There will be plenty of posts on this website devoted to breaking down the matchups and actual football being played, but most casual fans are interested on more than the Xs and Os. That's where we come in. Below, I break down what viewers should watch for from a non-football sense: Human interest storylines from the players, the best commercials and some movie trailers that could make an appearance. Take a look and make sure you're prepared for the full viewing spectacle of Super Bowl 50.
The Game
Dance Moves
Both Cam Newton and Von Miller boast exceptional dance skills, which they showcase to America weekly as they celebrate big plays. Which superstar will be dancing more at Levi's Stadium? Also, keep an eye out for Peyton Manning, who might have to bust out these moves again if he ends up hoisting his second Lombardi Trophy.
Will the injured veterans get to play?
Thomas Davis and Jared Allen are long-time veterans and all around awesome people who have finally reached the Super Bowl. However, both are dealing with rather significant injuries (Davis - broken arm, Allen - broken bone in his foot), and trying to play in the big game. I for one hope they're both able to play to some extent, as it'd be a shame if two players of their caliber endured as many NFL seasons as they did only to miss out on playing in the Super Bowl by one and two games, respectively.
The Coldplay-led halftime show
The Super Bowl halftime show is one of the biggest events of the year, and for the 50th edition the NFL decided to have British pop-rock group Coldplay headline the show. Reportedly Beyonce, who did a stellar job at the Super Bowl XLVII halftime show in 2013, will also be part of the performance, and it wouldn't be surprising if more music icons joined in on the fun. Lead singer Chris Martintold Entertainment Tonight, "In an ideal world, we'd like to somehow honor the past, celebrate the present and look to the future. I don't know how we're gonna do that, but we're gonna try our best." Well, Chris, the whole world will be watching, so good luck figuring it out in the next two weeks!
Commercials
LG's first ever Super Bowl ad to be produced by Ridley Scott
While the fact that LG is entering the Super Bowl commercial fray isn't that exciting (although, their new TVs look pretty cool), what viewers should pay attention to is the brain trust behind the ad. Jake Scott, director of the memorable lost dog ad from 2015, will be helming this ad for LG, under the tutelage of his father ... legendary film director Ridley Scott ("Alien," "Blade Runner," "Gladiator," etc.). Jake's ability behind the camera combined with his dad's cinematic instincts could make for one memorable spot. After all, Ridley was the director behind Apple's infamous "1984" ad, widely considered one of the best advertisements of all time.
Pokemon
The treasured video game franchise that captivated the world in the mid-90s is launching its first ever Super Bowl commercial this year to commemorate the series' 20th anniversary. There's also reportedly a larger #Pokemon20 campaign in the works, so stay tuned for that. As someone who sunk countless hours into this franchise as a child (and still remembers too many lyrics to the TV show's theme song), I'm intrigued to see what they cook up for this spot and if it hits any (or all) of the feels.
Doritos
For the 10th year in a row, Doritos will feature a fan-created ad in the Super Bowl. You can watch and vote for which ad should air during the game right here. There's an added twist this year (the final year of Doritos' "Crash the Super Bowl" campaign), as the winner also receives a cool $1,000,000 and gets to work with director Zack Snyder on an upcoming DC/Warner Bros project. This year's finalists are all pretty good, but I think I'd have to go with "Swipe for Doritos" as my personal favorite.
For a more complete breakdown of which companies have purchased ad space during Super Bowl 50, read AdAge's complete breakdown.
Movie Trailers
"Untitled Jason Bourne Sequel"
At this point, not much has been released about the fifth installment in the Bourne franchise, other than a shot of Matt Damon unwrapping his hands (shirtless), presumably after some sort of manly brawl. It'd make sense for Universal to build faith in their beloved franchise by slipping in a trailer during America's most watched television event.
"Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice"
Warner Bros has been heavily promoting "Dawn of Justice," as they're hoping to use it as their gateway into an expanded cinematic universe like the one Marvel has built, but the studio could use the Super Bowl as a chance to win over the fans who haven't bought into the new film quite yet (myself included). Here's to hoping we get a better, more convincing look at this upcoming blockbuster.
"Ghostbusters"
The first trailer for the female-driven reboot of the one of comedy's most well-respected franchises makes total sense as a Super Bowl splash ad. Sony has been relatively mum about the film so far, but we do know they intend to launch a new cinematic universe from it. Getting fans, both new and old, excited with a hilarious trailer during the Super Bowl would be a good start. None of this is confirmed to date, but here's to hoping we get a glimpse at what Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy and Paul Feig have been cooking up on set.
For more on the potential movie trailers that could air during Super Bowl 50, check out this breakdown from TheWrap.com.
-- Follow Alex on Twitter @AlexGelhar
