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Source: Michael Owens / Getty / Super Bowl LVIII / Patrick Mahomes
So, despite all the people claiming they were not going to watch this year’s Super Bowl LVIII for many reasons *coughs* Taylor Swift, it turns out this year’s edition of the big game was the most watched ever.
ESPN reports a record number of eyes were in front of their television screens to see the Kansas City Chiefs defeat the San Francisco 49ers, Usher’s brilliant Apple Music Halftime show, and less than a minute of Taylor Swift.
Per ESPN:
According to Nielsen and Adobe Analytics, the Kansas City Chiefs’ 25-22 overtime victory versus the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday averaged 123.4 million viewers across television and streaming platforms. That shattered last year’s mark of 115.1 million for Kansas City’s last-play victory over the Philadelphia Eagles with a 7% increase.
Nielsen also says a record 202.4 million people looked at some part of the game across all networks at one point, which was a 10% jump over the previous year’s 183.6 million.
It also eclipses the 2016 Super Bowl between the Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers on CBS, which had 112.34 million viewers.
It was only the second Super Bowl to go into overtime and the second straight event to average over 100 million viewers.
Possible Reasons For This Year’s Super Bowl’s Ratings Success
On top of the thrilling game that saw the Chiefs need overtime to send the San Franciso 49ers back to the bay without the Lombardi trophy, again, there was also the added hoopla of Taylor Swift being in the building and, of course, highly anticipated halftime performance from Usher.
Leading up to the game, the extreme MAGA crowd somehow managed to link Taylor Swift, President Joe Biden, and Super Bowl LVIII in some ridiculous conspiracy theory.
Following the game’s result, President Biden even mocked them, using the infamous “Dark Brandon” meme with the caption, “Just like we drew it up.”
We will be tuned in again next year.
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Patrick Mahomes added to his growing trophy case this weekend after leading the Kansas City Chiefs to victory against the San Francisco 49ers at Super Bowl LVIII on Sunday (Feb. 11). With the victory, Patrick Mahomes was named Super Bowl LVIII MVP, marking the third time he’s won the honor.
With the MVP win, Patrick Mahomes etched his name alongside greats such as Joe Montana and Tom Brady with the retired quarterbacks also winning the honor three or more times. With the win, the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl LVIII victory is the third of the Coach Andy Reid and Mahomes era, and the fourth overall for the franchise as noted by CBS Sports.
The contest went into overtime with the 49ers showing a ton of grit behind the hard work of Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey, and Deebo Samuel and their defensive corps. However, Mahomes carried out Reid’s game plan and the Niners never had an answer in the extra period, leading the Chiefs to victory and becoming a dynasty in the same breath.
Mahomes also joins the aforementioned Brady and Montana, along with Terry Bradshaw and Troy Aikman as the only starting quarterbacks to win at least three Super Bowls.
“It’s the start of one,” Mahomes said to CBS Sports’ Tracy Wolfson after being asked if Kansas City Chiefs are a dynasty. “We’re not done. I know we’re going to celebrate tonight, but we’re not done. We’ve got a young team, we’re going to keep this thing going.”
Congratulations to Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.
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Photo: Getty
Adele is sticking up for Taylor Swift. The British songstress, 35, told her Weekends With Adele audience in Las Vegas on Saturday (Feb. 10) that the pop superstar, 34, has made the NFL “more enjoyable to watch” and defended the singer against those criticizing her attendance at Kansas City Chiefs games in support of boyfriend […]
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In the lead-up to Super Bowl LVIII this Sunday, everyone has football fever, with the eyes of sports and pop culture centered on Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Feb. 11. To celebrate the Super Bowl matchup between the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs, video-game manufacturer Arcade1Up has a deep discount on one of its NFL arcade cabinets.
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On sale for $499.99 (regularly $599.99) at Amazon, Arcade1Up NFL Blitz Legends Arcade Machine is a ’90s throwback that features some of the all-time greats of the pro football league, including Jerry Rice, Emmitt Smith, Dan Marino, Brett Favre, Jerome Bettis, Cris Carter, Deion Sanders and others.
And since it’s from Amazon, you’ll get it shipped to you for free if you’re an Amazon Prime member.
Not a member? Sign up for a 30-day free trial to take advantage of all that Amazon Prime has to offer, including access to Prime Video; fast same-, next-, or two-day free shipping with Prime Delivery; in-store discounts at Whole Foods Market, access to exclusive shopping events — such as Prime Day and Black Friday — and more.
