Super Bowl XLV Predictions - It’s Patriots All The Way

We are now through 16 weeks and 15 games of the NFL regular season, which means that it’s just about that time to start making Super Bowl XLV Predictions. And really, what kind of prediction could we make without talking about the New England Patriots? Bill Belichick’s crew is now 13-2, and has wrapped up the No. 1 seed in the AFC and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Maybe even more impressively, they’ve been a favorite of bettors, going 8-3-1 against the spread in their last 12 games.

Of course, the real reason that the Patriots are part of our Super Bowl XLV Predictions is because of quarterback Tom Brady. If Brady hasn’t wrapped up the MVP trophy at this point in the year, he’s pretty darn close, as after a win in Buffalo on Sunday, he upped his season totals to 3,701 yards passing and 34 touchdowns, while being intercepted just four times. Meanwhile in the NFC, the team that we like in the Super Bowl XLV Predictions are the Atlanta Falcons who play host to the Saints Monday night. Like New England, the Falcons are 12-2 and a favorite of bettors, going 7-1 against the spread in the last eight games.

However, unlike New England, the Falcons get things done with balance on offense and defense. The Falcons rank fifth in the NFL in both scoring offense and scoring defense, scoring 26.4 points per game, while allowing just barely 18 a contest. So who are some underdogs that could come up big in the Super Bowl XLV Predictions? It’s got to be a pair of teams from Pennsylvania.

In Pittsburgh, the Steelers improved to 11-4 with a Thursday night win over Carolina, and are one of only two teams (along with the Eagles) to beat the mighty Atlanta Falcons. Pittsburgh once again has one of the most feared defenses in the National Football League, as they’re ranked No. 1 in scoring defense, giving up a meager 14.9 points per game.

On the other side of the Keystone State, the Eagles continue to pile up wins, as they march toward an NFC East title. The star of the show is none other than quarterback Michael Vick, who along with Brady is the top MVP candidate this season. In his most recent game against the Giants, Vick threw for 242 while rushing for another 130, and accounting for four total touchdowns. The Eagles will next play Tuesday night, after their Sunday game was postponed by an impending blizzard.

Finally, while they might not be part of the Super Bowl XLV Predictions right now, let’s give credit to the Bears, Ravens, Chiefs and Jets, all of which clinched playoff berths on Sunday afternoon. Who knows, maybe one of those teams will end up winning it all. When it comes to the Super Bowl XLV Predictions, crazier things have happened, right?

Read More >> Super Bowl 2011, Super Bowl XLV

Super Bowl 2011 win worth $2M to Jets' Sanchez: report

Playing an extra playoff game could work out just fine financially for Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez. ESPN.com reports Sanchez will earn $250,000 in contract bonuses for each playoff win, with up to $1.875 million available if the Jets win the Super Bowl 2011.

Citing multiple sources, the report says, "The Jets will pay Sanchez $250,000 for each playoff victory, starting in the wild-card round. Therefore, if Sanchez leads the Jets to the Super Bowl and doesn't win it, he will make an additional $750,000 in postseason bonuses. "Sanchez would get the full, $1.875 million for winning the (Super Bowl) ..."

The Jets, with a late season-slump that included a loss to AFC East champion New England, must play a Wild-Card Round game, meaning it would take three victories to reach the Super Bowl. The Jets won two playoff games with Sanchez last season before losing to the Colts in the AFC Championship.

Sanchez injured his shoulder two games ago in a win at Pittsburgh before playing the enitre game in a loss at Chicago. He could be rested for all or part of the regular-season finale Sunday against the Bills at New Meadowlands Stadium.

Read More >> Super Bowl 2011, Super Bowl XLV

2011 NFL Pro Bowl Rosters: Two Trojans, Two Bruins Highlight Squads

The 2011 Pro Bowl rosters have been announced this evening by the NFL, and the January 30 game in Honolulu, Hawaii will have a local flavor. Two former USC Trojans and two former UCLA Bruins made the Pro Bowl, which will be played the Sunday before the Super Bowl. Both former Trojans are on defense for the NFC, while both former Bruins are on offense for the AFC.

