Everything You Need to Host the NFL's Big Game

With the big game just days away, you're probably in the midst of planning an equally big party. To help you tackle this monumental task, we've put together a handy guide to the absolute game day party essentials.

From slow cookers and TVs to face paint and serving platters, you can find just about everything you need right here. You'll have to take care of the beer, wings, and chili yourself, but with these tools and party favors, you should be prepared for anything the NFL's 50th championship game might throw at you.

A Gigantic TV

{{amazon name="Sony KDL75W850C 75-Inch 1080p 3D Smart LED TV (2015 Model)", asin="B00R45XCMC", align="right"}}

Sony W850C Series

If you're going to throw a football party, you've got to have a great TV.

We've rounded up the best TVs for game day, with a focus on size, performance, and value. In our opinion, the undisputed cream of the crop is the mammoth 75-inch Sony KDL-75W850C.

This set offers Full HD 1080p resolution with a 120Hz refresh rate and 3D support. It also comes with Android TV baked in, giving you access to streaming services like Netflix and Sling TV as well as Android games and apps. With a surprisingly low-for-its-size $2,100 price tag, you'll be hard-pressed to find a better big-screen TV deal for the big game.

A Great Slow Cooker

Cuisinart 3-in-1 Multi-Cooker

{{amazon name="Cuisinart MSC-600 3-In-1 Multi-Cooker", asin="B008YEXC22", align="right"}} Slow cookers are a mainstay at game day parties. From chili to queso and beyond, these versatile machines are perfect for a variety of popular big game recipes.

We've rounded up the top slow cookers on the market, including options from Crock-Pot, Hamilton Beach, KitchenAid, and Cuisinart. After hours of testing, we're ready to declare the Cuisinart 3-in-1 Multi-Cooker the best slow-cooker you can buy.

Big Sound for the Big Game

Vizio SB3851-C0 38-Inch 5.1 Channel Soundbar

{{amazon name="VIZIO SB3851-C0 38-Inch 5.1 Channel Soundbar (2015 Model)", asin="B00SMBGGV6", align="right"}} We've already found you a TV that'll make the big game look great, but you're going to need a sound system to match. Sadly, even high-end built-in TV speakers can't offer the booming bass and volume you need to feel like you're there. For that, we recommend the Vizio SB3851-C0 soundbar.

This Amazon best-seller is 38 inches long, making it a perfect fit for most home theater setups. It'll give you 5.1 surround sound, thanks to its included wireless subwoofer and rear, wired satellite speakers. It boasts Bluetooth connectivity, allowing you to stream music straight from your smartphone. There's better performance to be had if you want to spend a lot more, but a complete surround-sound system under $200 is a deal too good to pass up.

A Powerful Antenna

AmazonBasics Ultra Thin Indoor HDTV Antenna

{{amazon name="AmazonBasics Ultra Thin Indoor HDTV Antenna, 50 Mile Range", asin="B00X4RAEZC", align="right"}} If you don't subscribe to cable or satellite, the easiest way to watch the Super Bowl is with an HDTV antenna. This simple, cheap device can pull in all the major networks available in your area, including CBS.

There are dozens of quality antennas to choose from, but we recommend the AmazonBasics Ultra Thin Indoor HDTV Antenna. It's extremely affordable and works as well as or better than virtually any other option on the market.

You can get the antenna in 25 mile, 35 mile, and 50 mile variants, depending on how far you live from local broadcast towers. Of course, not all areas are well suited to HDTV antennas—especially rural, heavily wooded areas—but the FCC's reception maps tool will give you a good idea of what channels you'll get at your exact address.

A Big Cooler

{{amazon name="Coleman 48 Quart Cooler", asin="B0000DH4LT", align="right"}}

Coleman 48-Quart Cooler

If there's one thing Super Bowl parties call for, it's a lot of drinks. That means you'll need a cooler that can hold dozens of cans of beer and soda, plus ample ice to keep them cold.

