[ad_1]
Touchdown Chiefs!
The Chiefs finally lead the game after recovering a fumble and scoring immediately.
One play after collecting the muffed punt, Mahomes finds a wide open Marquez Valdes-Scantling for a 16-yard strike.
It’s Chiefs 16, Niners 10.
To their credit, the Chiefs kept hanging around and hanging around before catching a break and cashing in.
Muffed punt!
A stroke of terrible luck for the Niners. The Kansas City punt hits the foot of one of the Chiefs’ players, making it a live ball.
The Chiefs jump on it and take over at the Niners’ 16-yard line.
Chiefs defense stepping up
The Niners’ defense has been great, but the Chiefs’ defense is keeping this close.
With another stop, Kansas City has stopped the Niners on three-straight possessions and given up -2 yards — that’s negative two yards.
Deebo back
Good news for the Niners: Wide Receiver Deebo Samuel is back on the field after a brief injury check.
Travis Kelce gets into it with head coach Andy Reid
The Chiefs tight end appeared to get into head coach Andy Reid’s face earlier in the game as frustration ran high.
Commentators remarked when it happened in the second quarter that it appeared Kelce was yelling at Reid to keep him in the game after the Chiefs’ offense struggled.
Reid was watching the field when Kelce approached and grabbed his arm, seemingly startled as the tight end’s emotions got the best of him.
Another long FB makes it Niners 10-6 Chiefs
That new record for longest Super Bowl field goal didn’t last long.
Harrison Butker drilled one from 57 yards to bring the Chiefs three points closer.
In the second quarter, Jake Moody hit a 55-yarder, which was then a record.
The game has a quick pause for a streaker, who was not shown on TV.
Chiefs manage first first down of the second half
In a tough defensive game, the Chiefs managed to pick up the first first down of the second half with a catch by Travis Kelce.
There were an interception and three punts in the third quarter before Kelce managed that first down.
And now the Chiefs are rolling. A big scramble by Mahomes for 22 yards.
Chiefs are in Niners territory.
Deebo goes down
Niners star wide receiver Deebo Samuel went down with what appeared to be a hamstring injury on the field.
It’s not clear how severe it was, as the Niners just punted. We’ll keep an eye on whether he returns to the game.
Bud Light leans into comedy, nostalgia in Super Bowl ad
Bud Light is returning to its roots with a new Super Bowl ad that features cameos from former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning and rapper Post Malone.
The new ad comes almost a year after the brand attracted controversy with its partnership with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney. Anheuser-Busch, the brand’s parent company, received widespread backlash from conservatives last year after it partnered with the creator, who has 10.2 million followers on TikTok and 1.7 million followers on Instagram.
Conservatives, including celebrities like Kid Rock, began posting viral videos of themselves trashing Bud Light cans, pouring them down the sink and even shooting them.
U.S. CEO Brendan Whitworth said at the time that the company “never intended to be part of a discussion that divides people.” Mulvaney later said the company did not support her through the backlash.
Sunday’s Bud Light 60-second ad cost an estimated $14 million, NBC News’ Brian Cheung reported. It features a “beer genie” granting wishes to a group of friends. The setting changes from a garage hangout to a dive bar to a house party, all locations that typically stock Bud Light.
Both teams’ elite tight ends are having quiet nights.
Kelce now has two catches for 10 yards. George Kittle is yet to record a catch and has only one target.
Beyoncé shows off her many talents in Verizon ad
If anyone can break 5G, it’s Beyoncé.
After trying on many hats — as BarbBey, an astronaut and first Beyoncé of the United States — she couldn’t quite do it. But she can break the internet with the prospect of new tunes.
“OK, they ready, drop the new music!” Beyoncé said in the ad.
NBC News has reached out to her spokesperson for an update on whether there is new music on the horizon.
Is Taylor Swift’s lucky number enough to save the Chiefs tonight?
One thing both sports fans and Swifties are solidly in agreement on is the power of superstition, and Taylor Swift fans believe very strongly in what they call Tayvoodoo.
Tonight’s game aligns with Swift’s favorite number in myriad ways, and truthfully the Chiefs could use some luck going into the second half.
First of all, this will be the 13th game Swift has attended to support Kelce since the season began. Second, the game is being played on Feb. 11, and 2+11=13. And finally, this is Super Bowl 58, and 5+8 also equals 13.
Some even estimated before the game that Swift’s travel from Tokyo to Las Vegas could take roughly 13 hours. Not to mention that exactly a week ago, she won her 13th Grammy Award.
Seems like the universe is calling, but it’s up to the Chiefs to answer.
It’s kind of funny that Niners quarterback Brock Purdy’s number is 13 too..
A ‘Friends’ reunion during the Super Bowl
In this UberEats ad universe, Ross and Rachel weren’t on a break.
In fact, Rachel might not have even known Ross, as Jennifer Aniston “forgets” she ever worked with David Schwimmer in this mini “Friends” reunion.
Throughout the spot, a host of A-list celebs — including David and Victoria Beckham, Usher and Jelly Roll — each appear to forget something in order to remember all that UberEats has to offer.
“Have we met?” Aniston asks Schwimmer after he excitedly approaches her. Later, she asks him to “give me a hint.”
Clearly annoyed, Schwimmer responds that they “worked together for 10 years.”
“Ten years?!” Aniston replies. “You were great.”
Schwimmer then says, “You still don’t know, don’t you?” Aniston says he’s right.
Walking away with her bag of UberEats goodness, Aniston quips, “Like I’d forget 10 years of my life.”
Schwimmer, watching her walk away, says, “I hate this town.”
The ad also initially included a version of forgetfulness in which a man, eating peanut butter and covered in hives, forgets his allergy.
After the commercial first premiered, UberEats faced backlash from people who felt it was making light of a potentially lethal allergy. The moment was cut by the time the ad aired during the Super Bowl.
The Chiefs are stopped just short of a first down and punt the ball away.
The Niners will start this drive with decent field position at their own 35-yard line.
Shaq gets his dream photo with Taylor Swift
Shaquille O’Neal posted a photo of himself with Taylor Swift at the game to his Instagram account tonight.
The basketball legend said yesterday he was just excited for the chance to meet her.
“She’s a fabulous person. I’m happy for her. I’m proud of her,” he said in an interview. “She’s done a lot. She’s definitely a cultural icon. I just want to shake the hand of greatness.”
Mahomes intercepted!
And it goes from bad to worse for the Chiefs.
On third down, Mahomes throws his first interception of the game. Niners safety Ji’Ayir Brown jumps a deep pass and is tackled by Travis Kelce at the 44-yard-line of Kansas City.
Well, Kelce now has as many tackles as he does receiving yards.
And the Chiefs defense comes up big.
They hold the Niners to a 1-yard loss on three downs.
A great punt pins the Chiefs at their own 2-yard line.
Second half is under way
The Chiefs have the ball, and they’re already off to a rough start.
The first play from scrimmage is a loss of 12 yards on a busted play to running back Isiah Pacheco.
Niners need to get running game in gear
If San Francisco is going to win, its powerful rushing attack, which registered a robust 4.8 yards per carry this season, will have to play a bigger role after halftime.
So far, the 49ers have just 49 yards on 14 carries (3.5 yards per carry).
San Francisco famously went away from running in the 2020 Super Bowl, triggering a huge K.C. rally. With about 5 minutes left in the previous Niners-Chiefs Super Bowl, San Francisco faced second-and-5 from its own 25 and threw consecutive incomplete passes.
That led to two Chiefs TDs, stunning San Francisco, 31-20.
The Chiefs, meanwhile, need to get Kelce going: 1 catch for 1 yard isn’t going to cut it.
