the commercial saturation is a key
I have started to record games and having to watch later in the evening
just a matter of how much time is consumed by commercial breaks; even worse sitting in the hot arena during long breaks.
Thursday was attractive it's originating days. But it just isn't "must watch" TV. On the west coast it starts early enough one is guaranteed to miss a large portion because work and traffic.
And it ruins the turnaround the players need from the prior Sunday, so often the clubs just aren't recovered enough to play well.
back to the commercials........the timeouts after kickoffs are stupid.
timeouts after punts......long and stupid.
it's not about shortening the game, it's about shortening the commercial breaks.