Maurice Jones-Drew of the Jacksonville Jaguars is the starting running back for the AFC, the second Pro Bowl of his career. In 14 games this season, Jones-Drew has 1,324 rushing yards and 317 receiving yards, averaging a career-high 117.2 yards from scrimmage per game this season. Drew's teammate, tight end Marcedes Lewis, has made his first Pro Bowl, backing up Antonio Gates of the Chargers. Lewis has caught 54 passes for 674 yards this season, with nine touchdowns. Jones-Drew and Lewis were teammates from 2003-2005 at UCLA, and have been teammates in Jacksonville for five seasons.

Former Trojan Troy Polamalu, of the Pittsburgh Steelers, is the starting strong safety for the NFC, his sixth Pro Bowl in eight NFL seasons. Polamalu has six sacks, one interception, and 48 tackles this season. Another former Trojan, Clay Matthews, of the Green Bay Packers, is starting at outside linebacker for the NFC. It is the second Pro Bowl in as many seasons for Matthews, who has 12½ sacks and one interception this season.

Read More >> Super Bowl 2011, Super Bowl XLV

Hyundai Unlocks Super Bowl XLV Drive With Sonata Hybrid Multi-Media Campaign

Hyundai will be among a parking lot filled with auto companies advertising on Fox during Super Bowl XLV. So to help get a fast start on the competition, the car maker will unveil the first TV spot in a planned national multi-media campaign for the Sonata, the brand's first hybrid model, on Dec. 31 during CBS's telecast of college football's Hyundai Sun Bowl.

Hyundai has purchased three 30-second spots on Fox during Super Bowl XLV on Feb, 6, 2011 from Cowboys Stadium. Thirty-second spots for the NFL's big game are going for $2.8-$3 million, per industry analysts. Fountain Valley. Calif.-based Hyundai Motor America's lead agency is its in-house Innocean Worldwide Americas division.

According to Hyundai, the first Sonata Hybrid spot, "Anachronistic City," acknowledges that although the Sonata is not the first hybrid to market, it is the "smart challenger of conventional, early generation hybrids a sophisticated evolution of the technology, wrapped in a more appealing package."

The 30-second spot showcases a variety of inventions that were all innovative in their time, including 1880s-era high wheel bicycles, mid-century typewriters, a blimp, 1980s-era cell phones, a "portable" record turn-table, black-and-white TVs, silent movies a folding camera and even "jiggle belt" exercise machines. The Sonata then appears as the spot makes a point about how all technology evolves.

"Hybrid Sonata capitalizes on the learnings of hybrid models that have come before it, and advances the technology so that it's practical and affordable for a broader consumer audience – not just early adopters," John Krafcik, president and CEO, for Hyundai Motor America, said in a statement. "Like the 2.4-liter direct-injected Sonata and the 2.0-liter Sonata Turbo launched earlier this year, Sonata Hybrid demonstrates Hyundai's unique approach melding innovative technologies and emotional design into products more and more people want to put in their driveways."

Hyundai's title sponsorship of the Sun Bowl, being played in El Paso, Texas, includes eight  30-second spots. In addition to the Hybrid Sonata debut ad, Hyundai said it would include TV spots featuring the two other Sonata powertrains: the standard 2.4-liter gasoline direct injection model and the 2.0-liter turbo model. Hyundai's holiday campaign will continue on the Hyundai Sun Bowl featuring music from singing duo Pomplamoose.