Arcade1Up
Arcade1Up ‘NFL Blitz Legends’
$499.99
$599.99
17% off
Equipped with a 17-inch LCD screen, Arcade1Up NFL Blitz Legends features four-player action with full-size joysticks and buttons, a light-up marquee and coinless operation for unlimited gameplay. It comes with a 13-inch riser to bring the arcade cabinet up to 5-feet tall in height.
Meanwhile, the arcade machine comes with three games loaded — NFL Blitz, NFL Blitz ’99 and NFL Blitz 2000: Gold Edition — for hours of football action. It’s even Wi-Fi-enabled, so you can play against other gamers online with multiplayer options and leaderboards for bragging rights.
The Arcade1Up NFL Blitz Legends Arcade Machine is on sale for $499.99, or $100 off its list price, at Amazon — that’s a 17% savings. In the meantime, watch a brief trailer for the arcade cabinet below:
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Want more deals? For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best Xbox deals, studio headphones and Nintendo Switch accessories.
Travis Kelce is very aware of the public’s fixation on his romance with Taylor Swift, and at a Thursday (Feb. 8) pre-Super Bowl press conference, the tight end explained where he thinks the continued hype comes from. When asked why the world is so “fascinated” by his relationship, Kelce was quick to respond. “I think […]
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Source: Gerardo Mora / Getty / Carl Weathers
The world lost an icon in Carl Weathers last week, but fans will still see the late actor one last time, thanks to a FanDuel Super Bowl commercial.
Spotted on Variety, FanDuel says it will still air the Super Bowl spot featuring Carl Weathers. Leading up to this weekend’s big game between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers, the sports betting company has been airing teasers for its big game spot that stars Weathers alongside retired NFL tight end Rob Gronkowski.
The teasers follow the NFL champion as he gears up for the Kick of Destiny 2, where viewers can watch him attempt to make a 25-yard field goal, and America can bet on if he either misses or makes it.
Last year, Gronkowski missed the kick, but in the teasers, he gets some encouragement from Weathers in the teaser where he scoops up the NFL analyst on a motorcycle with a sidecar.
Some Changes To Commercial Will Be Made
Variety reports that after initially saying it would make adjustments to the commercial, FanDuel says it will run the ads and make some changes so that it will be appropriate. “The family has been very supportive that they would still like to see Carl in the work,” Andrew Sneyd, FanDuel’s executive vice president of marketing, said after consulting with Weather’s family.
Sneyd continues, “We need to change what we are doing in the Bowl. The live event itself carries forward and as is. Rob will kick the field goal, and he will be even more inspired to make it. He really enjoyed meeting Carl and found him to be such an optimistic and energetic person.”
“We had built a master. One is an edit if he makes the kick, and we have an edit if he misses. That content we had in those masters wouldn’t be appropriate for us to do anymore,” Sneyd adds. “Since the news of Carl’s passing came, we have been working with editors to help us get back to something that does make sense.” FanDuel, he adds, is in contact with Weathers’ family “to make sure they are comfortable.”
He continues, “Such work has been difficult. We have been viewing edits through tears. We really enjoyed the short time we had to work with him. He’s a wonderful man, and he genuinely is an inspiration and had such a positive outlook on the world. We want to make sure we try to meet this moment with the respect it deserves.”
Tony Romo is hoping to hear wedding bells in Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce‘s future — and not just because it would rectify the moment he accidentally said the pop star was the tight end’s “wife” during an NFL broadcast.
While talking to reporters at a pre-Super Bowl CBS Sports press event, the sports commentator said, “I root for them to get married,” referring to the power couple. “‘Cause they’re not married, guys. I was joking,” he also quipped, per Entertainment Tonight.
“It shows you Taylor’s impact just on human beings and society, just that anything she says resonates,” he continued. “I just sit there and, you know, think about her gift and her ability to create and make something that so many people love, and I think it’s just really unique to find or be around anybody on Earth who has the ability to have a talent at that level. And so Travis has the same thing as a tight end, and you know, I root for them. I like them both and I think they’re both amazing people.”
He shared the same sentiment when speaking with The Sporting Tribune‘s Arash Markazi.
“The passion of this sport and seeing him go out and do what he loves and be great at it is a joyful thing, the same way that he’s going to watch her. And I think that in a perfect world, they wouldn’t have all of the media attention around it,” he said, speaking about the couple’s high-profile romance. “But the truth is, they’re just too dominant at what they do, they’re both special people.”