The team leading at halftime has gone on to win the Super Bowl 75% of the time — in the 53 contests that weren’t tied at halftime, the leading team won 40 times.
No ‘Bieber Fever’ tonight
Justin Bieber was trending on X throughout the halftime show amid speculation that Usher might bring the pop sensation out as a guest.
The pair collaborated on a remix of “Somebody to Love,” but Bieber did not make an appearance, upsetting some Beliebers.
Usher concludes halftime performance with an ode to Atlanta
The performance was full of hits and paid tribute to Atlanta, where he started his career.
That halftime reinforces my belief that the Super Bowl halftime show is just too big for any single artist to really kill it solo. That show, plus the 90’s rap throwback from a few years ago with Dre, Snoop, etc — are head and shoulders better than the last solo efforts — Rihanna & Weeknd ::gets off soap box::
Heck ‘Yeah!’ — Lil Jon and Ludacris are here
After a cameo from will.i.am. for a rendition of “OMG,” Lil Jon came out to perform “Turn Down for What.”
Lil Jon then joined Usher for a performance of “Yeah!” Ludacris followed shortly after to rap his verse on the song.
Lil Jon brought the bangers with him, showing up on the field to give us a snippet of hit “Turn Down For What.”
Definitely the moment I was dancing along the most. While still editing the live blog, of course.
Is Usher giving Michael Jackson?
The intense dance routine, the singular gloved hand … I think Usher might be paying a bit of tribute to the King of Pop at Allegiant Stadium.
Usher’s shirt comes off (momentarily)
As expected, Usher shed his top — a classic move during his shows.
He also brought out H.E.R., who recently collaborated with him on his new album, “Coming Home.”
Watch this: Usher’s ‘Confessions Part II’ gets the crowd going
Fans put their hands in the air as Usher performed one of his biggest hits. The star then launched into a rapid-fire medley of hits like “Nice & Slow,” “Burn ” and “U Got It Bad.”
Alicia Keys joins Usher onstage
Keys and Usher performed their collaboration “My Boo.”
She had previously been reported to join Usher onstage. But it delighted the audience and viewers at home nonetheless.
We’re ‘Caught Up’ in Usher’s halftime performance
Usher is bringing his biggest hits to the show. He started off with classics “Caught Up” and “U Don’t Have to Call.”
Showgirls and performers on stilts are really bringing the Vegas showmanship.
Usher kicks off halftime show
The R&B star’s halftime show has begun. The expected runtime is 15 minutes, a bit longer than usual.
Very Vegas-y aesthetic so far.
Super Bowl throwback: In 2020, the teams were tied at halftime
Taking a quick look at the last Chiefs-vs.-49ers Super Bowl game, the two teams were actually tied 10-10 at halftime.
Similar to tonight, the 49ers were first to get on the scoreboard with a field goal last time. But the Chiefs scored a touchdown in the first quarter.
The second quarter of Super Bowl 54 basically was basically flipped. The Niners scored a touchdown and the Chiefs equalized the game with their own field goal.
Seven points is the most common halftime margin in Super Bowl history, with seven games (including this one) counting that difference. The average halftime margin? About 10, and 25 points (Super Bowl 22, Washington vs. Denver) was the largest halftime lead in the event.
And this is why you defer after winning coin flip
While the Niners have dominated the first half, Kansas City nicely manipulated the clock before kicking a field goal and leaving San Francisco with virtually no time.
Now the Chiefs can wipe out the whole first half of disappointment if they can score a touchdown on the second half’s first possession.
The Niners have more first downs (12-7), yards (189-157) and time of possession (17:07 to 12:53).
At halftime, the 49ers are now favored by 4.5 points over the Chiefs, and the expected point total (also commonly called the over-under) has shrunk to 36.5 points at DraftKings.
Halftime
And that’s the half. Low-scoring, but pretty intriguing.
Here comes Usher …
Worth noting how tensions are clearly very high between both teams — there’s been several small scuffles on the field already.
This isn’t necessarily surprising for the 49ers. Their game against the Eagles earlier this year was extremely charged, including a pre-game incident with a Philly player and a midgame shoving match.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. campaign ad airs during commercial break
An advertisement for Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s independent presidential bid aired during the most recent commercial break. But it wasn’t your typical campaign promo. The ad re-used the jingle and visuals from John F. Kennedy’s presidential run in 1960.
RFK Jr.’s candidacy is widely considered a long shot, and his controversial views — including vehement opposition to Covid vaccines — have earned him a lot of scrutiny in the last year.
Field goal for the Chiefs!
Harrison Butker knocks through a 28-yard field goal. The Chiefs have finally gotten on the scoreboard, but have failed to score a touchdown in the first half.
The game is 10-3 to the Niners.
Swift a draw during timeouts
During timeouts the crowd is obsessed with locating where Taylor Swift is sitting, with people scanning the boxes with their phones.
These fans were thrilled to finally find her.
This is a huge drive right here.
The Chiefs are deep in San Francisco territory now, with the ball at the 14-yard line. The Chiefs take a time out with 1:09 left in the half.
The Chiefs will get the ball to start the second half as well.
Kelce has been quiet so far: 1 catch for 1 yard.
Rashee Rice, who just took two handoffs, following a completion, was a lightly-recruited three-star wide receiver coming out of high school, but excelled at Southern Methodist University, where he led the FBS in receiving yards per game his senior season.
As a rookie he has quickly established himself as Mahomes’ most-trusted wide receiver. The Chiefs need him now for a spark.
Blue Ivy Carter spotted at the game with her dad
Our predictions: Who will Usher bring out to perform with him?
Judging by the halftime show teaser, Usher will most likely bring out Lil Jon and Ludacris to perform “Yeah!”
I am also delusional enough to believe that he will bring out Justin Bieber because a girl can dream. Bieber was spotted in Las Vegas ahead of the game.
And if Taraji P. Henson’s cameo in the ad is any indication, we’ll see Usher serenade a celebrity, which he did to Henson and others at his Las Vegas residency. Maybe it’ll be Taylor Swift, but he could also bring in Keke Palmer to recreate that viral moment.
TikTok creator Jasmine Jennings went viral last year for predicting the opening of Rhianna’s halftime show performance. She is back this year with another prediction for Usher’s set.
“Use your imagination with me,” Jennings said in her video. “Lights are off, lights go on as Usher is catapulted from the stage.”
Her guess for Usher’s first song is “Yeah!” — a 2004 hit featuring Lil Jon and Ludacris that topped the “Billboard” Hot 100 for 12 consecutive weeks.
We’ll be on the lookout as halftime approaches to see if Jennings is right for the second year in a row.
Dunkin’ taps New England icons
Ben Affleck enlisted his bestie Matt Damon and former Patriots quarterback Tom Brady to join his Dunkin’-themed boy band “The DunKings.”
“How do you like them donuts? I’m so sorry,” Damon said.
Affleck’s wife, global superstar and former halftime performer Jennifer Lopez, was not impressed.
Yet another thing that makes the Super Bowl different from other games: the length of halftime.
The halftime break for a regular NFL game is 15 minutes. For the Super Bowl, they stretch that to about 30 minutes — giving more time for the show and for teams to make adjustments.
Football basics: The two-minute offense
In these final 2 minutes of play, there will be two kinds of plays that’ll be greatly beneficial to the Chiefs.
Of course, they’ll want plays of 10 yards or more to win a fresh set of four downs. But the second-best outcome here would be incomplete passes, because time is the Chiefs’ biggest enemy right now.
Other than forcing a turnover, the most devastating play a Niners defender could make would be to sack Mahomes. It would be a loss of yards, and worse, the clock would bleed without a timeout.
TOUCHDOWN Niners!
