44 Stops to Super Bowl XLIV: No. 1-5

The "44 Stops to Super Bowl XLIV" is a series that will feature stories, stats and interesting trivia that you can use to act smart as you prepare for Super Bowl XLIV. I've done this on SPORTZASSASSIN.COM for Super Bowls XL, XLI, XLIII and for AOL's FanHouse for Super Bowl XLII.

#1-WHO WILL WIN: Hey, there's actually a game to play. Now I'm not one of those people who think the Saints have no shot to win this game. New Orleans has a great shot ... however things need to fall in their place. They must create pressure on Manning and hopefully get some turnovers. I know you can say that about any game, but that's really true here. New Orleans loves creating turnovers and will need to get a couple if they think they will win in Miami.

Doing so will be difficult. You are giving Peyton Manning two weeks to prepare for a defense that gives up a lot of yards and a lot of points. New Orleans enters the game with the 26th-ranked defense.

This game will be a shootout. The two QBs led the league in passing touchdowns, both team are explosive offensively and neither is that stout on defense. I do think that the Colts speedy defense can hang with the Saints speedy receivers and backs.

I have the Colts winning 34-24.

#2-SUPER BOWL ADS: I know that ... aside from the game ... the big calling card to the Super Bowl is the commercials. We all love watching the funny ones, the poignant ones and the wastefully stupid ones. Go back in time to watch some classic Super Bowl ads.

#3-SAINTS AND COLTS HISTORY: The Saints and Colts have only met 10 previous times with each team winning five. The Baltimore Colts won the first three meetings (1967, 1969, 1973). It would be 13 years before they would meet again, a Saints 17-14 victory in Indianapolis. That would be the first of five straight wins over the Colts ... with the last two games against Indy while Peyton Manning was the quarterback. In 2003 and 2007, the Colts blew out the Saints 55-10 and 41-10, respectively. .

#4-CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS: The New Orleans Saints became the first home team to win a conference championship in overtime. If NFC Championship history, there have been three OT games ... and all involved the Vikings, Brett Favre or both. In 1999, the Atlanta Falcons beat the Vikings in Minnesota, 30-27. In 2008, the New York Giants beat Favre's Packers in Green Bay, 23-20. There has been just one overtime game in AFC Championship history, a 23-20 Denver Broncos victory in Cleveland in 1987.

No Super Bowl has ever gone to overtime.

The NFC has a slim 22-21 lead over the AFC in Super Bowl History.

#5-SUPER BOWL TRAPPINGS:

National Anthem: Carrie Underwood. Third straight year an American Idol contestant will sing the Star Spangled Banner (Jordin Sparks, Jennifer Hudson did it the last two years).

Halftime perfomer: The Who. Rumor is that The Who will follow in the recent tradition of established acts performing their classic hits. "Pinball Wizard", "Who Are You" and "Won't Get Fooled Again" should be on the setlist.

Broadcasters: CBS's Jim Nantz and Phil Simms. Simms was the MVP of Super Bowl XXI.

44 Stops to Super Bowl XLIV: No. 6-10

The "44 Stops to Super Bowl XLIV" is a series that will feature stories, stats and interesting trivia that you can use to act smart as you prepare for Super Bowl XLIV. I've done this on SPORTZASSASSIN.COM for Super Bowls XL, XLI, XLIII and for AOL's FanHouse for Super Bowl XLII.

#6-SIX BEST SUPER BOWLS: Here are what I believe are the five best Super Bowls, ever. You can debate this all you want (which is fine), but these five were all great games with exciting finishes and are memorable in one way or another.

1-Super Bowl XXV: This was a great matchup in every way. With a backdrop of war, this game had all kinds of emotion as the game began (thanks, Whitney). That vaunted Bills offense against the stuffy Giants defense. The lead changed times on four occassions. In the end, an old guy like Ottis Anderson ate up the clock and Scott Norwood missed the only time the winner of the Super Bowl came down to the final play (even if Vinatieri missed those Pats FGs, the games would've went into overtime). Giants defensive coordinator Bill Belichick's defensive gameplan for this game in enshrined at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

2-Super Bowl XLII: Yes, the Giants take the top two spots. Their amazing run just to get to the Super Bowl and matching the undefeated Patriots blow-for-blow. Eli Manning's escape and David Tyree's catch has become one of the top plays in Super Bowl history. Second biggest upset ever.

3-Super Bowl XXXIV: Not only was this a surreal matchup (remember that St. Louis and Tennessee weren't NFL cities six years earlier), but some cat named Kurt Warner was shredding up this game. The Titans staged one heck of a comeback (they were down 16-0) to have it ripped away from them on a bomb to Issac Bruce. Also, it had one of the greatest endings any football game could ever have.

