Long NFL Games Are Here To Stay: Here’s How To Survive All Those Breaks

We all love the NFL, but it’s true that it’s far from the perfect organization. Perhaps the factor that most people would change is the length of the games. Whilst a 3 – 4 hour game is enjoyable, even preferable, when you’re watching the game live at the stadium, if you’re sitting at home, then that can feel like one hour too many. Especially if you have other things to do, but don’t want to miss the action.

There have been some discussions around shortening the games in recent years. But those discussions never lead anywhere – and it seems they won’t anytime soon. So if we’re stuck with long games, the best we can do is to come up with some ways to stay entertained during the many breaks. Need some inspiration? Check out our ideas below.

Get Connected

You have to feel sorry for the pre-smartphone NFL fans. While the sheer number of legendary players in the pre-internet age ensured that the excitement of the games was never in question, there wasn’t all that much to do during the many breaks. But with the arrival of the iPhone, that all changed.

During the breaks, grab your phone and have some fun. You could Tweet out your opinions of the game, entertain yourself with games like Jack Hammer Slot or even upload a game-day selfie, to name just three fun and quick smartphone activities. And if you have a friend who supports the opposing team, this would be a perfect time to give them a call (providing your team is winning and fully in control).

Play an NFL Video Game

If you’re lucky enough to have two screens in your living room, then why not fire up a classic football video game during the breaks? A little friendly competition between you and your friends will help to keep the energy and spirits up. You can opt straight for the latest Madden NFL game, or you can dive into the archives and play one of the all-time great football games, such as ESPN NFL 2K5 or Tecmo Super Bowl.

Head Outside 

Unless you’ve got an outdoor projector and screen, you’re going to spend a lot of game day inside. And while that’s fine when the rain is falling, if it’s a beautifully sunny day then that can be a little frustrating. So why not use some of the break time to head outside and catch those rays? The two classic game day activities are throwing some meat on the grill and throwing the football around. That’s a good day in anyone’s book.

Make Your Predictions

If you fancy yourself as something of a football expert, then take these breaks as an opportunity to show off your deep understanding of the game. There’s no obligation to listen to views of the pundits in the studio, and especially not if you think you know better. If you’ve got your buddies around, then make sure you proclaim your predictions for the remainder of the game. We’re not saying that they’re going to love your unsolicited analysis, but you’ll certainly enjoy the smug satisfaction of being right if you turn out to be so!

Embrace the Commercials 

Yes, the number of commercials during a football game can be a little ridiculous. But sometimes, if you can’t beat them, you have to join them. If you’re tapped out of inspiration and can’t think of anything better to do, throw yourself into the dizzying world of commercials. You might find that they’re not so terrible after all, once you start paying a little more attention (or you may realize that they’re worse than you thought).