Every February, Americans prepare for the event of the year. Both football lovers and those who have never picked up sports equipment before rally around the TV for an intense game. Cooking and eating more nachos than can fit in your stomach, anticipating the humor of all of the commercials, Budweiser and M&M’s alike, and singing along to the HalfTime Show, almost every home has NBC on. 

Super Bowl LVI will take place on Sunday, February 13, at 6:30 PM Eastern Standard Time. The fierce Los Angeles Rams will face off against the determined Cincinnati Bengals in the Rams’ home stadium. 

As the underdogs of the league, the Bengals seem to be the fan favorite this year. Having not made a playoff game in 31 years, Cincinnati reappeared with an unexpected bang and beat the Raiders in their first playoff game. Followed by a 19-16 win over the Tennessee Titans, the Bengals moved on to play 2020’s Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs. With a showdown in overtime, the Bengals sealed their trip to LA with a field goal made by rookie Evan McPherson to bring the score to 27-24, winning them the AFC Championship.

On the other side of the bracket, the Rams defeated the Arizona Cardinals by 23 before beating football legend Tom Brady’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a 30-27 upset. They then took down the San Francisco 49ers with a 20-17 win. As NFC Champions, they will prepare to host the AFC Champs at home.

Both the Rams and the Bengals have powerful quarterbacks, the Rams’ Matthew Stafford and the Bengals’ Heisman Award Winner Joe Burrow. The quarterbacks are backed up by strong players. Both teams have players ranked high on the prediction list for the Super Bowl MVP Award. Alongside Stafford, stands wide receivers Cooper Kupp and Odell Beckham Jr., running back Cam Akers, and defensive tackle Aaron Donald. Backing Burrow are wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, running back Joe Mixon, and tight end C.J. Uzomah. 

Additionally, both teams are led by history-making head coaches, Sean McVay (Los Angeles) and Zac Taylor (Cincinnati). McVay and Taylor will be taking the crown for the youngest matchup of coaches in Super Bowl history. Surprisingly, McVay used to be Taylor’s boss, so it will be exciting to see how Taylor does when he is calling his own plays. 

When polling 33 SLS students on who they were rooting for, 63.6% voted for the Bengals and the remaining 36.4% voted for the Rams. No matter what team they are cheering for, St. Luke’s students enjoy the Super Bowl in different ways:

From a surplus of food:

Cessa Lewis ‘23 said, “My family watches the game on our living room sofa while I feast on spicy wings and homemade nachos with loads of jalapeño and black beans, which means I’m constantly racing to the fridge to pour myself a glass of milk. We make chili (I’m the taste tester), and after the game, we sit down and enjoy the meal and recover mentally from all the ups and downs of the game. We’re a little sour that the Bengals beat the Chiefs so… I think we’re cheering for the Rams, but my allegiance changes throughout the game.”

Patrick Regan ‘24 and Thad Fatsi ‘25 both expressed their love for buffalo and chicken wings as well.

Matthew Sherter ‘22 said, “I watch the game with my family, and we eat only appetizers the whole game. We also do Super Bowl Squares… to make things interesting.” Similarly, his sister, Emma Sherter ‘25, added, “We [play on] a pool table… and in between breaks, we do a game of Bingo of all the commercials. The Super Bowl is one of my most favorite days of the year, it’s so much fun!”

Kate Hammer ‘25 said, “My family gets a cookie cake each year decorated with the crests of the two teams. We then only eat the side that we think is going to win, it’s almost like a bet.”

 To parties with family and friends:

Catherine Clark ‘22 said, “One of our close family friends throws a big Super Bowl party….Whether you’re rooting for a team or do not follow football at all, it’s a lot of fun to hang out and catch up with everyone. Plus, there are tons of delicious foods that people cook and bring… but they’re gone in a minute, so get in there quickly!”

One student who chose to stay anonymous said that an activity they love is “jumping on 2 folding tables [with friends] to predict who will win… [the] loudest crash wins.”

Ethan Crawford ‘23 said, “Before I moved… my old tradition used to be with just my family and I. Every Super Bowl Sunday, my dad would make chili, the whole family would fill out their squares in hopes of winning money during the game, and then we would all watch together. Ever since I moved into the house I am currently in, we have been going to my neighbor’s house every Super Bowl because they throw an insane party. I love both traditions. As long as I am with friends and family, the Super Bowl is always one of my favorite sporting events of the year.”

With the big game just around the corner, fans, music lovers, and people who hate football but love commercials are waiting anxiously. May the best team win!