Your Primer to Super Bowl XLVI

Written By Erica L. Drayton

Have a sudden interest in the biggest game of the year. This is one of the most anticipated match-ups in a while. If your want to know more about Super Bowl XLVI than who is playing at half time. Here is a quick primer on the game.

The Rivalry

The New York Giants & the New England Patriots came up against each other in Super Bowl XLII (42). The Patriots were undefeated going into the playoffs, whereas the Giants were just 8-8. The Giants made an upset heard just about everywhere, beating the Patriots 17-14! Will they again or will Tom Brady get his revenge

 Why that stadium?

Every year the Super bowl game is played in a different stadium so every state/team gets an opportunity of getting revenue from all those who rush to see the most anticipated game of the year. This year the game will be played in a dome at the Lucas Oil Stadium, normally home of the Indianapolis Colts. Thirty minutes before the game begins it has to be decided whether to close the dome or leave it open.

 Yellow Flag vs. Red Flag

The yellow flag is thrown by the officials on the field whenever any of them sees a penalty on either side. Common penalties are: off-sides, personal foul, holding, unnecessary roughness. See them throw it enough times and you’ll pick up on what they see.

The red flag is thrown only by the coach on either team when they feel a call made on the field was wrong. Each coach can only use it once in the first and once in the second half. If they win the challenge the call is overturned. If they lose the challenge they also lose one time out. The coach will not throw this flag haphazardly.

Point Structure

Touchdown – 6 points (the football crossed the line into the end zone)

1 point kick OR 2 point conversion

Field Goal kick – 3 points

Safety – 2 points (sacking the quarterback or player in their end zone)

One Last Point…

If for some reason there should be an overtime (both teams have the same score/tied) needed to determine the winner, then the rules for the play-offs apply. Meaning, both sides get a chance to defend their goal IF and ONLY IF the receiving team makes and gets a field goal kick (3 points). If at any time during the overtime quarter a team gets a touchdown (6 points) the game is over and the other team does not get a shot to score.