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51 Stops to Super Bowl LI
Jim Rogash/Getty Images

51 Stops to Super Bowl LI

The Falcons and Patriots will meet to determine the NFL's champion. But as you know, the Super Bowl is about more than just the game. As we head into Super Bowl LI, let's look at 51 facts about the contestants, the pageantry and other tidbits that surround one of the most watched events of the year.  

 
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#51 - Do as the Romans do

Do as the Romans do
AP Photo/Charlie Riedel

After a one year reprieve, the Super Bowl is back to its Roman numeral roots. Last year in order not to label the 50th Super Bowl a "L," the game used a golden 50 in the name. This year, we are back to LI which will be the first Super Bowl to begin with the letter L. It will be that way until Super Bowl XC which is Super Bowl 90. The letter X was at the beginning of every Super Bowl since Super Bowl IX (39 years). The only other letters to begin a Super Bowl is I and V.

 
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#50 - Belichick knows Super Bowls

Belichick knows Super Bowls
Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Bill Belichick breaks a tie Don Shula with his seventh Super Bowl appearance as a head coach. Belichick has taken the Patriots to the big game all seven times while Shula took the Dolphins to five Super Bowls and the Colts to one. With a win, Belichick will break a tie with Chuck Noll for his fifth Super Bowl title.

Belichick was also the defensive coordinator for the Giants in Super Bowls XXI and XXV and an assistant head coach for the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI. That's ten Super Bowls he's coached in.

Amazingly, in his 17 seasons as the Patriots head coach, Belichick has taken his team to 11 AFC Championship games including a current streak of six in a row.

Don't sleep on Atlanta's head coach Dan Quinn. He has been to three of the last four Super Bowls (he was the defensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowls XLVIII and XLIX).

 
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#49 - Don't mess with Texas

Don't mess with Texas
Thomas B. Shea/Getty Images

This will be just the fourth Super Bowl hosted by the state of Texas. Kind of surprising since the weather is usually good and they've had good stadiums to hold the event.

NRG Stadium is hosting its second Super Bowl (XXXVIII was the other). Houston's Rice Stadium held Super Bowl VIII. The Astrodome never had a Super Bowl. The only other Texas city to have the game was Arlington's AT&T Stadium (XLV).

That doesn't mean the state hasn't been well represented in the game. The Dallas Cowboys have been to eight Super Bowls – none of them played in Texas. That means 12 of the 51 Super Bowls have had a Texas flavor to them.

 
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#48 - Ask the Seahawks how to beat these two

Ask the Seahawks how to beat these two
Adam Glanzman/Getty Images

The Seattle Seahawks were the only team to beat both the New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons this season.

Seattle beat the Falcons at home, 26-24, in that controversial ending where a pass interference call wasn't made against Richard Sherman late. Still, Seattle made a comeback to win that game even though Matt Ryan torched them for over 350 yards and three TDs.

One month later, the Seahawks went into Foxborough and beat the Patriots, 31-24. It was the only game Tom Brady lost all season (he was suspended for their Week 4 loss to Buffalo) and the last time they've lost, period. Seattle used a goal-line stand late to clinch the win over the Patriots. Brady was held without a TD but LaGarrette Blount ran three in for New England in the loss.

Seattle would win the NFC West division title and lose to the Falcons in the NFC Divisional round.

 
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#47 - It's not about the money

It's not about the money
Thomas Trutschel/Getty Images

The winning team's players will earn a $107,000 bonus while the losing team will go home with $53,000 per player. By comparison, the World Series losing Cleveland Indians made $261,804 per player. The champion Cubs got $512,000.

 
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#46 - The AFC loves February

The AFC loves February
Al Bello/Getty Images

The Super Bowl will be held on February 5th. Since the first February Super Bowl in 2002, the AFC is 9-5 in those games held in the calendar's shortest month:

 

Super Bowl XXXVI: Patriots beat Rams on February 3, 2002
Super Bowl XXXVIII: Patriots beat Panthers on February 1, 2004
Super Bowl XXXIX: Patriots beat Eagles on February 6, 2005
Super Bowl XL: Steelers beat Seahawks on February 5, 2006
Super Bowl XLI: Colts beat Bears on February 4, 2007
Super Bowl XLII: Giants beat Patriots on February 3, 2008
Super Bowl XLIII: Steelers beat Cardinals on February 1, 2009
Super Bowl XLIV: Saints beat Colts on February 7, 2010
Super Bowl XLV: Packers beat Steelers on February 6, 2011
Super Bowl XLVI:  Giants beat Patriots on February 5, 2012
Super Bowl XLVII: Ravens beat 49ers on February 3, 2013
Super Bowl XLVIII: Seahawks beat Broncos on February 2, 2014
Super Bowl XLIX: Patriots beat Seahawks on February 1, 2015
Super Bowl 50: Broncos beat Panthers on February 7, 2016

 
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#45 - Score early and often

Score early and often
Rick Stewart/Getty Images

*The team who scores first in a Super Bowl is 34-16.

*Teams who score at least 30 points are 25-2. Only the Cowboys (SB XIII) and the 49ers (SB XLVII) scored at least 30 points and lost.

*Teams that score the first TD are 37-13.

*Teams leading at the half are 37-10 (there have been three ties)

 
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#44 - The Patriots and Falcons are back

The Patriots and Falcons are back
Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

The New England Patriots are making their record ninth Super Bowl appearance. They are 4-4 in their previous trips to the big game and each of them were pretty memorable. In Super Bowl XX, they were blown out by the legendary 1985 Chicago Bears. They'd make it back for Super Bowl XXXI where they'd lost to Brett Favre and the Packers. In the Tom Brady era, they would win Super Bowls XXXVI, XXXVIII and XXXIX by three points each (the first two on Adam Vinatieri kicks as time expired). They would famously lose Super Bowl XLII to the Giants, ending their perfect season, then losing to the Giants again in Super Bowl XLVI. In Super Bowl XLIX, the Patriots beat the Seahawks in one of the greatest Super Bowl endings when Malcolm Butler picked off Russell Wilson in the end zone.

The Falcons are going to just their second Super Bowl ever. Atlanta lost Super Bowl XXXIII to the Denver Broncos, 34-19, in what would be John Elway's final game.

