Favorite, Rules, Headsets
What you need to know about the Super Bowl
2/13/2022, 4:44 p.m
The Super Bowl is coming up. Interest in the most important game of the season in American football is constantly increasing in Germany, with more than two million viewers watching the Cincinnati Bengals vs. Los Angeles Rams duel on Monday night (12:30 a.m. CET, ProSieben/DAZN). But not all of them are already experts in the sport. If you don’t want to google all the time, here are the answers to basic questions from football newbies to help you prepare.
What is the Super Bowl?
The Super Bowl is the final of the championship in the National Football League and is now being played for the 56th time – the official spelling is Super Bowl LVI with the Roman numerals. In the NFL, the 32 teams are divided into two divisions, the American Football Conference and the National Football Conference, AFC and NFC for short. Both conferences are represented by one team in the Super Bowl – the AFC this season by the Cincinnati Bengals, the NFC by the Los Angeles Rams.
According to the official pairing, the Bengals are the home team. This is confusing given that the game will be played at SoFi Stadium – the home of the Rams. They are also allowed to stay in their cabin, the Bengals change in the Los Angeles Chargers’ rooms, which also play their home games in the stadium, which is estimated to cost five billion dollars.
How can I watch the Super Bowl?
The final is on TV on ProSieben. The game can also be seen online: in the free stream on ran.de, with the fee-based Internet provider DAZN or with the fee-based Game Pass of the NFL. The Super Bowl can be seen there with the original US commentary, DAZN offers this as an option.
Who is the favourite?
Betting providers and experts see the Los Angeles Rams at a slight advantage. The team not only plays at home and can prepare in the familiar environment, but also has the stronger and, above all, more experienced squad on paper. The Bengals are by no means without a chance, however, and have won in two of their three playoff games against teams – the Tennessee Titans and Kansas City Chiefs – who were also clear favorites.
When does a team get points?
There are six points for a touchdown. To do this, the ball must either be carried into the end zone or caught by a player there. A field goal is worth three points. The ball is kicked through the goal posts. After a touchdown you can transport the ball from two yards into the end zone with a single try and get two extra points if you succeed (two-point conversion). A kick for an extra point is more common. A safety with the equivalent of two points is rare. An example of this: A team takes down the opponent’s quarterback in their own end zone while the opponent still has the ball.
Is anything legal in football?
No. Punching, kicking, scratching, biting, spitting – none of that is allowed. In particular, it is strictly forbidden to reach into the helmet grille of an opponent or intentionally hit the head of the other player.
Why do referees throw yellow cloths onto the field?
The referees use this to signal that they have noticed a violation of the rules, such as an offside position or a foul. The game is only interrupted at a so-called flag if the whistle is also blown at the same time. Because sometimes the advantage for a team after a play is so great that they refuse to punish the other team and prefer to continue. Depending on the situation, smart teams also use this for a kind of free play with high risk. If it doesn’t work, there is a penalty for the other team anyway and you don’t lose the ball yourself. In addition, violations of the rules by both teams can also cancel each other out, so in many cases there is a wait and see.
Why do pros often tiptoe and then fall over?
In American football, the lines are no longer part of the field, whoever touches them is out. For a pass to be considered a catch, a player must have both feet on the ground before going out-of-bounds. Jumping off in the field and coming up outside is therefore not an option.
How many players are on the field?
Each team may have eleven players on the pitch and may substitute as often as they like. Normally there are eleven different footballers on the field on offense than on defense for a team. There are also players who are only used in special situations, for example when kicking off or attempting a field goal.
How long does a game last?
Theoretically four times 15 minutes, so one hour. Because the clock does not run through, but is stopped in many situations, you can calculate with about three hours as a rule of thumb. Through the music show at halftime – this year featuring hip-hop and R&B greats Dr. Dre, Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar – the break in the Super Bowl is longer than usual and it can take up to four hours from the first play to the last scene. Experienced Super Bowl fans therefore know: better take the next day off.
What do the players talk about when they meet in a circle?
In most cases, it is about the announcement of the next move. Theoretically, every player then knows exactly what his task is. The big boys know whether to push their opponent to the left or to the right, for example to create a gap for the other player to run through. Passport recipients know when to change direction. Because the opponent is of course also a factor, you still have to improvise again and again.
Why are so many people on the sidelines wearing headsets?
The coaches are in contact with each other, some employees are also sitting up in the stands and have a completely different perspective from there. In addition, the coaches can also talk to their quarterback or a defender and give tips or instructions. These pros have a speaker in their helmet, identified by a green sticker. Only one player per team may wear a helmet with this function on the pitch.