A Swifties' guide to the Super Bowl

Over 200 million fans are predicted to tune in to watch the biggest game in the American Football calendar this Sunday - and no doubt this viewership will include the new fans the sport has gained in the form of Swifties.

Many Taylor Swift fans have started to tune in to watch glimpses of the pop star attending games to support her boyfriend and Kansas City Chiefs player Travis Kelce as he and his team face the San Francisco 49ers at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

So it's no surprise that this year’s match is predicted to attract the highest viewership on record - however, some viewers (including Swifties) may be unfamiliar with the ins and outs of American football.

But those worried about keeping track of the game and feeling clueless need fear not: Popeyes®, has you covered.

To help those tuning in for the first time, Popeyes® UK - which famously hails from the US and home of American football - has partnered with the UK’s resident expert and former Buffalo Bills coach, Phoebe Schecter, to create a cheat sheet for the game.

Designed to bring you up to speed in less than five minutes, the guide shares the top fifteen things you need to know before Sunday’s big clash – from how teams reach the coveted final, to what a ‘Snap’ is, and how to score a touchdown.

Swifties along with football fans will be watching the Super Bowl to see Taylor Swift who is expected to attendPhoto by Patrick Smith/Getty Images

For those Brits across the pond who plan to stay up all night to watch the action, Popeyes® will be keeping selected restaurants across the UK open late for delivery until 1am on February 12 in London, Leicester, Liverpool and Cardiff for the first time ever on Sunday.*

Katy Brown, Head of Marketing at Popeyes®, said: “Popeyes® has attracted a huge hype and a cult following across the States – having supplied the food for celebrity weddings and even the Met Gala – and has seen incredible demand since landing in the UK in 2021.

"Now that we’ve successfully brought our offering across the pond, we want to help Brits enjoy the US’s second best export: American football! We can’t wait to help those new to the game get up to speed, or get our iconic shatter-crunch chicken fix to fans by keeping selected restaurants open late for delivery for the first time ever.”

Phoebe Schecter, NFL expert and former Buffalo Bills coach, added: “The general perception of American football in the UK is that it’s a game with lots of complicated rules – but actually that’s not the case! In fact, they’re very similar to football and rugby when you boil them down.

"This weekend’s game is one of the biggest events in the US cultural calendar and is an incredible spectacle. That’s why I’ve teamed up with Popeyes® ahead of the big clash to create a handy cheat sheet to help those tuning in for the first time – so they can understand and enjoy the game with their friends, alongside the taste of Popeyes® fried chicken!”

Plus, as a nod to the long-standing tradition of eating fried chicken whilst watching Sunday’s big game, which saw 1.45 billion chicken wings eaten during the show last year, Popeyes® will also be launching two limited-edition Touchdown Wings bundles for four to six friends this weekend.

Designed for sharing with your mates during the game, the meals feature Popeyes® Hot Wings which have been marinated for 12 hours in Popeyes’® signature blend of Louisiana herbs and spices. Featuring Popeyes’® iconic shatter-crunch coating, the chicken comes perfectly paired with Popeyes’® Regular Fries and your choice of dips.

• The Touchdown Wings Bundle for 6: 30 Hot Wings + 6 Regular Fries + 6 Dips, £39.99
• The Touchdown Wings Bundle for 4: 20 Hot Wings + 4 Regular Fries + 4 Dips, £29.99

The Touchdown Wings Bundles will be available for delivery at popeyesuk.com and by ordering Popeyes® from Uber Eats, Just Eat and Deliveroo nationwide, and until 1am from the specific locations listed.

THE AMERICAN FOOTBALL CHEAT SHEETFROM NFL EXPERT PHOEBE SCHECTER AND POPEYES®

An ultimate guide on the rules of American Football ahead of the Super BowlPopeyes®

The Teams:

The Super Bowl is the championship game of the NFL (National Football League). The league is made up of 32 teams split into 2 conferences – the AFC and the NFC. The winners of each conference play in the Super Bowl.

Timings and Kick-off:

The game consists of 4 15-minute quarters of actual playing time. Games take longer because of clock stoppages when the ball is out of play, timeouts and stoppages. The game begins with a kick-off, where one team kicks the ball to the other to start play. Kick-offs occur at the beginning of each half and after every score.

Offence and Defence:

The attacking team on a given play is called the Offence while the defending team is the Defence. The Offence tries to advance the ball down the field, while the Defence tries to stop them and force turnovers by intercepting passes or causing the Offence to fumble the ball.

Scoring:

Teams score points by catching or carrying the ball in/into the opponent’s end zone for a touchdown (much like a ‘try’ in rugby), which is worth 6 points. After scoring a touchdown (TD), teams can opt to kick an extra point through the goal posts or try and score an additional touchdown worth 2 points from just outside the endzone. If teams are close enough to the end zone they have the option of kicking a field goal (3 points) if they do not want to risk not scoring a touchdown.

Downs and Yards:

The attacking team has 4 chances, called ‘Downs’, to advance the ball 10 yards towards the opponent’s end zone. If successful, they get 4 more downs. On each down, the attacking team (Offence) will run a play – think of it as a set piece in football or rugby.

Positions:

Each player has a specific role on the field. The Quarterback leads the Offence, while Linebackers and Defensive Backs play Defence. Each team also has special teams for kicking and punting plays.

Line of Scrimmage and the Snap!

The line of scrimmage is an imaginary line going across the field demarcated by the ball on the ground before a play. Both teams have to stay on their own side of the line before a play. Each play begins with a ‘SNAP’ which is when the Centre hands or passes the ball to the Quarterback through his legs.

Penalties:

Penalties can be called for fouls like holding, offsides, or pass interference, resulting in yardage gains or losses. Referees signal penalties by throwing yellow flags to where the foul occurred but they may wait for the play to finish before enforcing the penalties.

Number of Players:

Just like football, American Football has 11 players on each team on the field at a time. But unlike football, these can be swapped in and out at any time (rolling substitutes). The team rosters have 53 players because of specialised positions.

Sacks and Tackles:

A ‘sack’ is when the Quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can pass the ball. Tackles are made when defensive players stop the ball carrier from advancing by mostly bringing them to the ground, stopping their forward progress or forcing them out of bounds.

Coaches and Play calling:

Coaches play a crucial role in strategy and calling plays during the game. They communicate with players through headsets and make decisions on Offence, Defence, and special teams.

Run vs Pass:

The Offence can either choose to run with the ball following the snap (a run play), or have the Quarterback throw the ball to a receiver down the field (a pass play).

The Halftime Show:

The Super Bowl halftime show is always a huge spectacle that draws a massive audience in its own right. This year, the king of R&B, Usher, is set to take the stage.

Hail Mary:

In the final moments of a close game, teams may attempt a variety of plays, such as a "Hail Mary" pass—a long, desperate throw into the end zone—as a last-ditch effort to score and win the game.

Traditions

The Super Bowl is more than just a football game; it's a cultural event. People host parties, enjoy snacks like wings, and engage in friendly betting on game outcomes or commercial rankings

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