With a win, the Patriots would join the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers in second place all time for Super Bowl victories (5). Everyone trails the Steelers' six rings. A Falcons win would put them among the 19 of 32 franchises with a Super Bowl victory.

 
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#43 - Trio dominates the Super Bowl

Trio dominates the Super Bowl
Jim Rogash/Getty Images

Since Super Bowl XXXVIII (a span of 14 years), the AFC has been represented by Peyton Manning, Tom Brady or Ben Roethlisberger 13 times. Brady is making his record 7th in that time (Manning has 4 appearances have been in that time, Big Ben 3). The lone off year was Super Bowl XLVII when the Ravens' Joe Flacco won it.

In that same 14 year span, the NFC has had 12 different QBs. The only repeats on that side are Eli Manning and Russell Wilson, who each went twice. Those four AFC quarterbacks have won 9 of the 13 previous Super Bowls.

Brady is trying to win his 5th Super Bowl, breaking a tie with quarterbacks Terry Bradshaw and Joe Montana.

 
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#42 - People ... or birds?

People ... or birds?
Paras Griffin/Getty Images

The Falcons are one of five NFL franchises with a bird as a mascot (Cardinals, Eagles, Ravens and Seahawks are the others). Those bird teams are a combined 3-5 in Super Bowls with the Ravens winning two and the Seahawks winning the other.

People are more prevalent. The Patriots join the Steelers, Cowboys, 49ers, Packers, Giants, Raiders, Redskins, Chiefs, Buccaneers, Saints, Vikings and Texans for a combined 37-20 mark in the Super Bowl. People are better than birds.

 
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#41 - Super Bowl on FOX

Super Bowl on FOX
Fred Vuich /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images

This will be the 8th time FOX will televise the Super Bowl, passing ABC for 3rd most all-time by a network. FOX's first Super Bowl was 20 years ago (Super Bowl XXXI). Joe Buck and Troy Aikman. Buck will be calling his 5th Super Bowl (Buck's father, Jack, called Super Bowl IV for CBS television and 17 Super Bowls on radio). Aikman will be making his 5th appearance as a color analyst for a Super Bowl. Aikman won three Super Bowls as a player for the Dallas Cowboys and won Super Bowl XXVII MVP. John Madden is the only person to have called Super Bowls on all four major networks (ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC).

 
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#40 - Denver flavor?

Denver flavor?
Focus on Sport/Getty Images

Even though they won't be there, the Denver Broncos have a bit of a mist over this game.

*The Broncos are the defending champs and have played in 2 of the last 3 Super Bowls

*The Falcons lone Super Bowl to date was against the Denver Broncos

*Atlanta's head coach in that Super Bowl (XXXIII) was Dan Reeves. Reeves took the Broncos to three Super Bowls in the 1980s and 90s.

*Atlanta's offensive coordinator is Kyle Shanahan. Shanahan's father, Mike, won two Super Bowls as head coach of the Denver Broncos, including the aforementioned Super Bowl XXXIII.

*Word is Broncos' star DeMarcus Ware will be in a commercial for Proctor & Gamble during the Super Bowl. And you will probably see Peyton Manning and Papa John's surrounding some advertising.

 
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#39 - Your referee is ...

Your referee is ...
Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images

The refs for Super Bowl LI will be headed up by Carl Cheffers. This will be his first Super Bowl and only three on his crew have worked a Super Bowl previously. They may not see much action, however. The Falcons and Patriots are the two of the least penalized teams in the NFL this season.

Cheffers' uniform number is 51... just like the Super Bowl.

 
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#38 - Division all in

Division all in
Al Bello/Getty Images

The only divisions that don't have all of their members with appearances in a Super Bowl are the AFC North (Browns), AFC South (Texas, Jaguars) and NFC North (Lions).

No division has all their members with Super Bowl championships. The NFC East (Eagles didn't win), AFC West (Chargers) and AFC East (Bills) have seen three of their four members win a title. The NFC East is the only division to have each of their members in multiple Super Bowls. The Cowboys have been to eight, the Redskins and Giants have been to five and the Eagles have been to two.

 
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#37 - NFC East tops them all

NFC East tops them all
George Rose/Getty Images

The NFC East easily has the most Super Bowl champions than any other division. The 12 titles won bests the AFC North for the top honors. The NFC East dominated from 1986-1995. In that span, the Giants ('86, '90), Redskins ('87, '91) and Cowboys ('92, '93, '95) went to and won 7 of 10 Super Bowls during that decade. The only other Super Bowl champ was San Francisco ('88, '89, '94).

Here's a rundown of the divisions:

12-NFC EAST (Cowboys-5, Giants-4, Redskins-3)

8-AFC NORTH (Steelers-6, Ravens-2)

7-NFC WEST (Niners-5, Rams-1, Seahawks-1)

7-AFC EAST (Patriots-4, Dolphins-2, Jets-1)

7-AFC WEST (Raiders-3, Broncos-3, Chiefs-1)

5-NFC NORTH (Packers-4, Bears-1)

2-AFC SOUTH (Colts-2)

2-NFC SOUTH (Buccaneers-1, Saints-1)

As for Super Bowl appearances, the NFC East wins this title again:

20-NFC EAST (Cowboys-8, Redskins-5, Giants-5, Eagles-2)

19-AFC EAST (Patriots-9, Dolphins-5, Bills-4, Jets-1)

16-AFC WEST (Broncos-8, Raiders-5, Chiefs-2, Chargers-1)

13-NFC WEST (Niners-6, Rams-3, Seahawks-3, Cardinals-1)

12-AFC NORTH (Steelers-8, Ravens-2, Bengals-2)

11-NFC NORTH (Packers-5, Vikings-4, Bears-2)

6-NFC SOUTH (Falcons-2, Panthers-2, Bucs-1, Saints-1)

5-AFC SOUTH (Colts-4, Titans-1)

 
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#36 - There is another Vince Lombardi trophy out there

There is another Vince Lombardi trophy out there
Larry French/Getty Images

There have been 50 Super Bowls to date yet there are 51 Vince Lombardi Trophies (given to the Super Bowl winning team) out and about. How is that?