4-Super Bowl XXIII: There were so many game changing moments in this one. Remember that the only times the 49ers led this game was at 3-0 ... and after Joe Montana's pass to John Taylor at the end of the game. Cincinnati had this one, but Super Joe took it away.

5-Super Bowl XXXVIII: The problem with this Super Bowl is that the 1st and 3rd quarters sucked. However, the 2nd and 4th were just outstanding! In the fourth quarter alone, there were 37 points scored ... which is a Super Bowl record for points scored in a quarter. It was just the second to have five TDs scored (the Redskins did that by themselves 16 years earlier). And it ended with an Adam Vinatieri field goal with :04 left. Oh, and we got a little nipple action at halftime.

6-Super Bowl XLIII: What a game this was. You had the ultimate game changer with the interception and 99-yard return for a TD at the end of the first half. You had Arizona's miraculous comeback to take a lead late in the game. Then you had Pittsburgh's Big Ben Roethlisberger finding Santonio Holmes for a wonderful game winning score.

#7-SUPER BOWL UNDEFEATEDS: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New York Jets and Baltimore Ravens each won their only trip to the Super Bowl. The San Francisco 49ers have won all five of their Super Bowl appearances.

#8-STILL HAVEN'T WON ONE: With the Saints now getting to Miami, there are now four franchises that have never appeared in a Super Bowl (Lions, Browns, Jaguars and Texans). But there are ten others that have never won the Super Bowl in any of their appearances. They are the Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, Tennessee Titans, San Diego Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals. The Bills and Vikings have lost four games apiece; the Bengals and Eagles have each lost two. The rest lost on their only trip.

#9-SUPER BOWL UNDEFEATEDS: On the flip side, if New Orleans wins then they will join a list of four other franchises to be undefeated in Super Bowl play. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New York Jets and Baltimore Ravens each won their only trip to the Super Bowl. The San Francisco 49ers have won all five of their Super Bowl appearances.

#10-SUPER BOWL DATES: Here are just a few dumb notes about Super Bowl dates. Super Bowl XXIX was and will always be the only Super Bowl that was played on the same day (29) as the Roman numeral of the game. January 26th is the most popular date for a Super Bowl as a record four games have been played on that date. And, if you go in order from the earliest date (January 9th) to the latest (February 6th), the only days to not have held the Super Bowl are January 10, 19, 23 and February 2.

This will be the first Super Bowl held on February 7th and the latest date a Super Bowl has ever been held.

Jan 9-XI
Jan 11-IV
Jan 12-III, IX
Jan 13-VIII
Jan 14-II, VII
Jan 15-I, XII
Jan 16-VI
Jan 17-V
Jan 18-X
Jan 20-XIV, XIX
Jan 21-XIII
Jan 22-XVIII, XXIII
Jan 24-XVI
Jan 25-XV, XXI, XXXII
Jan 26-XX, XXVI, XXXI, XXXVII
Jan 27-XXV
Jan 28-XXIV, XXX, XXXV
Jan 29-XXIX
Jan 30-XVII, XXVIII, XXXIV
Jan 31-XXII, XXVII, XXXIII
Feb 1-XXXVIII, XLIII
Feb 3-XXXVI, XLII
Feb 4-XLI
Feb 5-XL, XLVI
Feb 6-XXXIX, XLV
Feb 7-XLIV

44 Stops to Super Bowl XLIV: No. 11-15

The "44 Stops to Super Bowl XLIV" is a series that will feature stories, stats and interesting trivia that you can use to act smart as you prepare for Super Bowl XLIV. I've done this on SPORTZASSASSIN.COM for Super Bowls XL, XLI, XLIII and for AOL's FanHouse for Super Bowl XLII.


#11-DON'T TRAIL BY DOUBLE DIGITS: Teams that are facing a double-digit deficit are 1-38. A couple things are interesting about that stat. First, the only team to come back from a 10-point deficit and win is the 1987 Washington Redskins in Super Bowl XXII. The Skins trailed 10-0 before scoring the next 42 points. That makes that Super Bowl the only one where both teams faced a double digit deficit. Also, it is quite amazing that 38 of 43 Super Bowls have seen one team go up by at least 10 at some point in the game.

#12-SOME MORE STATITUDE: Here is another piece of trivia for you. There has been at least one successful field goal in 41 of 43 Super Bowls. Teams that have been shut out for one half (either the first or second) are a combined 1-18. The lone winner was those 1972 Dolphins who went scoreless in the second half of Super Bowl VII.

