News·4 min read

What to Know Ahead of Super Bowl LVI, From Key Players to the Halftime Show

Bengals and Rams quarterbacks
Getty Images
February 10, 2022

Bust out the buffalo chicken dip: The Super Bowl is here. With the Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals duking it out on Sunday, Feb. 13 at 6:30pm ET. This game comes on the heels of a historic NFL season. And is seen as the start of a new era for young NFL players — especially on the heels of the GOAT Tom Brady's retirement announcement. 

You can watch it all unfold on NBC. Or stream it on Peacock, the NBC Sports App, or NBCSports.com. (Some other options for cable cord-cutters: DirecTV, YouTube TV, Hulu Live TV, FuboTV, and SlingTV.) Oh, and don't forget to pregame with the Puppy Bowl. Now, here's what you need to know about Sunday's game — whether you're rooting for the players, the commercials, or the half-time performers.

The Teams Facing Off in Super Bowl LVI

Both the Rams and the Bengals beat out the other teams in their respective conferences to win spots in the Super Bowl. While the Rams — which were a favorite going into the regular season — are projected to win. Don’t count the Bengals out. They could surprise everyone like they did at the AFC championship game last month. Here’s what you need to know about each team…

QB Matt Stafford throwing football
LA Rams Starting Quarterback: Matthew Stafford | Getty Images

Los Angeles Rams

This year marks their fifth Super Bowl appearance. And their second in the last four years. (Hint: The Rams lost in 2019 against the New England Patriots.) Now, they’re sporting an all-star lineup, including: ​​QB Matthew Stafford. Defensive tackle Aaron Donald. Receiver Cooper Kupp. And wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. All of whom are giving the Rams the edge to bring the W home. Literally…since the game is being played in their home stadium. Something that’s only happened once before.

QB Joe Burrow passing football
Cincinnati Bengals Starting Quarterback: Joe Burrow | Getty Images

Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals are finally seeing the championship field after a more than 30-year hiatus. The only other times they’ve made it to the Super Bowl were in the ‘80s…and they lost both of those games. Few expected them to make it this far into the season this year. So they’re considered the underdogs (or, undertigers, rawr). Eyes are on the powerhouse ​​wide-receiving trio: Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Tyler Boyd. And, of course, QB Joe Burrow. If the Bengals pull off the win, Burrow would be the first quarterback ever to win the Heisman Trophy, College Football Playoff national championship, and Super Bowl. 

Musicians Scoring Time on the Field

The halftime show is the main event for some viewers. And this year everyone is in a for a treat. First up, Grammy-nominated country singer Mickey Guyton is kicking off the event with the national anthem. Plus the halftime lineup has millennials everywhere freaking out: Dr. Dre, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, Mary J. Blige, and Snoop Dogg. Between the five of them, they have 43 Grammys. And it’ll be the first time the artists share one stage. We are seated, humbled, and ready to jam.

Commercials Kicking It Into High Gear

Commercial slots during the Super Bowl cost a pretty penny. Think: $6.5 million for a 30-second slot. Some of the most-anticipated are: Guy Fieri bringing Flavortown to Bud Light Seltzer. Scarlett Johansson and Colin Jost talking to their Alexa. Paul Rudd and Seth Rogan chipping in with a Lay’s ad. Megan Thee Stallion bringing (flamin’) hot girl energy to Cheetos. And another stallion (read: a Clydesdale horse) is repping Budweiser

Something else that’s new to the commercial slate: A slew of crypto ads. Including from companies like Coinbase Global, FTX, and Crypto.com. It’s part of an attempt to make the currency a Bit more recognizable. Listen to our podcast "Skimm This" to learn more about crypto being the new kid on the block(chain) on Super Bowl Sunday.

theSkimm

Every year, sports fans eagerly wait for the Super Bowl to hit their TV screens. No matter how you're taking part in the big event — with snacks, rooting for a certain team, jamming out to the music, or plugging into the commercials — enjoy it safely.

Updated on Feb. 10 to include our latest "Skimm This" podcast episode.

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