The NFL Super Bowl returns for the 49th time on Monday morning (AEST).

So, you know it's America's biggest spectacle but you're not quite sure about the game and rules?

Joe Hughes from NOW! Communications breaks it down for you with this Dummy's Guide to the NFL Super Bowl.

The game will be played at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendalein, Arizona, from 10.30am (AEST) on Monday. 

The Seattle Seahawks are here to defend their title against the New England Patriots and no team has won back-to-back Super Bowls since New England, a decade ago.

The Patriot's quarterback, Tom Brady, has created history by making his sixth Super Bowl appearance, while his opponent, Russell Wilson, has only been playing for three seasons, but he is already into his second Super Bowl. 

WHAT THEY PLAY FOR

Beside the glory, the winning team receives the time-honoured Vince Lombardi Trophy.

WikiPedia explains: The Vince Lombardi Trophy is the trophy awarded each year to the winning team of the National Football League's championship game, the Super Bowl. The trophy is named in honor of legendary NFL coach Vince Lombardi.

Here are the basic rules for all Australians to understand what is going on...

TIMING

Games are divided into four, 15 minute quarters. 

At the end of the first and third quarters, the team with the ball retains possession heading into the following quarter. That is not the case before half-time. The second half starts with a kick-off in the same way as rugby league or rugby union. 

HOW IT WORKS

Each team essentially has four tackles to try and make 10 yards (just over nine metres). 

If a team manages 10 yards (or longer) they are then given the opportunity to try and make another 10 yards within four tackles.

In NFL terms it is called a down rather than a tackle. Eg/ if it is 2nd and 8, this means that the offensive team is on its 2nd tackle and they still need to make a further eight yards to reach 10 yards and receive their next set of four downs (tackles). 

On the fourth down, if the offensive team is too far away to kick a field goal, they will kick the ball for field position, like in rugby league on the 5th tackle. This is called a punt.

The main difference between Australian codes of football and NFL is, that after the ball is kicked, the kicking team isn’t allowed to re-gather the ball.

Play begins at what is called the line of scrimmage. The offensive team is allowed to only throw the ball forward, once, behind this line of scrimmage. However, each team may pass the ball backwards as many times as they like (which is termed ‘a lateral’). 

THE TACKLE

A player is tackled when one or both of his knees touch the ground. The play is then over (even if the ball comes loose). 

SCORING

A touchdown (which is the same as a try) is worth six points. To score a touchdown if you are running towards the goal line, the ball simply needs to cross the goal line (it doesn’t have to be grounded over the goal line). If someone is catching the ball in the ‘end zone’ (in goal area), the person catching the ball needs to have two feet in bounds at some point in time. 

After a touch down is scored, the offensive team tries to convert the touch down which is worth one point. This kicking conversion attempt is taken from directly in front of the goal posts. 

Teams can also attempt a two-point conversion, which is where they will try and score a touchdown again, from the opponent’s two yard line. 

Like in rugby, field goals are worth three points and can be attempted from any position on the field.  

OVERTIME

In order to win the game, the team who wins the coin toss must score a touchdown on their first possession.

If they only score a field goal, the opposing team then gets a chance to score. If they kick a field goal, the game continues. If they score a touchdown, the game ends. 

If the game is tied after both teams have had a possession, then the next score wins.

THE HALF-TIME SHOW

Super Bowl is all about razzle dazzle and it gets no bigger than the half-time show. This year Katy Perry will deliver the performance - the half-time show is not to be missed!

SUPER BOWL TV ADS - A GRAND TRADITION

The other great part of the Super Bowl is the television ads.

Companies pay millions of dollars for just seconds of airtime during the Super Bowl given it's watched by many millions of people around the world.

To check out some of the Super Bowl ads from years gone by click here