#13-CAN WE GET A PUNT RETURN? There has never been a punt returned for a touchdown in Super Bowl history. However, there have been three blocked punts that have been returned for scores.

#14-THE FIVE WORST SUPER BOWLS: 1-Super Bowl V: This one was nicknamed the "Blunder Bowl" for good reason. There were 11 turnovers in the game with the Colts ... who won ... committing seven of them. The Dallas Cowboys were called for 10 penalties. This game sucked so bad that the MVP award was given to Chuck Howley ... of the losing Cowboys (the only time the Super Bowl MVP played for the losing team). Sure, Jim O'Brien kicked the game winning field goal at the end of the game ... but even that was set up by a turnover.

2-Super Bowl XII: Dallas was in yet another sloppy game. Good thing that the Broncos were sloppier (Denver turned the ball over eight times ... and completed just eight passes). Denver QB Craig Morton was horrible -- he completed just four of 15 passes for 39 yards and four interceptions. Yikes! There was also lingering questions about the IRS checking into his tax returns. Both teams combined for 20 penalties.

3-Super Bowl XL: It was a ho-hum game that's only excitement came on an Antwaan Randle-El touchdown pass to Hines Ward. That's pretty all the Steelers had: three big plays that ended up with TDs (the above play, a Willie Parker 75-yd TD run and an awkward pass from Ben Roethlisberger to Ward). Seattle shot themselves in the foot with bad penalties, bad red zone efficiency and turnovers. The game is one of the most controversial as many people felt that the Seahawks had a lot of bad calls go against them. Big Ben's QB rating is the lowest by any Super Bowl winning quarterback.

4-Super Bowl XX: The Bears dominated and we all loved seeing the Fridge plop into the endzone. Still, this looked like an exhibition game against a local high school team than a Super Bowl. Chicago dominated this game with their defense and made Pats QB Tony Eason look foolish (he is the only starting QB to not complete a pass). There have been several blowouts in Super Bowl history, but this is the only one where the losing team looked like it had no business being there. The saddest thing is that Walter Payton didn't get a shot at running in a TD. Jim McMahon snuck in a TD twice and the Fridge got a shot ... but not Walter. A shame.

5-Super Bowl VII: The one where the Dolphins completed the perfect season? A dud. Miami is the only team to be shut out for an entire half and still win the game. The Phins got out to a 14-0 lead before halftime and hung on for the win. If not for that botched field goal attempt (where Miami kicker Garo Yepremian's "pass" was picked off by Mike Bass and returned for a TD), the Redskins would've been the only team shut out in Super Bowl history. That score, with 2:07 left in the game, is the longest it has taken for a Super Bowl team to score.

#15-SUPER BOWL MVP'S IN CANTON: Winners of 20 Super Bowl MVP awards have gone on to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. You have Bart Starr (twice), Joe Namath, Len Dawson, Roger Staubach, Larry Csonka, Franco Harris, Lynn Swann, Fred Biletnikoff, Randy White, Terry Bradshaw (twice), Joe Montana (three times), John Riggins, Marcus Allen, Troy Aikman, Steve Young and John Elway. Other winners, like Jerry Rice, Emmitt Smith, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Ray Lewis can look forward to seeing their busts in Canton one day (that hikes the number up to 26). Granted, not all winners of the Super Bowl MVP award go on to anything much. Guys like Larry Brown, Harvey Martin, Dexter Jackson, Desmond Howard, Mark Rypien, Deion Branch and Jake Scott have also won the award and the Hall is no where in their future.

44 Stops to Super Bowl XLIV: No. 16-20

The "44 Stops to Super Bowl XLIV" is a series that will feature stories, stats and interesting trivia that you can use to act smart as you prepare for Super Bowl XLIV. I've done this on SPORTZASSASSIN.COM for Super Bowls XL, XLI, XLIII and for AOL's FanHouse for Super Bowl XLII.

#16-LIST OF SUPER BOWL NO-NAMES: Below are guys that made their names in the Super Bowl. Some of these guys were pretty good NFLers before their breakout games ... some we haven't heard of before or since ... but performing well on the biggest of stages makes them legends.

