Are you pumped for the big game? Super Bowl 50 is this Sunday, so gather your corn chips, smear some dark lipstick on your cheekbones, and get ready for some football! Or if you choose to bypass it entirely and go watch the Kitten Bowl, that’s an entirely valid option as well.Those of us who are getting ready for the pigskin playoff generally fall into two categories: super-enthusiastic sports fans or the casual watcher who is more enthusiastic about the queso dip than the quarterback. Either way, we've got you covered! From the entertainment talking points to a few big reasons why this game is important, all levels of sports enthusiasts and pop culture mavens can fake their way through the Super Bowl with these handy facts.
So kick back, heat up those nachos, and rest easy. For every kind of fan out there, here are six things to know to bluff your way through Super Bowl 50.
You can stream the Super Bowl for free.
A blessing for when the TV starts to malfunction right before the second half! For the many millennials who don’t own a TV, the local sports bar is no longer the only option to watch the big game. CBS will be streaming the game for free on platforms like Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire, and Xbox One through its CBS Sports app. If you have Verizon, you can even stream it on your smartphone.
You have to have the relevant app for each platform, but if you really want to watch, it’s a blessing.
We’re going to see two of the best quarterbacks in the game face off.
While Peyton Manning may be getting up there in age, he’s still an iconic figure — he has been playing pro football since 1998. But Panthers quarterback Cam Newton is on a roll. He’s had 45 touchdowns this season and played a role in more than three-quarters of his team’s total. Adding to the drama is the age vs. experience element — Manning has more than 13 years on Newton.
Football fans haven’t seen these two face off much before — the only game they’ve played against each other was back in 2012, when the Broncos beat the Panthers handily. But four years is a long time in the sports world. Anything could happen.
The Panthers are on a crazy winning streak.
It’s been a seriously strong season for the Carolina Panthers. The Charlotte, NC-based team has won 17 of its last 18 games and was undefeated in the regular season until the end of December. On December 27, the team lost for the first time this season to the Atlanta Falcons by seven points.
The Broncos, on the other hand, doesn't have as spectacular a record. The team lost four of the last 18 games — still a respectable number, but not what the Panthers are rocking.
This could be Peyton Manning’s last chance at a Super Bowl ring.
Manning, the quarterback for the Denver Broncos, is turning 40 this year and is likely heading toward the end of his career. While he’s been a powerhouse player, he’s also sustained a lot of injuries — after a neck surgery in 2011, he was forced to miss an entire season. Whether or not he decides to retire in the next few years, there’s also no guarantee that the Broncos will make it to the next few Super Bowls.
Manning already has one Super Bowl win under his belt, with the Indianapolis Colts in 2007. But he’d probably like to make it the even pair — his baby brother, Eli Manning, the quarterback for the New York Giants, won the title in both 2008 and 2012.
If Manning does win? He’ll be the oldest Super Bowl-winning quarterback in history. The record is currently held by John Elway, who won the Super Bowl with the Broncos in 1999 at age 38.
The ads and commercials are going to be CRAZY.
Even if you're more interested in the halftime show than the game itself, there's plenty to be prepared for in the commercials. At a reported $5 million for 30 seconds, companies and studios are pulling out all the stops. While we’ve already covered some of what to expect from the commercials, there’s going to be some serious movie plugging, too.
Multiple studios have booked slots for upcoming movies, including Deadpool, Gods of Egypt, and The Jungle Book. The entertainment factor is high — and we’re not even counting the fact that people are already putting bets on Beyoncé’s halftime show.
No, you don’t have to freak out about flushing your toilet at halftime.
If you're the gambling type, you don't need to bet on the score. Just put your money on who's going to bring up this urban legend. There is a hilariously persistent myth that the flushing of a city’s worth of toilets at the same time can lead to trauma in plumbing systems and municipal water levels. As funny as it is, this one is just not true. Unless you pull your water from a private well, the system is perfectly equipped to handle nature’s calls for multiple people simultaneously.
That’s not to say that bathroom mishaps can’t happen, though. If you’re having guests, make sure to equip the bathroom with plenty of TP and a plunger for those who overindulge in the chili nachos.
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