Super Bowl LVII will be at the centre of the sporting world tonight with the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs eyeing glory in Arizona.
The blockbuster NFL game will be watched by millions across the globe, including American Football fans in the UK, who are preparing for another late finish into the early hours of Monday morning.
And so given all of the stoppages during play, how long do NFL games last on average?
Here is everything you need to know – including how long the NFL halftime show will be.
How long do NFL games last?
American Football games are split into four 15-minute quarters, meaning that the actual game time is one hour long.
However, due to all the stoppages with the stopping and starting of the game clock, NFL games actually last for an average of 3 hours and 12 minutes.
Given tonight’s 11.30pm GMT kick-off, this means it is likely that the Super Bowl will not finish until at least 2.30am for the UK audience.
Some of the speedier games are finished after around two-and-a-half hours, whilst the longest matches have been known to last for almost four hours.
Why are there so many stoppages in NFL games?
When a change of possession occurs, the game clock is stopped to allow the two sides to switch between their 11-man offensive and defensive units.
The average game contains around 12 turnovers of possession, which the NFL takes advantage of by switching the TV feed to a commercial for the millions of people watching back home.
NFL games also feature a handful of video reviews for contentious decisions, while both teams are permitted to stop the clock for three time-outs whilst they debate tactical decisions.
In addition, a two minute break takes place at the end of the first and third quarters.
Studies have revealed that the typical NFL game only has 18 minutes of the ball being live, with each play lasting an average of four seconds.
The 40 second gap between plays allows players to recover energy and for coaches to plan for the next phase.
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How long does the NFL halftime show last?
Halftimes in the regular NFL season typically last between 12 and 13 minutes.
However, with tonight’s halftime show featuring a performance from Rihanna, it is likely to last between 20 and 30 minutes.
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