 25 commercials per quarter, meaning every NFL game broadcast averages between 60 and 100 commercials.
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NFL Game Length FAQs
The average length of an NFL game is three hours and 12 minutes.
BetVictor CA offers betting markets on every NFL game. All you have to do is sign up for an account or log into an existing account and explore BetVictor CA’s NFL page to find the exact bet you want to place
NFL games are split into four 15-minute quarters. After the first and third quarters, there is a short break of no more than three minutes. Following the second quarter, there is a 12-minute halftime.
During NFL games, commercials make up roughly 50 minutes of the broadcast with as many as 100 commercials airing during the game.