The 49ers score, giving us our first touchdown of the game.
A trick play from Jauan Jennings gave running back Christian McCaffrey the chance to make up for that first-quarter fumble. Jennings got the ball on a backwards pass and shot the ball over to McCaffrey, who took off into the end zone to give spectators a very fun moment.
San Francisco now leads 10-0.
So let me get this straight: In a Super Bowl with multi-time winner Mahomes and MVP finalist Purdy … the game’s first TD pass is by Jauan Jennings?!
There have now been 11 pass attempts by a non-QB in Super Bowls. Seven have connected for a TD.
Jauan Jennings was an elite high school quarterback before committing to Tennessee.
Looking for a late arrival to the MVP conversation? Jauan Jennings is still listed as a longshot at +35000 after that TD pass for the Niners.
Before tonight, 13 teams in the Super Bowl have been shut out at halftime. All went on to lose.
Temu debuts Super Bowl ads
The Chinese e-commerce platform has aired not one, but two commercials during the big game. Viewers have noticed Temu’s efforts — primarily because Super Bowl ads are notoriously pricey.
CNBC previously reported that Temu is looking to grow in the U.S. The marketplace planned $10 million in giveaways during the game.
Can director Martin Scorsese condense his genius into a 30-second ad?
Apparently the award-winning director did so for Squarespace.
The ad shows civilians — including Scorsese — who are too distracted by their phones and social media to notice an impending alien invasion. The aliens communicate their arrival by sending everyone their Squarespace site with the message “Hello Down There.”
Squarespace previously teased the collaboration by posting a video of Scorsese and his daughter Francesca — TikTok’s favorite father-daughter duo — conceptualizing the ad.
Taylor draws boos and cheers with a chug
The Niners-heavy crowd here at Allegiant Stadium just heartily booed Taylor Swift when she was shown on the scoreboard.
Swift took a hefty chug of her drink while on screen — which drew some cheers.
Swift fans exchange friendship bracelets
Taylor Swift fans at the stadium are handing out friendship bracelets — just like they did during her ongoing Eras Tour. I scored three, featuring “Mahomes,” “Chiefs” and her reputation album hit “End Game.”
Greenlaw is out
The 49ers’ Dre Greenlaw is out of the game (for now) after slipping and appearing to injure himself while jogging back onto the field after a commercial break.
After Greenlaw was carted off the field, an NFL commentator said it was an Achilles injury.
During this most recent timeout, the scoreboard showed Super Bowl watch parties in Mexico, Brazil and Australia.
The NFL will have a game in Brazil this year that will include the Philadelphia Eagles and another team yet to be named.
Taylor Swift is wearing a custom pendant with Travis Kelce’s jersey number on it
Swift, who arrived at the game wearing a black tank top and a red jacket, is also wearing a gold diamond pendant featuring an “87” designed by Stephanie Gottlieb Fine Jewelry.
“Yes, we made the necklace. Yes, I’m freaking out,” Gottlieb posted to her Instagram story.
The Chiefs’ D is able to stop the Niners after that turnover.
Another huge punt is briefly fumbled, but Chiefs returner Richie James is able to corral it.
An available bet that seemed like a far greater longshot prior to kickoff was “No Touchdown for the Game.” It was available at 160/1 odds.
Mahomes bomb! And then a fumble!
Patrick Mahomes just completed a 53-yard pass, just for the Chiefs to lose the ball on the next play.
Mecole Hardman caught the pass at the 10-yard line in a spectacular play — and what looked like a turnaround for the struggling Chiefs. But devastation was just around the corner.
Isiah Pacheco lost the ball after being hit by 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir, turning possession over.
Arnold Schwarzenegger is ‘Agent State Farm’ in new ad
Like a good neighbor, Arnold Schwarzenegger is there.
The action star and former California governor took on a new role in State Farm’s Super Bowl ad. He’s saving puppies from burning buildings like any good hero would. His one Achilles heel? He can’t seem to get State Farm’s signature catchphrase right.
Luckily, he got an assist from Danny DeVito, who reminded folks that State Farm is there like a good neighbor — not neighbah.
Lana Del Rey spotted in the stands below Swift’s box
One of Taylor Swift’s besties, Lana Del Rey, also appears to be at the game.
Though she is not in a box with Swift, it appears her spot in the stands is directly below her “Snow on the Beach” collaborator.
The singer appears to be sporting a 49ers jacket.
San Francisco starts the scoring with a field goal
Kicker Jake Moody nailed a 55-yard field goal to give the Niners a 3-0 lead.
That’s a big kick for Moody, who had been struggling lately. He had hit only three of his last five kicks.
And it’s a Super Bowl record for longest field goal.
We move into the second quarter scoreless, as neither the Chiefs nor the 49ers managed to score any points.
While the 49ers have at least managed to run the ball, the Chiefs’ two offensive drives were brief. It’s been a strong defense from San Francisco so far, but its offense has made a series of painful mistakes that have hurt its chance of scoring.
The announcers just noted this is the first scoreless first quarter of a Super Bowl since the Patriots and the Rams in February 2019.
NBC Sports’ fantasy and betting analyst, Lawrence Jackson, earlier today predicted the Chiefs would win in a rout. His response to the early minutes of the game? “The score still 0-0 but the Niners can move the ball right now and the Chiefs can’t. That’s telling. Yikes!”
The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s class of 2024 was introduced during that timeout — and the biggest cheer came for beloved 49ers great Patrick Willis.
Willis gave the Niners-heavy crowd an appreciative wave.
None of these Super Bowl ads are really popping so far
We’re almost at the close of the first quarter, and even more shocking than Christian McCaffrey’s first-drive fumble is the fact that none of the highly anticipated Super Bowl ads have excited the NBC News live-blogging team (save for the “Wicked” trailer).
Hoping to get some more between-play entertainment as the night continues!
It may not have been the ad with the most bang but I really enjoyed watching a different kind of football star, Lionel Messi.
Meanwhile on Nickelodeon…
Everyone’s favorite “Spongebob Squarepants” characters are helping with commentary.
When asked if he’s ever heard of the state of Iowa, Spongebob replied that it “sounds exotic.”
Four possessions, no points
Even though both the Chiefs and the Niners have had the ball twice already, neither team has put any points on the board in the first quarter so far.
The 49ers have made a series of errors, while the Chiefs have struggled to make inroads with the Niners’ defense.
A huge punt swings the field around.
Niners punter Tommy Townsend kicks it 62 yards, with no return.
The game has already swung considerably in the sports betting market.
Halfway through the first quarter, the Chiefs are now favored by 1.5 points, and the total number of expected points has shrunk to 41.5 at DraftKings.
Paramount+ watchers report app crashing
Several X users took to the platform to share their streaming troubles during the Super Bowl.
Some replied to the service’s X post about the Super Bowl seeking assistance.
This NBC News reporter has also had the app crash a few times since kickoff.
We’ve reached out to Paramount+ for comment.
The 49ers’ offense is off to a rocky start with offensive lineman Trent Williams earning two back-to-back flags, the first for a false start and then another for holding.
Williams is a strong player, but even the smallest mistakes can make or break a Super Bowl.
Dynamic QBs will have to play a little safe
There’s nothing worse Purdy or Mahomes could do today than to give the ball away.
In three games when Purdy threw one pick, the Niners went 2-1 this regular season. He threw two picks in two games, both losses. And his four-interception Christmas nightmare led to a humbling blowout loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
In eight Mahomes games when he threw exactly one pick, the Chiefs were 3-5. There were four games when Mahomes threw two interceptions, and remarkably, the Chiefs were still 2-2 in those games.
Lots of Niners fans singing along as the PA system plays Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’.”
