WRITTEN BY Colton Kobsar, Jacob Weingarten, Ethan Manaois

GRAPHIC BY Ethan Manaois

Las Vegas, NV – In a thrilling overtime game on Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs won Super Bowl LVIII over the San Francisco 49ers by a score of 25-22, in Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas. A rematch from Super Bowl LIV in 2020, where the Chiefs were also victorious with a scoreline of 31-20. Coming into the game, the 49ers were two-point favorites and 62% of people picked them to win the game (Via. Real Sports App). The 49ers were the pick of most around the country, as well as the more local team with the game being in Las Vegas. But how did each team get here?

   Because of their “down” season this year, the Chiefs were a favorite to make the Super Bowl. Despite their lull, they pushed through the Wild Card, blowing past the Miami Dolphins with a scoreline of 26-7. During that week, the 49ers had time to recover for the upcoming playoffs, as they placed first in their division at the end of the season. The Divisional round began on Jan. 20 and both winning teams advanced to the Conference finals by only three points. The 49ers won 24-21 over the Green Bay Packers, while the Chiefs won 27-24 against the Buffalo Bills. All that was left for the 49ers and Chiefs was the Conference Final which would advance them to the Super Bowl, in addition to winning the title of NFC Champion (if the 49ers won) and AFC Champion (if the Chiefs won). As the 49ers clutched the win over the Detroit Lions, and the Chiefs win over the Baltimore Ravens, the big matchup was set between the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs.

   However, coming into the game and throughout the entire NFL season one story, or one person, was center stage. Global superstar artist and 14-time Grammy award winner Taylor Swift started dating Chiefs future-Hall-of-Fame tight end, Travis Kelce, earlier this season. Since then, the media has followed her, as she followed the Chiefs to the Super Bowl, marking the thirteenth Chiefs game she attended this season. From the moment the Chiefs punched their ticket to the big game, there were concerns she may not make it. Swift was going to be in Japan the day before performing her “Era’s Tour” in Tokyo. However, the Japanese Embassy in Washington D.C. took to X (formerly Twitter) to inform fans that, despite the 12-hour flight from Tokyo to Las Vegas, the 17-hour time difference would allow her to make it to the Super Bowl. A major conspiracy had been flying around gaining traction that the game was being rigged for the Chiefs and that Taylor Swift would come out at halftime to endorse President Joe Biden. This baseless claim would prove to be wrong.

   Once frowned upon for its prospect of harboring a major sports franchise, Las Vegas reached the biggest stage of pro sports in North America. The gambling capital of the world sought to capitalize on Sunday, with expected profits on sports gambling alone reaching value as high as $250 million. Kevin Fuchs, chief operating officer for Caesars Entertainment’s sports betting and digital gaming division, believed Super Bowl LVIII would smash previous betting totals. Hundreds of bars, clubs, restaurants, and standing areas were packed out with viewers who didn’t want to break the bank on getting $10,000 tickets. Pedestrian walkways leading up to Allegiant Stadium had been decked out with decorations (goalposts, banners, posters, statues) before the game. 

   When the game began, neither the Chiefs nor the 49ers could muster any offense in the first quarter. Finally, on the first drive of the second quarter, the 49ers took the ball down the field thanks to two big passes from quarterback Brock Purdy. The drive would end, however, with kicker Jake Moody making a 55-yard field goal. The first touchdown of the game was a trick play resulting in 49ers receiver Juan Jennings throwing the ball across the field to running back Christian McCaffrey for a 21-yard touchdown. The Chiefs ended the first half off with a field goal, making it a 10-3 49ers lead going into half-time. Usher performed the halftime show, where he was joined by Alicia Keys, Lil Jon, Ludacris, Jermaine Dupri, H.E.R. and Will.i.am.

   Then the second half began, and the Chiefs scored 10 straight points, unanswered until the fourth quarter when the 49ers would score a field goal and a touchdown. After the touchdown, the Chiefs blocked Jake Moody’s extra point kick, allowing them to tie the game with just six seconds left by way of a 29-yard field goal from kicker Harrison Butker. The 49ers scored just a field goal on the first drive of overtime, meaning that the Chiefs could win the game with a touchdown. 

   A 19-yard run from Patrick Mahomes was the biggest play on the drive in which he brought the Chiefs down the field to the 49er’s 13-yard line. Two plays later, with the 49ers defending the end zone, Mahomes rolled to his right and threw a three-yard touchdown pass to Mecole Hardman Jr., winning Mahomes’ third ring and the Chiefs’ fourth Super Bowl title – as well as winning the first back-to-back Super Bowls in 20 years. After the game, Patrick Mahomes was awarded the Super Bowl MVP, the third of his career.