The halftime break had just begun when NBC, the broadcaster, released the viewership numbers for the first half online: approximately 111.3 million viewers nationwide had watched the first half live.
This alone demonstrates the value of the Super Bowl and also explains why Super Bowl halftime ads can sell for as much as $300,000 per second!
From this, one can also infer how much a Hollywood movie invests in Super Bowl advertising. In the vast majority of cases, a movie's Super Bowl commercial lasts thirty seconds. Starting with Duke promoting Rock during the Super Bowl as the beginning of Hollywood's cooperation with the event, over the years thirty seconds has become standard practice.
This year, the cost was $300,000 per second, so thirty seconds amounts to $9 million!
Only big-budget blockbuster films can justify such enormous advertising expenses, and without exception, all ads appearing during Super Bowl halftime are mainstream commercial blockbusters.
Since Marvel superheroes began appearing on social media, Rune Weber had been following news about The Avengers. As halftime began, he sat in front of the TV waiting for the movie's commercial.
He was not disappointed. As soon as the movie's advertising slot began, The Avengers appeared first.
Although the trailer was short, it contained a wealth of content.
More action scenes, more large-scale spectacles, Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Black Widow, Hawkeye, and Hulk all appearing together…
Even as a single commercial, Rune Weber could not look away.
A large number of never-before-seen explosive action sequences, paired with fast-cut footage and heroic music, created the sense of a world-ending apocalypse. At the end of the trailer, the scene that thrilled him most was revealed: six superheroes surrounded on all sides, appearing on the smoke-filled streets of New York. Each held their weapon of choice, ready to defend against their powerful foes.
This is the strongest alliance in history!
This is the strongest team on Earth!
After watching the trailer, Rune Weber even felt that Madonna's halftime performance could not compare in excitement.
This year's Super Bowl halftime performer was Madonna. She appeared in the guise of Cleopatra, pushing the live atmosphere to its peak.
The Super Bowl is a very strange event; halftime ratings far exceed those of the game itself.
After halftime, the game resumed. The Los Angeles Raiders, who had shined in the first quarter, were not only reversed in the second quarter but also seemed completely out of form at the start of the second half, pressed down by the New York Giants.
At 11:20 in the third quarter, Eli Manning threw a twenty-yard pass. The Giants' tight end caught it for a touchdown. The kicker made the extra point, updating the score to 17–9.
The situation became extremely unfavorable for the Raiders. Duke and Leonardo both furrowed their brows tightly. If the team did not change, they would undoubtedly lose this Super Bowl.
After the Raiders' offense failed and had to choose a fourth-and-punt, the defense stepped up. They first sacked Eli Manning, forcing the Giants to go three-and-out and punt. Suddenly, the Raiders' special teams, which had been playing like sleepwalkers all game, found their rhythm. They received the punt, evaded defenders, and launched a counterattack, only being forced out of bounds at midfield.
This allowed the Raiders to start their next offensive drive from the 50-yard line. However, Tom Brady struggled to find the form he had in the first quarter. Even though the team advanced to the Giants' 20-yard line, he was sacked on third down. The Raiders had to abandon the touchdown attempt, opting for a field goal from the 30-yard line, narrowing the score to 12–17.
Brady's poor form was contagious, spreading not only to the Raiders' offense but also to the Giants' star quarterback Eli Manning.
Manning, who had not been performing brilliantly either, was sacked again by the Raiders' defensive front during the following drive, forcing a fourth-and-punt, giving the Raiders another chance to attack.
Aware of his own poor form that day, Brady switched the team's strategy from a pass-heavy offense to a run-focused game. Marshawn Lynch, trained for years, displayed a terrifying level of performance, repeatedly gaining yardage behind the offensive line's protection.
When they reached the Giants' 30-yard line, however, New York reinforced their run defense, forcing Brady to change tactics. Two consecutive passing errors occurred, and the Raiders again had to abandon the touchdown, opting for a field goal. By the end of the third quarter, the score had closed to 15–17.
"Just one field goal, and we can reverse the score!"
Hearing Scarlett's words, Duke nodded but said with concern, "The team isn't in good form today."
Leonardo corrected, "It's better to say both teams' defenses are playing exceptionally well."
Compared to the offenses, the defenses of both teams were the true stars today, repeatedly performing interceptions and sacks.