Journey played at the halftime of the NFC championship, when the Niners were down big to the Detroit Lions — a set list that included the band’s famous anthem about keeping the faith.
‘Deadpool’ and ‘Wicked’ previews drop
Two eagerly anticipated movies got their first looks during the early commercial breaks: the third entry in the “Deadpool” franchise and Jon M. Chu’s big-budget adaptation of the Broadway musical “Wicked.”
The third “Deadpool” debuts in the U.S. on July 23, while the big-screen “Wicked” — the first of two planned chapters — arrives Nov. 27. (“Wicked” will be released by Universal Pictures, a unit of NBC News’ parent company, NBCUniversal.)
A big stop by the Niners after that fumble.
The Chiefs go three and out, failing to log a first down. Here comes the punt team.
FUMBLE!
The 49ers fumbled the ball just a few minutes into the game, losing their offensive start and giving the Chiefs the ball already.
The 49ers had logged three first downs in four plays before running back Christian McCaffrey was stripped by the Chiefs defense just shy of the 25 yard line.
And we’re under way. Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker puts it through the back of the end zone.
Gronk misses his chance at redemption.
FanDuel ambassador Rob Gronkowski missed his Kick of Destiny. Again.
The sportsbook promo promised $200 in bonus funds to every bettor who put $5 on Gronkowski if he had made the kick.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid doesn’t lose much when he’s gotten an extra week to prepare.
In the playoffs during the Mahomes era, Reid is 6-1 off of a bye or an extra week of rest. The only person to beat him? Tom Brady.
All due respect to Brock Purdy … he ain’t Tom Brady.
Football basics: The coin flip and the deferral
The Chiefs have one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in football, Patrick Mahomes, but there’s a reason his team didn’t want to go on offense after winning the coin flip.
In a relatively new football trend, teams have opted to “defer” their chances to receive the kickoff and go on offense first, instead opting to kick to the opponent and play defense to start.
The hope is to have possession at the end of the second quarter and manipulate the clock so that the other side doesn’t get much or any time with the ball late in the half. If the Chiefs get lucky and play it right, they could get back-to-back end-of-half possessions — and potential consecutive scores — without the Niners ever touching the ball.
And the coin toss goes to …
Baby, let the games begin!
The 49ers lost the coin toss, giving the Chiefs the option to get the ball to start the game or start the second half. The Chiefs chose to defer, giving them the ball at the start of the second half.
Last year the Chiefs also won the coin toss against the Eagles and chose to defer, putting the Eagles on offense for the start of the game.
Lahainaluna High School football players tapped as honorary captains
Six months after wildfires in Maui devastated the town of Lahaina, Hawaii, the NFL announced that players and coaches from a local high school will serve as honorary coin toss captains at the Super Bowl.
Lahainaluna High players Morgan “Bula” Montgomery, Teva Loft, Kaulana Tihada and Kuola Watson will be on the field for the coin toss. Coaches Dean Rickard, Garret Tihada, Jon Conrad and Bobby Watson will join them.
“The school would like to thank the NFL and its partners for this unimaginable opportunity and their continued support for Lahaina,” Lahainaluna High School principal Richard Carosso said in a news release. “We are very excited for our coaches and players to be a part of the Super Bowl and are proud of how well they represent the values and spirit of their team, the school, and the Lahaina community.”
The NFL said it has been helping to replace football equipment for the high school, Lahaina Intermediate School and the nonprofit youth club team Lahaina Chiefs Pop Warner.
Reba McEntire gave a bombastic performance of the national anthem accentuated with pyrotechnics and planes flying above. “Coda” star Daniel Durant also performed the anthem in ASL.
Reba’s anthem was short and sweet. According to CBS’ Jonathan Jones, she sang the song in 1 minute and 34 seconds.
Synergy alert! Keep your eyes peeled for these movie trailers
Don’t be surprised if you see trailers for movies from Paramount Pictures, CBS’ corporate cousin.
“A Quiet Place: Day One,” the third installment in the horror franchise, was the first to appear during commercial breaks.
John Krasinski’s “IF” and “Bob Marley: One Love” are also likely to debut.
All three movies are scheduled to roll out in theaters in the first half of the year.
It’s not clear whether any of the other big Hollywood studios booked ad time this year. I’m curious whether Disney plans to advertise the fact that it has exclusive streaming rights on “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour.”
The rapper busted out an acoustic guitar for his rendition of the classic song. Taylor Swift and Blake Lively were seen swaying along to Malone’s performance.
The teams are introduced and we’re getting closer …
The Chiefs were loudly booed as they took field … this feels like a Niners home crowd.
Andra Day kicks off preshow
Andra Day graced Super Bowl viewers with a beautiful, soulful rendition of “Lift Every Voice And Sing” to start the game.
If that’s any indication of tonight’s performances, we’re in for a great show.
Some American Indians protest Chiefs outside stadium
A stone’s throw from Allegiant Stadium, surrounded by fans streaming in for the big game, a group of about 20 American Indians protested what they called the “racist stereotypes” of the Kansas City Chiefs’ name and logo and their fans’ signature “Tomahawk chop” hand gesture.
One held a sign reading: “Taylor Swift doesn’t do the Tomahawk Chop. Be like Taylor.”
“It’s too bad, because I love sports,” said Fawn Douglas of the Las Vegas Paiute tribe.
Normally, she said, she would have been excited that the Super Bowl was in her hometown: “But how am I supposed to enjoy this?”
The group of protesters included Native people from southern Nevada, as well as several who traveled in from Kansas City and other places.
Gaylene Crouser of the Standing Rock Sioux, who lives in Kansas City and is the executive director of the Kansas City Indian Center, watched as fans walked by doing the Tomahawk chop in an apparent effort to taunt the protesters.
“It seems like blatant racism against Native Americans is the only socially acceptable form of racism these days,” she said. “It’s not just socially acceptable — they’re celebrating it.”
The campaign against Native American team names and logos has had several high-profile victories in recent years: In 2020, both the Cleveland Indians and the Washington Redskins opted to change their names after years of pressure, and they are now known as the Guardians and the Commanders, respectively.
Among the protesters outside Allegiant Stadium was Amanda Blackhorse, a Dine (Navajo) activist from Arizona who was deeply involved in the protest campaign against the Redskins. She said that the Chiefs’ ownership knows their team name is offensive — hence their decision to ban headdresses from their stadium in Kansas City — and that it’s only a matter of time before they follow in the footsteps of their Washington counterparts.
“These guys are next,” she said. “They know they are.”
Las Vegas has invested billions into sports. Will it pay off?
Once known mainly for gambling and debauchery, Las Vegas has catapulted itself to the world of professional sports in recent years. Now it’s hosting Super Bowl 58.
Allegiant Stadium, where the Super Bowl will be played, has spurred change. The $2 billion venue was built for the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders and opened in 2020. Its capacity is of 65,000 people. That has allowed the city to host events of major magnitude, such as sold-out Beyoncé and Taylor Swift concerts in 2023 and now the biggest U.S. sporting event of the year.
“We’re not really concerned about our supply of fun being more than the United States or the world can handle,” Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority CEO Steve Hill said in August. “We’re going to keep adding to that, and we’re confident that people around the globe are going to continue to come.”
Allegiant Stadium brought 1.52 million incremental visitors to the area, according to the 2023 impact report by the Las Vegas Raiders, with 88% of those visitors saying it was “the primary reason for their visit.”
Gayle King, Gwen Stefani and Kelly Clarkson are wearing silver, red and purple puffer vests designed by Kristin Juszczyk, who is married to San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk.
