The NFL‘s biggest game of the year, Super Bowl 56, is hours away from kick-off.
The Los Angeles Rams are taking on the Cincinnati Bengals in this interesting matchup.
There have been two weeks of media frenzy about this game so a lot of the storylines are known.
Here are three lingering questions that get top billing on Super Bowl Sunday morning.
3. Do The Rams Have Home Field Advantage?
So much talk has surrounded the Rams’ ability to play in their stadium and conduct their typical pregame routines as usual since they are playing the game at home.
However, some have mentioned that the Rams fanbase does not amass the large numbers that the Bengals fanbase does.
The team pep rallies are a perfect example.
30,000 Bengals fans at their Pep Rally.
According to the #SBOpeningNight 3,000 rams fans at their Pep Rally.
Imagine if Super Bowl Tickets were reasonably priced.
— Not Jake 🥷🏻 (@CincyHub) February 8, 2022
The Rams pep rally reportedly drew 3,000 fans whereas the Bengals pep rally had 30,000.
Bengals Pep Rally vs Rams Pep Rally 😂 #SBOpeningNight pic.twitter.com/79scXOr4uM
— Jawn (@JawnTanner) February 8, 2022
Perhaps there are logistics or conditions we do not know, but these pictures do seem to indicate the Bengals fanbase was bigger at least for the pep rally.
With this disparity leading up to the game, whose fans will be in the stands on Sunday?
If StubHub ticket sales are any indicator, it will be Rams fans.
It is more economical for them to attend.
Surprised by the lack of travel from Bengals fans. Ohio has the smallest number of ticket buys I’ve ever seen from a Super Bowl team state.
Only 9% of fans that bought tickets on StubHub came from Ohio.
31% from California, which obviously has the Rams and the venue.
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) February 11, 2022
2. How Hot is It Going To Be?
Remember when the Super Bowl was played in New Jersey at the Giants and Jets stadium in 2014?
There were concerns about the weather, specifically the cold temperatures.
At kickoff, it was 48 degrees.
Super Bowl XLVIII, played OTD in 2014, was the first outdoor Super Bowl played in a typically cold-weather city — East Rutherford, New Jersey's MetLife Stadium.
The kickoff temperature was 48°F, the third-coldest outdoor Super Bowl ever (SB6: 39°, SB9: 46°…both in New Orleans) pic.twitter.com/Dt7dR6jVxU
— Kevin Gallagher (@KevG163) February 2, 2022
Super Bowl 56 could potentially have the opposite issue, too much heat.
Glad the Rams are wearing white.
The Bengals did not do their weather research before wearing hot black jerseys 😂 the temperature at kickoff is projected to be 85 degrees, making it the hottest Super Bowl ever. I was sweating at the last game in SoFi. We have no A/C in SoFi 🤣— Celebrity Onset (@celebrityonset) February 12, 2022
The temperature is expected to be 85 degrees which is 15 to 20 degrees above normal temperatures for this time of the year.
It has been since 2016 since the area had this type of February heatwave.
Heat contributes to cramping and fatigue for players so both teams will have to plan accordingly.
1. Who Will Win The Game?
Of course, the top storyline is who is predicted to be the winner.
It really depends who you ask or watch on television because the opinions are so diverse.
The Bengals are riding a Cinderella season; no one predicted they would be here back in the preseason.
The Rams have assembled a dream team of players acquired by trade, free agency, and to a lesser degree through the NFL draft.
Which football model prevails?
Is it the young team filled with talented draft picks that are not even in their prime yet?
Or is it the team with a roster put together to win now?
We will soon find out.
Conclusion
The NFL had a lot of trials and tribulations to get to this point.
COVID-19, controversial overtime rules, and inconsistent officiating were themes throughout the 2021 season.
However, the NFL always seems to pull it together and put on a spectacular event at the Super Bowl.
The event has something for everyone including the entertaining half-time show and the top-notch commercials.
Enjoy the game today because there are 364 days until the next one.
Super Bowl 57 takes place on February 12, 2023 at State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona.
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