Well, that little ditty comes to light after the passing of Rams owner Georgia Frontiere. Frontiere's husband, former-Colts and Rams owner Carroll Rosenbloom, is the reason behind the story.

When Colts owner Carroll Rosenbloom, Frontiere's late husband, traded the Colts for the Rams in a franchise swap in 1972, he decided he wanted to keep the Lombardi Trophy the Colts won in Super Bowl V. When Super Bowl VII took place in Los Angeles, Rosenbloom told the Colts he was going to put on a display of Super Bowl trophies and asked them to bring it to the West Coast. They did. There was no display, and Rosenbloom never returned the trophy. After the Colts complained to the league office, former NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle had a duplicate made for the Colts, which remains in Baltimore (it was originally shipped to Indianapolis when the team moved but a deal was struck and it was returned to Maryland). The original Super Bowl V trophy? It presumably was in Frontiere's possession and now belongs to her heirs.

So, there are two Vince Lombardi trophies awarded for Super Bowl V yet neither are with the franchise that won it. The original was in St. Louis with Frontiere with the other in Baltimore, the Colts old digs. Meanwhile, Indianapolis can only show off the trophy they won over the Bears.

 
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#35 - Heisman winners winning Super Bowls

Heisman winners winning Super Bowls
Focus on Sport/Getty Images

Roger Staubach and Jim Plunkett are the only Heisman Trophy winning quarterbacks to also win a Super Bowl as a starter. 

Ten Heisman Trophy winners have won Super Bowls. That includes Paul Hornung, Mike Garrett, Staubach, Tony Dorsett, Plunkett, Marcus Allen, George Rogers, Desmond Howard, Charles Woodson and Reggie Bush. Staubach, Plunkett, Allen and Howard were also Super Bowl MVPs.

Dorsett, Allen and Woodson are the only players to win a Heisman, a college National Championship and a Super Bowl. John Huarte, the 1964 Heisman winner, was on the roster of the Super Bowl IV winning Chiefs but never saw action.

 
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#34 - Atlanta love playing Super Bowl QBs

Atlanta love playing Super Bowl QBs
Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

The Falcons were 5-1 this season against Super Bowl winning quarterbacks. Atlanta beat Aaron Rodgers (twice), Russell Wilson and Drew Brees (twice), with the lone loss coming to Wilson during the regular season. If you add in Super Bowl QBs that lost (Cam Newton, Colin Kaepernick), the Falcons are 7-1.

The Patriots were 3-1 against Super Bowl winning QBs this year with their lone loss to Russell Wilson.

 
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#33 - Old man Brady

Old man Brady
Jim Rogash/Getty Images

Tom Brady will be the second-oldest quarterback to start a Super Bowl trailing only Peyton Manning, who won last year's Super Bowl. He will be 39 years and 186 days old on Super Sunday, trailing Manning by just a few months.

 
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#32 - Championship cities

Championship cities
Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

New England and Atlanta couldn't be more different when it comes to championships.

The New England Patriots are looking for their fifth Super Bowl victory, which would tie them for 2nd place all-time. The Boston Red Sox have won three World Series championships since 2004 and the Celtics have 17 NBA titles, best all-time and the Bruins won the 2011 Stanley Cup.

Atlanta is looking for its second professional sports championship. The Falcons are looking for their first Super Bowl title. The Hawks haven't won an NBA Championship since moving to Atlanta. The Braves won the 1995 World Series and the lone title for the ATL.

 
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#31 - Some new blood

Some new blood
Patrick Smith/Getty Images

The 2016 season was only the 5th time in Super Bowl history that neither of the two Super Bowl participants from the previous year made the playoffs. Both the Broncos and Panthers had poorer than expected seasons and comfortably failed to make the playoffs. It last happened in 2003-2004 when both the Buccaneers and Raiders failed to make the postseason after appearing in XXXVII.

It also happened in 2002-2003 (Patriots, Rams), 1999-2000 (Broncos, Falcons), 1988-1989 (Redskins, Broncos).

 
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#30 - Quarterbacks coming back

Quarterbacks coming back
Getty Images

20 quarterbacks have started multiple Super Bowls, including Tom Brady. Brady will be making his record seventh start at QB for a Super Bowl. No quarterback was won more playoff games, more total games and he's attempting to win his record fifth Super Bowl. No quarterback has thrown more passes, more touchdowns or more yards in the Super Bowl than Brady. His appearance in Super Bowl LI will set a record of any player regardless of position.

Those 20 quarterbacks with multiple starts are a combined 36-24 with obvious overlap in the game. Quarterbacks who have started at least four Super Bowls are a combined 18-13 and QBs who are starting in at least their fourth Super Bowl are 6-4.

Only Peyton Manning, Craig Morton and Kurt Warner have started Super Bowls for two different teams.

 
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#29 - Future Super Bowls

Future Super Bowls
Hannah Foslien/Getty Images

Super Bowl LII will be held in the new sparkling U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, MN. Minneapolis will be hosting its second Super Bowl. Super Bowl LIII will be at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, the third time that city has hosted the game and the first for the stadium that will debut next season.

The retooled Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens will host Super Bowl LIV, the sixth time for the stadium and eleventh time for the Miami area. The soon-to-be-built City Of Champions Stadium in Inglewood, CA will host Super Bowl LV. It will be the first time since Super Bowl XXVII that the Los Angeles area will host a Super Bowl – a 28 year absence.

 
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#28 - Super Bowl post-programming

Super Bowl post-programming
FOX

FOX will air the season premiere for "24: Legacy" after the Super Bowl.

The trend recently is for the network broadcasting the Super Bowl loves breaking in new shows or extended shows following the game.  "Undercover Boss" (CBS, 2010), "Extreme" (ABC, 1995), "Homicide" (NBC, 1993), "Davis Rules" (ABC, 1991), "Grand Slam" (CBS, 1990), "The Wonders Years" (ABC, 1988), "Hard Copy" (CBS, 1987), "The Last Precinct" (NBC, 1986), "MacGruder and Loud" (ABC, 1985), "Airwolf" (CBS, 1984), "The A-Team" (NBC, 1983) and "Brothers and Sisters" (NBC, 1979) as shows who debuted after the Super Bowl.