Juszczyk’s designs went viral in January after she made Taylor Swift a custom jacket featuring No. 87, Travis Kelce’s jersey number. She has since landed a licensing deal with the NFL.
The puffer vest seen on various celebs today is the first licensed NFL drop by Kristin Juszczyk Designs. Juszczyk and the NFL auctioned off one of the vests in a charity bidding that ended yesterday. The proceeds are going toward the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
Usher has arrived!
Our halftime headliner is in the building, arriving in what appeared to be an all-black sweatsuit and a blanket draped over his shoulders.
The R&B star was all smiles in a clip posted by the NFL, offering a small wave as people cheered him on.
Carl Weathers’ final role
Actor Carl Weathers, famous for his roles in the “Rocky” movies, as well as “Predator” and a more recent turn in “The Mandalorian,” died this month at 76.
But perhaps his final role is in FanDuel ads as Rob Gronkowski’s coach, as the former NFL tight end preps to kick a field goal as part of a promotion from the gambling company. One of the ads featuring Weathers aired about an hour before the game started.
FanDuel execs consulted with Weathers’ family before deciding to keep him in the ads, Variety reported.
We’ve got about 45 minutes to kick off.
The lively hourslong scene outside Allegiant cleared out in a hurry, and the stadium is filling up. It’s already loud — like a low-level roar at almost all times.
It’s not full — but pretty full considering we still have a little while to go as the DJ plays Elvis’ “Viva Las Vegas.”
Players to watch: Nick Bosa
San Francisco’s all-pro defensive lineman Nick Bosa has 15 total quarterback pressures in two playoff games this year. Two of those have gotten home for sacks.
The Chiefs’ tackle duo on the offensive line might be the easiest matchup he’s seen this postseason.
SpongeBob is performing during Nickelodeon’s Super Bowl broadcast
Usher will have some competition today — live from Bikini Bottom. Five years ago, a petition to have “Sweet Victory” from “SpongeBob Square Pants” performed at the Super Bowl in honor of the late Stephen Hillenburg — the creator of “SpongeBob SquarePants” — got over a million signatures. “You asked for it. You got it,” CBS Sports said in an announcement on X.
Fans of the iconic animated sponge will finally get the Super Bowl moment they have been waiting for — “Sweet Victory” will kick off the Nickelodeon presentation of the broadcast.
Here are the details on Taylor Swift’s Super Bowl look
Swift arrived at the stadium in a Chiefs bomber jacket from WEAR by Erin Andrews, according to Sarah Chapelle, who meticulously documents the singer’s looks on her popular fashion blog, “Taylor Swift Style.”
Chapelle has grown a following of 243,000 on Instagram, where she goes by the handle @taylorswiftstyled.
Swift paired the jacket with the Crystal Slit Jeans from AREA, Chapelle wrote in her Instagram post.
The pop star’s shirt is a Crochet Corset Top from Dion Lee, Chapelle wrote in a different post. And her bag is the Football Clutch from Judith Leiber.
49ers tight end George Kittle ready to go
Will viral Pop-Tart re-emerge from the dead?
I’m not the biggest football fan, but I simply cannot look away when a new sports mascot emerges or a moment from a game goes viral. During the first Pop-Tarts Bowl in December, in which the Kansas State Wildcats beat the North Carolina State Wolfpack, a new celebrity emerged.
Strawberry, Pop-Tarts’ oversized edible mascot, spent the entirety of the game bopping around with glee.
Until, quite literally, the world watched it descend into a toaster and get eaten alive by the winning players. As the Pop-Tart faced its death, it held a sign that read, “Dreams really do come true.”
“RIP in peace,” the game’s announcer said. “Can’t wait to eat you.”
Of course I know the Super Bowl isn’t the Pop-Tarts Bowl, but I’m still hoping the little mascot re-emerges from the dead and finds its way back onto the field or, at the very least, in a Super Bowl ad.
Chiefs will be without wide receiver Kadarius Toney
The Chiefs have declared Kadarius Toney inactive for tonight’s game.
The mercurial wide receiver has been at the center of storylines around the Chiefs all season long. After he was traded to Kansas City last season — and caught a touchdown in the Super Bowl — his sophomore campaign in western Missouri has been less than ideal.
In the Chiefs’ season opener against the Detroit Lions, Toney almost singlehandedly cost Kansas City the game with dropped pass after dropped pass. He never seemed to get going in an offense that was supposed to be one of the league’s most effective units. In a critical late-season game against Buffalo, he caught a backward lateral pass and ran into the end zone for what appeared to be a game-winning touchdown, only to have the play called back because he had lined up incorrectly. The Bills won.
Toney has been injured throughout the playoffs, and the circumstances around his injury have been controversial, with Toney claiming he was improperly designated. Head coach Andy Reid later suggested Toney could be a healthy scratch for the Super Bowl.
Player to watch: Christian McCaffrey
A focal point of today’s game: 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey, arguably the most important playmaker on either team.
McCaffrey’s dad, Ed McCaffrey, played in the Super Bowl 25 years ago as his Denver Broncos were wrapping up their second straight victory in the NFL’s title game.
The coach of that Broncos team? Mike Shanahan — father of 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan.
Kyle Shanahan and Christian McCaffrey can join their fathers as Super Bowl Champions.
A 49ers victory would make them the 9th and 10th pair in history. Most recent members of the club are Howie and Chris Long. Kyle and Mike Shanahan would be the first head coaching duo.
How to decipher sports gambling jargon
If you’re new to sports betting and all of these terms and numbers sound (Jimmy the) Greek to you, no worry. Here’s a quick lesson:
The most basic bet will be taking or giving points. The Niners are a 1.5-point favorite, so a wager on San Francisco means you’d have to win by 2 points or more to “cover the spread.” The Chiefs could win outright or come within 1 point of knocking off the Niners, which would give K.C. backers the win.
Another popular bet is the over/under, when you predict the combined number of points, which in this case is 47.5.
And in all of these wagers, a gambler has to give up a small fee for the honor, known as the vigorish, or vig. The typical vig is an $11 bet that would return a $10 profit.
A third popular bet would be the money line. Here you can root for your team without a care or a concern about the point spread.
The Niners-Chiefs money line is pretty close at -130 or +110, meaning a bet on San Francisco would require a $13 investment for a $10 profit. A bet on the underdog Chiefs means a $10 investment would bring an $11 profit.
It’s also worth noting that sports gambling’s ubiquity is causing some to raise alarms.
“This is a public health emergency happening, and we’re not talking about it yet,” Harry Levant, a gambling addition therapist whose his career as a lawyer was ruined due to gambling, recently told “60 Minutes.”
His patients are generally younger, have access to institutional money, and don’t have the risk-reward intelligence that comes at age 25 and older.
“I have patients who gamble in the shower,” Levant said. “I have patients who gamble before they get out of bed in the morning. I have patients who gamble while they are driving. There are no guardrails.”
Tiësto replaced by Kaskade as this year’s Super Bowl DJ
Tiësto, who was scheduled to be the Super Bowl’s first in-game DJ, said Thursday he will have to miss the game because of a “personal family emergency.”
Previous Super Bowls featured DJs (including DJ Khaled, D-Nice, Zedd and DJ Snake) playing at the pregame during players’ warmups. But Tiësto, a Grammy-winning DJ/producer who spends many weekends playing in Las Vegas nightclubs, was going to play “during featured breaks within the game, some of which will be televised on CBS as well as livestreamed on Tiësto’s social channels,” according to Variety.
On Thursday, hours after Tiësto pulled out of the game, Kaskade announced he has been tapped for the role.