Doug Williams (Redskins): It wasn't that Williams was a no-name as much as things really didn't pan out for him. Dude really came off the scrap heap. Williams did nothing much of note in his first years at Tampa Bay or in his USFL stint. Redskins coach Joe Gibbs (who coached Doug in Tampa) gave him a shot in 1986 to back up Jay Schroeder. In '87, Schroeder had some shoulder issues late in the season and Williams did a good job taking over. So much so that there was a QB controversy. Williams got the nod and the rest is history.What Williams did in the 2nd quarter of Super Bowl XXII is nothing short of remarkable. He was 9-of-11 for 228 yards and 4 TDs. Again, that was just in the 2nd quarter! Williams would win the game's MVP and become the first (and only, so far) black quarterback to win a Super Bowl.

Timmy Smith (Redskins): If Doug Williams didn't win the MVP, Smith would have. Smith rushed for 204 yards (still a Super Bowl record) and two TDs. Coming into the game, Smith had rushed for just 129 yards that season. His career lasted just 15 games after the Super Bowl.

Max McGee (Packers): McGee is famous for his pre-Super Bowl I partying. With Boyd Dowler injured early in the game, a hung-over McGee would step in and catch the first TD pass in Super Bowl history. He would go on to catch seven passes for 138 yards and two TDs ... three more receptions than he had all season long.

Jeff Hostetler (Giants): People forget that Phil Simms didn't start the G-men's second Super Bowl title. Simms hurt his ankle late in the season and Hoss took it the rest of the way. He had the least amount of playing time of any QB to start a Super Bowl. He held up well, throwing for 222 yds and a TD.

Dan Bunz (49ers): The linebacker was instrumental in the greatest goal line stand in Super Bowl history, stuffing the Bengals four times with goal to go. The defining play was Bunz' tackle on a swing pass to Charles Alexander on third down (he was also in on the stop on fourth down).

Larry Brown (Cowboys): The running joke after Super Bowl XXX was that Brown was the Steelers' Neil O'Donnell's favorite target. Too bad he played for the other team. Brown picked off two O'Donnell throws ... his final game with Dallas. He used the MVP award to get a nice fat contract with the Raiders and did nothing much of note after the fact.

Dwight Smith (Buccaneers): If Brown won an MVP award for picking off two passes ... why didn't Smith win won for taking two picks back for TDs? He was a nickelback used a lot in a game where (a) Oakland's offensive attack warranted it and (b) the Raiders were so far behind that they had to take chances. Why ....

Dexter Jackson (Buccaneers): ... because Smith's second TD came in the closing seconds after the ballots had already been counted. Jackson had picked off two passes himself (none that went for TDs) that were momentum changers. And Jackson wouldn't have won the award either if not for fan voting taking place in the game (Simeon Rice was the press' pick).

Percy Howard (Cowboys): Never heard of him? Well, Howard came into Super Bowl X and caught a 34-yd touchdown pass from Roger Staubach. That was the only reception he had in his entire career.

Don Beebe (Bills): Beebe has been on six Super Bowl teams ... but will be remembered most for running down Leon Lett and stripping the ball right before crossing the endzone in Super Bowl XXVII.

#17-RELOCATING TO TITLES: The Colts (Baltimore/Indianapolis) are one of two teams to win a Super Bowl in two different cities. The other team is the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders. The St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams have been to Super Bowls from two different cities.

#18-SUPER BOWL NEWBIES: As you know, New Orleans is making its first Super Bowl appearance. This is the 8th Super Bowl in the last 12 years to feature a team making its debut in the big game. Those teams are the Saints (44), Cardinals (43), Seahawks (40), Panthers (38), Buccaneers (37), Ravens (35), Titans (34) and Falcons (33). Those newbies are 2-5 in the Super Bowl and none have been back since.

#19-THEY KNOW ALL ABOUT MIAMI: This won't be the Colts or Saints first trip to Miami this year. Both played the Dolphins in Miami this season. In Week 2, the Colts beat the Phins, 27-23, despite having the ball for less than 15 minutes of game time. In Week 7, the Saints came calling. Miami jumped out to a 24-3 lead and put New Orleans' perfect record in jeopardy. That's when Brees and the Saints got hot and scored 43 of the game's final 53 points and got the 46-34 victory.

#20-ALTERNATE VIEWING: Not everyone is a Super Bowl fan and some people would just rather watch anything else than football. For those people (hey, Honey!), here is a quick guide to watch various channels are putting up against the big game.

