Rookie J.J. McCarthy delivered a historic NFL debut, leading the Vikings from a 17-6 fourth-quarter deficit to a 27-24 win over the Bears on Monday night. He became the first QB to account for three fourth-quarter touchdowns in his debut, tying Vikings history back to Fran Tarkenton’s 1961 opener. Chicago’s 11 penalties and late-game lapses helped Minnesota seize control.
A typical NFL game consists of four 15-minute quarters, each with a 12-minute halftime break. In addition, the clock is stopped for certain situations such as a penalty or a first down. If the game is tight, the referee can also call for an additional two-minute break at the end of the fourth quarter. As a result, the average length of an NFL game is around three hours. Other factors such as a long injury break or a significant number of timeouts can also increase the total length of the game.