Super Bowl LVI
Super Bowl Sunday is on the horizon. And while some Americans might be a little wide off the mark when they trumpet it as the world’s biggest sports event, the game has been growing in stature outside of America in recent years. Indeed, regardless if you are in Mumbai, Manchester or Melbourne on the day of the big game, there’s a fair chance you will hear of people having Super Bowl watch parties and events.
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But if you are joining one of those parties, or simply want to know more about the big game, we have you covered. Below, we will tell you everything you need to know about Super Bowl LVI in a brief guide:
Who’s Playing?
The Super Bowl is the match-up between the two conference winners in American football, and it will see the NFC champions, the LA Rams, take on the AFC champions, the Cincinnati Bengals.
When and Where?
The game is set to be played at 6.30 pm Eastern Time in the United States on Sunday 13th February, meaning it will go on at around 8am in the morning in Mumbai. The game will be played at the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. In a stroke of fortune, it’s actually the Rams’ home stadium.
What About the Half-Time Show?
Ah. Well, the Super Bowl is not only about the football. The Half-Time Show has become a cultural event in its own right. This year will see Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Dr Dre, Eminem, and Kendrick Lamar. So, if you like rap, hip-hop, and R&B, you are in for a treat.
What About the Two Teams?
Both teams are something of surprise packages this year. The ranking system is complicated in American football, but it suffices to say this is the first time in Super Bowl history that no team ranked in the top 3 seeds in either conference has made it to the big game. The Bengals are led by rising young star quarterback Joe Burrow, who has been setting loads of records this season. The Rams arguably have a little more depth, but they rely heavily on their own quarterback, Matthew Stafford. Each man will have a big say on the outcome of the game.
So, Who Is Going to Win?
It’s a tough call. The Rams are +4.5 in the spread, which is a type of handicap betting used to show the favourite prematch. So, going by what the bookmakers say, the Rams have the upper hand. Having the game played in their home stadium might help, too. But Super Bowls can be wildly unpredictable, and, if anything, it’s Cincinnati that has the most momentum. It has all the ingredients for a compelling game.
Any History Involved?
Yep. The two managers, Sean McVay (Rams) and Zac Taylor (Bengals), who are aged 36 and 38 respectively, are the two youngest opposing coaches in Super Bowl history. Taylor used to be an assistant to McVay before he moved to Cincinnati, so the coaches will know each other well. This will be the 5th Super Bowl for the Rams – they’ve won one and lost four. This will be the 3rd Super Bowl for the Bengals, who have never won the biggest prize in American sports.
Anything Else?
Sure. We mentioned that it’s about more than sports, and there is scrutiny on just about everything at the Super Bowl. The cost of a 30-second television advert during the broadcast is said to USD 6.5 million – almost 500 million rupees!