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New England Patriots 10, at Denver Broncos 7
Before I do my traditional pick for this year's Super Bowl, it seemed fitting first to talk about Super Bowl trends.
They have changed over the course of many years. Since I first started watching Super Bowls, back on January 24, 1082, when the San Francisco 49ers won their first Super Bowl title in franchise history by beating the Cincinnati Bengals, 26-21, a lot has changed.
Here are just some:
Super Bowls back then were played in January. At that point, it was not yet even the last Sunday in January. These days, by comparison, the Super Bowl is now regularly played on the second Sunday in February.
Another major difference: most Super Bowls back then were played not only outdoors, and on real grass, but at least partly during daylight. I grew used to seeing the bright and warm sunshine on natural grass fields either in California or Florida in those earliest Super Bowls watched (XVII was played in Pasadena, XVIII was played in Tampa, XIX was played in Palo Alto, XXI was played in Pasadena, XXII was played in San Diego, XXIII was played in Miami - with limited daylight - XXV was played in Tampa - but with no daylight - XXVII was played in Pasadena, XXIX played in Miami - no daylight - XXX was played in Tempe (near Phoenix), and XXXII was played in San Diego). Most of those had at least a little bit of the game played in relative sunshine and warmth.
Since then, it is more common for the Super Bowl to be played in some dome, and on artificial surface of some sort or other. And, of course, they are played in February these days.
So clearly, that trend has changed over the years.
This next Super Bowl - which will be at Santa Clara, California - will be a rare Super Bowl played at least partially in daylight (while outdoors) and on a natural grass surface. It is only the third Super Bowl in the past quarter of a century to have some real daylight visible. That also appears to be a major difference between those old Super Bowls and the more recent ones.
Frankly, I would argue that this is one area that is not an improvement. In fact, I prefer Super Bowls which are played in the sunshine, at least for all (or most) of the first half. But they have become rare indeed.
Another trend is that teams wearing white tend to win most Super Bowls in recent history. However, that is not as much the case with outdoor Super Bowls played in the sunshine. Of the ones I mentioned above, quite a few teams wearing their dark jerseys, as the Seahawks will be for this upcoming Super Bowl, actually won. That includes the 49ers in XIX, the Giants in XXI, the 49ers again in XXIII, and the Broncos in XXXII, as well as, just for the record, the Buccaneers in XXXVII.
Also, that trend has not been so prevalent in recent years, as both the Kansas City Chiefs (LIV, LVIII) and the Eagles (LIX) have won recent Super Bowls wearing their dark jerseys.
As for the AFC-NFC divide, it is almost as even as it could be right now. The Eagles won last year, breaking a 29-29 tie. So the NFC owns a 30-29 lead, which is as narrow as could be.
So let's see what happens this time around. Predictins aside, I will enjoy at least the relatively rare instance of a Super Bowl once again being played in the warm California sunshine while we endure what is supposed to be a brutally cold weekend here in the northeastern United States.
Meanwhile, I will try to write a blog entry with my own breakdown of the two teams, as well as my prediction for what happens and who wins.
Until then....
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