Some other big-time heavyweights have also appeared right after the game. "Lassie," "All in the Family," "60 Minutes," "CHiPs," "Archie Bunker's Place," "Friends," "The X-Files," "The Simpsons," "Survivor," "Grey's Anatomy," "House" and "The Office" all have been post-Super Bowl shows.

 
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#27 - Been there, done that

Been there, done that
Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images

There have been 21 Super Bowls where one starting QB comes in with Super Bowl experience while the other one doesn't. Does experience matter? Well, the QB with the experience is just 11-10 in those games.

However, in four of the last five occasions of this happening the new guy won. Russell Wilson (new) beat Peyton Manning (old), Aaron Rodgers (new) beat Big Ben (old), Drew Brees (new) beat Peyton Manning (old) and Eli Manning (new) beat Tom Brady (old) in their first Super Bowl matchup. Last year, Peyton Manning (old) beat Cam Newton (new).

Brady will be making his seventh Super Bowl start while Matt Ryan makes his first.

 
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#26 - Super Bowl consumption

Super Bowl consumption
Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

Some nice stats for you:

8 million: Total pounds of popcorn consumed on Super Bowl Sunday.

28 million: Pounds of potato chips consumed.

53.5 million: Pounds of avocados consumed.

222,792: Number of football fields worth of farmland to grow all that corn, potatoes, and avocados.

11.8: Depth, in feet, of guacamole consumed if it were spread across the football field.

293,000: Number of miles of potato chips, laid end to end, consumed during the game.

1 billion: Number of chicken wings consumed on Super Bowl Sunday.

325.5 million: Gallons of beer drank by Americans that day.

493: Number of Olympic-sized swimming pools that could be filled with all that beer.

20%: Increase in anti-acid sales the Monday after the game.

7 million: Number of employees who will not show up to work Monday.

 
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#25 - Don't dismiss the favorites

Don't dismiss the favorites
Chris Wilkens/Getty Images

Yeah, there are upsets, but don't count on them. The favorite has won ten of the last 18 Super Bowls. In fact the favorite is 32-18 in the Super Bowl. Teams favored by at least seven points are 19-6.

 
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#24 - Still, never underestimate the underdog

Still, never underestimate the underdog
Kidwiler Collection/Diamond Images/Getty Images

Over the past 12 Super Bowls, six of them had a team whose playoff seed was either 4, 5 or 6. Those teams are 5-1 when they get there (only the 2008 Cardinals didn't win – and they nearly did) with those teams beating either a No. 1 or No. 2 seed. Here is a short list of some notable Super Bowl upsets:

Super Bowl III: The Baltimore Colts came in as 18-point favorites. They left watching the Jets' Joe Namath fulfilling his prediction of an upset. Super Bowl IV: The Kansas City Chiefs spanked the Minnesota Vikings, despite being a 12-point underdog.

Super Bowl VII: Oddly, the undefeated Miami Dolphins entered the game as 1.5-point underdogs to the Washington Redskins.

Super Bowl XXV: The Buffalo Bills would begin their four game Super Bowl losing streak by succumbing to the Giants, who were 7-point dogs.

Super Bowl XXXII: The Denver Broncos, an 11.5-point underdog, ended the AFC's thirteen game losing streak by beating Green Bay.

Super Bowl XXXVI: These New England Patriots began their dynasty by beating the St. Louis Rams, who were 14-point favorites.

Super Bowl XLII: The 12-point dog Giants ended the Patriots perfect season with a magical game. See, it can happen. Just because we all think one way doesn't mean we cannot be shocked. After all, those 2001 Rams were juggernauts who were former champions and were heavy favorites. They left without the trophy.

 
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#23 - NFC owns the coin toss, but ...

NFC owns the coin toss, but ...
Harry How/Getty Images

The NFC has won 17 of the last 19 coin tosses, including a 14 year winning streak mixed in. The team that wins the opening coin toss is just 24-26 in the game. That averages out to, well, the flip of a coin.

However, the coin toss winner has been the Super Bowl loser in 13 of the last 19 games.

SB 50: Panthers won the toss, lost the game

SB 49: Seahawks won the toss, lost the game

SB 48: Seahawks won the toss and the game

SB 47: Ravens won the toss and the game

SB 46: Patriots won the toss, lost the game

SB 45: Packers won the toss and the game

SB 44: Saints won the toss and the game

SB 43: Cardinals won the toss, lost the game*

SB 42: Giants won the toss and the game

SB 41: Bears won the toss, lost the game

SB 40: Seahawks won the toss, lost the game

SB 39: Eagles won the toss, lost the game

SB 38: Panthers won the toss, lost the game

SB 37: Buccaneers won the toss and the game

SB 36: Rams won the toss, lost the game

SB 35: Giants won the toss, lost the game

SB 34: Rams won the toss and the game

SB 33: Falcons won the toss, lost the game

SB 32: Packers won the toss, lost the game

SB 31: Patriots won the toss, lost the game

*A little aside to this is that the Arizona Cardinals won the toss and deferred to the second half. The Steelers chose to receive which means the Cards were the first team in Super Bowl history to win the coin toss and kickoff. Since then, deferring to the second half is now the norm. The Seahawks would do the same in Super Bowls XLVIII and XLIX and the Panthers in Super Bowl 50.

 
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#22 - Kickin' it up, pickin' it up and making sure you score

Kickin' it up, pickin' it up and making sure you score
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

- There has been at least one successful field goal in 48 of 50 Super Bowls.

- Teams that have been shut out for one half (either the first or second) are a combined 1-19. The lone winner was those 1972 Dolphins who went scoreless in the second half of Super Bowl VII.

- Only one Super Bowl featured teams from the same state. Super Bowl XXIX between the Chargers and 49ers. The Giants and Bills both are "New York" teams, but the Giants play their home games in New Jersey.

- Also, teams that intercept a pass for a TD are 12-0 in the Super Bowl. No losing team has returned a pick-six.

 
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#21 - NFC South vs AFC East

NFC South vs AFC East
Timothy A. Clary/Getty Images

Super Bowl LI matches up teams from the NFC South and AFC East. This will be the second time these two divisions have met for the Super Bowl. Here is how the other meeting turned out.

