Bills-Chargers game set to become the first in NFL history with no commercials in the fourth quarter

Hop onto NBC's Peacock for fourth quarter commercial free Bills vs Chargers viewing.

Bills-Chargers game set to become the first in NFL history with no commercials in the fourth quarter

Josh Allen of Bills and Easton Stick of Chargers (via Sky Sports and IMAGO)

When something happens for the first time in the NFL, it’s usually game-related. But in the case of the Buffalo Bills‘ next game against the Los Angeles Chargers, the news comes from off the field rather than from it. The broadcasters of the Christmas Eve game at SoFi will not run any commercials during the fourth quarter.

Saturday night will see a crucial AFC tie between the Bills, who will look to keep their playoff dreams alive, and the already-eliminated Chargers. For the first time, it will be shown exclusively on the NBC Sports streaming platform, Peacock. The bonus is the reduced commercial time.

As per Associated Press sportswriter Joe Reedy, who spoke with NBC’s “Sunday Night Football coordinating producer Rob Hyland, they have spent months brainstorming ideas to make the Peacock-exclusive broadcast materially different from a typical football game broadcast on a TV. They found a solution by reducing the standard NFL ad time, which will provide viewers with additional game engagement.

Hyland told the AP:

The limited stoppages are exciting for me as someone who wants to tell the story of the game and has the time to do it.
Rob Hyland to AP

What could the extra minutes in the Buffalo Bills-Los Angeles Chargers broadcast be used for?

Every game is a must-win for the Buffalo Bills because they have won five times with an 8-6 record. Josh Allen‘s side sits just outside of the playoff bubble in the 9th spot. If they beat the Chargers, who have an interim head coach following the firing of Brandon Staley, the Bills can close the gap between them and the teams ahead.

Bills-Chargers game set to become the first in NFL history with no commercials in the fourth quarter
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook (Image via Si)

No one will miss a single moment of football action, to begin with. That’s because all 60 minutes of the game will be shown on TV. On top of that, the extended 12 minutes could be used to deepen the understanding of the game.

The NBC broadcasting trio of Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth, and Melissa Stark will use the first 2 minutes and 20 seconds to discuss a few storylines regarding the Bills-Chargers game. It won’t be over there.

The next 2 minutes and 20 seconds will be slotted for the “Football Night in America” studio crew. They will talk about reviewing the Week 16 games. There are 13 games between December 24 and December 25, so buckle up for some festive football. Not everyone has to watch the game on Peacock. Those who live in Buffalo and Los Angeles can watch the game on NBC Network TV.

In case you missed it: