As the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks make their final preparations ahead of Super Bowl XLVIII, fans of each team continue to count down the days leading up to the biggest game of the NFL season. While each team continues to practice, watch film and insert their respective game plans prior the big game, NFL officials and those who oversee the hosting of the game are putting the final touches on MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Mass transit across the Northern New Jersey area is expected to see the public transportation of some 80,000 football fans, especially since parking will be at a premium due to the NFL cutting down the availability of game day parking spots around the stadium.
Sure the transportation issues, ticket prices (depending on where you sit) and the canceling of tailgating will sour the mood of some fans hoping to take in the best of the Super Bowl experience but as far as the game itself is concerned, the 2014 NFL Championship between the league’s No. 1 defense and one of the best offenses the NFL has ever seen should not disappoint. Seattle’s well-documented "Legion of Boom" defense -- led by the phenomenal play of cornerback Richard Sherman and safety Earl Thomas -- possesses the ability to take over any game they enter. On the other side of the ball, Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos will display the best offensive weaponry Seattle has seen all season.
Manning’s receiving corps -- which consists of former New England Patriots stud Wes Welker, Demaryius Thomas, Eric Decker and Julius Thomas -- combined for over 4,200 receiving yards during the 2013-2014 regular season while also reeling in 47 total touchdowns, numbers that will certainly catch the attention of the opposing defense. Add in the fact that Peyton Manning is one of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time and will be participating in his third career Super Bowl and this game becomes all the more intriguing.
With kickoff of Super Bowl XLVIII set for 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, Feb. 2 here’s five interesting facts concerning this season’s contest.
1. SB XLVIII will be First Super Bowl Played Outdoors in a Cold-Weather City
Previous cold-weather states including Michigan, Indiana and Minnesota have all hosted Super Bowls but those games were played in dome stadiums. With Super Bowl 48 about to become the first championship game played outside in a cold-weather city, fans in NFL towns such as Philadelphia, Chicago, Green Bay, Denver, Washington and Pittsburgh are hoping things shape out this time around in order to create potential Super Bowl appearances in their respective hometowns.
2. Third Time in Super Bowl History Both Teams Nicknames Are Animals
With the Broncos taking on the Seahawks, the 2014 Super Bowl will be just the third one in history to have two opponents both nicknamed after animals. The previous two games to have this interesting distinction came in 1999 and 2007, with John Elway and the Broncos upending the Atlanta Falcons 34-19 in Super Bowl XXXIII and Peyton Manning’s Indianapolis Colts taking care of the Chicago Bears 29-17 in Super Bowl XLI.
3. Super Bowl XLVIII Will Have 43 Sponsors
One of the most entertaining parts of the big game outside of the contest itself comes during television commercials. This year’s edition of the Super Bowl will see the recognizing of 43 total sponsors -- including Bank of America, Citi, Bud Light and The New York Times -- with ad costs reaching a whopping $4.5 million for certain TV spots during the FOX broadcast.
4. The NFC is 5-1 Against the Spread in Previous 6 Super Bowls
If you’re someone who likes to lay significant amounts of money on the NFL’s top game, knowing that the NFC has taken 5 of the last 6 championships against the spread may be helpful. The underdogs -- which as of 1/29/14 is Seattle -- are also 5-1 in the last 6 games, stats that make the Seattle Seahawks a sexier pick, if you’re into that sort of thing!
5. Super Bowl XLVIII Will be Televised in More Than 180 Countries
The most popular sport in the United States will watch its brand expand on an even bigger scale this year with the game between Denver and Seattle to air LIVE in over 180 countries. The game will also be broadcast in 30 different languages, a true indication that the National Football League is hoping to become a world-wide commodity.
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