Super Bowl XLIX by the numbers: 49 facts you may not know
With Super Bowl XLIX just a week away, here are some interesting facts from 1-49 that you may not know about the NFL‘s showcase game.
The Super Bowl is upon us again, and for the 49th time, the AFC and NFC (or AFL and NFL in the early days) will meet to determine the championship of professional American football.
You’ll hear all sorts of numbers being thrown around about the game, covering everything from the price of a ticket to the odds of Bill Belichick going sleeves or no sleeves on his hoodie. There are Super Bowl record numbers to be broken by players and teams alike each year.
But here are some numbers you may or may not know, each one corresponding to 1-49, to celebrate Super Bowl XLIX in Glendale, Az.
49: The number of yards in the longest fumble return for a TD in Super Bowl history, by Mike Bass in SB VII
48: The most Super Bowl points scored in a career, Jerry Rice
47: The number of concession stands at this year’s venue, University of Phoenix Stadium
46: The number of seasons since the New York Jets last played in a Super Bowl, the longest drought in the NFL
45: The largest point margin of victory in a Super Bowl, as the 49ers beat the Broncos 55-10 in Super Bowl XXIV
44: The percent of people who eat chicken wings during the Super Bowl that prefer bleu cheese dressing to ranch
43: The number of different Super Bowl MVPs there have been
42: The age of the oldest player to participate in a Super Bowl, Matt Stover
41: The number of the first Super Bowl to be won by an African-American coach, Tony Dungy
40: The number (in thousands) that a 30-second commercial cost in Super Bowl I
39: The temperature in Fahrenheit at the coldest Super Bowl on record, Super Bowl VI at Tulane Stadium
38: The most rushing attempts in one Super Bowl, John Riggins in SB XVII
37: The number of times the Super Bowl was played in January rather than February
36: The fewest combined rushing attempts in a Super Bowl, Green Bay vs. Pittsburgh in SB XLV
35: The most points scored in the first half of a Super Bowl, the Washington Redskins in SB XXII
34: The number of languages in which the Super Bowl will be broadcast
33: The percentage of Americans who will place some sort of wager on the Super Bowl
32: The lowest completion percentage by a team in a Super Bowl, Denver in SB XII
31: The most points scored by a losing team in the Super Bowl, Dallas in SB XIII and San Francisco in SB XLVII
30: The age of Katy Perry, this year’s halftime performer
29: The fewest rushing yards for a winning Super Bowl team, St. Louis in SB XXXIV
28: The number of white-shirted (visiting) teams who have won the Super Bowl
27: The number of times a quarterback wearing number 12 played in the Super Bowl
26: The number of times a quarterback has been named Super Bowl MVP
25: The largest Super Bowl halftime point lead, Washington in SB XXII
24: The number of times the coin toss has turned up both heads and tails at a Super Bowl
23: The number of different TV color commentators during Super Bowl broadcasts
22: The number of different stadiums in which the Super Bowl has been held
21: The lowest combined score in Super Bowl history, when the Miami Dolphins beat the Washington Redskins 14-7 in Super Bowl VII
20: The number of years that the series finale of M.A.S.H was the most watched program in television history until Super Bowl XLIV
19: The number of current NFL teams who have won the Super Bowl
18: The number of different cities who have hosted a Super Bowl
17: The average number of people at a Super Bowl party
16: The number of most consecutive completions in one Super Bowl, by Tom Brady in SB XLVI
15: The percent of Super Bowl viewers estimated to tune in to the game on their smartphone or mobile device
14: The Super Bowl number that had the largest crowd to date. 103,985 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Ca.
13: The most receptions in one Super Bowl, Demaryius Thomas in SB XLVIII
12: The longest number of seasons between Super Bowl championships for one player, Ray Lewis. (XXXV-XLVII)
11: The number of times the Super Bowl has been a rematch of two teams
10: The number of times a defensive or special teams player has been named Super Bowl MVP
9: The millions of pounds of guacamole estimated to be consumed on Super Bowl Sunday
8: The number of teams who have only played in one Super Bowl in their history
7: The number of times a running back has been named Super Bowl MVP
6: The number of dollars a ticket to Super Bowl I would have cost you.
5: The most losses by any one team in the Super Bowl, the Denver Broncos
4: The number of current NFL teams who have never played in a Super Bowl (Detroit, Cleveland, Jacksonville and Houston)
3: The lowest number of points scored by a single team in the Super Bowl, the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl VI
2: The number of teams who have played in four Super Bowls without winning one, Minnesota and Buffalo
1: The number of times the opening kickoff in a Super Bowl was returned for a touchdown, Devin Hester in SB XLI