It’s hard to call the Super Bowl–when you strip it down to its most basic elements, that is–just an important football game. It’s a made-for-broadcast odyssey, packed to the brim with storylines, performances, advertisements, and titans of American culture. It’s the one thing Americans of all stripes can agree is a must-watch.
Most of the time, ironically enough, football isn’t even “happening” when you factor in breaks and the long stoppages in play commonplace in such a huge game. Of course, the full game unfolded in the desert last night, and the Kansas City Chiefs came out on top over the Philadelphia Eagles 38-35 in a showdown that was (mostly) a thriller. The summary of the night cannot stop there, though. As a tour-de-force event of 2023 thus far, there were a trio who won big–aside from the franchise that did so.
Patrick Mahomes shined despite tweaking his ankle, but his great performance masks some harder truths. For one, Philly’s Jalen Hurts looked better. With more than 300 yards total and four total touchdowns, he outdueled the less than 250 yards and three touchdowns from Mahomes. The Chiefs also may have gotten a blessing from the much-maligned refs in the form of a weak holding call. It all but assured their game-sealing field goal and prevented another Eagles drive. The game itself was a classic until that call, after which the outcome seemed certain. But despite the chorus of Eagles’ apologists for the latter points, Mahomes is again a Super Bowl MVP and has two rings in three tries. He still reigns as the best, and that’s what will stick from last night.
Rihanna received a lot of hype coming into this game. Her announcement as the performer at halftime was well-received, especially since the world was itching for new Rihanna content. Not performing for years had everyone excited for her to return (to the point where people were saying a Rihanna concert was being “interrupted” by a football game). Flocked by dancers and running through her catalog of songs while suspended high in the air, Rihanna’s triumphal entry made its intended waves. Opinion on the show, as with anything on the internet, remains divided. Nevertheless, Rihanna showcased her immense talent and a deep bag of hit songs that still resonate. The real reason she emerged as a winner was because she used the bodacious, pink outfit she performed in to reveal her second pregnancy. Fans erupted into a frenzy analyzing her baby bump and seeking the truth, but a second baby is officially on the way for Rihanna. For that alone, she’ll go down as an iconic artist to be a part of the hallowed halftime excitement.
Celebrities ran the commercials this year. From Will Ferrell to John Travolta to Ben Stiller to Steve Martin to Maya Rudolph to Ben Affleck to Jennifer Lopez to Serena Williams to Elton John to Melissa McCarthy and to plenty of other names, every campaign seemed to boast star power that attempted to capitalize on nostalgia and celebrity culture. Beyond endorsements for other brands, those with big names were gracing the screen in other forms, most notably movie trailers. Fox, which broadcasted the Super Bowl, got into the action by directly plugging their programs on Fox Nation or their new late-night king Greg Gutfeld in several spots. Creativity for inventive campaigns wasn’t at a premium this year, but for those who got everyone’s favorite stars on the night of the big game, it was a solid lineup. Besides, every one of the aforementioned names surely got a huge payday for their appearances.