XXXVIII: Patriots beat Panthers

The NFC South is making just their sixth Super Bowl appearance as a division. The Patriots will be making their 9th appearance by themselves. The Falcons join the Panthers as the only NFC South teams to go to multiple Super Bowls, but neither has won one. In fact, the Buccaneers and Saints won their only trips to the big game.

 
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#20 - Things non-football fans can say to fit in

Things non-football fans can say to fit in
Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Look, I know that there are people in America that will be attending Super Bowl parties because... well, they love to party. Some won't know who's playing in the game until they get there. Don't worry. So the diehards around the party who actually care about the game won't think you're a newbie, I'm here to help.

Here are a few vague quotes that you can use so you fit in among the football fans. You don't have to engage in a conversation with these, just drop these in from time to time you will at look somewhat informed. 

"It will be awkward if Roger Goodell has to hand the trophy to Tom Brady, eh?"

"Is Brady the best quarterback ever?"

"You just gotta convert those third downs!"

"Don't sleep on Sanu!"

"Devonta Freeman needs a lot of touches."

"Third and long? I'd blitz."

"Remember the Bud Bowl?"

"I got a few bucks on this game."

"Damnit! I left my squares sheet at home!"

"It's nice to see the Falcons back in the Super Bowl!"

When there is a penalty called for holding, just say, "yeah, he was tackling him!"

"That's why they call him Matty Ice."

"Bold prediction: Edelman as MVP!"

"The Dirty Birds!"

Use only in a close game: "This could come down to who has the ball last."

 
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#19 - Wearing white is the key

Wearing white is the key
Patrick Smith/Getty Images

Since the Falcons are designated the home team, they get to pick their jerseys for the Super Bowl. Typically the road team will wear white for the game but last season, bucking the trend, the Broncos went their white jerseys. Good choice. In fact, the team that has worn white uniforms has won the last 11 of the last 12 Super Bowls (Broncos, Patriots, Seahawks, Ravens, Giants, Saints, Steelers, Giants, Colts, Steelers, Patriots). The Packers won Super Bowl XLV wearing green. The Broncos won last year's Super Bowl victory while wearing white.

White jerseys are 32-18 in Super Bowl games.

 
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#18 - Alternate viewing

Alternate viewing
Amanda Edwards/Getty Images for Discovery Communications

Not interested in the Super Bowl? Well, here are some alternatives to watch. Remember, there's not only the Puppy Bowl, but a Kitten Bowl and Fish Bowl as well.

ABC: "America's Funniest Home Videos" and "Shark Tank" marathon

A&E: "Hoarders" marathon

AMC: "The Walking Dead" marathon

ANIMAL PLANET: Puppy Bowl XIII

BRAVO: "Real Housewives Of Atlanta" marathon

CINEMAX: "The Intern"

CNN: "Death Row Stories" marathon

COMEDY CENTRAL: "South Park" marathon

E!: "Revenge Body with Khloe Kardashian" marathon

ESPN: "30 for 30" marathon

FOOD NETWORK: "Worst Cooks in America" marathon

FOX SPORTS 1: Monster Energy Supercross

FREEFORM: "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pts 1, 2"

FX: "Madagascar," "Penguins Of Madagascar"

FXX: "The Simpsons" marathon

GSN: "Family Feud" marathon

HALLMARK: Kitten Bowl IV

HISTORY: "American Pickers" marathon

HBO: "The Huntsman: Winter's War"

ID: "Dateline ID" marathon

MSNBC: "Locked Up - Extended Stay" marathon

MTV: "MTV Special" marathon

NAT-GEO: Fish Bowl IV

NBCSPORTS: Curling

NBC: "Safe Haven," "Ride Along"

NIK JR: "Peppa Pig" marathon

OWN: "Undercover Boss" marathon

OXYGEN: "Snapped!" marathon

POP: "Ghost Whisperer" marathon

SHOWTIME: "Homeland" marathon

SPIKE: "Cops" marathon

STARZ: "Black Sails" marathon

SYFY: "Mega Shark vs Kolossus"

TBS: "Shrek 2"

TCM: "Casablanca"

TLC: "Sister Wives: Maddie's Wedding Story"

TNT: "Tyler Perry's Madea's Big Happy Family"

TRUTV: "Impractical Jokers" marathon

USA: "Law & Order SVU" marathon

VICE: "Bong Appetit" marathon

WGN: "How I Met Your Mother" marathon

 
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#17 - The No. 1 draft picks

The No. 1 draft picks
Patrick Smith/Getty Images

Super Bowl 50 was the very first Super Bowl where both quarterbacks were No. 1 overall draft picks. Peyton Manning was drafted first overall in 1998; Cam Newton in 2011.  

Only Terry Bradshaw, Jim Plunkett, John Elway, Troy Aikman, Manning and Eli Manning have been top overall picks that also won a Super Bowl as a starting QB. Paul Hornung, Bubba Smith, Terry Bradshaw, Jim Plunkett, John Matuszak, Ed Jones, George Rogers, John Elway, Troy Aikman, Russell Maryland, Drew Bledsoe, Keyshawn Johnson, Orlando Pace, Peyton Manning, David Carr and Eli Manning have all been No. 1 picks who also won a Super Bowl.

However, Hornung, Bledsoe and Carr were just roster guys for their titles. Bledsoe did start and lose a Super Bowl.

No former No. 1 overall draft picks will playing in Super Bowl LI.

 
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#16 - List of Super Bowl no-names

List of Super Bowl no-names
Harry How / Getty Images

Below are guys that made their names in the Super Bowl. Some of these guys were pretty good NFLers before their breakout games ... some we haven't heard of before or since ... but performing well on the biggest of stages makes them legends.

Doug Williams (Redskins): It wasn't that Williams was a no-name as much as things really didn't pan out for him. Dude really came off the scrap heap. Williams did nothing much of note in his first years at Tampa Bay or in his USFL stint. Redskins coach Joe Gibbs (who coached Doug in Tampa) gave him a shot in 1986 to back up Jay Schroeder. In '87, Schroeder had some shoulder issues late in the season and Williams did a good job taking over. So much so that there was a QB controversy. Williams got the nod and the rest is history.