ABCFAM: The Sound of Music
ANIMAL: Puppy Bowl VI
TRU TV: Cops (marathon)
ESPNCLASSIC: UNC vs Duke, 1995
GSN: High Stakes Poker
MSNBC: To Catch a Predator (marathon)
MTV: Teen Mom (marathon)
STARZ: Paul Blart: Mall Cop ... followed by Step Brothers
TBS: Titanic
TV LAND: Home Improvement (marathon)
HALLMARK: I Love Lucy (marathon)

44 Stops to Super Bowl XLIV: No. 21-25

The "44 Stops to Super Bowl XLIV" is a series that will feature stories, stats and interesting trivia that you can use to act smart as you prepare for Super Bowl XLIV. I've done this on SPORTZASSASSIN.COM for Super Bowls XL, XLI, XLIII and for AOL's FanHouse for Super Bowl XLII.

#21-WEARING WHITE IS THE KEY: Since the Indianapolis Colts are designated the home team, they will be wearing their home blue jerseys for the Super Bowl. That means the Saints will go with their white jerseys. In fact, the team that has worn white uniforms has won the last five Super Bowls (Steelers, Giants, Colts, Steelers, Patriots). Indy is trying to become the first team to win a Super Bowl while wearing a blue uniform since the New England Patriots beat the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl XXXVIII.

#22-THINGS NON FOOTBALL FANS CAN SAY TO BLEND IN: Look, I know that there are people in America that will be attending Super Bowl parties because ... well, they love to party. Some won't know who's playing in the game until they get there. I've also come to find that there are actually guys out there that get dragged to Super Bowl parties because of their women (that's sad). Don't worry. So the diehards around the party who actually care about the game won't think you're a wuss, I'm here to help.

Here are a few vague quotes that you can use so you fit in among the football fans. You don't have to engage in a conversation with these, just drop these in from time to time the rest of us don't make fun of you once you leave. Just print this out, study it and you will at look somewhat less wimpish around the real men at the Super Bowl party.

"The Saints just need to limit turnovers and control the clock if they want to pull the upset."
"Didn't Peyton Manning just win his 4th MVP award?"
"New Orleans seems like they are a team of destiny."
"You just gotta convert those third downs!"
"Don't sleep on Reggie Bush!"
"Whomever said defense wins championships would cry about this Super Bowl!"
"Third and long? I'd blitz."
"It's amazing the Colts are here with a rookie head coach."
"I got a few bucks on this game."
"Damnit! I left my squares sheet at home!"
"Drew Brees has had one hell of a postseason!"
When there is a penalty called for holding, just say, "yeah, he was tackling him!"
"You think Brett Favre is gonna really retire?"
"Where did these Indy receivers come from?"
"Dallas Clark is a jack of all trades."
"Hard to believe New Orleans is in the Super Bowl instead of the Super Bowl being in New Orleans."

#23-DON'T WIN THE COIN TOSS: The team that wins the opening coin toss is just 20-23 in the game. That averages out to ... well ... the flip of a coin. However, the coin toss winner has been the Super Bowl loser in 10 of the last 13 games.

SB-43: Cardinals won the toss, lost the game
SB 42: Giants won the toss ... and the game
SB 41: Bears won the toss, lost the game
SB 40: Seahawks won the toss, lost the game
SB 39: Eagles won the toss, lost the game
SB 38: Panthers won the toss, lost the game
SB 37: Buccaneers won the toss ... and the game
SB 36: Rams won the toss, lost the game
SB 35: Giants won the toss, lost the game
SB 34: Rams won the toss ... and the game
SB 33: Falcons won the toss, lost the game
SB 32: Packers won the toss, lost the game

SB 31: Patriots won the toss, lost the game

A little aside to this is that last year the Arizona Cardinals won the toss and deferred to the second half. The Steelers chose to receive which means the Cards were the first team in Super Bowl history to win the coin toss and kickoff.

#24-NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE UNDERDOG: Okay, the New Orleans Saints aren't favored to win this game. Don't fret! We all know that NO ONE was picking the Giants to win Super Bowl XLII.

Here is a short list of huge upsets:
Super Bowl III: The Baltimore Colts came in as 18-point favorites. They left watching the Jets' Joe Namath fulfilling his prediction of an upset.
Super Bowl IV: The Kansas City Chiefs spanked the Minnesota Vikings, despite being a 12-point underdog.
Super Bowl VII: Oddly, the undefeated Miami Dolphins entered the game as 1.5-point underdogs to the Washington Redskins.Super Bowl XXV: The Buffalo Bills would begin their four game Super Bowl losing streak by succumbing to the Giants, who were 7-point dogs.
Super Bowl XXXII: The Denver Broncos, an 11.5-point underdog, ended the AFC's thirteen game losing streak by beating Green Bay.
Super Bowl XXXVI: These New England Patriots began their dynasty by beating the St. Louis Rams, who were 14-point favorites.
Super Bowl XLII: The 12-point dog Giants ended the Patriots perfect season with a magical game.

