Rollerblades of glory

The GIST: For the second straight season, the Kansas City Chiefs are your Super Bowl champs. KC overcame a low-scoring first half and some flaring tempers to become the first team since the 2003–04 New England Patriots to repeat as champions, hoisting their third Vince Lombardi Trophy in five seasons. The dynasty has officially arrived.

How it happened: After a snoozy three-and-a-half quarters, both KC’s Patrick Mahomes and SF’s Brock Purdy led impressive drives to send the game into overtime (OT) knotted at 19.

• SF scored a field goal (FG) to open OT, but Mahomes worked his late-game magic and responded by tossing the game-winning touchdown (TD) to wide receiver Mecole Hardman.

• Kansas City was down by as many as 10 in the first half, but they were never out, ultimately putting up 22 points after halftime en route to the dub. Fighting for their right to party, indeed.

The MVP: You guessed it…Patrick Mahomes. Playoff Patty nabbed his third career Super Bowl MVP honors and became just the third player to win at least three MVP awards, joining Joe Montana and Tom Brady. Mahomes threw for 333 yards and two TDs, none bigger than the OT clincher.

Zooming out: The scariest part about this KC dynasty? Their reign doesn’t show any signs of slowing down. Retirement rumors for head coach Andy Reid and tight end (TE) Travis Kelce aside, KC continues to find ways to win on the back of 28-year-old Mahomes. Truly magical.

The GIST: From Beyoncé’s BarBey drop to Usher’s wheely cool hidden talent, here are the top moments that captured the internet’s attention in between the gridiron action.

This Barbie’s from Houston: Iconic as ever, Beyoncé announced Renaissance Part II during a Verizon commercial. Queen Bey’s giving cowgirl, shifting from dance to country with newly released singles “TEXAS HOLD’EM” and “16 CARRIAGES.”

Special guests rock the halftime show: Usher brought six (!!!) friends to his halftime performance, duetting with Alicia Keys and her red piano, handing the floor to H.E.R. for a slamming guitar solo, and reuniting with Lil Jon and Ludacris for an epic performance of the ultimate millennial anthem, “Yeah!” Take that and rewind it back, please.

• And in between strip teases and costume changes, Usher brought out even more tricks, rollerblading while singing his greatest hits. Didn’t have that on our bingo card.

Taylor Swift’s unapologetic girl gang: Miss Tay’s suite was studded with star power, as she cheered on her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, with pals Blake Lively, Ice Spice, and Lana Del Rey, all while rocking a varsity bomber jacket from Erin Andrews’ line, WEAR. And that’s on girl power.

Everybody wants to be a pop star: Tom Brady, Ben Affleck, and Matt Damon won the unofficial commercial contest, auditioning for a Dunkin’ boy band and making New England’s wildest dreams come true.

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57: The distance in yards of KC kicker Harrison Butker’s third-quarter FG — the longest in Super Bowl history. The feat notably came just after SF kicker Jake Moody set the record with a 55-yarder. Tit meet tat.

61,629: The announced attendance in Sin City last night, making it the least attended Super Bowl ever, outside of the pandemic season.

Second: SF’s Jauan Jennings became the second wide receiver in Super Bowl history to throw a TD and the second player in a Super Bowl game to throw and receive a TD. Get you a player who can do it all.

15: The number of playoff wins QB Patrick Mahomes has in his short seven-year career. Knowing the 28-year-old, there’s a lot more to come for the kingdom.

$9,850: The average ticket price for last night’s game, making it the most expensive Super Bowl in history. That’s what you get for waking up in Vegas.