The NFL‘s reign as a ratings powerhouse seems indestructible, regardless of fan frustrations. Week after week, viewers return, and Thursday night’s matchup between the Jets and Patriots was no different.

However, this time, it wasn’t the gameplay or the score that had fans buzzing-it was an awkward sequence of commercials that stole the spotlight.

During the Jets’ 24-3 win over the Patriots at MetLife Stadium, what should have been a typical injury timeout turned into a frustrating experience for viewers.

With just five seconds remaining in the third quarter, Jets offensive tackle Morgan Moses went down with an injury. Instead of allowing the remaining seconds to run out before tending to him, the game was halted per league protocol.

But what happened next left fans scratching their heads-and reaching for their phones to complain. Amazon Prime, the network carrying the game, cut to a full commercial break.

Once the ads ended and the game resumed, only five seconds ticked off the clock before viewers were sent back to another set of commercials. The back-to-back ad interruptions felt clumsy and unnecessary, creating a frustrating viewing experience.

Social media reaction

The social media response was swift. Fans voiced their irritation at the awkward pacing, noting that the constant interruptions broke the rhythm of the game. It’s not uncommon for NFL fans to grumble about commercial overload, but this instance seemed particularly jarring and disruptive.

While the outcome of the game was important, it was the commercial timing that truly dominated postgame conversations.

“Go to commercial for an injury, return to watch players stand on field as 5 seconds ticks off to end quarter, go to commercial. The NFL,” Tom Fornelli said.

Bears Muse added: “If there’s one thing NFL needs to change, it’s the amount of commercial breaks there is during a game.”