Chiefs are Back-to-Back Champs After Longest Super Bowl Ever

Four hours and fourteen minutes after the game kicked off, the Kansas City Chiefs won their second consecutive Super Bowl. This marks the first time in twenty years that a team has accomplished this feat.

 

The Super Bowl LVIII champs were led by MVP Patrick Mahomes, who orchestrated two long drives at the end of the game. First, a 64 yard drive at the end of regulation tied the game up when Harrison Butker made his fourth field goal of the game. Then, in overtime, Mahomes drove his team down the field again to win the game on a three yard touchdown throw to Mecole Hardman. 

 

Mahomes finished the game 34/46 for 333 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He also was the lead rusher for the Chiefs, picking up an additional 66 yards on the ground, many of which came on the crucial overtime drive. 

 

Despite the long drives and big plays in the fourth quarter and overtime, most of the game was dominated by the defense and special teams. Many promising drives for both teams were stopped short by big plays made on the defensive side of the ball. Sacks, interceptions, and fumble recoveries kept the scoreboard pretty bare for the majority of the game. 

 

Instead, the scoring highlights were left to the kickers. San Francisco kicker Jake Moody set a Super Bowl record by hitting a 55 yard field goal in the second quarter. However, that might be the shortest lived Super Bowl record of all time, as Harrison Butker kicked a 57 yard field goal in the very next quarter. 

 

All-in-all, it was a predictable finish in a game composed of predictable teams playing their predictable brand of football. It felt every bit of the 4 hour and 14 minute run time, if not longer, and largely lacked excitement until the final quarter of the game. 

 

Fortunately for the Super Bowl, they had plenty of other ways to entertain the fans. Post Malone sang “America the Beautiful”, Andra Day sang “Lift Every Voice and Sing”, and Reba McEntire performed “The Star Spangled Banner.” All three delivered excellent performances, but the musical excitement didn’t stop there.

 

This year’s halftime show was performed by Usher, who sang a medley of hits, and gave an over-the-top tribute to both his career and the city of Las Vegas. Vegas performers, including show girls and Cirque du Soleil style performers provided plenty of additional entertainment to the first half of Usher’s performance. 

 

The back half of the show featured guest artists who have been tied to Usher throughout his illustrious career. Alicia Keys, H.E.R., Lil’ Jon, and of course, Ludacris all made appearances and helped entertain the audience. Say what you will about the spectacle of the halftime show, it is undeniable that Usher is one of the great entertainers of the 21st century, and for him to share the spotlight underscores how generous of a performer he is.

 

If Post Malone, Andra Day, Reba McEntire, and Usher & Co. weren't enough star power, we were treated/subjected to twelve shots of Taylor Swift looking surprised in her suite throughout the game. Twelve camera shots of Swift. That’s three times per quarter. That’s almost as frequent as either of the head coaches. 

 

Ultimately, the 58th Super Bowl left some fans in jubilation, it left other fans in heartbreak, but mainly it just left most of us tired. After four hours and fourteen minutes of game, a long car ride home, and writing this article, I’m exhausted. Congrats to the Chiefs, who now have an undeniable claim to being the NFL’s newest dynasty. Now, let's all go to bed.