What Williams did in the 2nd quarter of Super Bowl XXII is nothing short of remarkable. He was 9-of-11 for 228 yards and 4 TDs. Again, that was just in the 2nd quarter! Williams would win the game's MVP and become the first (and only, so far) black quarterback to win a Super Bowl.

Timmy Smith (Redskins): If Doug Williams didn't win the MVP, Smith would have. Smith rushed for 204 yards (still a Super Bowl record) and two TDs. Coming into the game, Smith had rushed for just 129 yards that season. His career lasted just 15 games after the Super Bowl.

Max McGee (Packers): McGee is famous for his pre-Super Bowl I partying. With Boyd Dowler injured early in the game, a hung-over McGee would step in and catch the first TD pass in Super Bowl history. He would go on to catch seven passes for 138 yards and two TDs ... three more receptions than he had all season long.

Jeff Hostetler (Giants): People forget that Phil Simms didn't start the G-men's second Super Bowl title. Simms hurt his ankle late in the season and Hoss took it the rest of the way. He had the least amount of playing time of any QB to start a Super Bowl. He held up well, throwing for 222 yds and a TD.

Dan Bunz (49ers): The linebacker was instrumental in the greatest goal line stand in Super Bowl history, stuffing the Bengals four times with goal to go. The defining play was Bunz' tackle on a swing pass to Charles Alexander on third down (he was also in on the stop on fourth down).

Larry Brown (Cowboys): The running joke after Super Bowl XXX was that Brown was the Steelers' Neil O'Donnell's favorite target. Too bad he played for the other team. Brown picked off two O'Donnell throws ... his final game with Dallas. He used the MVP award to get a nice fat contract with the Raiders and did nothing much of note after the fact.

Dwight Smith (Buccaneers): If Brown won an MVP award for picking off two passes ... why didn't Smith win won for taking two picks back for TDs? He was a nickelback used a lot in a game where (a) Oakland's offensive attack warranted it and (b) the Raiders were so far behind that they had to take chances. Why ....

Dexter Jackson (Buccaneers): ... because Smith's second TD came in the closing seconds after the ballots had already been counted. Jackson had picked off two passes himself (none that went for TDs) that were momentum changers. And Jackson wouldn't have won the award either if not for fan voting taking place in the game (Simeon Rice was the press' pick).

Percy Howard (Cowboys): Never heard of him? Well, Howard came into Super Bowl X and caught a 34-yd touchdown pass from Roger Staubach. That was the only reception he had in his entire career.

Don Beebe (Bills): Beebe has been on six Super Bowl teams ... but will be remembered most for running down Leon Lett and stripping the ball right before crossing the endzone in Super Bowl XXVII.

David Tyree (Giants): Tyree will always be a legend for his amazing catch in Super Bowl XLII. A guy pretty much no one had heard of before and hasn't done anything since will be immortalized with possibly the greatest play in Super Bowl history.

Mario Manningham (Giants): He only caught 5 passes for 73 yards in Super Bowl XLVI, it was a huge 38-yard reception on the Giants' final, game-winning drive that will stick among the Super Bowl's greatest moments.

Malcolm Butler (Patriots):  Butler was an undrafted rookie when he made one of the biggest plays in Super Bowl history: intercepting Russell Wilson in Super Bowl XLIX with the game on the line.  

 
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#15 - Super Bowl MVPs in Canton

Super Bowl MVPs in Canton
Sylvia Allen/Getty Images

Winners of 23 Super Bowl MVP awards have gone on to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. You have Bart Starr (twice), Joe Namath, Len Dawson, Roger Staubach, Larry Csonka, Franco Harris, Lynn Swann, Fred Biletnikoff, Randy White, Terry Bradshaw (twice), Joe Montana (three times), John Riggins, Marcus Allen, Troy Aikman, Steve Young, Jerry Rice, Emmitt Smith and John Elway. Other winners, like Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Ray Lewis can look forward to seeing their busts in Canton one day (that hikes the number up to 28). Kurt Warner, Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees also have a shot at the Hall. So could Eli Manning.

Granted, not all winners of the Super Bowl MVP award go on to anything much. Guys like Larry Brown, Harvey Martin, Dexter Jackson, Desmond Howard, Mark Rypien, Deion Branch and Jake Scott have also won the award and the Hall is no where in their future.

 
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#14 - Five worst Super Bowls

Five worst Super Bowls
Harry How/Getty Images

Look, they aren't all winners. Some Super Bowls just aren't very good. Whether they are blowouts or just poorly played, some are just duds.

1. Super Bowl V: This one was nicknamed the "Blunder Bowl" for good reason. There were 11 turnovers in the game with the Colts – who won – committing seven of them. The Dallas Cowboys were called for 10 penalties. This game stunk so badly that the MVP award was given to Chuck Howley of the losing Cowboys (the only time the Super Bowl MVP played for the losing team). Sure, Jim O'Brien kicked the game winning field goal at the end of the game, but even that was set up by a turnover.

2. Super Bowl XII: Dallas was in yet another sloppy game. Good thing the Broncos were sloppier (Denver turned the ball over eight times and completed just eight passes).Denver QB Craig Morton was horrible – he completed just four of 15 passes for 39 yards and four interceptions. Yikes! (There was also lingering questions about the IRS checking into his tax returns.) Both teams combined for 20 penalties.

3. Super Bowl XL: It was a ho-hum game that's only excitement came on an Antwaan Randle-El touchdown pass to Hines Ward. That's pretty much all the Steelers had: three big plays that ended up with TDs (the above play, a Willie Parker 75-yd TD run and an awkward pass from Ben Roethlisberger to Ward). Seattle shot themselves in the foot with bad penalties, bad red zone efficiency and turnovers. The game is one of the most controversial as many people felt that the Seahawks had a lot of bad calls go against them. Big Ben's QB rating is the lowest by any Super Bowl winning quarterback.

4. Super Bowl XX: The Bears dominated and we all loved seeing the Fridge plop into the end zone. Still, this looked like an exhibition game against a local high school team than a Super Bowl. Chicago dominated this game with their defense and made Pats QB Tony Eason look foolish (he is the only starting QB to not complete a pass). There have been several blowouts in Super Bowl history, but this is the only one where the losing team looked like it had no business being there. The saddest thing is that Walter Payton didn't get a shot at running in a TD. Jim McMahon snuck in a TD twice and the Fridge got a shot, but not Walter. A shame.

