Chart: NFL games are mostly commercials and replays

Given the NFL’s huge popularity, there’s something surprising about the average three-hour NFL game: Very little of it involves people playing football.

Joseph Stromberg/Vox

(Joseph Stromberg/Vox)

This chart is based off data I collected during a regular-season game in 2014, but the Wall Street Journal charted four other games and came to a similar conclusion. Because of the basic design of the sport and the economics of TV broadcasts, the majority of a game consists of players standing around between plays and commercials.

In the game I charted, 8.3 percent was made up of actual gameplay. For the Super Bowl, that number is probably even lower because it has an especially long halftime (about half an hour, versus 12 minutes during the regular season).

The good news is that because companies pay so much for Super Bowl ads, they should at least be a little more entertaining than usual. Watch all the 2015 ads here.

For more, check out 40 maps and charts that explain sports in America.

This story was originally published on February 1, 2015.

We have a request

Vox's journalism is free because we believe that everyone deserves to understand the world that they live in. That kind of knowledge helps create better citizens, neighbors, friends, parents, consumers and stewards of this planet. In short, understanding benefits everyone. You can join in on this mission by making a financial gift to Vox today. Reader support helps keep our work free, for everyone. Will you join us?

One-Time Monthly Annual

$95/year

$120/year

$250/year

$350/year

Other

$

Yes, I'll give $120/year

Yes, I'll give $120/year

We accept credit card, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. You can also contribute via