After 18 weeks of regular season football and three more of the playoffs, the Super Bowl is finally here, with the Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals set to duel Sunday in Los Angeles.
Millions around the country tune in every year to watch the Super Bowl, as it is consistently one of the most-watched broadcasts in the United States.
As fans everywhere are getting ready to watch Super Bowl 56 on NBC, we’re counting down the top 5 most-watched in NFL history.
Will this year’s big game surpass the top spot?
5. Super Bowl 51
The 51st Super Bowl generated 111,319,000 viewers on FOX. The game, which took place Feb. 5, 2017, at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, featured the New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons famously blew a 28-3 lead to the Patriots while Super Bowl MVP Tom Brady helped lead the comeback to win 34-28. It is the lone Super Bowl to be decided in overtime. Lady Gaga performed at halftime, starting her set on top of the stadium and jumping down.
4. Super Bowl 46
Taking place Feb. 5, 2012, at Lucas Oil Stadium, in Indianapolis, Indiana, Super Bowl 46 drops in at No. 4. Broadcast on NBC, the game between the New York Giants and New England Patriots brought in 111,346,000 viewers. A halftime show headlined by Madonna and featuring LMFAO, M.I.A., Nicki Minaj, and CeeLo Green broke up a 10-9 game led by the Patriots. Though New England scored 17 unanswered points to go up 17-9 in the third, the Eli Manning-led Giants came away victorious, winning the game 21-17 and giving Manning his second Super Bowl MVP.
3. Super Bowl 50
Cracking the top three is Super Bowl 50, which took place Feb. 7, 2016, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. CBS brought in 111,864,000 viewers for the game between the Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers. While Cam Newton was the regular-season MVP, it was Denver who never trailed, going up 10-0 in the first quarter and holding sway. Broncos defensive star Von Miller was named MVP of the game that was the final one of Peyton Manning’s career. Coldplay was the halftime headliner and was joined by special guests Beyonce and Bruno Mars.
2. Super Bowl 48
The Super Bowl between the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks checks in at No. 2. Occurring Feb. 2, 2014, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Super Bowl 48 on FOX attracted 112,191,000 viewers. The Seahawks defeated the Broncos 43-8, with Seattle not allowing Denver to score until the third quarter. That was partly due to Seahawks linebacker Malcolm Smith, who had a pick-six, fumble recovery and nine tackles to earn Super Bowl MVP. Bruno Mars performed with the Red Hot Chili Peppers at halftime, where viewership peaked at 115.3 million viewers.
1. Super Bowl 49
Coming in at No. 1 is Super Bowl 49, where the Seattle Seahawks returned for a second year to play the New England Patriots. The two dueled Feb. 1. 2015, at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. NBC broadcast the game and it generated 114,442,000 viewers. The game was scoreless through the first quarter, but both teams ramped it up in the second to make it even at 14 heading into halftime. Headliner Katy Perry, joined by Lenny Kravitz, Missy Elliott, and the Arizona State University Marching Band brought relief to a tense game with their halftime show. Seattle went up by 10 in the third quarter, however quarterback Tom Brady and the Patriots battled back in the fourth to win 28-24 and give Brady his third Super Bowl MVP. The play of the game was when Seattle appeared set for the winning score but Patriots DB Malcolm Butler jumped the route and picked off a Russell Wilson pass at the goal line in the final seconds.
