Guide to the Super Bowl

To put it simply, it's like the grand finale of American football. If you are interested in matched betting on the NFL, ProfitDuel is a great place to start.

The Super Bowl typically takes place on the second Sunday in February, a schedule that has become the norm in recent years. This shift occurred as a result of changes to the NFL's regular season, particularly the addition of a 17th game in 2021. The season now spans 18 weeks, with each team receiving one bye week. After the regular season, teams enter the playoffs, which take place throughout January, with the Super Bowl as the culminating event.

Positioning the Super Bowl on the second Sunday of February allows for an extended rest and preparation period for the teams that advance. This scheduling pattern has been in place since 2004, and it continues to this day.

The journey to the Super Bowl is the culmination of an NFL team's performance throughout the season and the playoffs. The NFL is divided into two conferences: the AFC (American Football Conference) and the NFC (National Football Conference). Each conference consists of 16 teams, making a total of 32 teams in the league. These teams compete during the regular season, which consists of 17 games, with the goal of earning a spot in the playoffs.

Now, the playoffs are essentially the elimination rounds that determine which two teams, one from each conference, will make it to the Super Bowl. Here’s how teams qualify for the playoffs:

Division Winners: Each conference is divided into four divisions, and the team that finishes with the best record in each division automatically qualifies for the playoffs. So, there are four division winners in both the AFC and the NFC.

Wild Card Teams: In addition to the division winners, each conference also selects three "wild card" teams. These are the teams with the best overall records in the conference that did not win their division. So, a total of seven teams from each conference (four division winners and three wild cards) make it to the playoffs.

Once the playoff teams are determined, the competition becomes a single-elimination tournament. Teams face off in games where the winner advances to the next round, and the loser is eliminated. The rounds are called the Wild Card Round, Divisional Round, and Conference Championships.

At the end of the playoffs, one team from the AFC and one from the NFC remain. These two teams go on to play each other in the Super Bowl, which is the final game that decides the champion of the NFL for that season.

Yes, the rules in the Super Bowl are the same as in any other NFL game. The Super Bowl is essentially just another football game in terms of how it’s played, but with much higher stakes since it’s the final game that decides the champion of the entire season. The teams follow the standard NFL rules, including:

Game Length: The game is played in four quarters, each lasting 15 minutes, with a halftime break in the middle. If the score is tied at the end of regulation, the game goes into overtime, following the NFL's overtime rules (which we’ll get into in a second).

Overtime: If the Super Bowl goes into overtime, it follows the NFL's modified sudden-death rules. Both teams get a chance to possess the ball unless the team that receives the kickoff scores a touchdown on their first possession. If that happens, the game ends. If they score a field goal, the other team gets a chance to possess the ball. Overtime continues until one team outscores the other.

Standard Rules: All regular NFL rules apply, including those regarding scoring (touchdowns, field goals, extra points), penalties, timeouts, and challenges (teams can request an official review of a play under certain conditions).

While the rules of the game itself are the same, the Super Bowl has a much larger production around it, bigger halftime shows, more commercials, and lots of attention. But in terms of the on-field play, it’s just like any other NFL game. Teams compete by the same regulations they’ve followed all season.

Winning the Super Bowl comes with several significant rewards, both tangible and intangible. Here’s what players, coaches, and teams receive for winning the big game:

1. The Vince Lombardi Trophy: The most iconic prize is the Vince Lombardi Trophy, awarded to the winning team. It's named after Vince Lombardi, the legendary coach of the Green Bay Packers, who won the first two Super Bowls. The trophy is made of sterling silver and stands about 22 inches tall, weighing around 7 pounds. The team keeps this trophy permanently, with each year’s winner getting their own.

2. Super Bowl Rings: Every member of the winning team, including players, coaches, and support staff, gets a custom-designed Super Bowl ring. These rings are usually made with diamonds and other precious stones, and they’re personalized with the team’s name, the year, and sometimes even the individual player’s name or jersey number. Each ring is unique to the team, and its design is a big deal. These rings are not only valuable because of their materials but also as priceless symbols of achieving the highest success in the NFL.

3. Monetary Bonus: Players on the winning team receive a financial bonus for their victory. In recent years, the bonus has been around $150,000 per player, but this amount can change slightly from year to year. It’s an extra reward on top of their regular salaries and playoff earnings.

4. Prestige and Legacy: Beyond the tangible rewards, winning the Super Bowl cements a team’s place in NFL history. Players and coaches are celebrated for their achievements, and their careers are often defined by these victories. For some, it can enhance their legacy and improve their chances of being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

5. MVP Award: There’s also the Super Bowl MVP (Most Valuable Player) award, given to the standout performer of the game. This player typically receives additional recognition, often getting extra sponsorship deals, media attention, and sometimes even additional prizes, like a new car (depending on the year's promotions).