Kelce and Taylor Swift: Super Bowl's Movie-Like Finale
The NFL's Grand Romance sealed the Jackpot in Las Vegas this Sunday. The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in overtime, giving Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift, the U.S.'s couple of the moment, the fairytale ending they desired.
Locked in a lengthy embrace on the Allegiant Stadium turf, the singer and the player celebrated the third ring in five years for the Chiefs, who clinched their second consecutive Super Bowl victory by overcoming the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in overtime.
This epic win by Patrick Mahomes' squad put the finishing touch on the highly-publicized and closely followed love story between Swift and Kelce, who have made countless headlines throughout the NFL season and showcased their romance across league stadiums.
However, it wasn't an easy victory or a serene night for Kansas City fans, including the artist.
The Chiefs' offense struggled against the 49ers' defense, especially in the first half, which ended with San Francisco leading 10-3.
Frustration gripped Kelce, and the tight end provided one of the night's images when he vociferously confronted his coach, Andy Reid, in the first half.
His halftime stats reflected his mindset: targeted only once, with one reception for one yard in the first two quarters.
The Mahomes-Kelce connection was pivotal for the Chiefs' triumph and finally emerged after halftime. Although not as consistent as desired, Kelce finished the game with 93 yards and 9 receptions on 10 pass attempts.
Mahomes, on the other hand, solidified his place in the NFL pantheon with another memorable performance: 34 of 46 passing for 333 yards with two touchdown passes, including the overtime pass to Mecole Hardman that clinched the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
Swift, Star Among the Crowd
In the city of gambling, no one could predict the final outcome or who would emerge as the game's figure, but one thing was certain long before the duel began: Swift would be the star of the stands.
Was this yet another example after months of courtship between the NFL and the singer? As soon as Hardman scored the winning touchdown, CBS's broadcast immediately cut to Swift's reaction celebrating the victory.
She was also the headline before the game. There was some uncertainty about whether she would arrive in time for the match since she had a concert in Tokyo on Saturday, but ultimately (and "buying time" due to the time difference), she showed up at Allegiant Stadium just over two hours before kickoff.
Wearing black shirt and pants with a red Chiefs jacket draped over her arm, Swift arrived accompanied by her mother Andrea Swift, actress Blake Lively, and rapper Ice Spice.
The Chiefs' quarterback is not content with winning two consecutive Super Bowls and warned that they will work to be back next year.
She also carried a small football-shaped purse and a pendant, both accessories adorned with the number 87, which happens to be Kelce's jersey number with the Chiefs.
The camera repeatedly found her in tense moments, holding her breath like any other Chiefs fan or nervously biting her nails.
But she also appeared joyous, dancing to the stadium music, applauding the Chiefs' plays, or celebrating hugged with her friends.
In any case, the moment everyone was waiting for arrived in the end, when Kelce (after euphorically singing "Viva Las Vegas" on the NFL post-game stage) descended to the field and met Swift to close with an endless hug a perfect night for the couple.
