Despite this weekend featuring a tantalising Premier League matchup between Chelsea and Manchester City, as well the first round of the Six Nations, it ultimately belongs to that great celebration of all things American: the Super Bowl.
Even if you've never watched a single minute of NFL action, you'll likely be vaguely familiar with the Super Bowl. So, if you're planning on watching the game - but aren't quite sure what it all means - then this guide is for you.
1. I don't understand the rules
For many people in the UK, the Super Bowl - and the NFL - is a once-a-year spectacle. It's not every day you get to drink in a bar until 4am, right? Even so, it does help to understand what's going on.
So what are the rules? A game of football/American football/'NFL' takes place over four fifteen-minute quarters, and the clock is only running while the ball is in play. This means that, in real-time, the game runs for over 3 hours.
Teams get four opportunities ('downs') to travel ten yards by passing or running the football. If they succeed, they get another set of downs. If they fail, they have to turn the ball over by punting to the opposition. This continues until one team scores a touchdown (7 points) or a field goal (3 points). The team who scored then kicks the ball to the other team, and they then get a chance to drive down the field and score. If a player is penalised, a referee will throw a yellow flag on to the field and - rather than award a team a free kick or a penalty attempt - they will penalise the offending team in yardage.
2. The Quarterback is the most important player on the field
Yes, the guy who throws the ball is the most important player on the field. He'll touch the ball on just about every play, and it is the first priority of the defence to limit his effectiveness. They do this by trying to break up passes to other players, or by hitting him as hard as possible before he can get rid of the ball (a sack). On Sunday you'll see Peyton Manning (Denver) and Russell Wilson (Seattle). A serious injury to either of these guys will make it much harder for their respective teams to win.
3. So what is the Super Bowl?
The NFL is divided into two conferences; the AFC and the NFC. At the end of each season the best teams in each conference will play among each other until one team remains from the AFC and the NFC. Yes, you are correct - those two teams then play in the Super Bowl to determine the NFL ('world') champion.
Imagine splitting the Premier League in two and making the winner of each league play each other at Wembley.
Sunday marks the 48th Super Bowl, and the Pittsburgh Steelers are the most successful team with six wins. As you can see, it was pretty easy to get tickets for Super Bowl I in 1967, but nowadays tickets can cost as much as $2,500 (at face value).
4. The teams.
The AFC champions are the Denver Broncos - led by Peyton Manning (you may have heard of him), they've enjoyed a historic season in which they managed to score more points than any other team in history. Despite their frighteningly talented offence, they are let down by a middle-of-the-road defence and will aim to score early and often in order to limit the options of the Seattle offense. This is their seventh appearance in the big game, and they've not won it since 1999.
Seattle are the NFC champions. Their quarterback is Russell Wilson (you probably haven't heard of him), and they are arguably a more complete team than their opponents. The Seahawks have a good-but-unspectacular offense, and boast an immensely physical defense (the best in the league). The Seahawks have never won a Super Bowl, but in recent years have emerged as the 'next big thing'. If you're looking for a bandwagon to jump on, Seattle are your team.
5. It's more than just a game
Make no mistake, the Super Bowl is more than two teams playing for a trophy. For many Americans, it is a national holiday (be prepared to take Monday off work) and much of the fun comes from the pomp and the spectacle of its non-sporting features. A 30-second commercial during one of the many advert breaks during the Super Bowl will cost $4 Million, and in 2014 you'll be able to see Scarlett Johansson, David Beckham, The Muppets and Ben Kingsley all promoting a number of products you most likely won't be able to buy in the UK. They won't be on the Sky Sports or Channel 4 broadcasts, but you can check them out on NFL.com the day after.
The half-time entertainment is also an event unto itself, and recent Super Bowls have seen Prince, Bruce Springsteen, The Who, Beyonce, and Madonna all fill the prestigious 15-minute slot. This year it'll be Bruno Mars and the Red Hot Chili Peppers' turn.
6. Food
If you made a new year's resolution to lose weight and/or eat healthy - you may need to suspend those plans. The Super Bowl is a phenomenally unhealthy affair and it is said that, during the game, the average American will consume 1,200 calories and 50 grams of fat in snacks alone. That doesn't include alcoholic beverages. If you're a beginner watching at a bar or at home with die-hard NFL fans, tradition dictates you must partake in the eating of unhealthy snacks.
7. When does it start?
One of the most Googled questions around this time of year, the Super Bowl starts at 6.30pm ET, or 11.30pm GMT. Providing there isn't another power cut in the stadium (as was the case in 2013) the game will likely end around 10.30pm EST, or 3.30am GMT.
If you've got any further questions, send them my way on Twitter @TomMacFootball
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