As an American at the University of St Andrews in Scotland, this time of year can undoubtedly feel a little strange when you’re not hearing the normal buzz and enthusiasm about the Super Bowl like at home in the United States. The weeks leading up to the big game are usually packed with excitement and debates over favorite players and planning for the yearly Super Bowl party. However, because American football is not as popular in Scotland, the mood surrounding the Super Bowl is very different as many of my friends from the UK and other countries around the world do not know what the Super Bowl is or how to play American Football. If this is you, no need to fear! This is your total guide on what the Super Bowl is and how to play American Football!
What is the Super Bowl?
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League (NFL). In the United States, the Super Bowl is the most watched television broadcast every year with about 115 million viewers in 2023. This year’s game, Super Bowl LVIII, is between the Kansas City Chiefs (14-6) and the San Francisco 49ers (14-5). The location changes each year, and this year’s venue is the Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada. This Super Bowl is a rematch from 2019’s Super Bowl LIV, in which the Chiefs defeated the 49ers, 31–20. Patrick Mahomes from the Chiefs is chasing his 3rd Super Bowl win. On the other hand, Brock Purdy from the 49ers is coming off his rookie year in the NFL. The key players to watch this Super Bowl Sunday are Patrick Mahomes (QB) and Travis Kelce (TE) from the Chiefs, and Brock Purdy (QB) and Christian McCaffrey (RB) from the 49ers. The San Francisco 49ers are a favorite to win this year but personally, I want to see Kansas City take the win!
The Super Bowl is not all football and has a halftime show that has featured numerous performers over the years such as Beyoncé, Michael Jackson, U2, and Lady Gaga. Usher will be the headline this year and will perform for about 13 minutes. Usually, performers will bring on a surprise special guest revealed during the performance, so we will see if Usher brings anyone else along! Before the game, Reba McEntire will be performing the national anthem and Post Malone will sing “America the Beautiful”.
Additionally, one of my favorite things about the Super Bowl is the commercials. As the game is the most streamed event in the US, the commercials are super creative, usually humorous with celebrity endorsements. The commercials are high-budget, with a 30-second ad costing about $7 million this year! In my opinion, Budweiser has the best commercials each year.
There are a lot of questions about this year’s Super Bowl. Who will be crowned Super Bowl Champion? Can Brock Purdy become a Super Bowl champion in only his second year of football? Or will Patrick Mahomes lead his team to a third win? Will Taylor Swift make it in time for the game in Las Vegas when she has a show in Tokyo hours before?
How Does Football Work?
The game has four quarters, each lasting 15 minutes. The goal is to advance the ball down the field and score points by carrying it into the opponent’s end zone (a touchdown) or kicking the ball into their goalposts. Each team has an offense and a defense. While one team’s offense is on the field trying to score points, the other team’s defense tries to steal the ball back, in hopes of putting their own offense back on the field. In addition, each team has a special unit including players for kickoffs, punts, and field goal attempts.
The quarterback is the key offensive player, responsible for throwing or handing off the ball as well as calling plays received from the coach. Receivers catch the ball thrown from the quarterback to score. The offensive line is the big guys in the front that protect the quarterback from the defense. There are two ways to advance the ball: the quarterback throws the ball to a receiver, or the running back runs the ball. The defense tries to tackle offensive players and take the ball to gain possession.
More Terms to Know
First down: In football, a “down” is a play that that offense runs. A team’s offense has four downs (plays) to move 10 yards toward the opponent’s end zone (past the first down marker). By moving the ball 10 yards, it becomes first down again and they have another four downs to advance again. If they do not pass the first down marker by the fourth down, they lose possession of the ball. The whole game, both offenses try to keep the ball moving, getting first downs and advancing towards the other team’s end zone.
End Zone: The ten yards at both ends of the field that the offense tries to get the ball into to score a touchdown.
Touchdown: When the ball is carried into the opponent’s end zone or catches a pass in the end zone, giving the offensive team six points.
Field Goal: If the offense doesn’t make it to the end zone, they can try to kick the ball into the goalposts from wherever they are on the field, giving them three points.
Extra Point: The team tries to kick the ball through the goalposts after scoring a touchdown. If successful they receive one point.
2-Point Conversion: If a team wants to be risky and go for more points, they can elect to skip the extra point kick and attempt to score another touchdown from the 2-yard line. If successful, it adds two points to the team’s total.
Interception: When the defense steals the ball during their opponent’s offensive play.
Overall, the Super Bowl is a major event in the United States, bringing together major sports fans, casual viewers, and even people who are only interested in the halftime music and commercials. Experiencing the Super Bowl in Scotland has provided me with a different perspective and reminds me of the diversity of different traditions and holidays around the world. While I miss the familiar enthusiasm of home I am excited to share the Super Bowl experience with my European friends and hope to introduce a few new fans to the game along the way!