The average American male consumes approximately 2,400 calories per day, while the average female takes in about 1,800 calories, according to U.S. government studies.

But it is estimated that on Super Bowl Sunday, the average American, male or female, consumes well over 3,000 calories. Must come from using beer to chase down each big hunk of Tostitos slathered in guacamole dip.

It is both men and women in the 20–39 age group who consume far more calories than any of the other six age groups studied. Those 20- and 30-somethings also make up the hard core National Football League fans who will be eating, drinking and watching for hours on end during America’s second biggest food consuming day of the year. (Thanksgiving Day is, of course, No. 1 in that category.)

So to try to distract some of these young, dedicated, possibly fanatical NFL folks from beer and food for at least a few moments and thus do them a favor by lowering their usual high calorie intake on Super Bowl Sunday, here follows a short Super Bowl quiz.

It is suggested as a possible change of pace during the Super Bowl party when everyone is completely bored by the talking heads who have been shouting over one another during what amounts to an endless verbal attack upon our poor, defenseless ears. Where oh where is that doggone mute button?

Since each Super Bowl is known by its Roman numeral, and today’s game in Indianapolis is Super Bowl XLVI, the following trivia questions will be so numbered. In fact, the first trivia tickler is about Roman numerals. Have pen and paper at the ready or pencil with eraser if unsure of answers.

I — What will be the Roman numeral for the Super Bowl in 2050?

II — What did New York Jets quarterback Joe Namath do to cause a big stir prior to and then during Super Bowl III?

III — Where was Super Bowl I played, and who won and who lost?

IV — What team has appeared in the most Super Bowls?

V — Which teams have not played in a Super Bowl to date?

Let the Brains Drain

There will be a short pause here to allow for brains to drain and geniuses to brag for a while. But those five were rather easy, so enough dilly-dallying. Get on with it.

VI — The first Super Bowl in an uncovered northern stadium where weather can be cold and snowy will be held where and when?

VII — What city has staged the most Super Bowls?

VIII — What university has produced the most Super Bowl starting quarterbacks?

IX — Who is the quarterback who is part of the answer to number VIII who holds the record of three Super Bowl Most Valuable Player awards?

X — The San Francisco 49ers set an impressive record in Super Bowl XXIV that is diametrically opposed to the record set the following year by the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXV. What are these standards?

Showing No Mercy

Take another breather and see just how many of the real NFL buffs have been as sharp as they believe they are. So far, the questions are as easy as an ordinary SAT test. So prepare for the hard ones coming up. Hence forth, we show no mercy.

Back to work.

XI — There has not been a shutout in a Super Bowl so far. But what was the lowest losing score, and what team suffered that loss?

XII — What player holds the record for most points scored in Super Bowls and how many?

XIII — Which head coach has the most Super Bowl appearances?

XIV — What teams lost most Super Bowls and how many?

XV — One of those teams suffered added ignominy. What was it?

Down the Home Stretch

There will now be one more time out prior to the final five questions. It is the first door on the right down the hall.

Now for the tough home stretch.

XVI — The Washington Redskins set a Super Bowl record for total yards gained of 602 yards while beating the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXII, 42-10. What team gained the fewest yards in a Super Bowl and how many?

XVII — Who holds the record for most interceptions in a Super Bowl and how many?

XVIII — What was the length of the longest field goal in a Super Bowl, and who kicked it?

XIX — Which two Super Bowl starting quarterbacks are celebrating their birthdays today, and what teams did they start for in Super Bowls?

XX — The New York Giants and New England Patriots are meeting tonight in a rematch of Super Bowl XLII won by the Giants. Four other pairs of teams have met in a total of five Super Bowl rematches. Name them.

Now for a bonus question:

Who will win Super Bowl XLVI?

The Answers

I — LXXXIV (84); II — He promised New Yorkers the Jets would beat the highly favored Baltimore Colts and delivered on the promise; III — Los Angeles Coliseum, Green Bay Packers def. Kansas City Chiefs, 35-10, Jan. 5, 1966; IV — Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2) and Dallas Cowboys (5-3), eight times each; V— Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars;

VI — SB XLVIII, Feb. 2, 2014, in MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J., home of the N.Y. Giants and N.Y. Jets; VII — Miami 10; VIII — Stanford and Notre Dame, seven each; IX — Joe Montana in SBs XVI 1982, XIX 1985, XXIV 1990; X— 49ers def. Denver Broncos by 45 points in 1990 and Giants def. Buffalo Bills by one point in 1991 for largest and smallest victory margins in a SB;

XI — Dallas Cowboys def. Miami Dolphins, 24-3, in SB VI, 1972; XII — Jerry Rice, 48 points in four SBs; XIII — Don Shula, six (Baltimore Colts one, Miami Dolphins five); XIV — Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos, Minnesota Vikings, four each; XV — Buffalo Bills lost all four in a row, 1991-1994;

XVI — Minnesota Vikings gained only 119 yards when losing to Pittsburgh Steelers, 16-6, in SB IX, 1975;

XVII — Rod Martin, Oakland Raiders LB, intercepted Philadelphia Eagles QB Ron Jaworski, three times in SB XV, 1981, when Raiders won, 27-10;

XVIII — Steve Christie of Buffalo Bills kicked 54-yard FG in SB XXVIII, 1994, as Bills lost to Dallas Cowboys, 30-13;

XIX — Craig Morton, born Feb. 5, 1943, started for Dallas Cowboys in SB V and Denver Broncos in SB XII, and Roger Staubach, born Feb. 5, 1942, started for Dallas Cowboys in SBs VI, X, XII, XIII;

XX — Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers met in SBs X, XIII, XXX as Steelers won first two games and Cowboys the third; Dallas Cowboys def. Buffalo Bills in consecutive SBs XXVII and XXVIII; San Francisco 49ers def. Cincinnati Bengals in SBs XVI and XXIII; Miami Dolphins def. Washington Redskins in SB VII, and 10 years later the Redskins def. the Dolphins in SB XVII.

Bonus question — Don’t ask me.

Gordon White served 43 years as a sports reporter for The New York Times. His email is sports@thepilot.com.