XLI News and Notes

I. Super Bowl XLI was watched by approximately 93.2 million viewers, making it the third most-watched program in television history. Only the 1996 Super Bowl between Dallas and Pittsburgh and the series finale of MASH had more viewers.

II. Marvin Harrison has yet to catch a touchdown in nine career games at Pro Player Stadium.

III. Kelvin Hayden's Chicago roots run deep. The Windy City native played for now Bears offensive coordinator Run Turner when Turner was head coach at Illinois.

IV. Best commercial? By Tivo's estimates, the most-watched mega-million, 30-second clip was a Bud Light ad featuring Carlos Mencia and a language class.

V. Prince likely didn't sing live at halftime because of the deluge that hit Miami.

VI. As in turnovers in the first half.

VII. Tony Dungy became the first African-American head coach to win a Super Bowl. In case you didn't know that already.

VIII. Brian Urlacher dropping 12 yards back into coverage? Our very own John McMullen counted two times all game that Urlacher came on a blitz.

IX. McMullen also put Rex Grossman and David Woodley in the class of worst quarterbacks to start a Super Bowl.

X. The Phanatic Magazine's Eric Redner only missed the final score by an extra point.

XI. Chicago had 5.8 yards per carry. Problem is it could only muster 19 attempts. Peyton Manning and the Colts offense had something to do with that.

XII. At first, could anyone understand Indianapolis squib kicking on every kickoff following Devin Hester's 92-yard TD return? Now it makes perfect sense. Grossman was the Bears signal-caller.

XIII. First Super Bowl played in the rain.

XIV. At least CBS commentator Phils Simms could laugh at himself. Before kickoff, Simms said rain wouldn't be a factor. Then both teams went out and played a game of wet hot potato.

XV. Speaking of CBS, the duo of Simms and Jim Nantz worked well together. Nantz is the ultimate professional, beginning a broadcaster's dream this year in Miami. He will also lead coverage at the Masters and the Final Four.

XVI. Anyone catch the replay of Hayden's INT return? Grossman had a chance to make a play, but seemed to nonchalantly "run" into the picture.

XVII. Trying to find some light at the end of the tunnel, Grossman's four-yard TD connection to Mushin Muhammad was a well-thrown ball into tight coverage.

XVIII. Manning's first-quarter interception was atypical Peyton. It was a bad throw, but an even worse decision.

XIX. Cedric Benson's injury. Thomas Jones' big game. Our own Michael Rushton was right on the money. It will be interesting to see what happens in the Windy City backfield next season.

XX. Billy Joel and the National Anthem just didn't mesh.

XXI. Manning didn't deserve the MVP, but it was bound to happen. He played well, but Joseph Addai, Dominic Rhodes and Hayden all played bigger roles.

XXII. Both fumbled exchanges were Grossman's fault. You are off the hook Olin Kreutz.

XXIII. Memo to Ron Rivera. Playing passive in the Super Bowl was not a great resume-builder for Big D.

XXIV. Nathan Vasher quietly had a great game. He broke up two passes that hit Harrison's hands and blanketed him on a few deep balls.

XV. The CBS pre-game show was solid. JB is a professional, Boomer Esiason was right on about the Tank Johnson situation and guest appearances from Archie Manning and Bill Cowher were seamless.

XVI. What was Chris Harris thinking? Especially in a Cover 2, never, ever leave deep responsibility to cover a tight end in the middle of the field.

XVII. Penn State pride. Robbie Gould validated his Pro Bowl season with a 44-yard kick that split the uprights.

XVIII. Who had "9" and "7" as the final score on their Super Bowl block pool?

XXIX. What a sequence. Manning to Reggie Wayne for a 53-yard touchdown. Bears fumbled kickoff. Joseph Addai lost the ball on the very next play. Then, Jones ripped off the longest run in Bears playoff history. Good stuff.

XXX. God and football. Did the main upstairs really have a say in which team won a sporting event?

XXXI. Where was Dwight Freeney? Nary a tackle, nadda a QB pressure. A one-trick pony was neutralized by Mother Nature.

XXXII. Lance Briggs may be in for quite a payday. The upcoming free agent was given credit for 11 tackles in defeat.

XXXIII. Remember our take on Bob Sanders? Only one tackle, but the Iowa product forced a fumble and sealed the game with an interception.

XXXIV. Incredible statistical domination. 24 first downs to 11. 38:04 to 21:56 in time of possession.

XXXV. 56 minutes. That's how long in real time Grossman and the Bears offense stayed off the field.

XXXVI. Indianapolis won despite scoring just one touchdown in six red zone opportunities.

XXXVII. Arizona's new digs are state of the art. It is the home of Super Bowl XLII.

XXXVIII. The parallels between the BCS Championship Game and the Super Bowl were striking. Ted Ginn, Jr. and Devin Hester go the distance. Florida and Indianapolis dominate the games.

XXXIX. Classy move by Dungy. Betters in Vegas who put their money on the over probably don't agree.

XL. Hopefully Tomo Romo wasn't watching Hunter Smith's hold on the botched extra point.

XLI. The monkeys and monikers are gone. Congrats Peyton and Tony! It couldn't have happened to two nicer people.

The Phanatic Magazine's Super Bowl XLI coverage runs through Tuesday.

**Photo courtesy of The News-Dispatch**