How Long Does The Average Nfl Game Last?

How long does the average NFL game last? It’s a good question, and one that doesn’t have a simple answer. Here’s a look at the factors that can affect the length of an NFL game.

Introduction

The average NFL game lasts about three hours. However, this time can vary depending on a number of factors. For example, the average length of an NFL game has increased by about seven minutes over the last decade. This is likely due to the increasing number of commercials that are aired during games. In addition, games that go into overtime tend to be longer than those that don’t.

How long is an NFL game?

The average NFL game lasts 3 hours and 12 minutes

From start to finish, the average NFL game lasts about 3 hours and 12 minutes, according to a new report from the Wall Street Journal. That’s up 5 minutes from last season and up 15 minutes from the 2010 season.

The reasons for the increase are manifold. One is that the number of commercials has increased; another is that there are more penalties, which lead to more timeouts; and yet another is that play has simply become mor e protracted.

The NFL has been trying to speed up games by implementing a number of rule changes, including a smaller play clock and automatic ejections for certain types of hits, but it doesn’t seem to be having much effect. So far this season, games are averaging about 2 minutes longer than they did last season.

The average NFL game has 60 minutes of play

The average NFL game has 60 minutes of play, divided into four quarters of 15 minutes each. However, the game clock is stopped frequently throughout the game, so the actual playing time is usually less than 60 minutes. In addition, there are usually several commercial breaks between quarters and at other times during the game. Consequently, the average NFL game lasts around three hours.

The average NFL game has 11 minutes of commercials

The average NFL game has 11 minutes of commercials, which is about double the amount of commercials than there are in an average NBA game. The average length of an NFL game is 3 hours and 12 minutes, including the time between play clock stoppages and out-of-bounds plays.

How does the length of an NFL game compare to other sports?

The average NFL game lasts just over three hours, making it one of the longest games among major sports. MLB games last an average of three hours and seven minutes, while NBA games last an average of two hours and 45 minutes. But NFL games are not as long as they used to be. In the 1970s, the average NFL game lasted more than three and a half hours.

The average MLB game lasts 3 hours and 7 minutes

On average, a Major League Baseball game last about three hours. This is about 30 minutes shorter than the average NFL game, which clocks in at about three hours and 30 minutes. MLB games have been getting shorter over the years, though, while NFL games have stayed roughly the same length.

The average NBA game lasts 2 hours and 19 minutes

On average, an NFL game lasts about 3 hours. In comparison, an NBA game lasts 2 hours and 19 minutes, while an NHL game lasts 2 hours and 20 minutes. MLB games last on average 3 hours and 5 minutes.

The average NHL game lasts 2 hours and 30 minutes

The average NHL game is two hours and 30 minutes long, which is about 20 minutes shorter than an NFL game. However, the actual time of play in an NHL game is only about 60 minutes, which is just shy of the 64 minutes of play in an NFL game. So, while NHL games are shorter in overall length, the actual time of play is only slightly shorter.

How has the length of NFL games changed over time?

The average NFL game has seen a slight uptick in length over the past few years. In 2012, the average game time was 3 hours and 8 minutes. By 2019, that number had increased to 3 hours and 11 minutes. There are a number of factors that have contributed to this increase.

In the past 20 years, the average NFL game has increased by 5 minutes

The average length of an NFL game has increased by about 5 minutes over the past 20 years. In 1994, the average game lasted about 3 hours and 8 minutes. In 2014, it was about 3 hours and 13 minutes.

The NFL has made an effort to shorten games in recent years. In 2017, the league shortened the length of preseason games by 2 minutes. During the regular season, games were shortened by about 5 minutes.

What factors affect the length of an NFL game?

The average NFL game lasts about three hours, but there are a lot of factors that can affect the length of the game. The number of TV timeouts, penalties, and injuries all play a role in how long the game will last. Let’s take a look at some of the factors that can affect the length of an NFL game.

The number of commercials

The number of commercials shown during an NFL game has increased significantly in recent years, which has had a direct impact on the length of games. In 2017, the average NFL game showed 97 commercial breaks, totaling almost 500 minutes of advertising. This is an increase of over 20% from just a few years ago.

Not only are there more commercials, but they are also longer. The average length of a commercial break in the NFL increased from 2 minutes and 8 seconds in 2010 to 2 minutes and 27 seconds in 2017. That may not seem like a lot, but it adds up over the course of a 3-hour game.

It’s not just the number of commercials that affect the length of an NFL game, but also the number of stoppages in play. There are an average of 11 minutes and 24 seconds of stoppage time in an NFL game, which includes timeouts, Replay reviews, and injuries. This is up from 10 minutes and 29 seconds just a few years ago.

The number of plays

The average length of an NFL game has been slowly creeping upward in recent years. In 2017, the average length of a game was 3 hours and 7 minutes, up from 3 hours and 6 minutes in 2016. That’s the longest average game time since 2009, when the average game lasted 3 hours and 8 minutes.

But why have games gotten longer? There are a few factors that contribute to the increasing length of NFL games.

The most obvious reason is that there are more plays in a game now than there were in the past. In 2009, the average number of plays per game was 158.7. In 2017, that number had risen to 164.4. That might not seem like a huge increase, but it does add up over the course of a three-hour game.

Another factor that has contributed to longer games is that teams are throwing the ball more often than they used to. In 2009, teams averaged 27 passing attempts per game. In 2017, that number had risen to 29 passing attempts per game. Again, it might not seem like a big increase, but it does add up over time.

Finally, officials are taking more time to review plays under the new instant replay system. In 2014, the NFL instituted a new rule that allowed officials to review plays using instant replay if they felt there was evidence of a “clear and obvious” error on the field. This has led to more stoppages of play for reviews, which has added to the overall length of games.

The number of penalties

The number of penalties has a direct impact on the length of an NFL game. The more penalties that are called, the longer the game will last. This is because each penalty results in a stoppage of play, which adds to the overall time of the game. Additionally, penalties can often lead to more plays being run, as teams may attempt to offset the penalty yardage by running additional plays.

Conclusion

On average, NFL games last about 3 hours. This is including time for commercials, halftime, and other stoppages in play. The actual length of time that the ball is in play during an NFL game is only about 11 minutes!