Super Bowl LI facts and figures
SUPER BOWL L1: Sunday, Feb. 5, 6: 30 p. m.
TELEVISION:
Fox, Joe Buck and Troy Aikman in the booth, Erin Andrews and Chris Myers on the sidelines; Canadian coverage: TSN and CTV.
LOCATION
NRG Stadium in Houston, the home of the Texans. The Super Bowl was also held there in 2004, and the Patriots won, beating the Carolina Panthers, 32- 29, on Adam Vinatieri’s late field goal. The game is also remembered for the Janet Jackson-Justin Timberlake “wardrobe malfunction” at halftime. The Super Bowl was also played at Rice Stadium in Houston in 1974.
TEAMS
New England Patriots ( 14- 2 regular season) against Atlanta Falcons ( 11- 5). The Patriots are 4- 4 in the big game, including a win two seasons ago. The Falcons are playing for only the second time, having lost to the Denver Broncos, 34-19, in 1999.
LINE
Patriots by 3. The over/under is 58 ½ , the highest ever for a Super Bowl and a big jump from last year’s 43 ½ .
QUARTERBACKS
Statistically, the two best in the game this season. Tom Brady, 39, ranked second in adjusted yards per pass, Matt Ryan, 31, ranked first. Brady had the lowest interception rate, just two in 432 passes. Ryan led in touchdown percentage, with 38 in 534 passes.
OFFENSIVE WEAPONS
The Pats top rusher is LeGarrette Blount, who led the league in running touchdowns. Brady’s favourite target was Julian Edelman. The Falcons top rusher was Devonta Freeman, and Ryan’s favourite target was Julio Jones, who was the only play- er this season with more than 100 receiving yards a game.
UNSUNG STARS
Linebacker Dont’a Hightower, safety Devin McCourty and special teamer Matthew Slater were all selected to the Pro Bowl for the Patriots. Centre Alex Mack, linebacker Vic Beasley and placekicker Matt Bryant made the team for the Falcons. Beasley led the league in sacks with 15 ½ .
INJURIES
After eight games, Rob Gronkowski, the Patriots’ superstar tight end, was knocked out for the season with a herniated disc. Another tight end, Martellus Bennett, has ankle problems but is expected to play. For the Falcons, Jones has a sprained toe and Mack a sprained ankle; both are likely to play.
OFFENCES
Both teams have highpowered attacks, led by the Falcons, who ranked first in points, yards per play and yards per pass. The Patriots were third, fifth and third in those categories.
DEFENCES
The Patriots ranked first in least points surrendered, but the Falcons’ defence was not nearly as good, ranking a distant 27th.
COACHES
Neither man got his start at a football power. The Patriots’ coach, Bill Belichick, played for Wesleyan and the Falcons’ Dan Quinn for Salisbury State. Belichick also played lacrosse and squash and Quinn threw the hammer. Belichick was fired after five years with the Cleveland Browns, just as they were moving to Baltimore. He joined the Patriots in 2000 and has won four Super Bowls. After stints at William & Mary, VMI and Hofstra, Quinn landed on the staff of the San Francisco 49ers in 2001 and made it to the top job last season with the Falcons. He was the defensive co- ordinator of the Seattle Seahawks in their Super Bowl years of 2013 and 2014, making this his third Super Bowl in four years.
OWNERS
Robert Kraft, the Patriots owner, got his start in sports ownership in the 1970s with the Boston Lobsters of World Team Tennis. The team folded a few years later. The Falcons owner, Arthur Blank, was one of the founders of Home Depot. At 74, he has been seen busting out dance moves after Falcons victories this year.
OFFICIALS
Carl Cheffers will referee his first Super Bowl. According to Pro- Football- Reference, he called more penalties than average for six- consecutive seasons before falling to average this last season.
CITIES
In addition to the Patriots’ four titles, in this century the Red Sox have won three World Series, and the Celtics and Bruins have a title each. Atlanta, which has had baseball and football teams since 1966 and basketball since 1968, has just a single title, the Braves winning the 1995 World Series. Its most recent hockey team, the Thrashers, made the NHL playoffs once in 12 years, then moved to Winnipeg. Its first NHL team, the Flames in the 1970s, were a little better, but never won a title before moving to Calgary.
COIN TOSS
Former U.S. president George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush will participate. The Patriots will get to make the call. They always call heads.
ENTERTAINMENT
At halftime, Lady Gaga follows in the footsteps of Madonna, Bruce Springsteen, Prince and U2. Also the New Kids on the Block, Up With People and an impersonatormagician named Elvis Presto. No guest performers have been announced yet, though based on previous years there could be surprises. Before the game, Phillipa Soo, Renee Elise Goldsberry and Jasmine Cephas Jones, from the original cast of Hamilton, will perform America the Beautiful. Luke Bryan will sing the national anthem.
ROMAN NUMERALS
Last season, the league dropped a long tradition and made the game Super Bowl 50 rather than Super Bowl L. This year, Roman numerals are back. Enjoy Super Bowl LI!