See, it can happen. Just because we all think one way doesn't mean we cannot be shocked. After all, those 2001 Rams were juggernauts who were former champions and were heavy favorites. They left without the trophy.

#25-BUT DON'T DISMISS THE FAVORITES: Yeah, there are upsets, but don't count on them. The favorite has won eight of the last 11 Super Bowls. In fact the favorite is 30-13 in the Super Bowl. Teams favored by at least 7 points are 19-6.

44 Stops to Super Bowl XLIV: No. 26-30

The "44 Stops to Super Bowl XLIV" is a series that will feature stories, stats and interesting trivia that you can use to act smart as you prepare for Super Bowl XLIV. I've done this on SPORTZASSASSIN.COM for Super Bowls XL, XLI, XLIII and for AOL's FanHouse for Super Bowl XLII.

#26-UNDERCOVER BOSS: The trend now is for the network broadcasting the Super Bowl loves breaking in new shows or extended shows following the game. CBS will debut "Undercover Boss" after Super Bowl XLIV. It joins Extreme (ABC-1995), Homicide (NBC-'93), Davis Rules (ABC-'91), Grand Slam (CBS-'90), The Wonders Years (ABC-'88), Hard Copy (CBS-'87), The Last Precinct (NBC-'86), MacGruder and Loud (ABC-'85), Airwolf (CBS-'84), The A-Team (NBC-'83) and Brothers and Sisters (NBC-'79) as shows who debuted after the Super Bowl.

Some other big-time heavyweights have also appeared right after the game. Lassie, All in the Family, 60 Minutes, CHiPs, Archie Bunker's Place, Friends, The X-Files, The Simpsons, Survivor, Grey's Anatomy, House and The Office all have been post-Super Bowl shows.

#27-PEYTON'S BAAAAACK: Peyton Manning will be the 18th quarterback to start multiple Super Bowls. John Elway leads the pack with 5 Super Bowls, while Terry Bradshaw, Tom Brady, Joe Montana, Jim Kelly and Roger Staubach have all started four. Only Craig Morton and Kurt Warner have started Super Bowls for two different teams.

#28-FUTURE SUPER BOWL SITES ARE PRETTY INTERESTING: No team has ever played a Super Bowl in their home stadium. It really is remarkable that this has never happened. Well, it could happen soon.

Both Indianapolis (XLVI) and New Orleans (XLVII) will be hosting games soon. Next year the game is in Cowboys Stadium. Dallas just won the NFC East and the franchise has been to more Super Bowls than any other team.

#29-CBS SETS A RECORD: CBS will be televising their 17th Super Bowl. That breaks a tie with NBC (16 times). ABC has shown 7 Super Bowls; FOX has televised 5. FOX will show the game next year with NBC tying CBS with their 17th telecast in 2012.

#30-ROOKIE HEAD COACH: Colts head coach Jim Caldwell is just the fifth rookie head coach to take his team to the Super Bowl. The last rookie who did it was Bill Callahan with the Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII. The last rookie coach to win was George Seifert in Super Bowl XXIV (Niners over Broncos). The other rookie coaches to take their teams to the big games are Red Miller (Broncos, SB XII) and Don McCafferty (Colts, SB V). McCafferty, like Seifert, won his appearance.

44 Stops to Super Bowl XLIV: No. 31-35

The "44 Stops to Super Bowl XLIV" is a series that will feature stories, stats and interesting trivia that you can use to act smart as you prepare for Super Bowl XLIV. I've done this on SPORTZASSASSIN.COM for Super Bowls XL, XLI, XLIII and for AOL's FanHouse for Super Bowl XLII.

#31-COLTS KNOW BOTH SIDES OF THE COIN: The Indianapolis Colts are the only franchise to play in a Super Bowl as an AFC and NFC team. Well, they never were an "NFC" team, but the Colts played in Super Bowl III as the NFL representative against the AFC Champ Jets. Two years later, the Colts won Super Bowl V as a member of the AFC.

When the NFL merged with the AFL in 1970, the NFL's Colts, Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns moved to the American side of things. The Steelers have won six Super Bowls (and been to another one) but all were as the AFC champ. Cleveland is still waiting for their first appearance.

#32-VALIDATION OF THE "ROONEY RULE": Jim Caldwell will be the fourth African-American NFL head coach to take his team to the Super Bowl and the fourth in the last four years. Mike Tomlin and Tony Dungy won in their appearances while Lovie Smith lost to Dungy in Super Bowl XLI.

