Even if you're not a football fanatic, it'll be hard not to catch at least a bit of Super Bowl fever this week. The Big Game is this Sunday at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots. The Seahawks are last year's defending champs and the Patriots are playing for the eighth time. Starting quarterbacks are Russell Wilson for Seattle and Tom Brady of New England. The main halftime performer is Katy Perry.

The event, airing on NBC, is Super Bowl XLIX – 49 in Roman numerals (you knew, right?!) One pregame issue involves suspicions that the Patriots purposely deflated footballs used in their 45-7 win over the Indianapolis Colts on Jan. 18, making them easier to throw and catch in a game that gave New England a Super Bowl spot. Coach Bill Belichick denies any mischief, saying this past weekend that the Patriots "absolutely followed every rule to the letter. At no time was there any intent to compromise the integrity ofthe game or to gain an advantage."

Part of what makes this football game "super" is that it's a cultural phenomenon. Advertisers sponsor imaginative new commercials aimed at dazzling viewers, earning social media buzz and drawing news coverage. A 30-second ad costs a record-high $4.5 million. (Yes, you read that right.) Universal Studios will air a new trailer for "Jurassic World," a science fiction adventure film coming in June. Toyota will include athlete Amy Purdy, a double below-knee amputee, in an inspiring spot. First-time Super Bowl advertisers include Skittles and a website design firm called Wix.com.

Quarterback says: "We're playing a great team. That's why they're in it too. . . . They're really well-coached." – Tom Brady, New England Patriots

Katy Perry says: "Yes, I will be nervous. But I'm going to kind of recycle those nerves and make them adrenaline." – On "Today" show

Interesting fact: The Seahawks will try to become the eighth team to win back-to-back NFL championships. The last team doing that is their opponent, the Patriots, back in 2004 and 2005.