Counting down to Super Bowl XLV

Fifth in a series looking back at Super Bowls I-XLIV leading up to Super Bowl XLV, Feb. 6, 2011, at Cowboys Stadium.
Colts 16, Cowboys 13
Jan. 17, 1971, Orange Bowl, Miami

Baltimore's Jim O'Brien kicked a 32-yard field goal with 5 seconds remaining to give the Colts the victory. Colts linebacker Mike Curtis set up the winning field goal with an interception that deflected off the hands of Cowboys running back Dan Reeves. Baltimore's first touchdown also came after a deflection, on a 75-yard pass play from Johnny Unitas to John Mackey. The pass bounced off Colt Ed Hinton's fingertips and then off Cowboys defensive back Mel Renfro's fingers near midfield.

Notable

O'Brien had missed one field goal earlier in the game and had had a point-after attempt blocked.

The Colts won despite committing seven turnovers -- four fumbles and three interceptions. The Cowboys had four turnovers, including three interceptions thrown by Craig Morton.

Unitas was 3 of 9 passing before being injured in the first half. Earl Morrall, his replacement, was 7 for 15 for 145 yards.

Cowboys defensive end Chuck Howley became the first non-quarterback to be selected MVP. He remains the only MVP from a losing team.

This was the first Super Bowl played on an artificial surface.

Scoring summary

Dal - FG Mike Clark 14

Dal - FG Clark 30

Bal - John Mackey 75 pass from Johnny Unitas (kick blocked)

Dal - Duane Thomas 7 pass from Craig Morton (Clark kick)

Bal - Tom Nowatzke 2 run (Jim O'Brien kick)

Bal - FG O'Brien 32

Mars Using Visa, NFL Heroes, Brands In Sweet Super Bowl XLVI Campaign

Super Bowl XLV is just over a month away, but Mars Chocolate North America is already focusing on Super Bowl XLVI, which will be played Feb. 5, 2012 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Mars, in conjunction with Visa, has unveiled its "Celebrate on the Field 2011 Instant Win Game," with a grand prize of four field passes for the NFL's big game in Indianapolis. On board for marketing support are three former Super Bowl heroes: Marshall Faulk, running back for the Super Bowl XXXIV champion St. Louis Rams; Mark Schlereth, offensive guard. a three-time Super Bowl champion as a member of the Washington Redskins (Super Bowl XXVI) and Denver Broncos (Super Bowls XXXII and XXXIII); and Rodney Harrison, a two-time Super Bowl champion safety with the New England Patriots (Super Bowl XXXVIII, XXXIX).

"NFL players work their whole lives for the opportunity to experience those few precious moments celebrating a Super Bowl victory," Debra Sandler, chief consumer officer for Mars Chocolate North America, said in a statement. "We are thrilled to afford fans who serve Mars Real Chocolate at their football-viewing parties the exclusive chance to enjoy those special moments of celebration alongside the newest Super Bowl champions. For an NFL fan, what could be more exciting?"

To enter the contest, consumers are being directed to upload the UPC codes from specially marked packages of Mars brands to www.BeOnTheField.com now through Feb. 7, 2011 (the day after Super Bowl XLV). The brands are M&M'S, Snickers, Twix, Milky Way and 3 Musketeers. Among the "thousands of other great prizes" are Visa gift cards and packages of Mars chocolate products. (Full details here.)

In addition to on-package and POP, marketing support is anchored by Internet, including dedicated Facebook pages where Schlereth and Harrison will be conducting live chats with fans of the Snickers and M&M's Facebook Fan Pages.

Mars also will have a presence at Super Bowl XLV where it will be celebrating with the winners of its "Go Nuts At The Super Bowl with Snickers Instant Win Game" and its "Be On The Field" promotion that ran at the end of the 2009 season.

The Mars Chocolate North America brand, which will have air time on Fox during the upcoming Super Bowl, generated a lot of publicity with a TV spot starring Betty White that aired during Super Bowl XLIV, which was atop numerous post-game ad monitors and was also among the top spots of 2010.

According to Marshall Faulk, "Winning a Super Bowl for St. Louis Rams fans everywhere was a huge thrill for me and I'll never forget those few fleeting moments when we had the opportunity to celebrate our amazing accomplishment. This is an experience you can't buy, nor will you ever forget."