“Las Vegas has been my second home for the past decade, as an architect of creating a landscape that includes House and Dance Music residencies as part of its destination,” Kaskade wrote on X. “To be able to be the first Electronic Musician to be part of the full game experience of the Super Bowl held in Las Vegas seems like coming home, and I’m beyond excited to represent my community.”
From ‘Mr. Irrelevant’ to the Super Bowl: Brock Purdy defied the odds
A wealth manager, a former payroll specialist and a tractor company employee were all — not long ago — rated as superior quarterbacks to San Francisco 49ers star Brock Purdy, who’ll be on pro football’s ultimate stage this weekend.
Purdy’s meteoric rise — from dead-last draft pick to MVP finalist and Super Bowl signal caller — laid bare the nearly impossible task of predicting future skill on the gridiron in evaluations that often make or break careers.
Purdy insists that his long under-the-radar path has been a blessing in disguise.
“It’s been the story of my life, being overlooked in high school. I wasn’t a high recruit,” Purdy told reporters Thursday. “All I needed was a shot and an opportunity, and coach [Matt] Campbell gave it to me at Iowa State, and sure enough life is repeating itself. I was drafted last, went to the Niners and got an opportunity.”
People are betting on whether Travis Kelce will propose to Taylor Swift
Gambling sites already have a series of “prop bets,” or side wagers unrelated to the game itself, related to pop superstar Taylor Swift and boyfriend Travis Kelce, according to Variety.
Asked at a news conference Monday whether there would be “another ring” if the Chiefs win, Kelce said, “I’m focused on getting this ring, and that’s all my mind’s focused on.”
Bettors are also putting money on Kelce’s play — 90% of bettors believe his total receiving yards will be over 71.5 yards. He has exceeded that number the last two games.
Mahomes warms up
ICYMI: A person tried to climb the Vegas Sphere (and got arrested)
Las Vegas police confirmed last Wednesday that a man was arrested after he climbed a structure on the 200 block of Sands Avenue, where the Sphere is located.
Video of the man scaling the Sphere, a massive, eye-catching entertainment center that opened in September, went viral on social media.
According to NBC affiliate KSNV, police later confirmed that “urban climber” Maison Des Champs was arrested. Des Champs is known for scaling tall buildings across the U.S. and documenting it on social media to protest abortion.
Team Ruff wins the Puppy Bowl
The 20th Puppy Bowl was a close game until the very end, but Team Ruff came out on top. It beat Team Fluff 72-69.
Meet the NFL’s newest sports journalist. He’s 11.
Sorry to all the veteran sports reporters out there, but I think Jeremiah Fennell is my new favorite journalist on the beat.
The 11-year-old was tapped by the NFL to be a correspondent at the Super Bowl, and he’s been crushing it.
“I started to do this at the age of 7 years old because I wasn’t able to play sports due to some medical issues, but I still like the sports environment,” Jeremiah told NFL Network’s Michael Robinson, a former NFL running back.
“So I decided to hone my craft in journalism at the age of 7. And I started my YouTube channel. And, yes, I do think I can keep this as a career because I do still love the sport and I do know a lot about it, so I think that interviewing people can be a long career for me.”
Already, Jeremiah has interviewed Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce and 49ers stars George Kittle, Deebo Samuel and Fred Warner.
Jeremiah also did a red carpet interview with another young NFL correspondent, Taylen Biggs, who was there to interview athletes about their fashion.
Taylor Swift has arrived
Taylor Swift has arrived in Las Vegas, Ian Rapoport announced on “NFL GameDay Morning,” after a highly anticipated race around the world — and against time — to make it to the Super Bowl after her performance last night in Tokyo.
The NFL’s X account shared a video of the pop star arriving with Ice Spice and Blake Lively.
Read more here.
Football jargon: An Octopus
Did you know you can bet on an Octopus in the Super Bowl?
An Octopus happens when the same player scores a touchdown as well as the subsequent two-point conversion. 98% of the betting public believes there will be an Octopus in Super Bowl LVIII.
Looking for tickets? Here’s how much they cost right now
With 2 1/2 hours left until after kickoff, tickets are getting more scarce and expensive.
Shortly after 1 p.m. PT on StubHub, the cheapest ticket was in $9,218 in the upper-deck corner behind the Chiefs sideline.
Behind the 49ers bench, the best deal appears to be in Section 414 for $9,621.
Travis Kelce arrives for game day
Travis Kelce is game day ready. According to his stylist, Danielle Vanessa Salzedo, Kelce’s outfit is custom Amiri. She posted the look to her Instagram story.
It’s giving reputation era.
Watch these excited fans gear up for the big game.
Showgirls outside the stadium? Of course, it’s Las Vegas.
If there are no showgirls, is it really a Las Vegas event?
Fans entering the southside of Allegiant Stadium were greeted by event model April Swartz in all her feathery glory.
Swartz, a Las Vegas resident, said she never envisioned pro sports, much less a Super Bowl, coming to Sin City.
“It’s been so energetic, high-energy here all week,” Swartz said.
A shift in the betting winds
The point spread for Super Bowl LVIII has shrunk from San Francisco favored by 2 points to the 49ers favored by 1.5 points. That means some sharp/influential bettors have put substantial money on the Kansas City Chiefs today.
A favorite bet for many on Super Bowl Sunday is the coin toss. 57% of the betting public has bet tails.
The spread has largely sat between -1.5 and -2.5 the past two weeks. The public seems to overwhelmingly think that Mahomes will win today, but the market remains steadfast that the Niners are a rightful favorite.
The sharps — including Jay — are all on the 49ers. But a reminder — the sharps were on the Eagles last year.
Where does Taylor Swift get all her Chiefs merch?
Since September, the pop star has been photographed cheering on boyfriend Travis Kelce at Kansas City Chiefs games while sporting red vintage team apparel. It’s prompted many online to ask where Swift gets the team swag from.
Some of her looks are one-of-a-kind finds or were custom made for her. Most of the Chiefs gear Swift has sported comes from local stores and independent fashion designers.
Among the designers? Kristin Juszczyk, the wife of 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk. She went viral in January for the No. 87 puffer jacket she created for Swift.
Read more on where the pop star has sourced some of her most memorable Chiefs game-day looks so far.
The NFL Instagram account shared a video of Kyle Juszczyk’s new jacket designed by his wife for the big game.
The jacket features the signatures of his teammates, who could become Super Bowl champions this evening.
Las Vegas chapel offering free weddings for couples named Taylor and Travis
Forget engagement rumors, one Las Vegas chapel is hoping Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce tie the knot tonight — at its venue.
Chapel of the Flowers is offering a free wedding ceremony on Super Bowl Sunday to any couple with the names Taylor and Travis.
Swift and Kelce are included in that deal, if they choose to make the big day their wedding day as well.
Drake bets big on Chiefs win
Drake placed a $1.15 million wager in favor of a Kansas City Chiefs win ahead of their fourth Super Bowl appearance in five years, NBC Sports reported.
“I can’t bet against the swifties,” Drake wrote in an Instagram post on Saturday, referring to fans of Taylor Swift (who is dating Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce).
The post appears to show a screenshot of his seven-figure gamble on the sports-betting site Stake.
We’re inside the stadium
It’s hours before kickoff and most Allegiant Stadium inhabitants include: workers and security guards going over their plans; a handful of absurdly early fans; and, of course, some cheesy reporters looking for pictures to mark this occasion.
It feels like the calm before the storm right now, or like strolling New York City streets before dawn, appreciating the relative peace and quiet when mayhem is around the corner.
Puppy Bowl’s halftime performance: Kittens
Purr-sher serenaded Puppy Bowl viewers during the game’s halftime show. She was among the several kittens who made an appearance.
Super Bowl security prepares for drones
The NFL and federal law enforcement are on high alert for unauthorized drones after one caused a play stoppage at a playoff game two weeks ago.
