The AFL grand final is considered the most important sporting event on the Australian calendar. The local media coverage is enormous, not to mention the prestigious accolades for the winning team and devastating heartbreak for the losers.
It has drawn an average audience of 2.85 million viewers around Australia over the last eight years, highlighting the tremendous public interest it draws on an annual basis.
Now multiply that viewership by around 40 and you’ve got the publicity of an NFL Super Bowl. And this year’s contest between two of the most fabled teams in the NFL in the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers is set to be one of the most popular yet.
When you live outside of the American border, it’s extremely hard to fathom just how massive this annual event really is.
“Super Bowl Sunday” is considered a genuine U.S. national holiday. There’s no doubt if the game landed on a weekday, the federal government would have no hesitation in declaring the occasion an official public holiday.
Here are some stats that might give you a little bit of perspective:
– Last year’s Super Bowl between the New Orleans Saints and the Indianapolis Colts became the most watched program in American-television history, drawing an average audience of 106.5 million viewers, overtaking the final episode of M*A*S*H which aired back in 1983.
– The European UEFA Champions League final was the only sporting event watched by more people than the Super Bowl last year with 109 million tuning in.
– Advertisers pay as much as $3 million for a 30-second spot during a break in the Super Bowl, in fact a certain section of the audience tune in just to watch the commercials.
– Under the NFL’s current agreement, each player receives a minimum extra payment of $88,000 if they are part of the winning Super Bowl team. Keep in mind though that star players and MVP’s might have millions more written into their contracts.
– It is the second largest day for U.S. food consumption after Thanksgiving Day.
Unlike the football codes in Australia, the NFL likes to showcase its most popular game in a different city every year. Therefore the match is usually played on a neutral venue, unless a team has made the Super Bowl in the same year they were scheduled to host it, something which has normally been decided years in advance.
This year’s Super Bowl will be played at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, the home of the Dallas Cowboys. The arena is a luminous fortress that cost over a billion dollars to build. Sitting on top of the dome is a HD digital screen that stretches 49 metres wide and 22 metres high.
GREEN BAY PACKERS (Super Bowl record – 3-1):
Green Bay is one of the oldest and most traditional football teams in the NFL. This game will mark the Packers’ fifth Super Bowl appearance, but their first one since 1998. They currently hold the record for the most overall NFL titles with 12, which includes three Super Bowl wins and nine league titles prior to 1967.
The Packers finished the 2010 regular season with a moderate 10-6 record, finishing sixth overall in the NFC. But it was their three impressive wins during the playoffs last month which has earned them the favouritism for Monday’s game.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS (Super Bowl Record – 6-1):
Pittsburgh is the oldest team in the AFC but, more importantly, is the most successful team in Super Bowl history. It’s won six out of the 45 Super Bowls, including the 2006 and 2009 titles against the Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals respectively.
The Steelers finished the 2010 regular season with a 12-4 record, earning themselves the AFC North division title and the second overall seed in the AFC. They advanced through to the Super Bowl thanks to two close playoff wins over the Baltimore Ravens and the New York Jets.
OVERALL RECORD:
Green Bay leads Pittsburgh 18-14. However Pittsburgh has won the last three encounters, including a thrilling one-point win last year.
BATTLE OF THE QUARTERBACKS
The quarterback is the most crucial position in American Football. In fact you might even consider the quarterback to be the most important player in any sport known to man because they control the entire offense, deciding whether to run the ball or pass the ball.
Aaron Rodgers is not just the brain trust and excellent decision maker of the Green Bay offense. He is also a respected and inspirational leader. The 27-year-old has done a magnificent job in guiding a relatively young team to the Packers’ first Super Bowl appearance since 1998. He’s thrown 3922 yards and 28 touchdowns this season at an impressive QB rating of 101.2.
