Super Bowl LII – Our Guide to the NFL Championship Game
The world-famous spectacle that is the Super Bowl takes place on Sunday, marking the end of the 2017 regular NFL season. This year, the New England Patriots take on the Philadelphia Eagles at the U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis in a bid to become American Football’s world champions. What do you need to know about this hugely popular sporting event and how can UK-based fans watch the action?
What is the Super Bowl?
Each year, the reigning National Football League (NFL) and American Football League (AFL) champions play each other in what’s known as the Super Bowl. The winners of the match become “world champions” – despite that fact that only American teams can take part. They are also presented with a distinctive sterling silver trophy named after Vince Lombardi, the coach in charge of the Green Bay Packers when they won the championship in 1967 and 1968.
The Eagles vs The Patriots – How Did They Reach the Championship Game?
The Philadelphia Eagles won the NFC East Division in 2017 and went into the playoffs as the conference’s top seeded team. They beat the Atlanta Falcons by 15-10, before defeating the Minnesota Vikings by 38-7 in the NFC Championship Game.
Their opponents, the New England Patriots, are the defending World Champions, having defeated the Atlanta Falcons by 34-28 in last year’s Super Bowl game. This season, they were the favourites to take the title before the season started. They won the AFC East Division and, like the Eagles, entered the playoffs as their conference’s highest seeded team. They defeated the Tennessee Titans by 35-14 to secure themselves a place in the AFC Championship Game, where they beat the Jacksonville Jaguars by 24-20.
The Entertainment – The Super Bowl’s Famous Halftime Show and More
The Super Bowl isn’t just famous for the sporting action, however. It’s also renowned for its halftime show. In previous years, audiences around the world have been treated to performances by the likes of Lady Gaga, Michael Jackson, Prince, Paul McCartney and the Rolling Stones.
The star of this year’s halftime show will be Justin Timberlake, who has performed at two previous editions of the event. The national anthem, which is sung before the match, will be performed by Pink.
How Important is the Championship Game?
The Super Bowl is the most significant annual sporting event in America and football fans across the country will be holding parties while they watch the game. It’s also now a must-watch event for sports fans around the world and the halftime show alone could attract more than 100 million viewers.
As a result, big brands are prepared to breathtaking amounts of money on advertising and sponsorship during the game. This year, each 30 second advertising slot will cost an estimated $5 million dollars.
Which UK Channels are Showing the Game?
American football fans based in the UK can watch the game live on TV, although they may be bleary-eyed at work on Monday morning. The event will be broadcast on BBC One, with coverage starting at 23.15 on Sunday and ending at 03.50 the following day. It will also be shown on Sky Sports Action and Sky Sports Mix from 22.00 on Sunday, with coverage starting at 23.00 on Sky Sports Main Event.
Will you be tuning in to watch Super Bowl LII? Do you think the Eagles or the Patriots will win the Vince Lombardi Trophy? Share your thoughts with us on Twitter, on Facebook or below.