Superbowl Stretch

Well, it seems that we are within the home stretch of the highly anticipated Super Bowl 50, hosted by Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara on February 7th. The Super Bowl is perhaps the most-viewed sports event in the United States and, whether you are a football fan or not, you probably have an opinion as to what team you would like to win. Sadly, for football fans, the 2015-2016 NFL season is coming to an end. This season has been filled with upsets, injuries, disappointments, and amazing comebacks. While expert football analysts have their predictions for the Super Bowl contenders, it is very difficult to picture the two teams who will be here in Santa Clara.

While the city of Santa Clara is anxiously preparing to host the Super Bowl, the battle of the teams is raging. The first round of playoff games was January 16th and January 17^th, featuring the top eight NFL teams. Kicking off the playoffs was the reigning champions, the New England Patriots versus the Kansas City Chiefs. Quarterback Tom Brady and the Patriots beat the Chiefs 27 to 20. The Arizona Cardinals beat the Green Bay Packers in overtime after Green Bay quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, threw a Hail Mary to tie the game. The Carolina Panthers then won over the Seattle Seahawks with a score of 31 to 24. Last but not least, Super Bowl veteran Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC North matchup.

     There were many surprises and disappointments this season that hindered teams’ progression to the playoffs. For example, the NFL injury report is pages long. Perhaps some of these injuries of key players have affected the teams’ performances. A great example of this is the disappointment of Indianapolis Colts Last year, the Colts were defeated by the Patriots in the AFC championship, also referred to as ‘deflategate’ after Brady’s stunt. This season, however, they did not even make it close to the playoffs with a record of eight wins and eight losses. Quarterback Andrew Luck was out for the season after a week nine lacerated kidney problem, and his backup Matt Hasselbeck also injured his shoulder. This powerful team was now on their third-string quarterback, and this is only one case of many.

No matter the teams in the Super Bowl this year, there is absolutely no doubt that it will an exciting event. The professional football analysts have their opinions on who will be going to and winning the Super Bowl. According to professional journalists on Bleacher Report, “the fact that the Patriots scored on the first possession of the game, while the Broncos struggled to move the ball consistently until the fourth quarter, explains why the Patriots are favored on the road.” The Patriots have never won a playoff game against Denver on the road, so expect for that streak to end. Pros also believe that the Panthers are a promising choice for the Super Bowl. The prediction for the Super Bowl will be the Patriots versus the Panthers, a matchup that is highly anticipated by fans because the Patriots are the reigning Super Bowl champs and the Panthers’ offense has been dominant in the NFC all season long.
Whether you watch the Super Bowl for the game, commercials, or the phenomenal halftime show, it will be an exciting event right in our backyard, the heart of Silicon Valley. Santa Clara has worked hard to prepare for this event, and they have also held community-wide event to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the biggest event in the United States. No matter the team, it will be an exciting day for the citizens of Santa Clara.