Rodgers has a variety of wide receivers and tight ends to spread the ball out to, including star wide receiver’s Greg Jennings and Donald Driver. For so long, the 188 centimetre quarterback has lived in the shadow of Packers legend Brett Favre after he took over from Favre at the beginning of the 2008 season. However, Rodgers has proved numerous times this season he is an excellent big-time performer and a win on Monday morning would be the final blow in freeing him from the Favre legacy.
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has endured a life changing season in 2010-11, both on and off the field. The 28-year-old was investigated for sexual assault last year and was consequently suspended for four matches by the NFL due to a violation of the league’s personal conduct policy. Ever since returning to the field, Roethlisberger has bounced back in the best way possible, throwing 3200 yards and scoring 17 touchdowns from his 12 games.
Despite Roethlisberger’s amazing throwing arm, he doesn’t have the luxury of a few classy and reliable wide receivers in front of him, unlike Rodgers. Therefore he enjoys giving the ball off to running back Rashard Mendenhall or even running the ball himself. On the field, “Big Ben” – due to his large 111 kilogram and 196 centimetre frame – is one of the all-time great leaders of the NFL and there is no doubt he will have the hunger and desire to make it three career Super Bowl wins.
WHO WINS?
No matter what team sport it is, the side with the best defence is normally the best team in the league. And there’s no doubt either of these two outstanding defensive units deserve to win on Monday.
The more games the Packers play, the more they improve as a team. Not only has the Rodgers-led offense taken big steps in 2010-11, the Packers’ defensive unit has played with supreme confidence for the majority of the year. They play with great discipline but also know when and when not to blitz their opposition, making it tough for any offensive unit to move the ball against them.
However, the Steelers have been just as good at the defensive end of the field. Safety Troy Polamalu was recently voted the 2010 Defensive Player of the Year for his career-best seven interceptions, returning them for 101 yards and a touchdown. He leads an outstanding unit which includes former Defensive Player of the Year James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley.
This game could swing either way, so both teams will need to hit the scoreboard in the first quarter. But with so much defensive pressure and intensity expected, it’s hard to see a high scoring game occurring, particularly with two outstanding defences.
However, it’s hard to ignore the “Big Ben” factor. Roethlisberger has been there and done it before – twice. His experience and desperate desire to win might just be the decisive factor in what should be a ripper of a game to watch.
PREDICTION:
Pittsburgh.
SUPER BOWL XLV GAME MVP:
Ben Roethlisberger.
Parkridge Panther
Guest
Proven by whom? Not from where I come from.
Koops
Guest
But, but, but you actually bought it up !!, and claimed something that has been proven to be wrong time after time, so what was your expectation ?.
Parkridge Panther
Guest
Db the issue of which code out rates which code (NRL v AFL) has been debated on other threads till we all go blue in the face. This thread is not the thread to begin this tiresome debate again.
Parkridge Panther
Guest
I did say ALMOST 1 in 2 people. In 2010 An estimated 106.5 million viewers tuned in to CBS to watch the New Orleans Saints' nail-bitting 31-17 win over the Indianapolis Colts, according to Nielsen. That tops the previous record of 105.97 million for the 1983 finale of "M*A*S*H," which until Sunday stood as the most-watched program of any kind. 2010 population of 306 million makes the figuree closer to 1 in 3 as m1tch has stated. Wouldn't the AFL and NRL love that.
Jetta
Guest
yeh y would anyone sign a 28 year old, off the field deathtrap when they already have a 27 year old poster boy rogers???
Stoffy18
Roar Guru
Hit the nail Brett! Michael Vick smiled in a press conferance, must mean he's going to play for Richmond hey Jim?
Brett Reilly
Guest
Do you even know the game? Or are you just a blow in for the SB? He threw the ball out because he was under pressure, didn't have anything open and didn't want to get sacked. By throwing it out he conserves what precious time he had left. As for suggesting he threw the game, that is so ridiculous i actually can't contain myself from laughing. "Gives the thumbs up". Aren't you even considering that was an acknowledgment for Greenbay effectively winning the game on that snap? Maybe you should work on who really killed JFK, you seem to be good at conspiracies.
