Super Bowl XLI is almost here. If the Rose Bowl is called the "Grand Daddy of Them All", I have no idea what the Super Bowl has amounted to. The hype, the parties, the storylines, the celebrities and athletes with something to say about the game, and the pre-pre-pre-pre-game shows are endless. This three and a half hour period has become the biggest single sports event you'll find. And this Sunday it'll be the all-Midwest battle between the Chicago Bears and the Indianapolis Colts. I don't know about you, but I'm ready. Heck, I was ready last weekend. Nonetheless, here some final numbers to keep in mind before that multi-million dollar coin toss.
379 - Value in millions of dollars the Super Bowl brand is worth according to Forbes. It's bigger than the Olympics and the World Cup. It makes the Daytona 500 and the Rose Bowl look like its little brother. It smashes the World Series, NBA Finals, and NCAA Men's Final Four. And, frankly, it makes the Stanley Cup Finals seem like it should be a sideshow at the Super Bowl.
3 - Number of guys playing in the Super Bowl with the last name Manning. Sure, everyone has heard loads of and loads of commentary about Peyton Manning's first appearance in a Super Bowl, but Chicago has two defensive players named Manning also appearing in their first Super Bowl. Danieal Manning and Ricky Manning Jr. could be key players to watch in the Bears secondary. They totaled seven interceptions between the two of them during the regular season and gave both Matt Hasselbeck and Drew Brees fits in the playoffs.
12 - Number of sacks posted by Bears rookie defensive lineman Mark Anderson during the regular season. The '85 Bears phenomenal defense had William "Refrigerator" Perry for their star rookie. This year it's the much lesser known Anderson. This game might not be won by the skill players. It likely will come down to the guys in the trenches. Anderson is one of those players to watch, along with his QB-sacking teammates Alex Brown (7.0) and Adewale Ogunleye (6.5).
281 - Receiving yards for this postseason's top dog, Dallas Clark. That's right. It's not Reggie Wayne. It's not Marvin Harrison. It's not even Bernard Berrian. Clark has been Manning's main man in the playoffs, and his repeated clutch catches have been huge for the Colts. The matchup between Clark and the Bears linebacking crew will tell a big story of who's winning this war.
6 - Record number of kick returns taken to the house by Bears rookie Devin Hester this season. He's a gamebreaker and can score on punts (3), kickoffs (2), and even missed field goals (1). More notably, Hester is returning to Miami, his old college stomping ground, and this playmaker loves the big stage, particularly those night games on national TV.
38 - Points by Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri this postseason. He's a perfect 11-for-11 in field goals and has drilled home the five PAT kicks he's been given. Without him, the Colts likely wouldn't be in this Super Bowl. He's got three rings on his hand, two earned in the final seconds of the big game. If anyone has ice in his veins, it's Vinatieri. The guy's been there and done that. If it comes down to it, Colts fans will feel a tad bit more confident with him lining up for a game winner than they would have felt with Mike Vanderjagt, or anybody else for that manner.
276 - Total number of tackles by Bears linebackers Brian Urlacher (142) and Lance Briggs (134). Everyone's been talking about Peyton Manning's legacy, but you better believe that Urlacher wants to leave his mark in this Super Bowl, and leave it all on the field he will. As for Briggs, he'll be one of the most sought-after free agents this offseason, and a monster Super Bowl will only pad the wallet and ensure he can write his ticket wherever he wants to go or stay.
2 - Two teams are left. Both teams feature backfields with two running backs that split time. This running game matchup will be huge, and one of these four players might just be the difference-maker come Sunday night. Cedric Benson and Thomas Jones are strikingly similar to Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes. For the Bears to win, Jones and Benson will need to run the ball like they did in that memorable NFC Championship Game. For the Colts to take home the Lombardi trophy, look for Addai and Rhodes to be huge in the short receiving game as Manning checks down his options.
101.0, 31, 9 vs. 73.9, 23, 20 - Passer rating, touchdowns thrown, and interceptions for Peyton Manning in the 2006 regular season compared to the same for Rex Grossman. The Colts need a big game from Manning, and if he brings it, the Bears will need a big game from Grossman to compete. Just avoiding mistakes won't be an option. And while the Bears have proven they can win without Grossman showing up to play, it's definitely not easy and to do it, they'll need big plays on defense. The name of the game is turnovers. The quarterback and team that make the fewest mistakes will hold that trophy high sometime after 10:00pm ET Sunday night.
75, 64, 30 - High and low temperature forecast for Miami on Super Bowl Sunday, and the percent chance for rain. It's definitely not the same weather the Bears enjoyed at Soldier Field two weeks ago, and it's definitely not the same as playing inside the RCA Dome on turf. There's a slim chance rain will play a factor in this game, but it looks like a perfect Miami night for football. I can't wait!
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