The Coleman 48 Quart Cooler is the perfect pick, with capacity for 63 cans and a leak- and rust-proof drain for disposing of excess water. This model is also tall enough to stand two-liter soda bottles upright, and comes with a hinged lid for easy access. What more do you need for game day?

An Affordable Grill

Char-Broil Classic 4-Burner Gas Grill with Side Burner

{{amazon name="Char-Broil Classic 4-Burner Gas Grill with Side Burner", asin="B00BC3UVDK", align="right"}} Sure, much of the country is blanketed in snow right now, but if you live in the tropics—or if you're just made of sterner stuff and will brave the cold for a delicious burger—you'll want a grill to cook up your game day favorites.

The Char-Broil Classic 4-Burner Gas Grill is a popular choice that features electronic ignition, porcelain-coated grates, and a bonus side burner for pots and pans. It can produce a whopping 40,000 BTU, which should be plenty to serve up a steady stream of burgers and dogs throughout the game.

A Classy Serving Platter

NFL Homegating Symphony Appetizer Serving Set

{{amazon name="NFL Homegating Symphony Appetizer Serving Set", asin="B00N1UCFWM", align="right"}} Any party requires serving platters, and for a football-themed party, nothing is classier than this NFL Homegating Symphony Appetizer Serving Set.

The surprisingly stylish set is made of bamboo and porcelain, and the center cocktail pick holder comes stamped with the logo of your favorite NFL team. Yes, that includes the choice of the Carolina Panthers or Denver Broncos.

The set price varies depending on the team, but all can be had for under $50. Each set comes with six cocktail picks, three porcelain bowls, and one porcelain half-circle bowl. All the bowls are also dishwasher-safe.

Football-Themed Snack Trays

{{amazon name="NFL Denver Broncos Snack Helmet", asin="B001MYKHE2", align="right"}}

NFL Snack Helmet

If you want your snacks to make a bit bolder of a football-themed statement, we recommend these NFL Snack Helmets from WinCraft.

You can get helmets for virtually any team, but for the 50th clash between the AFC and NFC you're going to want to eat out of either a Carolina Panthers or Denver Broncos helmet. Each set comes with two microwave- and dishwasher-safe trays, one of which is partitioned into two sections. Each set goes for around $65.

A Festive Tablecloth

{{amazon name="Game Day Football Tablecover", asin="B004355WPQ", align="right"}}

Game Day Football Tablecover

Now that you've got the food situation sorted, you'll probably need a tablecloth to save your surface from all the thrills and spills to come.

This Game Day Football Tablecover is a simple plastic covering cleverly designed to look like a bright green football field. And at under $4, it's also cheap enough that you can toss it at the end of the night without feeling it's all been a waste. (Unless your team loses, of course—then everything feels like a waste.)

Face Paint!

iSplack Face Paint

{{amazon name="iSplack Face Paint", asin="B00M7QSHAK", align="right"}} Last but not least, no NFL party can be considered complete without face paint. While football purists will call it eye black, you can now get the stuff in all sorts of different colors.

iSplack offers its high-quality face paint in a huge variety of colors, including the Denver Broncos' orange and blue and the Carolina Panthers' black, blue, and silver.

Sadly, there's no baby blue, so Carolina fans may have to fudge it a bit. But don't worry, no one will notice after their third beer.

BONUS: Best Doritos Flavor

Spicy Sweet Chili

{{amazon name="Doritos® Spicy Sweet Chili Flavored Tortilla Chips, 11oz Bag (Pack of 3)", asin="B00G3T6FCE", align="right"}} Yes, Doritos. Be honest: Have you ever been to a football party without them? Didn't think so.

Ask most people their favorite flavor of these ubiquitous magic dust–covered corn chips and you'll probably hear Nacho Cheese or Cool Ranch. Still, we can't help throwing our weight behind a lesser-known flavor.

Just like America herself, the Reviewed.com staff was divided. Would it be Cool Ranch or Spicy Sweet Chili? But in the end, the chili-flavored chip prevailed. These salty snacks pack an overwhelming amount of heat and sweetness that our staffers just love.

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