10 Reasons to Get Hyped About Super Bowl 50
The Super Bowl 50 matchup is set, and the sports world now has almost two full weeks to hype itself into a tizzy.
The great thing about the Super Bowl is there's something for everybody. Football fans can enjoy some of the best football to be played all year, and non-fans can enjoy the media circus that surrounds one of sports' biggest events.
From Peyton Manning's (probable) last stand to Queen Bey at the halftime show, here are 10 reasons to be jazzed about the Super Bowl by the Bay.
Media Day in Prime Time
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Super Bowl media day has turned into must-see television in the recent past, thanks in part to athletes like Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman and New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski showing off their sizable personalities.
The event has gotten so big, in fact, that organizers have chosen to air it in prime time in 2016 (and change the name to Super Bowl Opening Night). That means Cam Newton, Ted Ginn Jr., Manning, Von Miller and all your favorites will be on your TV screen Monday, Feb. 1, from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET to kick off Super Bowl week right.
It's a bummer Gronk won't be there, but hopefully someone brings the hilarity.
Will Thomas Davis Play?
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Carolina Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis broke his arm in the NFC Championship Game, but he might still play in the Super Bowl, at least according to him.
The All-Pro came out in the second quarter, but per Darin Gantt of NBC Sports, he said after the game, "I've got two weeks to heal up. Come on, you know me. I ain't missing the Super Bowl, you know that."
Even if he doesn't play, fans will spend two weeks questioning his status. And if he does play, well, it'll be one of those boss-move, tough-guy storylines that makes big games even more enticing.
Golden Game in the Golden State
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In 2016, the Super Bowl will take place in the Bay Area for the first time since 1985 (when Super Bowl XIX was held at Stanford Stadium).
The milestone 50th installment will be held at Levi's Stadium, the high-tech home of the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, California.
For those attending, it will be expensive, but it will be awesome. San Francisco has plans to make the anniversary event extra special. Fans will have a chance to visit Super Bowl City, a designated fan zone open Jan. 30 through Feb. 7, and enjoy in-stadium technology like Wi-Fi and massive high-definition video boards.
The technological experience will not be reserved for those inside Levi's Stadium alone. Fans watching at home can expect Pylon Cam technology and a high-resolution, 360-degree perspective of game action, courtesy of the CBS Sports broadcast.
Fans can also anticipate an overdose of breathtaking Golden Gate bridge shots.
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Puppy Bowl XII
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Everyone out there knows someone who only watches the Super Bowl for the commercials and the halftime show. Still others don't watch it at all but rather tune in for the annual Puppy Bowl. This one is for those folks.
This year's Puppy Bowl, to air on Animal Planet at 3 p.m. ET on Super Bowl Sunday, will feature a virtual reality experience for the first time. (What is that going to be like?)
Better yet, Puppy Bowl XII will also feature 49 furry friends, all of whom are up for adoption. Per Anthony Venutolo of NJ.com, event organizers worked with 44 animal shelters across the country to recruit starters for Team Ruff and Team Fluff.
Animal lovers, unite!
Manning Hype
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Fans won't need to do much on their own to "get hyped" about Manning. In fact, they would be harder pressed to avoid this storyline leading up to Super Bowl 50.
Manning, one of the game's great quarterbacks, will look to secure his long-sought-after second Super Bowl title in what might turn out to be his last NFL game.
Though Manning's regular-season legacy is solid, his playoff reputation is another story. With a 13-13 postseason record, there is an argument to be made (and many have) that Manning is simply a phenomenal regular-season QB. A second Super Bowl could go a long way in casting doubt upon that belief.
Not only that, but Manning has had quite the tumultuous year—from injuries to being demoted to second string and a pesky little HGH story. A Super Bowl win could be his ultimate redemption.
The Halftime Show
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Good or bad, the Super Bowl halftime show always gives viewers something to talk about.
When Coldplay was announced as the main act for Super Bowl 50's show, not everyone was pleased. (Coldplay could be great, guys—give them a chance!)
Still, while some are more optimistic than others about Coldplay, Beyonce is a performer most everyone can get hyped about. Queen Bey, who is featured on two tracks of Coldplay's album A Head Full of Dreams, will be there in a supporting role.
TBD on left shark.
The Matchup
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The Super Bowl 50 matchup has shaken out to be one of old vs. young, the old guard and the new, the past vs. the future.
Denver Broncos quarterback Manning will be 39 years old at kickoff and possibly playing in the last game of his storied career. Meanwhile, Newton of the Carolina Panthers will be 26, more than 13 years Manning's junior (good for the largest age difference among starting QBs in Super Bowl history).
Beyond just the QBs, the matchup on the field should be enticing. Denver's defense stifled Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game, and fans will get to see if they can bring the same heat against the Panthers' exciting offense.
Cam Newton
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Speaking of the Panthers' exciting offense...
Say what you want about Newton (and oh, people do), but the man is fun to watch. His Superman touchdowns are electrifying, and his megawatt smile is what advertisers dream of.
Newton is not just a football player but a bona fide celebrity, a person who will attract attention from a young audience. He took a photo with rappers Future and Young Jeezy before the NFC Championship win and celebrated at a club afterward.
Teammate Kawann Short said of Newton, "He's having an amazing time, man. You see it on the field, off the field—he's just loose. He's himself. That's why we love that guy. That's why we respect that guy, and we're glad he's on our team," per Dan Graziano of ESPN.
The Ads
9 of 10Super Bowl commercials annually generate almost as much hype as the game itself, and Super Bowl 50 promises to provide no exception.
In August, Claire Groden of Fortune reported 30-second Super Bowl ad spots were going for as much as $5 million. Advertisers are clamoring to get a piece of that viewership pie, which was, on average, 114.4 million people in 2015.
Teasers have already begun to emerge and will continue until the big game. Check out this one from Shock Top, which features comedian T.J. Miller, proclaiming its ad will be "the greatest Super Bowl commercial of all time." And what about Budweiser using Amy Schumer to drum up buzz for its ads? Genius.
Denver D
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True football lovers should be excited for Super Bowl 50 because it promises to showcase a phenomenal defense.
The Denver Broncos ranked No. 1 in total defense over the regular season. Linebacker Von Miller recorded 2.5 sacks, one interception, two tackles for a loss, one deflected pass and hit New England Patriots quarterback Brady four times in the AFC Championship Game alone.
Pats wide receiver Julian Edelman called the Broncos secondary "a nasty group—a good nasty," per CBS Boston. Broncos general manager John Elway said the defense as a whole is the best Denver has had in more than 30 years, per Jeff Legwold of ESPN.
All four Broncos Pro Bowlers play on the defensive side of the football—Miller, linebacker DeMarcus Ware and cornerbacks Chris Harris Jr. and Aqib Talib.
Watching that defense absolutely shut down the Pats—to the tune of four sacks and 23 hits on Brady—was invigorating, and here's hoping there's more to come on Feb. 7.
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