“I love their hearts,” Romo continued. “I think they’re both incredible human beings who are super genuine, treat people the same no matter what walk of life you’re in, and you root for people like that … I think they’re two really unique, special people.”
Some have compared Travis Kelce dating Taylor Swift to Tony Romo dating dating Carrie Underwood and later Jessica Simpson so I asked Romo if he could describe what it’s like being in a high-profile relationship like that. pic.twitter.com/D3a9somPOT
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) February 6, 2024
Romo’s remarks come a couple months after he made headlines for mistakenly referring to the “Anti-Hero” singer as No. 87’s spouse while doing on-air commentary at the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Buffalo Bills match in December. “As you see Kelce’s wife, Taylor Swift, in the audience,” said the retired quarterback during the game, cameras cutting to the pop star sitting in the crowd at Arrowhead Stadium.
He quickly corrected himself at the time, adding, “I’m sorry, girlfriend.”
In January, he crossed paths with Swift at the AFC Championship game, where Kansas City defeated the Baltimore Ravens and earned their ticket to the Super Bowl for the second year in a row. While down on the field celebrating with Chiefs Kingdom after their victory, Romo exchanged compliments and a fist-bump with the 14-time Grammy winner.
Following a two-week break, the Chiefs will compete for the Vince Lombardi trophy against the San Francisco 49ers Sunday (Feb. 11) at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium. Fans are hopeful Swift will be in attendance to see the season through, although she does have a string of Eras Tour shows scheduled in Tokyo just before the big game.
And while Romo — along with millions of Swifties, probably — is hopeful that Kelce will pop the question soon, the offensive lineman did hint that an engagement isn’t in his near future. “I’m focused on getting this [Super Bowl] ring,” he said during a Monday (Feb. 5) press conference. “That’s all my mind is focused on right now.”
As Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce‘s relationship continues to heat up, fans are hoping for wedding bells in the future. However, as he gears up for Super Bowl XVIII, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end somewhat addressed engagement rumors during a press conference on Monday (Feb. 5). “I’m focused on getting this ring,” he said, […]
Howard Stern is loving how much the NFL has become NFL (Taylor’s Version) as Taylor Swift continues to support her boyfriend Travis Kelce at Kansas City Chiefs games. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news “I like when they cut to Taylor Swift,” Stern noted during his SiriusXM […]
With a chance to win the NFL’s biggest prize, and doing so with Taylor Swift at his side, Travis Kelce is a guy with it all going for him. The football star’s good fortune doesn’t end there; he’s had a preview of Swift’s forthcoming album, The Tortured Poets Department, which he critiques as “unbelievable” and world-beating.
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During her night of domination at the 2024 Grammy Awards at Crypto.com Arena on Sunday (Feb. 4) in Los Angeles, where she made history by collecting a fourth career album of the year award, Swift surprised everyone in the room – and the millions watching on around the world – when she announced The Tortured Poets Department, her 11th studio album.
Kelce, as you would expect, has had a listen. “I have heard some of it yes and it’s unbelievable. I can’t wait for her to shake up the world when it finally drops,” he told “Extra’s” Jenny Taft on the field at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas for Super Bowl LVIII Opening Night.
The 34-year-old tight end reacted to his girlfriend’s bumper Grammys, where she extended her career tally to 14 wins, remarking, “She’s unbelievable, she’s re-writing the history books herself. I told her, ‘I’ll have to hold up my end of the bargain and bring home some hardware too.’”
Whatever happens this weekend, the Swifties’ support has been a fun experience, Kelce explains. “I just go out there and have fun,” he says. “Taylor has an unbelievable fan base that follows her and supports her throughout her life. It’s been fun to gather the Swifties into the Chiefs kingdom and open them up to the football world.”
The 6’5″ athlete has a chance to book-end a glittering week for the power couple when his Kansas City Chiefs take on the San Francisco 49ers on Feb. 11 for the Super Bowl.
Swift used the platform of the Grammys to give fans a jaw-drop moment. “This is my 13th Grammy – which is my lucky number, I don’t know if I’ve ever told you that,” she quipped from the podium as she won the Grammy for best pop vocal album. “I want to say thank you to the members of the Recording Academy for voting this way. I know the way the Recording Academy voted is a direct reflection of the passion of the fans. So I want to say thank you to the fans by telling you a secret that I’ve been keeping from you for the last two years, which is that my brand new album comes out April 19. It’s called The Tortured Poets Department. I’m gonna go and post the cover right now backstage. Thank you, I love you.”
The Tortured Poets Department is scheduled to arrive on April 19.