An NFL game can last as much as 100 minutes. In order to prevent excessive clock runs, coaches can request timeouts every 40 seconds. These breaks increase the length of the game and give teams more opportunities to score. They can also be used to show network ads. Traditionally, the breaks are short, with only a few minutes between each play. However, with the advent of instant replays, these breaks have become mandatory.
In a typical NFL game, there are about 20 commercial breaks. Some of them are mandatory and occur at the two-minute mark, the end of the first and third quarters, injuries, and when the ball is passed to the other team. Some networks are able to cut down on the number of commercials, and some networks will hold off playing them until the break is necessary. The breaks are intended to give viewers a chance to catch up on what they missed.
The halftime is shorter in an NFL game than in college football. A break lasts about 20 minutes in college football, while a halftime break lasts just ten minutes in the NFL. Compared to other professional sports, an NFL game’s intermission is shorter, with only half the break in college basketball. In fact, the NFL has less break time than the other four major sports. Most sports have at least one halftime.
