Honestly, looking back at Super Bowl LVII—the one we all just call the 2023 Super Bowl—it feels like a fever dream. We had the first pair of brothers ever facing off in a championship, a grass surface that was basically an ice rink, and Rihanna casually announcing a pregnancy while suspended hundreds of feet in the air.
It was a lot.
Most people remember the final score: Kansas City Chiefs 38, Philadelphia Eagles 35. But that number doesn't even start to explain how weird and high-stakes that night in Glendale, Arizona actually felt. It wasn't just a game; it was this collision of two 14-3 juggernauts that played out like a high-speed chess match until a single yellow flag changed everything.
The Super Bowl 2023 Holding Call: Controversy or Correct?
You can’t talk about this game without talking about "The Call."
With less than two minutes left and the game tied at 35, Patrick Mahomes threw an incomplete pass on third-and-8. It looked like the Eagles were going to get the ball back with enough time for Jalen Hurts to work some magic. Then, a flag flew. Defensive holding on James Bradberry.
Fans lost it.
People were screaming that the refs "stole" a classic finish. But here's the kicker: Bradberry actually admitted it. After the game, he straight-up said, "It was a holding. I tugged his jersey. I was hoping they would let it slide." It’s rare to see that kind of honesty in sports, but it didn't stop the internet from melting down. That penalty allowed the Chiefs to bleed the clock down to eight seconds before Harrison Butker nailed a 27-yard field goal.
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Basically, the game ended on a kneel-down and a chip shot. Kinda anti-climactic for a game that had been a literal firework show until then, right?
Why the Kelce Bowl lived up to the hype
Before the kickoff, the media was obsessed with Jason and Travis Kelce. Their mom, Donna, became the unofficial queen of the NFL with her half-Eagles, half-Chiefs jersey.
It was cute, sure.
But on the field, it was brutal. Travis did Travis things—6 catches, 81 yards, and a touchdown. Jason anchored an Eagles line that helped Jalen Hurts put up 374 total yards and four touchdowns (three rushing, one passing). Watching the brothers hug on the field afterward while blue and red confetti rained down was one of those rare "sports are actually wholesome" moments that felt genuine.
The Rihanna Factor and 121 Million Viewers
If you weren't watching for the football, you were watching for Rihanna.
She hadn't performed live in over five years, so the hype was astronomical. When she appeared on that floating platform in an all-red jumpsuit, she didn't just sing "Diamonds" and "Umbrella"—she revealed a baby bump that set Twitter on fire.
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Nielsen eventually adjusted the numbers, and it turns out her show was even bigger than the game itself. We’re talking 121 million people watching her. That actually made it the most-watched halftime show in history at the time. It’s funny because her brand, Savage X Fenty, sold shirts that said "Rihanna concert interrupted by a football game," and for a huge chunk of the audience, that was 100% the truth.
The "Sodfather" and the slippery field
One thing that doesn't get enough credit for how the game played out was the grass.
The NFL spent two years and a massive amount of money growing this special Tahoma 31 grass. George Toma, the legendary groundskeeper known as the "Sodfather," was working his final Super Bowl. But for some reason, the field was a disaster. Players were slipping everywhere. Haason Reddick and the Eagles' historic pass rush, which had 70 sacks in the regular season, couldn't get any traction. They finished the game with zero sacks.
ZERO.
If the turf had stayed under their feet, does Patrick Mahomes—who was playing on a high ankle sprain, by the way—get through that game unscathed? Probably not. It’s one of those "what ifs" that keeps Philly fans up at night.
Breaking down the Mahomes Magic
Mahomes won his second MVP that night, but it wasn't because of gaudy stats. He only threw for 182 yards.
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However, his efficiency was terrifying. He completed 21 of 27 passes. When his team was down 24-14 at halftime, he didn't panic. He came out and led scoring drives on every single possession of the second half.
The most impressive part? That 26-yard scramble on his bad ankle late in the fourth quarter. You could see him grimacing, but he gutted it out to get them into field goal range. That’s the stuff dynasties are made of. Andy Reid also deserve props for those "Corn Dog" plays—two identical touchdowns to Kadarius Toney and Skyy Moore where they used motion to completely trick the Eagles' secondary.
Philly’s defense was top-tier all year, and the Chiefs made them look like they were playing in slow motion.
Actionable Insights from the 2023 Season
If you're a student of the game or just a casual fan looking back, here’s what the 2023 Super Bowl actually taught us:
- Adaptability wins championships: The Chiefs lost Tyreek Hill before this season. Everyone said they were done. Instead, they leaned on a committee of receivers and a legendary tight end to become more unpredictable.
- The "Tush Push" is real: The Eagles proved that if you have a powerful offensive line and a strong QB like Hurts, a 1-yard gain is basically guaranteed. It changed how teams look at short-yardage situations.
- Surface matters: Never underestimate the impact of the field. A slippery turf can neutralize a world-class pass rush faster than any offensive scheme.
- Second-half adjustments are king: The Chiefs' ability to go from trailing by 10 to scoring on every second-half drive is a masterclass in coaching.
The 2023 Super Bowl wasn't perfect. It had a controversial ending and a slippery field. But in terms of pure drama, star power, and elite-level play, it's easily one of the best championship games we've seen in the modern era.
To dive deeper into the stats of that night, you can check out the official NFL Game Summary which breaks down every single play from that high-scoring thriller.