Many people consider the Super Bowl “the greatest show on Earth,” they may be right. You have two teams battling to be the NFL champions and can count on drama and excitement.
But the Super Bowl is about so much more than football. You have cool commercials, exhilarating halftime shows, the national anthem performance, and more. On game day, there are tailgate parties near the venue. At home, hold Super Bowl parties and gather with friends and family.
Below is a look at the favorites to make it to the Super Bowl, the impact this will have on props betting, the general history of the Super Bowl, and how the event became so huge.
The final two?
On January 26, the Philadelphia Eagles will face the Washington Commanders in the NFC championship game, and the Kansas City Chiefs will face the Buffalo Bills in the AFC championship game. The winner of each will advance to the Super Bowl.
The Commanders’ shock defeat of the Detroit Lions has transformed the Eagles into the favorites to reach the Super Bowl and win. The Chiefs, chasing their third consecutive win, are the second big favorite to lift the Lombardi trophy.
Props betting
The elimination of the previous favorites, the Detroit Lions, has seen sportsbooks remove Lions players from the Super Bowl prop bets. As a result, players from the Eagles and the Chiefs have shifted further up the betting lines on the player props, such as on the anytime touchdown.
The elimination doesn’t just affect individual player props but also team ones. If you’re betting on which team is likely to score first, you won’t find the Lions in the odds.
The fact that the Chiefs have more substantial odds could also see Taylor Swift’s props bets return, which were immensely popular in 2024. Swift, dating Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, attended the 2024 Super Bowl to cheer him on and triggered a range of props bets.
The History of the Super Bowl
The first Super Bowl occurred in Los Angeles on January 15, 1967, and was called the “AFL-NFL World Championship Game.” The Green Bay Packers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 35-10. They also won the following championship game, 33-14, against the Oakland Raiders.
The first Super Bowl invited two university marching bands to play at halftime. Ten thousand ballons, 300 pigeons, and a demonstration by Bell Rocket Air Men, who flew through the sky propelled by hydrogen peroxide, accompanied the band.
From there, the Super Bowl has grown into a cultural phenomenon. It’s a showcase of athleticism, music, and devotion.
A new name and numerals
It wasn’t until 1969 that the game became known as the “Super Bowl.” This same year, the game became denoted with Roman numerals since the big game takes place in a different year than the season it’s played at the end of.
Dominance in the 1970s
The 1970s were a stellar decade if you’re a fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Miami Dolphins, or Dallas Cowboys. The three teams dominated the NFL that decade and won eight Super Bowls between them. The only other teams to lift the coveted trophy were the Chiefs (1970), the Baltimore Ravens (1971), and the Oakland Raiders (1977).
The emergence of San Francisco, New York, and Washington
Unfortunately for Cowboys, Steelers, or Dolphins fans, the sport barely heard a peep from these teams for the Super Bowl in the 1980s, except for a Steelers Super Bowl win in 1980. This decade was all about the San Francisco 49ers, the New York Giants, the Washington Redskins and the Chicago Bears. The 49ers chalked up three, the Redskins two, the Giants one, and the Bears one.
The Cowboys fight back
The 1990s saw the Cowboys rediscover their fire and amass three Super Bowl wins, and the Buffalo Bills transform into an NFL powerhouse. Despite not winning, they appeared in four consecutive Super Bowls. From 1995 into the 21st century, more AFC teams also appeared in Super Bowls.
The dynasty of the New England Patriots
In Super Bowl terms, the early 21st century belonged to the New England Patriots. The team, led by Tom Brady, won the Super Bowl nine times.
The Chiefs Kings of the 2020s
The Chiefs are another team that has rediscovered their fire. This decade, they’ve won the Super Bowl three times and are now looking to become the only team in Super Bowl history to win it consecutively.
The Super Bowl is, to many, the most incredible show on Earth. When they watch it, they’re watching some of the top sporting talent in the world, combined with some of the best entertainers, come together and make it the fabulous occasion it is. No sooner is one Super Bowl over they’re impatient for the next one.