The Ad Champs of the Championship Games
Mama Meme MeThis year’s Super Bowl advertisers seem a little slow to the punch compared to years past with only 17 pre-teasers designated through Sunday, down dramatically from years past where it wouldn’t be uncommon to have the number of creatives be north of 50 (according to data from iSpot.tv).
Super Bowl LIII will see the big-game-regular New England Patriots face off against the recently relocated Los Angeles Rams live from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Now, while we know Mercedes already won big, as we get closer to game day there’s only one thing on my mind… who’s going to run the best ad this year?
We’ve already had a few good surprises pop up. First, Bumble announced its ad - which will feature Serena Williams and boasts an all-female production team. Next, Bubly threw their hat into the ring. The latest, and the one sure to take the internet by storm, is from Doritos, featuring the Backstreet Boys with Chance the Rapper. I can only imagine the memes we’re in for.
While there’s plenty of room for speculation around what’s to come, Ford just jumped into the pole position on Championship Weekend leading with the most airings during the NFC game and among the leaders with three more during the AFC matchup.
All told 79 brands advertised during the games and 39 of them showed up in both (counting NFL here). If you want to see them all here is a spreadsheet.
Below are the rankings by brand/airing, and here are my favorite ads/teasers for Super Bowl 53 so far:
The one sure to generate headlines, and the ad I’m most excited for is Doritos, who always packs a punch. Here’s their Backstreet Boys x Chance the Rapper teaser:
This Pepsi spot’s clever, poking fun at the ironic placement of this year’s Super Bowl (If you didn’t know, Atlanta is basically Coca-Cola-town, USA):
And finally, Bubly’s capitalizing on its brand name, featuring Canadian crooner Michael Buble:
Rankings by brand/airing:
NFC Championship
- Ford: 4 airings
- Progressive: 3 airings
- Verizon: 2 airings
- Chevrolet: 2 airings
- IBM Watson: 3 airings
AFC Championship
- Verizon: 4 airings
- Progressive: 4 airings
- Ford: 3 airings
- GMC: 2 airings
- McDonald’s: 4 airings
I think it’s safe to assume this won’t be the last we hear of Progressive, Ford or Verizon this season...
BONUS: Here are the 40 brands that ran ads during both the AFC and the NFC Championship games:
| Amazon Echo |
| Apple iPad |
| Apple iPhone |
| Apple Mac |
| AT&T Wireless |
| Audi |
| Bud Light |
| Chevrolet |
| Domino's |
| Experian |
| Ford |
| GEICO |
| GMC |
| H&R Block |
| Honda |
| Hulu |
| Hyundai |
| Intuit |
| McDonald's |
| Michelob |
| Microsoft Surface |
| NFL |
| Pepsi |
| Pizza Hut |
| Progressive |
| Ring |
| SimpliSafe |
| Sprint |
| State Farm |
| Subway |
| Taco Bell |
| TaxACT |
| Tide |
| TurboTax |
| Twentieth Century Fox |
| USAA |
| Verizon |
| Warner Bros. |
| Warner Bros. Animations |
| Wendy's |