At the Caesars Superdome, 75,000 fans gathered in New Orleans, Louisiana, February 9, to watch the LIX National Football League (NFL) Super Bowl Championship. Kansas City Chiefs faced off against the Philadelphia Eagles for this matchup. Last year, Super Bowl LVIII set a record as the most watched television broadcast in the United States (US) ever, drawing in 123.4 million viewers, according to bbc.com. This year, Super Bowl LIX created a captivating performance that rivaled the record-breaking viewership of the previous year. 119.7 million viewers tuned in to see the last night’s big game, according to usnews.com. In addition to football, the Super Bowl is an entertainment spectacle, which includes a halftime show and engaging commercials, according to wsj.com. This unique blend of sports, media, and entertainment makes the Super Bowl a defining moment of US pop culture, according to thetimes.com.
This year, the Chiefs aimed for their fifth Super Bowl win, carrying strong momentum from their championship win last year. The Eagles returned to the championship after the Chiefs defeated them two years prior in Super Bowl LVII, according to cbssports.com. The Eagles finished the regular season with a record of 14 wins and three losses and secured a dominant 55 to 23 victory against the Washington Commanders in the National Football Conference (NFC) Championship Game, according to The New York Times. Coincidentally, the Eagles had the same regular season record when they faced the Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII. The Chiefs posted a regular season record of 15 wins and two losses and finished with a 32-29 victory against the Buffalo Bills in the American Football Conference (AFC) Championship Game, according to buffalobills.com. The Chiefs have claimed three of the four Super Bowls from 2020-2024. The Eagles sought to make history with their second Super Bowl victory, according to usatoday.com.
Mr. Patrick Mahomes, football quarterback for the Chiefs, commented on his preparation for the Super Bowl LIX, according to sports.yahoo.com. He spoke about how the Chiefs tried to make history with a three-peat and emphasized the importance of staying grounded and humble.
“I put every single season as its own season,” Mr. Mahomes said, according to sports.yahoo.com. “Every team is different. You get new guys, you get guys that have to step up in different roles. I just go about my business and try to prepare everybody to be in the best possible situation to succeed. Obviously, it will be awesome. I think it will be something that I look back at the end of my career if we’re able to go out there and get that three-peat, but at the same time, you just treat it as one season and one Super Bowl run, which is always hard to do.”
Mr. Kendrick Lamar performed the Apple Music Super Bowl halftime show alongside Ms. Solána Imani Rowe (SZA), according to usatoday.com. Mr. Lamar had previously appeared at Super Bowl LVI in Los Angeles as a special guest, performing alongside Mr. Andre Romell Young (Dr. Dre), Mr. Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. (Snoop Dogg), Mr. Marshall Bruce Mathers III (Eminem), Ms. Mary J. Blige, Mr. Curtis James Jackson III (50 Cent), and Mr. Brandon Paak Anderson (Anderson .Paak), according to usatoday.com.
The Eagles won the Super Bowl LVI. Midway through the first quarter, Eagles quarterback Mr. Jalen Alexander Hurts powered through for a rushing touchdown, putting the Eagles up 7-0. The Eagles carried this momentum into the second quarter when Mr. Jake Daniel Elliot booted a 48-yard field goal, extending their lead. Then, Mr. Mahomes threw an interception to the Eagles’ defensive back, Mr. Cooper DeJean, who returned the pick 38 yards, giving the Eagles a commanding 17-0 lead. As the first half neared its end, Mr. Mahomes threw another interception, this time to Mr. Arthur Juan Brown, an Eagles wide receiver. Mr. Brown returned the football 12 yards into the end zone, putting the Eagles up 24-0 at halftime, according to cbsnews.com.
In the third quarter, Mr. Elliot added a 27-yard field goal, pushing the Eagles’ lead to 27-0. The Chiefs struggled to get anything going and failed to convert on an important fourth down. This opened the door for the Eagles to extend their lead. Mr. Hurts connected with Mr. Devonta Smith on a 46-yard pass, increasing the Eagles’ lead to 34-0. Finally, late in the third quarter, the Chiefs got on the scoreboard when Mr. Mahomes connected with Mr. Xavier Worthy for a 24-yard touchdown. However, the Chiefs could not convert on their 2-point attempt, leaving the score at 34-6, according to cbsnews.com.
The Eagles continued to dominate in the fourth quarter. Mr. Elliot nailed a 48-yard field goal making it 37-6, and then followed it up with another impressive kick, this time from 50-yards, extending the lead 40-6. The Chiefs found their groove late in the fourth quarter and capitalized on two drives, putting up 16 points. Mr. Deandre Rashaun Hopkins, the Chiefs’ wide receiver caught a seven yard touchdown pass from Mr. Mahomes, and the Chiefs converted their two point attempt successfully, narrowing the score to 40-14. In the last moments of the game, Mr. Worthy added a 50-yard touchdown reception for the Chiefs. Once again, the team was successful on their two point conversion, making the final score 40-22. Although the Chiefs gained momentum in the fourth quarter, the Eagles’ dominance and perseverance throughout the game led them to victory over the Chiefs, according to sportskeeda.com.
Junior Mia Ritossa, member of the sportscasting program, commented on how the Super Bowl unites friends and families. She noted how the celebration creates such positive energy and a sense of community.
“The Super Bowl is awesome because, for one night, everyone, no matter what team they root for, gets caught up in the same energy,” Mia said. “It’s all about the game, the moments, and the feeling of being part of something bigger.”
Featured Image by Michaela White ’26
