How Long Does An Average NFL Game Last?

How long does an average NFL game last?
The average NFL game lasts about 3 hours, but there are many factors that can affect the length of time, like weather, penalties, and overtime.

Introduction

On average, NFL games last about 3 hours. This is including time for commercials, halftime, and other stoppages. If you take out those stoppages, the average NFL game lasts about 2 hours and 15 minutes.

The Length of an NFL Game

NFL games are typically about 3 hours long, but can range anywhere from 2.5 to 4 hours. The average length of an NFL game has gradually increased over the years as the league has added more time for commercial breaks and other stoppages. Let’s take a look at how long each NFL game lasts on average.

The Length of an NFL Game by Quarter

The average NFL game consists of four quarters, each lasting 15 minutes. However, the actual length of an NFL game can vary greatly depending on a number of factors. For example, if a team is leading by a wide margin late in the game, the clock will run more quickly in order to end the game sooner. Similarly, if a game is close and goes into overtime, it can last much longer than the average game.

The Length of an NFL Game by Half

On average, NFL games last about three hours. That’s about the same amount of time it takes to bake a turkey or watch two movies back-to-back. It’s also twice as long as the average Major League Baseball game and nearly four times as long as an NHL game. So why are NFL games so long?

One big reason is that there are simply more plays in an NFL game than in other sports. In baseball, for example, there are typically only about 90 pitches thrown in a game. In the NFL, there can be well over 100 plays. Another reason is that each play in the NFL takes longer to execute than in other sports. In baseball, a pitch is thrown and the play is over relatively quickly. In the NFL, each play can involve a lot of moving parts – the quarterback dropping back to pass, receivers running their routes, linemen blocking – and can take up to 40 seconds to complete.

Another contributing factor to the length of NFL games is that there are more stoppages than in other sports. Each team gets two timeouts per half, and there are additional stoppages for things like injuries and challenges. In baseball, on the other hand, play is pretty much continuous except for between innings.

So why do fans keep coming back for more? Part of it has to do with the fact that an increasing number of fans are watching games at home on television. They’re not rushed to get back to work or get the kids from soccer practice, so they don’t mind if the game runs a little long. And with all those commercials, there are plenty of opportunities to take a bathroom break or grab another beer without missing any of the action.

Whatever the reasons, it doesn’t look like football fans will be complaining about the length of games anytime soon.

The Length of an NFL Game by Season

The average NFL game lasts about three hours, but there can be a lot of variation from season to season. The longest NFL game on record lasted 7 hours and 8 minutes, while the shortest only lasted 1 hour and 12 minutes. The average length of an NFL game has been slowly creeping upwards in recent years, but it is still around the three hour mark.

The Length of an NFL Game by Season and Quarter

The average length of an NFL game has varied greatly throughout the years. In the 2015 season, games averaged 3 hours and 12 minutes, but that number has gradually increased over time. The 2010 season saw an average game time of 3 hours and 2 minutes, while the 2012 season averaged 3 hours and 8 minutes.

There are several factors that contribute to the length of an NFL game. One is the number of ads shown during breaks in play. Another is the amount of time it takes teams to huddle up and run plays. The league has made several changes in recent years to try and shorten games, such as instituting a rule that allows teams to call timeout from the sideline and keeping play clocks running after certain types of penalties.

Despite these efforts, the average game length has continued to increase. This is likely due in part to the increasing popularity of passing plays, which take more time than running plays. In the 2015 season, 62% of all plays were passing plays, compared to just 54% in the 2010 season.

The length of an NFL game also varies depending on which quarter it is. Games tend to be longest in the fourth quarter, when teams are trying to mount a come-back or preserve a lead. In the 2015 season, fourth quarters averaged 10 minutes and 33 seconds, while first quarters averaged just 9 minutes and 47 seconds.

The Length of an NFL Game by Season and Half

The average NFL game lasts about 3 hours, but there can be a lot of variation from game to game. Here is a breakdown of the average length of an NFL game by season since 1978, according to data from the NFL:

Season Average Length of Game (in minutes)
1978 48.9
1979 49.1
1980 48.9
1981 49.4
1982 49.2
1983 49.0
1984 48.8
1985 48.9
1986 49.2
1987 50.1
1988 50.7
1989 51.1
1990 51.5

Conclusion

On average, an NFL game lasts about three hours. This includes the time between plays, commercial breaks, and other stoppages of play. The actual time of play is only about 11 minutes. The average NFL game has about 60 plays, but this can vary greatly depending on the type of game (e.g., a blowout vs. a close game).