Stoffy18
Roar Guru
Jim what you are implying is ridiculous, in fact everything you've written makes no sense at all? "Rememeber the 4th Quarter Steelers had man down field in the clear. And the fourth down minutes to go. Big Ben throws ball out of bounds do you wonder why" I'm not sure i can even make out your point in all this? "Could it be Big Ben is looking for a home in Greenbay" - Oh please, you have got to be kidding me ?!
DB
Guest
Tha AFL GF has never rated behind the NRL GF, I suggest you go to the source of those ratings. and that's not even including Regional WA SA and the NT. other indicators as to the AFL GF being the largest annual event are things like more expensive tickets which are harder to get despite being in stadium with a higher capacity. Sweeney sports report also has the AFL as the "most important event"
jim
Guest
Appears Big Ben threw the game. Boy oh boy Big Ben should be tossed out of NFL. Why? Rememeber the 4th Quarter Steelers had man down field in the clear. And the fourth down minutes to go. Big Ben throws ball out of bounds do you wonder why. Well here is the answer. When the ball go out notice what Big Ben does really close. He smiles why? Secondly he looks over at Packers bench and gives a thumbs up to the Greenbay Coach. Now greenbay starts dancing knowing they have the game won now for sure. Greenbay puts the ball in play and just stands around. Game over and Greenbay wins. Could it be Big Ben is looking for a home in Greenbay? Hum I bet I know a former Steelers Quarterback that is ticked. Hello Mr Bradshaw get hold of Big Ben and thump his Chicken Poop butt.
Tom
Guest
Roethlisberger makes Brendan Fevola and Todd Carney look like absolute amateurs. Pittsburgh also have some of the dirtiest players in the league in Hines Ward and James Harrison. It was an absolute pleasure seeing them go down today. Seeing Collins pick off Roethlisberger and return it for a TD was a particularly sweet moment.
The Special One
Guest
Well done to Green Bay. It proves getting rid of Brett Favre was the right decision !!
Tristan Rayner
Editor
Likes feeding him popcorn in front of a zillion TV viewers?
M1tch
Roar Guru
I think Cameron sees about 250 million reason to like him ;)
Melanie Dinjaski
Roar Guru
Was hoping that the Patriots would be at the SB but in their absence, today I'm going for Packers all the way. And so far it's looking good. I'm liking their intent in defense, and Rodgers is coming up with the big throws despite being smacked down to the ground like 150 times so far. But more importantly, what does Cameron Diaz see in Alex Rodriguez?!
True Tah
Guest
I thought a billion people watched the UEFA Champions League final?
M1tch
Roar Guru
105 million..thats 1 in 3 People watch the Superbowl
Tristan Rayner
Editor
Intercept! Packer TD - interception on the first Steeler play after the kickoff. GB 14-0
Tristan Rayner
Editor
Touchdown Packers! Massive pass from Rodgers to Nelson.
Parkridge Panther
Guest
Since when has the AFL Grand Final been considered the most important sporting event in Australia? I am not aware of this! It consistently rates behind NRL. The combined national and regional TV audience figures for the Geelong Cats v St Kilda Grand Final, spruiked at the time by the code's boss Demetriou as a benchmark, averaged 3.4 million. But the league finale went better, attracting an average 3.6 million people across the country. In 2010 the NRL again out rated the AFL so on ratings the NRL is the most important but again importance of an event is in the eye of the beholder. The NFL go the Green Bay Packers. Should be a great game. 105 million people can you imagine that thats almost 1 in every 2 (50%) watching the final. Now that is truly the no 1 sporting event in the USA. AFL and NRL can only boast around 1 in every 7. Shows the difference. I personnally enjoy the NFL its leaps and bounds ahead of AFL, I hope it is a great game.