#33-TOP SEEDS ACTUALLY MEET: Believe it or not, but this is the first time that the No. 1 seed in the NFC and AFC will meet in the Super Bowl since 1993. In each year since the Bills and Cowboys met, one of the top seeds fall before getting to the big game. For a look at what the top seeds did during the drought, check out The Tygrrrr Express.

#34-NFC SOUTH IS ALL IN: With the Saints reaching their first Super Bowl, it completed the NFC South's participation in the game. The Saints join the Falcons, Panthers and Buccaneers as Super Bowl participants. The only divisions that don't have all of their members with appearances is the AFC North, AFC South and NFC North.

No division has all their members with Super Bowl championships. The NFC East (Eagles didn't win), AFC West (Chargers) and AFC East (Bills) have seen three of their four members win a title. The NFC East is the only division to have each of their members in multiple Super Bowls. The Cowboys have been to eight, the Redskins have been to five, the Giants have been to four and the Eagles have been to two.

The odd thing is that each team in the NFC South has been exactly once to the Super Bowl. The Panthers and Falcons lost their only time there, while the Bucs beat the Raiders in their moment.

#35-NFC EAST TOPS THEM ALL: The NFC East easily has the most Super Bowl champions than any other division. The 11 titles won bests the AFC North for the top honors. Interestingly, the two participants in this year's game play in divisions that are the two worst at racking up titles.

The NFC East dominated from 1986-1995. In that span, the Giants ('86, '90), Redskins ('87, '91) and Cowboys ('92, '93, '95) went to and won 7 of 10 Super Bowls during that decade. The only other Super Bowl champ was San Francisco ('88, '89, '94).

Here's a rundown of the divisions:

11-NFC EAST (Cowboys-5, Redskins-3, Giants-3)
7-AFC NORTH (Steelers-6, Ravens-1)
6-NFC WEST (Niners-5, Rams-1)
6-AFC EAST (Patriots-3, Dolphins-2, Jets-1)
6-AFC WEST (Raiders-3, Broncos-2, Chiefs-1)
4-NFC NORTH (Packers-3, Bears-1)
2-AFC SOUTH (Colts-2)
1-NFC SOUTH (Buccaneers-1)

As for Super Bowl appearances, the NFC East wins this title again:

19-NFC EAST (Cowboys-8, Redskins-5, Giants-4, Eagles-2)
16-AFC EAST (Patriots-6, Dolphins-5, Bills-4, Jets-1)
14-AFC WEST (Broncos-6, Raiders-5, Chiefs-2, Chargers-1)
10-NFC WEST (Niners-5, Rams-3, Seahawks-1, Cardinals-1)
10-NFC NORTH (Packers-4, Vikings-4, Bears-2)
10-AFC NORTH (Steelers-7, Bengals-2, Ravens-1)
5-AFC SOUTH (Colts-4, Titans-1)
4-NFC SOUTH (Panthers-1, Bucs-1, Falcons-1, Saints-1)

44 Stops to Super Bowl XLIV: No. 36-40

The "44 Stops to Super Bowl XLIV" is a series that will feature stories, stats and interesting trivia that you can use to act smart as you prepare for Super Bowl XLIV. I've done this on SPORTZASSASSIN.COM for Super Bowls XL, XLI, XLIII and for AOL's FanHouse for Super Bowl XLII.

#36-THERE IS AN EXTRA VINCE LOMBARDI TROPHY OUT THERE: Excuse this one taken from my FanHouse post but it is rather interesting:

There have been 43 Super Bowls to date ... yet there are 44 Vince Lombardi Trophies (given to the Super Bowl winning team) out and about. How is that?

Well, that little ditty comes to light after the recent passing of Rams owner Georgia Frontiere. Frontiere's husband, former-Colts and Rams owner Carroll Rosenbloom, is the reason behind the story:

However, when Colts owner Carroll Rosenbloom, Frontiere's late husband, traded the Colts for the Rams in a franchise swap in 1972, he decided he wanted to keep the Lombardi Trophy the Colts won in Super Bowl V. When Super Bowl VII took place in Los Angeles, Rosenbloom told the Colts he was going to put on a display of Super Bowl trophies and asked them to bring it to the West Coast. They did. There was no display, and Rosenbloom never returned the trophy. After the Colts complained to the league office, former NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle had a duplicate made for the Colts, which remains in Baltimore (it was originally shipped to Indianapolis when the team moved but a deal was struck and it was returned to Maryland). The original Super Bowl V trophy? It presumably was in Frontiere's possession and now belongs to her heirs.

