how long do nfl games last

An NFL game lasts on average about three hours and 12 minutes in real time. The actual game playing time is 60 minutes, divided into four 15-minute quarters. However, the total duration includes halftime (about 12 minutes), numerous commercial breaks, timeouts, replay reviews, and other stoppages that extend the game length significantly beyond the 60 minutes of play. If the game is tied at the end of regulation, overtime can add an additional 10 minutes or more, especially in playoff games where overtime continues until a winner is decided.