Not everything about the Super Bowl has to be oversized, exaggerated, embellished or garish. It only seems that way on media day.

A tribute, then, to modesty. Small numbers have been part of the spectacle, too. Some of them good, some bad, many ugly.

36.0 — Lowest television rating in the history of the game. You'd never guess which one. The New York Jets' upset of Baltimore in Super Bowl III. Joe Namath's guarantee made it a landmark game, forcing the NFL aristocracy to admit the AFL was merger-worthy. It apparently didn't draw the viewers, though.

9 — Combined winning margin for New England in its three Super Bowl victories. The Patriots were a dynasty by a sliver.

34 — Total points scored by the Minnesota Vikings in their four Super Bowl losses.

14 — Lowest score ever by a Super Bowl winner. Curious, the team that did it. The 1972 Miami Dolphins defeated the Washington Redskins, 14-7, and remain the only unbeaten Super Bowl champion in history. The historical day required only two touchdowns.

5:47 — Time of possession it took Washington to score five touchdowns in the second quarter against Denver in Super Bowl XXII, on the way to a 42-10 blowout. The other 54 minutes, the Redskins only scored once.

19:27 — Buffalo's time of possession in its 20-19 Super Bowl XXV loss to New York. The rollicking Bills could score from anywhere — except the bench. The Giants kept them there with ball control.

3 — Incompletions thrown by New York Giants' quarterback Phil Simms — in 25 passes — as he picked apart Denver in Super Bowl XXI.

7 — Rushing yards New England could muster the entire Super Bowl XX against Chicago's famous 46 defense. No wonder it ended 46-10.

13 — Yards that AFC rushing leader Thurman Thomas of Buffalo had on the ground against Dallas in Super Bowl XXVI.

2-0 — Halftime score of Super Bowl IX. Pittsburgh led Minnesota, but I've forgotten who hit the two-run single.

7 — Super Bowls played in the Los Angeles area.

0 — Current NFL teams playing in the Los Angeles area.

9 — Running plays attempted by Miami against San Francisco the entire Super Bowl XIX. Dan Marino was busy. He also lost.

122.3 million — People who voted in the 2004 U.S. presidential election. That might not sound small, but consider this: 11 million more people watched Super Bowl XXXIX. So both George Bush and John Kerry lost out to Tom Brady and guacamole dip.

14 — Passes Bob Griese completed in Super Bowls VII and VIII. The Miami Dolphins marched to consecutive championships more or less on foot.

2 — Players who have appeared in the first 39 Super Bowls with a last name that starts with Q — Tampa Bay linebacker Shelton Quarles in XXXVII and San Francisco center Fred Quillan in XVI and XIX.

39 — Lowest temperature at kickoff ever for an outdoor Super Bowl, in New Orleans' Tulane Stadium in 1972.

10 — Points the Chicago Bears allowed the entire postseason when they stormed to the championship in Super Bowl XX.

4 — Passes caught by Green Bay receiver Max McGee all 1966 season, before he caught seven in Super Bowl I.

21 years, 155 days — Age of Baltimore running back Jamal Lewis in Super Bowl XXXV, making him the youngest man ever to play in the game.

1 — Losing players who have been named Super Bowl MVP. Dallas linebacker Chuck Howley in Baltimore's 16-13 victory in Super Bowl V.

0 — Punts returned for a touchdown in 39 Super Bowls.

$6 — Ticket price for some seats at Super Bowl I. It's a far bigger enterprise now. Super Bowl XL, in size as well as number.