So, there are two Vince Lombardi trophies awarded for Super Bowl V ... yet neither are with the franchise that won it. The original was in St. Louis with Frontiere with the other in Baltimore, the Colts old digs. Meanwhile, Indianapolis can only show off the trophy they won two years ago.

#37-SCORE EARLY AND OFTEN: The team who scores first in a Super Bowl is 28-15. However, the team who has scored first has lost five of the last eight Super Bowls.

*Teams who score at least 30 points are 21-1.
*Teams that score the first TD are 31-12.
*Teams leading at the half are 33-8 (there have been two ties)


#38-AFC LOVES FEBRUARY: The Super Bowl will be held on February 7th. Since the first February Super Bowl in 2002, the AFC is 6-1 in those games:

Super Bowl XXXVI: Patriots beat Rams on February 3, 2002
Super Bowl XXXVIII: Patriots beat Panthers on February 1, 2004
Super Bowl XXXIX: Patriots beat Eagles on February 6, 2005
Super Bowl XL: Steelers beat Seahawks on February 5, 2006
Super Bowl XLI: Colts beat Bears on February 4, 2007
Super Bowl XLII: Giants beat Patriots on February 3, 2008
Super Bowl XLIII: Steelers beat Cardinals on February 1, 2009

#39-ANOTHER FLORIDA SUPER BOWL: This will mark just the third time that consecutive Super Bowls will be held in the same state. This year's Super Bowl in Miami follows last year's in Tampa. Super Bowls II and III were both held in Miami. California hosted Super Bowls XXI (Pasadena) and XXII (San Diego).

#40-A DIFFERENT KIND OF PRO BOWL: For the first time ever, the Pro Bowl will be held before the Super Bowl ... and in the same city. The NFL moved its game to Miami, the host of Super Bowl XLIV and the plan is to keep it that way. Every Pro Bowl since 1980 was held in Honolulu. From 1973-1979, the NFL did rotate the site of the Pro Bowl every year but it wasn't held at a Super Bowl site. From 1950-1972, the game was held in Los Angeles.

44 Stops to Super Bowl XLIV: No. 41-44

The "44 Stops to Super Bowl XLIV" is a series that will feature stories, stats and interesting trivia that you can use to act smart as you prepare for Super Bowl XLIV. I've done this on SPORTZASSASSIN.COM for Super Bowls XL, XLI, XLIII and for AOL's FanHouse for Super Bowl XLII.

#41-MATT STOVER IS AN OLD MAN: At 42 years and 11 days, Colts kicker Matt Stover will be the oldest player in Super Bowl history. Stover replaced the injured Adam Vinateri as Indy's kicker mid-season. Stover was drafted by the Giants back in 1990 (but didn't play). He would move on to the Cleveland Browns the next season and would stay with the franchise during their move to Baltimore (1991-2008). He won a Super Bowl with the Ravens in 2001.

#42-NEW YORK MISSED OUT ON SUPER BOWL XLIV ... TWICE: The New York Jets fell just short of making it to the Super Bowl. A couple years ago, a win may have meant the Jets would be playing a home game for the Lombardi trophy. Back in 2005, the NFL voted that Super Bowl XLIV would be held in New York, provided the city financed and built a retractable roof stadium by 2008. That didn't happen, so the NFL re-opened the bidding with the runners up (Miami, Atlanta, Houston) and chose South Florida yet again.

#43-WHAT'S THE NAME OF THE STADIUM AGAIN? This will be the fifth Super Bowl held in the stadium that houses the Miami Dolphins. The problem is that no one remembers what it is called.

In Super Bowls XXIII and XXIX, it was known as Joe Robbie Stadium. It was called Pro Player Stadium during Super Bowl XXXIII. For Super Bowl XLI, the place was called Dolphin Stadium. And for Super Bowl XLIV, it will be known as Sun Life Stadium.

What makes this even more bizarre is that the stadium was called Land Shark Stadium for the 2009 season. The name changed back to Dolphins Stadium after the season but last week the stadium reached a deal with Sun Life Financial.

#44-THE COLTS LOVE MIAMI ... PRETTY MUCH: The Indianapolis Colts are back in a Super Bowl in Miami. That's the site of their only two Super Bowl championships. Back in Super Bowl V, the Baltimore Colts beat the Dallas Cowboys in what has been dubbed "The Blunder Bowl" in Miami's Orange Bowl. The Indy Colts won Super Bowl XLI at Dolphin Stadium. Of course, they've also lost a Super Bowl -- Super Bowl III to the New York Jets.

So that makes four Super Bowls for the Colts ... with all of them in Miami.