The Super Bowl.
It comes around once a year and whether you have skin in the game or you simply hear about it from your coworkers on Monday, you can't deny that it has become a cornerstone of American culture. If you don't hail from either New England or Philadelphia — or you simply can't wrap your head around the game — there are plenty of reasons to join hundreds of millions of Americans in watching the Big Game this Sunday.
1. You get to chow down on nachos, chicken wings, and all the other food that is both delicious and terrible for you
Arguably, the best part of Super Bowl watch parties is the food. Pizza, nachos, chicken wings, and all of the other junk that goes perfectly with beer and football. Looking to impress your party hosts with your cooking game? Check out these recipes from Good Housekeeping and get yourself invited back next year!
2. It's an excuse to hang out with your friends and get drunk on a Sunday
One of the best parts of football season? An excuse to hang out with friends and drink beer on a Sunday afternoon. And sadly, while football season is still many months away, Super Bowl Sunday is the last glorious send-off that the great sport deserves. So, grab a six-pack of your favorite beer and settle in for a cozy afternoon of sportsman-like conduct.
3. 110 million people will be talking about it at work on Monday
Even if you don't like football, you can't deny that the Super Bowl is the only thing anyone will be talking about at work the following Monday. It's like the Oscars — even if you don't care about sound editing or cinematography, you're gonna want to know who won Best Picture and the best joke from host Jimmy Kimmel's opening monologue.
So, even if you have no idea what the difference is between a two-point conversion and a turnover, at least pay enough attention that you can partake in the conversation.
4. Most people watch it for the commercials anyway
Companies spent nearly $420 million on advertising for the 2017 Super Bowl. That's a lot of really good commercials. And even if you absolutely don't pay attention for one moment during the actual game, you'll definitely have a favorite commercial to talk about — like this adorable Budweiser commercial featuring cute puppies.
5. Justin Timberlake
He's headlining this year's Halftime Show, what more do you need?
6. The Patriots have had more Super Bowl appearances than any other franchise
10. That's how many times the Patriots have gone to the Super Bowl, eight of those since the arrival of head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady. Whether you're a fan of the Pats or not, watching Brady lead his team is kind of like watching Beyonce perform at the Grammy's, and watching great athletes play a good game is always entertaining.
7. It's a chance to root for the underdogs
If you haven't been paying attention to the season up until the Big Game, go into it understanding that the Eagles are the ultimate underdogs. The team is coming to the field Sunday with a slew of injured front-runners — from star quarterback Carson Wentz to left tackle Jason Peters nursing serious ACL injuries. Despite these losses, the team brought an embarrassing loss to the Minnesota Vikings, securing their spot in the championship game.
8. There's bound to be one drunken shouting match about who really is the GOAT
In case you don't know, GOAT = Greatest Of All Time. Many believe that Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is the greatest, whether by default or because he deserves it. And whether it is because they are choosing to ignore spygate and deflategate or because Brady has led his team to five national championships since joining the team in 2000. Either way, you will likely witness a very heated - and very drunk - discussion about what it truly means to be the GOAT. And that's just great entertainment right there.
9. It doesn't get much more American than football
Football as we know it was born and bred in the United States. Yes, it's very similar to rugby and, yes, it also exists in Canada, but the culture surrounding the sport is unabashedly American. From the singing of the national anthem to honoring veterans to thanking God, football has become the nation's true pastime.
Heck, it's even called "American Football."
