The Super Bowl remains the most-watched single annual sports event in the world, and in a country whose major sports are all stat-lovers' wet dreams, it boasts more statistics than any other event on earth. For instance, four million Americans bought new TVs to watch last night’s game, during which a 30-second commercial would have set you back an eye-popping $2.8m (£1.8m). Meanwhile, approximately 4,000 tonnes of popcorn and 11 million pounds of potato chips were consumed during the action. And so on, and so on.
As a small doff of the cap to what sometimes feels like a thinly-veiled excuse to hold the world’s biggest numbers game, here is a potted summary of Super Bowl XLIV, told in statistics.
1 - This was the Saints' first trip to a Super Bowl - a big enough achievement in itself for a franchise historically known as the 'Aints'.
44 – Last night was the 44th Super Bowl. It is also the shirt number worn byIndianapolis USA
44 – Last night was the 44th Super Bowl. It is also the shirt number worn by
22 – Multiples of this number seem to represent pivotal cultural moments in Super Bowls. Last night’s game was cheered on as a victory for Katrina-ravaged New Orleans
10 – New Orleans
96 – Yards covered on Indianapolis
12 – The longest drive of the game covered 71 yards in 12 plays, and resulted in no points as the Colts stopped the Saints on a fourth down play on their own one-yard line late in the first half.
0 – The number of onside kicks attempted during the first three quarters of all 43 previous Super Bowls, until the Saints executed one with the second half kickoff, recovered it, and marched downfield to their first touchdown – and lead – of the game.
18 – Consecutive points scored by New Orleans
47 – The number of turnovers (including postseason) forced by the Saints in their 18 games this season prior to the Super Bowl.
1 – The number of turnovers forced by the Saints last night. But what a big one it was, with Tracy Porter returning a Manning pass 74 yards for a touchdown, just as the Colts were driving towards the tying score with three minutes remaining. Porter’s pick-six effectively clinched the game.
38 – In yards, the longest field goal successfully made by Saints’ kicker Garrett Hartley during the 2009 regular season. Last night, he was successful from 46, 44 and 47 yards, becoming the first man ever to kick more than two field goals from 40 yards or more in a single Super Bowl and raising his postseason record to a perfect five from five.
1- The total number of sacks in a game which featured a dizzying 85 passing plays. It was recorded by the Colts’ Dwight Freeney, despite struggling throughout with an ankle injury which required heavy strapping.
30 – The measly number of rushing yards gained by the Saints’ leading runner on the night, Pierre Thomas. (The Colts’ Joseph Addai accumulated a more respectable 77.) It is also the overall percentage of plays called which were runs (37 out of a total of 122). Be in no doubt, the NFL is very much a pass-oriented league these days.
0.500 – The distinctly average postseason win percentage of Peyton Manning, widely regarded as one of the NFL’s best-ever quarterbacks. Nine wins, nine losses.
82.1% - The percentage of passes completed by New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees (32 of 39), eclipsing his 2009 regular season average of 70.6%, in itself an NFL single season record. Two of his seven incompletions were a deliberate spike to stop the clock and a routine catch which was dropped by the receiver. Seriously impressive.
1 – The number of Super Bowl-winning teams led by a quarterback born in Texas , the second-largest and second most populous state in the US
66.7% - The percentage of Super Bowls won by the winner of the NFL International Series game at Wembley since its inception. The New York Giants won the Super Bowl after the inaugural match in 2007, while the Saints won at Wembley in 2008. (As a San Francisco 49ers' fan, this gives me double cause to celebrate their participation in this year's Wembley showpiece on October 31st.)
5 - The total number of postseason game victories in the Saints' 43-year history - three of which have come this season, culminating in Super Bowl triumph.
And finally …
4 – This was the first Super Bowl to be represented in Roman numerals by four different characters. The first Super Bowl to require five different numerals will be number 144.
Hey, I’m allowed one utterly trivial statistic, aren’t I?
Beyond these bare numbers lies the full story of a closely-fought game - the third straight Super Bowl to feature a lead change in the fourth quarter - which started on a low simmer and built gradually to a grand climax. If, like me, you stayed up until nearly 3am (UK time) to witness the denouement, it was a richly rewarding spectacle. If you didn't, well, there's always next year.
After all, the numbers don't lie.
Hey, I’m allowed one utterly trivial statistic, aren’t I?
Beyond these bare numbers lies the full story of a closely-fought game - the third straight Super Bowl to feature a lead change in the fourth quarter - which started on a low simmer and built gradually to a grand climax. If, like me, you stayed up until nearly 3am (UK time) to witness the denouement, it was a richly rewarding spectacle. If you didn't, well, there's always next year.
After all, the numbers don't lie.
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