5. Super Bowl VII: The one where the Dolphins completed the perfect season? A dud. Miami is the only team to be shut out for an entire half and still win the game. The Phins got out to a 14-0 lead before halftime and hung on for the win. If not for that botched field goal attempt (where Miami kicker Garo Yepremian's "pass" was picked off by Mike Bass and returned for a TD), the Redskins would've been the only team shut out in Super Bowl history. That score, with 2:07 left in the game, is the longest it has taken for a Super Bowl team to score.

 
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#13 - Hosting the Super Bowl means not being there yourself

Hosting the Super Bowl means not being there yourself
Tim Warner/Getty Images

No team has ever played on their home field in the Super Bowl. It has never happened. Never. Most fans know that. But if you really look into it, it hasn't even been close. First, some stats on this.

- Of the 51 Super Bowls, 44 of them were played in a stadium that was a home field for an NFL team.

- Since the Jets and Giants share MetLife Stadium, they were both hosts of Super Bowl XLVIII.

- Super Bowl VIII was played in Rice Stadium in Houston. The Oilers used to play there but at that time playing at the Astrodome.

- Five Super Bowls were played at the Pasadena Rose Bowl and one was at Stanford Stadium. Neither was home to an NFL franchise at the time.

- The Los Angeles Rams did play in Super Bowl XIV which was in Pasadena. The San Francisco 49ers played in Super Bowl XIX in Stanford. Those are the closest examples of a team playing a "home Super Bowl." Neither were their home fields but both were certainly in their geographic footprint.

- Not only has no team hosted a Super Bowl, of the 45 teams who could of... only seven even made the playoffs that year! Amazing. Of those seven, only three won a single playoff game and none of them even made the conference championship game. The 2016 Houston Texans were one of those host teams to win a game.  

 
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#12 - Passing fancy

Passing fancy
TIM CLARY/AFP/Getty Images

Of the twelve most pass attempts in a Super Bowl game in history, ten were for the losing team.

Jim Kelly threw 58 passes for the Bills against the Redskins in Super Bowl XXVI, Eagles' QB Donovan McNabb is 2nd with 51 passes in their Super Bowl XXXIX loss. The lone winning QB in that mix is New England's Tom Brady who threw 48 passes in their Super Bowl XXXVIII victory over the Carolina Panthers and 50 passes against the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX.

Also, of the top 10 player rushing attempt games in Super Bowl history, only Eddie George in Super Bowl XXXIV played for the losing team.

 
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#11 - Don't trail by double-digits

Don't trail by double-digits
George Rose/Getty Images

Teams that are facing a double-digit deficit are 3-43. A couple things are interesting about that stat. First, the only teams to come back from a 10-point deficit and win are the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl XXII, the New Orleans Saints in Super Bowl XLIV and the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLIX.

The Skins trailed 10-0 before scoring the next 42 points. The Saints scored 31 of the next 38 points after trailing 10-0. That also makes those two Super Bowls the only ones where both teams faced a double digit deficit.

Also, it is quite amazing that 44 of 50 Super Bowls have seen one team go up by at least 10 at some point in the game.

 
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#10 - Super Bowl dates

Super Bowl dates
Brian Bahr/Getty Images

Here are just a few random notes about Super Bowl dates. Super Bowl XXIX was and will always be the only Super Bowl that was played on the same day (29) as the Roman numeral of the game. January 26th is the most popular date for a Super Bowl as a record four games have been played on that date. And, if you go in order from the earliest date (January 9th) to the latest (February 7th), the only days to not have held the Super Bowl are January 10, 19, and 23.

This will be the second Super Bowl held on February 5th.

Jan. 9-XI

Jan. 11-IV

Jan. 12-III, IX

Jan. 13-VIII

Jan. 14-II, VII

Jan. 15-I, XII

Jan. 16-VI

Jan. 17-V

Jan. 18-X

Jan. 20-XIV, XIX

Jan. 21-XIII

Jan. 22-XVIII, XXIII

Jan. 24-XVI

Jan. 25-XV, XXI, XXXII

Jan. 26-XX, XXVI, XXXI, XXXVII

Jan. 27-XXV

Jan. 28-XXIV, XXX, XXXV

Jan. 29-XXIX

Jan. 30-XVII, XXVIII, XXXIV

Jan. 31-XXII, XXVII, XXXIII

Feb. 1-XXXVIII, XLIII, XLIX

Feb. 2-XLVIII

Feb. 3-XXXVI, XLII, XLVI

Feb. 4-XLI

Feb. 5-XL, XLVI, LI

Feb. 6-XXXIX, XLV

Feb. 7-XLIV, 50

 
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#9 - Still haven't won one

Still haven't won one
Jason Miller / Getty Images

There are now four franchises that have never appeared in a Super Bowl (Lions, Browns, Jaguars and Texans). But there are nine others that have never won the Super Bowl in any of their appearances. They are the Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, Tennessee Titans, San Diego Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons. The Bills and Vikings have lost four games apiece; the Panthers, Bengals and Eagles have each lost two. The rest lost on their only trip.

And while the Jaguars (1995) and Texans (2002) haven't been to the big game, they don't have quite the drought as some other franchises. The Jets haven't been to the Super Bowl since the 1968 season. The Chiefs went to two of the first four Super Bowls but their last appearance was after the 1969 season.

It's been a while since the Vikings (1976), Dolphins (1984), Bengals (1988) and Redskins (1991) have been there as well.

 
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#8 - For your entertainment

For your entertainment
Andrew Walker/Getty Images

Luke Bryant will sing the National Anthem prior to Super Bowl LI, marking the first time in ten years that a male artist will perform the anthem at the Super Bowl. "America the Beautiful" will be performed by Phillipa Soo, Renee Elise Goldsberry and Jasmine Cephas Jones.

Lady Gaga will be the halftime performer.