In the fourth quarter, both defenses continued to excel. With only two minutes remaining, the score was still 15–17. If it ended like this, the New York Giants would take the Super Bowl.
After all, this is the Super Bowl. Seeing the tense situation on the field, even normally calm Duke became anxious, paying no attention to cameras scanning the field and frequently shouting along with Scarlett and Leonardo.
Defending the Vince Lombardi Trophy is not easy; no team has done so in recent years.
When the offense struggles, someone must step up. American football, like English football, values teamwork but never lacks individual heroism capable of changing a game.
With 1:55 remaining, the Raiders used their final timeout. They then started the drive from their own 20-yard line. Brady, who had been out of form, slightly improved. On the first two plays, he gained eight yards via passes. To regain first down and continue advancing, they now needed just two yards.
With less than a minute left, if the Raiders' offense performed well, this time would be enough to advance for a touchdown.
For the next three plays, having the running back rush two yards with the ball was undoubtedly the safest approach, and Brady chose exactly that.
After the snap, Brady quickly retreated and executed a handoff. This was not a fake; the ball reached running back Marshawn Lynch.
Lynch made a move to the left, but the Raiders' offensive linemen concentrated on the right side of the Giants' defensive line. Just as several Giants players prepared to stop Lynch, he suddenly changed direction and charged through the gap opened by the offensive line.
Like a black beast, Lynch's speed was not extraordinary, but his power was immense. He squeezed through the narrow gap, easily gaining two yards, yet he did not stop. Nothing seemed capable of halting his surge.
A Giants defender grabbed his waist but was shrugged off by Lynch; another defender lunged and caught his ankle. Lynch stumbled but did not fall, breaking free and continuing forward.
As two more Giants players joined to block Lynch, the Raiders' offensive line, using their numerical advantage, broke through the pocket of the Giants' defense and rushed to Lynch's side.
They formed a protective barrier around Marshawn Lynch on all sides.
"Stop him! Stop him!"
On the field, the Giants' fans seemed to sense what was coming. They could no longer remain seated and all stood up, shouting loudly, urging the Giants to stop this black beast.
"Charge! Charge! Charge!"
The Raiders' fans, equally numerous, also did not sit down. They shouted in a wave of voices, each louder than the last.
Duke and Leonardo also rose to their feet, eyes fixed intently on the running back charging across the field.
Another Giants player rushed over but was blocked by the Raiders' offensive lineman. A cornerback dove, hands reaching for Marshawn Lynch's waist, but before he could exert force, the already charging beast, with unstoppable momentum, threw him aside.
The Giants' cornerback could only lie on the ground, helplessly watching Marshawn Lynch run toward his defensive end, despair clear in his eyes.
On the sidelines, the New York Giants' offense, special teams, and coaches also showed expressions of despair.
Nearby, on the Los Angeles Raiders' bench, everyone had risen, raising their hands high.
On the field, all Raiders' fans also raised their hands!
In the luxury boxes, Duke, Scarlett, and Leonardo likewise raised their hands!
Marshawn Lynch had already shaken off all defenders—ten yards, five yards, three yards, one yard…
The Raiders' players on the field also raised their hands. Marshawn Lynch charged into the end zone, a 67-yard touchdown run, giving the Los Angeles Raiders a 21–17 lead!
This meant that in the Giants' subsequent offensive drive, they would need a touchdown; a field goal alone could no longer change the outcome.
However, only nine seconds remained in the game, and the Raiders still had a chance for the extra point.
The Raiders chose not to kick. After the snap, Tom Brady quickly retreated, consuming as much time as possible. When the Giants' players closed in, he kneeled to end the play.
He left only three seconds for the New York Giants, clearly not enough to accomplish anything.
Time quickly ran out. The Raiders defeated the Giants 21–19. Duke's team successfully defended their Super Bowl title!
...
Hi For access to additional chapters of
Director in Hollywood (40 chpaters)
Made In Hollywood (60 Chapters)
Pokemon:Bounty Hunter(30 Chapters)
Douluo Dalu: Reincarnated as Yan(40 Chapters)
Hollywood:From Razzie to Legend(40 Chapters)
The Great Ruler (30 Chapters)
Join pateron.com/Translaterappu