The NFL said there were about 2,500 drone incursions near stadiums during the 2022-23 season, an increase of about 90% from a year earlier.
For Sunday, the Federal Aviation Administration has banned drones within a radius of 30 nautical miles (about 35 miles) of the stadium beginning one hour before kick off. There have also been restrictions in place for additional events in Las Vegas the past few days.
“So please leave your drone at home,” Cathy Lanier, the NFL’s chief security officer, said at a news conference Wednesday.
Read more here.
What’s on the menu at the Super Bowl
Seth Rubinroit, senior manager of audio and digital strategy at NBCUniversal Local, is outside the stadium.
He has his eye on all the Super Bowl food items (and their respective prices!).
A 49ers PinkBox doughnut (pictured below) costs $5.99.
“Endless pastabilities” is selling pasta treats for $23.
A Bud Light costs $16.
Meanwhile, programs (above) are $25 each.
Mama Kelce is excited
Donna Kelce is ready to return to the Super Bowl to cheer on her son Travis.
“It is going to be a dream to go back to back like this, back to the Super Bowl,” she told “Today” on Feb. 7. “And [I’m] really excited.”
As for where she’ll be sitting? “You can understand that the boxes in Vegas are multimillion dollars, so I have a feeling I’m not in a box,” she said. “I have a feeling I am in the stands. As far as I know, I’m in the stands with everybody else because it is a pricey Super Bowl.”
Mama Kelce emerged as a breakout star when Travis battled his brother, Jason Kelce, for the NFL crown. The Chiefs downed the Philadelphia Eagles, 38-35.
She has also made headlines when she’s been photographed with or talking about Swift. Last week, she updated her Facebook cover photo to include a group picture that featured her and the pop star.
Read more here.
Usher ‘goes missing’ in halftime teaser
Ahead of the big show, Apple Music released a “Hangover”-inspired ad in which the halftime performer disappears before the Super Bowl.
Ludacris, Lil Jon and Taraji P. Henson are shown trying to locate the singer and taking viewers on an eccentric tour of Las Vegas. The star-studded short film also featured appearances from reggaeton artist J. Balvin, rapper André 3000 and magician Criss Angel.
Puppy Bowl update: It’s a tie-game
As the first quarter comes to a close, Team Fluff and Team Ruff are tied, 14-14.
Our favorite Super Bowl snacks
The Super Bowl live blogging team at NBC News will be working hard on Sunday. But we will also be snacking (a lot). Here are our favorite Super Bowl food items.
Doha Madani: Nachos. Ever since I was a kid, my older brother and I would have them for the World Series and the Super Bowl. It’s a sporting event staple in my life that I simply could not do without.
Tim Perone: Also nachos.
Daysia Tolentino: I have been looking forward to eating buffalo wings all week. I’m also partial to some chips and queso.
Kaetlyn Liddy: Spinach artichoke dip.
Jana Kasperkevic: I feel like you can’t go wrong with chips and an assortment of dips (including spinach artichoke dip).
Jason Abbruzzese: Buffalo chicken dip.
Rebecca Cohen: Pigs in a blanket or baked mac and cheese.
Joy Burton: Traditional wings. None of that boneless garbage!
Saba Hamedy: All of the above (really, also, anything with cheese).
The Puppy Bowl’s ‘it’ couple is watching
The Super Bowl isn’t the only star-studded event today. “Travis Klawce” and “Taylor Sniffed” are in the VIP suite at today’s Puppy Bowl.
We should have Sniffed’s outfit details soon.
Where to adopt puppy bowl puppies
Country singer Miranda Lambert will be introducing the available pups throughout the game.
Animal Planet also has a list available on its Puppy Bowl page.
Puppy Bowl ‘rufferee’ has every dog lover’s dream job
Dan Schachner has been the Puppy Bowl “rufferee” for over a decade.
And yes, he is living everyone’s dream.
Read more in our 2022 feature on him here.
Usher is headlining the halftime show
The NFL and Apple Music announced in September that Usher, the beloved R&B singer, will take the highly anticipated halftime slot.
Reality star Kim Kardashian was the one who broke the news on social media using the opening of his “Confessions, Pt. II” music video.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, published on Wednesday, the superstar said his halftime show will be a little longer than others.
Usher said he will have 15 minutes onstage, where as most usually get 13.
“I can’t explain why, but it’s a funny thing that I was able to do and craft,” he told EW. “That was a huge strategic thing that happened between me and my agency.”
Expect traffic jams across Las Vegas
Las Vegas residents may be accustomed to tourism, but Sunday’s traffic is projected to be intense in Sin City. Nearly half a million people are expected to head to Vegas this weekend to celebrate the 58th Super Bowl. Allegiant Stadium, where the big game will be played, was also the venue for Swift’s “Eras Tour” last March.
Hours spent in traffic near the stadium reportedly increased by over 100% during her concert, indicating that Vegas drivers will likely be impacted by Super Bowl festivities. To avoid the worst of the congestion, traffic experts recommend steering clear of the roads during projected peak travel hours — before kick off, between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. PT, and after the game around 10 p.m. PT.
The Super Bowl will be played virtually on top of a major interstate, adding another security challenge to a game being staged in population-dense Las Vegas.
As simple as this sounds, keeping traffic moving on I-15 has emerged as a major law enforcement concern going into today’s big game.
Football stadiums, unlike many baseball parks and basketball arenas in urban cores, are often built in the more open areas with an abundance of space and parking. Allegiant, though, could not be any closer to a major highway.
“It’s a challenge for us, in the proximity of I-15, so that’s our main concern to make sure that traffic continues to flow on I-15, that nobody stops there and lingers,” Nevada Highway Patrol Maj. Kevin Honea told NBC News. “I know that would make security at the NFL a little bit nervous. So that’s our main objective is to make sure there’s no crashes, no stopped traffic in and around the stadium.”
There was record viewership for the NFC championship game
The San Francisco 49ers earned their Super Bowl berth with a dramatic comeback victory against the Detroit Lions, drawing record viewership.
The NFC championship game drew 56.6 million viewers, breaking records for Fox. The game had the fourth-highest numbers for any non-Super Bowl telecast in network history and the most viewers of any NFC championship game since 2012, up 19% from the Eagles-49ers matchup in the same round last year.
Some people want the day after the Super Bowl to be a holiday
About 41% of people think the day after Super Bowl Sunday should be a national holiday, according to a new survey released by Atera.
The AI-powered IT management platform surveyed 1,500 American workers. The results suggest that even without an official holiday, 41% will opt to work remotely on Monday.
Among remote workers, 27% of those surveyed said they plan to feign illness, while 25% will say they have an “appointment.”
President Biden is skipping a Super Bowl interview
For the second year in a row, President Joe Biden is passing on the opportunity to sit down for a Super Bowl interview that could reach millions of Americans on Sunday — a move his advisers say is part of their larger communication strategy.
Read more on why here.
Super Bowl (Taylor’s Version): See how Swifties are celebrating
Leila Register / NBC News; Getty Images; Gina CC
Footballs bedazzled with glitter. Friendship bracelets that spell out Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s names. Swift-themed Bingo. Drinks and snacks inspired by popular Swift songs.
Welcome to Super Bowl Sunday (Taylor’s Version) — a crossover celebration event that’s bringing people with a love for the NFL, Swift, or both together on football’s biggest day.
Swift’s public and viral love story with Kelce, who is a tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, has captivated fans online who have long been rooting for the singer’s happiness. Now, many are cheering on Kelce too.
Read more here.
