The Super Bowl: More Than a Game

Feb.9. A storied sport, a game intertwined in the very cultural fabric of the United States of America. After an ultra-competitive regular season, the stage was set for Super Bowl LIX (59) between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles, two storied franchises that originally faced off in 2023 for Super Bowl LVIII.

Winning 38-35, Led by the tandem of Patrick Mahomes and an elite offensive line, the Chiefs feature an efficient offense that has only gotten better over the course of the season, especially with the emergence of star rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy.

On the defensive side, with star defensive lineman Chris Jones and young cornerback Trent McDuffie, the Chiefs only allowed 30 points in one regular season game, constituting them as one of the statistically best defenses in the NFL. On the other side of the field, led by veteran quarterback Jalen Hurts and star-studded running back Saquon Barkley, the Eagles feature one of the most prolific offenses in the league.

And with a variety of young defensive stars, from linebacker Zack Baun to defensive lineman Jalen Carter, the Eagles ranked first in passing yards allowed per game.

In a matchup with two dynastic powers, the public had high expectations. But from start to finish, the Eagles absolutely dominated on both sides of the ball, not letting the Chiefs score until the very end of the third quarter.

“The two most impactful players on the Eagles’ defense were Cooper DeJean and Josh Sweat,” junior football player Carter Plowman said. “DeJean played a huge role as a pass defender, and his pick 6 in the second quarter was crucial in shutting down any chance of the Chiefs building momentum before halftime.”

Vic Fangio, the Eagles defensive coordinator, also took advantage of his team’s prominent defensive line, as the team brought Mahomes to the ground seven times without calling a single blitz.

“On the defensive line, Sweat and the Eagles’ front dominated the Chiefs’ offensive line all night,” Carter said. “Sweat led the way with 2.5 sacks and 6 tackles, constantly pressuring Mahomes and disrupting the Chiefs’ rhythm.”

On the offensive side of the ball, Jalen Hurts played one of the best games of his career, winning the game’s MVP award. With nearly 300 total yards and three touchdowns, the veteran quarterback was effective in both the passing and rushing games.

However, the Chiefs did an excellent job at containing star running back Saquon Barkley.

“I think the Chiefs definitely focused too much on stopping Saquon, underestimating Jalen Hurts ability to throw and run the ball,” Eagles fan and soccer player Baylor Wilson ‘26 said.

Barkley, the reigning offensive player of the year, has been the focal point of the Eagles’ offense throughout the entirety of the season, averaging nearly six yards per carry.

The Chiefs held him to under three, but the rest of the offense, especially with All-Pro A.J. Brown, was too much for the Chiefs to handle.

“All of their performances were instrumental in securing the Eagles’ victory,” Carter said.

Toward the end of the game, with the blazing speed of wide receiver Xavier Worthy and the poise of Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs scored three touchdowns in 16 minutes, but they couldn’t overcome the overwhelming deficit, losing 22-40.

This win for the Eagles cemented themselves in NFL History.

They dominated the ball in all three phases and proved to be the better team from start to finish. With such a young and talented roster, there’s a chance the Eagles could achieve dynastic status.

“The city loves their team like nothing I’ve ever seen before,” said Eagles fan and math department chair Erik Faust. “You could walk down the street anywhere and begin chanting the Eagles Fight song, and people would begin to chime in and sing with you. It would mean a lot to the people in Philly to have a dynasty for a bit, especially after having gone so long without a Super Bowl win.”

But when a team is struggling, the fans who stick along for the ride show how much they truly care.

“Loving a team that struggles in a weird way is one of the ways you know you are a part of a real fan base,” Faust said. “You know those people really love their team because you can’t support something that struggles so much without having a deep love for your team.”

Over the past few years, the Super Bowl has evolved from just a championship football game to what many consider a cultural phenomenon, especially with the advent of social and mass media.

The most recent game averaged approximately 128 million viewers, most in Super Bowl History according to ESPN.

“Yeah, I’d say the Super Bowl is definitely a game most people watch, whether they enjoy football or not,” Faust said.

With multi-million dollar commercials and a halftime show featuring a prominent artist with a diverse set of listeners, it’s no surprise that the Super Bowl continues to grow in popularity, especially with ads featuring celebrities like Harrison Ford, Becky G, and Caitlin Clark.

“My favorite commercial was definitely Mountain Dew’s “Kiss From A Lime” featuring SEAL and Becky G. SEAL as a seal was definitely unique. I can’t say I’ve seen anything like it before,” Baylor said.

From Robert Kraft’s antisemitism awareness ad to Nike’s “So Win” campaign promoting female athletes, this year’s ads brought awareness to a multitude of societal issues.

But maybe none of them had the impact that Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show did. Playing some of his most popular songs, featuring Samuel L. Jackson as Uncle Sam, and bringing out Serena Williams for a surprise appearance, Lamar’s halftime show was unlike anything we’ve ever seen. 

“Overall, I thought the performance was a bit underwhelming, but my favorite song that he played was definitely ‘Humble,’” Baylor said.

From “Humble” to “Luther,” Lamar performed some of his most popular songs, especially with his decision to play “Not Like Us,” a diss track aimed at Drake.  More than anything, Lamar’s performance was a culture shock.

“I loved Samuel L. Jackson emceeing the performance as Uncle Sam introducing this as “The Great American Game” and then throughout yelling at Kendrick Lamar that he was “too loud, too reckless, too ghetto” which are things said to Black Americans and about hip hop and rap as well,” said DEI Coordinator Ursula Chan.

From addressing stereotypes to entertaining millions, Lamar’s halftime show certainly left its mark.

Maybe there’s even some more work that can be done incorporating a wider variety of music genres into the halftime show, and expanding the Super Bowl’s viewing base.

“One of the most important roles the Super Bowl plays in our country is bringing us together as Americans, and music is a key part of that. That being said, I’d love to see more variety in the genres represented—particularly country music,” Carter said. “A halftime show featuring country artists could help captivate a new audience. Morgan Wallen and Post Malone would be a great pairing, as they’ve recently blended elements of their respective genres, proving that country and mainstream music can work well together.”