FLORHAM PARK, NJ—An NFL broadcast can oftentimes last for over three hours. The total time viewers watch live-action (with the ball actually in play) averages out to a measly 10:43, per a 2010 Wall Street Journal study.
Incredibly, the average NFL play is usually just under four seconds.
So why does it feel as though analysts who possess the ability to break down the X’s and O’s never have enough time to hit on everything? Well… it’s simple: there actually is too much to go over during each four-second play.