Brrrrrr… by Las Vegas standards, at least
The “fully enclosed and climate-controlled” Allegiant Stadium will provide a perfect setting for players and fans in attendance — but Las Vegas visitors these past few days have been bundled up in relatively cold temps.
The high never got above 56 degrees Fahrenheit this past week, and the high isn’t expected to get past 51 on Sunday.
That might sound downright balmy for much of America, though the past three Feb. 11s in Las Vegas registered at 63, 80 and 70, respectively.
Chiefs and 49ers players aren’t allowed to gamble while in Vegas
It’s Sin City, baby, but the players getting ready to hit the field Sunday afternoon can’t partake until the play clock runs out.
The NFL has forbidden anyone who is in Las Vegas on official Super Bowl business from doing any kind of gambling, NBC Sports reported. Yes, that even includes the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers players.
As soon as the game is over Sunday night, though, the players are free to hit the slots and poker tables, as long as they refrain from placing any bets on the NFL, of course.
Meet the 49ers cheerleaders who juggle careers
Cheerleaders for the San Francisco 49ers are on the field for every game, but they also juggle careers when they put their pompoms away. NBC’s Kaylee Hartung reports for “Today.”
Trump weighs in on Taylor, Biden criticizes ‘shrinkflation’
Former President Donald Trump seems concerned enough about the possibility of a Taylor Swift endorsement of President Joe Biden that he weighed in on the matter on Truth Social today, claiming “Biden didn’t do anything for Taylor” and probably never will and claiming to like Travis Kelce “even though he may be a liberal.”
On the official POTUS Instagram account, Biden’s team posted a reel decrying so-called “shrinkflation” — the idea that products are shrinking but the price is staying the same. As an ice cream lover, the president says, its unacceptable that companies are shrinking cartons and hoping you won’t notice.
Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris (a former California senator) is showing off her 49ers pride on social media.
“Game day ready” the VP’s account wrote on X. The post featured video of Harris showing off a denim jacket that reads “Faithful to the Bay” on the back.
Super Bowl ticket prices hit record levels
Super Bowl ticket prices on the resale market are hitting record highs ahead of Sunday’s game, as if Allegiant Stadium hopefuls are trying to see the “Eras Tour” again, or at least the star of that show.
As of Monday, the average price of a Super Bowl ticket on TickPick was $9,815, according to The Associated Press. By Wednesday evening, tickets on the platform ranged from $7,830 to $77,760.
By comparison, tickets on TickPick for last year’s Super Bowl, which also featured the Kansas City Chiefs, were going for $5,795 on average, the AP reported.
Super Bowl gambling by the numbers
It is estimated that 67.8 million people will place a bet on the Super Bowl at a legal outlet, and $1.5 billion is expected to be bet with legal outlets.
Currently, 38 states (and Washington, D.C.) offer legal sports betting in some format. There are 26 states that allow online sports betting via either smartphone apps or websites.
And so far, public bettors are favoring the Chiefs, with 74% taking them to win the game, according to sportsbook DraftKings.
Can the Chiefs take back-to-back Super Bowls? Can the Niners tie the Patriots and Steelers?
The Kansas City Chiefs, the reigning Super Bowl champs, could go two in a row if they beat the San Francisco 49ers.
The Chiefs beat the Philadelphia Eagles last year. If they win today, it will be the first time in almost 20 years that a team has won back-to-back Super Bowls.
The New England Patriots are the last NFL team to achieve that feat, beating the Carolina Panthers in 2004 and the Eagles in 2005.
Should the Chiefs win, it would mark their third championship within a five-year span, a record matched only by four of the league’s most storied dynasties: the 1970s Pittsburgh Steelers, the 1990s Dallas Cowboys, the 2000s Patriots and the 2010s Patriots.
For the 49ers it would be a sixth title, tying them with the Steelers and the Patriots for most ever.
2020 deja vu
2024 is shaping up to be the year of the 2020 rematch.
In the race for the presidency, it’s looking increasingly likely that voters will choose between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, just like they did the last time the Niners and Chiefs met in the Super Bowl.
In 2020, the Chiefs staged a furious fourth-quarter comeback, scoring 21 points and defeating the 49ers 31-20.
Another Chiefs win, particularly with the right-wing conspiracies floating around Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s relationship, could be seen as a good omen for Biden later in the fall. A 49ers win may be seen as a sign of change — for Trump.
Watch: What were the Chiefs and 49ers up to this weekend?
Stars of both teams stepped out for Super Bowl opening night.
Post Malone, Reba McEntire and Andra Day to perform pregame
Country superstar Reba McEntire will help kick off the game by performing the national anthem, which “Coda” star Daniel Durant will perform in ASL.
Singer Andra Day will perform “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” which is often referred to as the “Black national anthem.” Actor and choreographer Shaheem Sanchez will sign it.
Rapper Post Malone will sing “America the Beautiful” ahead of the game. It will be performed in ASL by actor, model and dancer Anjel Piñero.
Will Taylor Swift make it from Tokyo to support Travis Kelce?
Taylor Swift would have to shake off a handful of ground-level challenges to attend the Super Bowl after her concert in Japan the night before — but she could do so in time-reversing style, with hours to spare.
The answer is yes, thanks to time zones that put Tokyo 17 hours ahead of Las Vegas.
As of Saturday afternoon, online sleuths and early news reports suggested she had landed in LAX, a mere hours away from Vegas by car and even closer by jet.
Read more here.
Even the Japanese Embassy weighed in on Swift’s potential journey.
“Despite the 12-hour flight and 17-hour time difference, the Embassy can confidently Speak Now to say that if she departs Tokyo in the evening after her concert, she should comfortably arrive in Las Vegas before the Super Bowl begins.”
Football fans across the country were celebrating after they were surprised with tickets to the Super Bowl in Las Vegas. NBC News’ Kate Snow has more on these moments of joy and celebration.
Uber Eats to delete Super Bowl ad’s peanut-allergy bit after angry backlash
This Super Bowl Sunday, don’t forget Uber Eats — but also, as the food-delivery service has learned, don’t forget that trying to make light of a life-threatening allergy is bad PR.
Uber Eats, a division of the ride-sharing company, on Feb. 6 debuted its 60-second 2024 Super Bowl commercial, centered on the running joke of forgetfulness. The spot, which marks Uber Eats’ fourth year in the Super Bowl, features David Schwimmer and Jennifer Aniston (who forgets she worked with him on “Friends” for 10 years); David and Victoria Beckham (who fail to remember the Spice Girls), as well as Jelly Roll trying to scrub tattoos off his face and Usher blanking on the fact that he just performed the halftime show.
But one scene was decidedly unfunny for many: A man eating a spoonful of peanut butter from a jar — who has broken out in hives and whose left eye has swollen shut in an allergic reaction — glances down at the food label and remarks, “There’s peanuts in peanut butter? Oh, it’s the primary ingredient.”
What time does the game start?
Kick off is at 6:30 p.m. ET, so you better have your snacks ready by then.
Where is the game happening?
The game is taking place at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas … aka Sin City, baby!
Officials expect the Super Bowl to draw more than 330,000 visitors to the city and generate $600 million in revenue, according to The Associated Press.
In classic Vegas fashion, the AP reported that both teams were welcomed to the city by Elvis Presley impersonators and showgirls.
Who is playing?
The Kansas City Chiefs, the reigning Super Bowl champ, will play the San Francisco 49ers.
The two faced each other at the Super Bowl in 2020 in Miami, where the Chiefs won.
How to watch the Super Bowl
Happy game day!
Super Bowl LVIII will air on CBS and Paramount+. Those with cable can also use their TV provider to watch on CBS.com or on the CBS app.
For the first time, there will also be a kid-friendly version of the game on Nickelodeon.
[ad_2]
Source link