 
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#7 - MVPs winning the Super Bowl

MVPs winning the Super Bowl
Lutz Bongarts/Bongarts/Getty Images

Atlanta's Matt Ryan is the most likely NFL MVP. He is trying to become just the 11th player to win a Super Bowl the same year they win the MVP award. The other ten:

I-Bart Starr (Packers)

XIII-Terry Bradshaw (Steelers)

XVII-Mark Moseley (Redskins)

XXI-Lawrence Taylor (Giants)

XXIV-Joe Montana (49ers)

XXVIII-Emmitt Smith (Cowboys)

XXIX-Steve Young (49ers)

XXXI-Brett Favre (Packers)

XXXIII-Terrell Davis (Broncos)

XXXIV-Kurt Warner (Rams)

Starr, Bradshaw, Montana, Smith, Young and Warner would also go on to win the Super Bowl MVP that season.

 
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#6 - Six best Super Bowls

Six best Super Bowls
Rob Brown/Getty Images

Here are what I believe are the six best Super Bowls, ever. You can debate this all you want (which is fine), but these six were all great games with exciting finishes and are memorable in one way or another.

1. Super Bowl XXV: This was a great matchup in every way. With a backdrop of war, this game had all kinds of emotion as the game began (thanks, Whitney). That vaunted Bills offense against the stuffy Giants defense. The lead changed times on four occasions. In the end, an old guy like Ottis Anderson ate up the clock and Scott Norwood missed the only time the winner of the Super Bowl came down to the final play (even if Vinatieri missed those Pats FGs, the games would've went into overtime). Giants defensive coordinator Bill Belichick's defensive gameplan for this game in enshrined at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

2. Super Bowl XLII: Yes, the Giants take the top two spots. Their amazing run just to get to the Super Bowl and matching the undefeated Patriots blow-for-blow. Eli Manning's escape and David Tyree's catch has become one of the top plays in Super Bowl history. Second biggest upset ever.

3. Super Bowl XXXIV: Not only was this a surreal matchup (remember that St. Louis and Tennessee weren't NFL cities six years earlier), but some cat named Kurt Warner was shredding up this game. The Titans staged one heck of a comeback (they were down 16-0) to have it ripped away from them on a bomb to Issac Bruce. Also, it had one of the greatest endings any football game could ever have.

4. Super Bowl XXIII: There were so many game changing moments in this one. Remember that the only times the 49ers led this game was at 3-0, and after Joe Montana's pass to John Taylor at the end of the game. Cincinnati had this one, but Super Joe took it away.

5. Super Bowl XXXVIII: The problem with this Super Bowl is that the 1st and 3rd quarters were terrible. However, the 2nd and 4th were just outstanding! In the fourth quarter alone, there were 37 points scored, which is a Super Bowl record for points scored in a quarter. It was just the second to have five TDs scored (the Redskins did that by themselves 16 years earlier). And it ended with an Adam Vinatieri field goal with :04 left. Oh, and we got a little nipple action at halftime.

6. Super Bowl XLIII: What a game this was. You had the ultimate game changer with the interception and 99-yard return for a TD at the end of the first half. You had Arizona's miraculous comeback to take a lead late in the game. Then you had Pittsburgh's Big Ben Roethlisberger finding Santonio Holmes for a wonderful game winning score.

 
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#5 - All-time series

All-time series
Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

The Patriots and Falcons have met 13 previous times. New England holds a 7-6 advantage and have won the last four (Tom Brady is 4-0 against Atlanta; Matt Ryan is 0-2 against New England). The Pats won the last time these two met, in 2013, 30-23.

These two will meet next season in Foxborough.

 
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#4 - Other sports happenings

Other sports happenings
NBAE/Getty Images

If you are looking for some other sports to whet your appetite, you have a few options. The NBA has a national televised game on ESPN, as the Clippers take on the Celtics at 2pm ET (there is also the Raptors-Nets and Blazers-Thunder games on League Pass).

The NHL will have three games on, with the Kings and Capitals being the NBC game at noon. The Oilers and Canadiens face off while the Flames and Rangers clash at MSG.

There are six NCAA basketball games scheduled. The big games on tap are Indiana at Wisconsin (CBS), Clemson at Florida State (ESPNU) and Colorado at Cal (ESPNU).

 
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#3 - Quarterbacks

Quarterbacks
Gabriel Bouys/Getty Images

As I touched on before, Brady will start his seventh Super Bowl and possibly a new record. He is in line for a record fifth championship with a win. A New England loss would also put Brady with Frank Tarkenton and John Elway as three-time losers of the Super Bowl. Jim Kelly's four losses is the record.

There have been Twenty quarterbacks to start multiple Super Bowls. Of those 20, only Kelly, Tarkenton and Craig Morton never won at least one game. While not a starter in Super Bowl V, Earl Morrall did play most of the game for the Colts after Unitas was knocked out of the game in the 2nd quarter. Morrall started for the Colts in the legendary Super Bowl III loss to the Jets. Steve Young didn't start but threw three passes in Super Bowl XXIV (he started Super Bowl XXIX).

 
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#2 - Offense vs. defense

Offense vs. defense
Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

This will be the sixth time since the AFL-NFL merger that the team who scored the most points – Atlanta – will play the team that allowed the least amount of points (New England) in the Super Bowl. In the previous five games, the team with the defense won four times with the one exception the 1989 San Francisco 49ers offense pummeling Denver's stingy defense.

Super Bowl XIII: Steelers def. Cowboys

Super Bowl XIX: 49ers def. Dolphins

Super Bowl XXIV: 49ers def. Broncos*

Super Bowl XXV: Giants def. Bills

Super Bowl XLVIII: Seahawks def. Broncos

 
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#1 - Atlanta vs Boston

Atlanta vs Boston
Patrick Bolger/Getty Images

Since both cities are on the East Coast, there isn't really any championship rivalry here.  

The Celtics and Hawks play in the Eastern Conference so they only meet prior to the Finals. However, the two met in last year's first round of the NBA playoffs with the Hawks winning, 4-2. The two met in a very competitive first round back in 2008 with the series going to the brink. Boston would win that series and the NBA championship.

The Celtics-Hawks was a huge rivalry when the Hawks were in St. Louis.

Despite being two of the oldest baseball franchises, the Red Sox and Braves have never met in the World Series. The Braves, however, did originate in Boston.

Boston College and Georgia Tech are both in the ACC but you really wouldn't consider them rivals.   

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