Honestly, if you missed the first half of the NFL 2025 Super Bowl, you basically missed the whole story. Everyone expected a heavyweight fight. People were talking about the Kansas City Chiefs pulling off the first-ever "three-peat" in NFL history. It was supposed to be the coronation of a dynasty that nobody could touch.
Then the Philadelphia Eagles showed up in New Orleans and absolutely tore the script to shreds.
By the time the second quarter ended, the scoreboard at the Caesars Superdome looked like a typo: 24-0. The Eagles weren't just winning; they were systematically dismantling the most feared team in football. While the world waited for Patrick Mahomes to do "Mahomes things," Jalen Hurts and a relentless Philly defense were busy making sure that never happened.
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The Blowout That Nobody Saw Coming
Look, we've all seen the Chiefs trail in big games before. They’re the kings of the comeback. But this was different. Usually, Mahomes finds a seam, or Travis Kelce find a soft spot in the zone, and the momentum shifts.
Not this time.
The Eagles' defensive front didn't just pressure Mahomes; they lived in his personal space. He was sacked a career-high six times. Six. And the wildest part? Philadelphia didn't even have to blitz to do it. They just beat the Chiefs' offensive line straight up, over and over again.
- Final Score: Philadelphia Eagles 40, Kansas City Chiefs 22.
- The MVP: Jalen Hurts (3 total touchdowns, over 300 yards of offense).
- The Turning Point: A 38-yard pick-six by rookie Cooper DeJean that made it 31-0 in the third quarter.
The game was so lopsided that by the time the fourth quarter rolled around, Nick Sirianni was already getting the Gatorade shower. The Chiefs added some late scores to make the final margin look "respectable," but don't let the 18-point gap fool you. This was a beatdown from the opening kickoff.
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Kendrick Lamar and the Most-Watched Halftime Ever
While the game was a bit of a "car crash" for Chiefs fans, the halftime show was a certified cultural event. Kendrick Lamar didn't just perform; he took over the city of New Orleans.
There was so much drama leading up to this. People were arguing about whether Lil Wayne should have had the spot since the game was in his hometown. Kendrick basically addressed the noise without saying a word, opening with an unreleased track and then bringing out SZA, Samuel L. Jackson (dressed as Uncle Sam, no less), and Serena Williams.
The numbers are kinda staggering. Nielsen reported that the halftime show averaged 133.5 million viewers. That’s more than the game itself. When he finally played "Not Like Us," the entire Superdome was shaking. It was a moment where hip-hop felt like the undisputed center of the universe.
Why the Ratings Broke Every Record
You’d think a blowout would make people turn off their TVs. Usually, that’s exactly what happens. If it's 24-0 at halftime, people start looking for a movie to watch or go to bed early.
But the NFL 2025 Super Bowl actually set an all-time viewership record with 127.7 million average viewers. Why?
Part of it was the "hate-watch" factor. Social media was on fire with people tuning in just to see if the Chiefs would actually crumble. Then you had the Taylor Swift effect—still a massive draw for the NFL—and the presence of Donald Trump, who became the first sitting president to attend a Superbowl in person.
Also, Tubi played a huge role here. They streamed the game for free, and about 13.6 million people watched it there. It turns out that when you make the biggest game of the year accessible to people who don't have cable, they actually show up.
Tom Brady’s Broadcaster Debut on the Big Stage
This was also the first time we got to see Tom Brady call a Super Bowl from the booth. He was working alongside Kevin Burkhardt on Fox, and honestly, he was better than most people expected.
He didn't sound like a rookie.
Brady was clinical. When Mahomes was struggling to find his rhythm, Brady was able to point out exactly which defensive looks were confusing him. He wasn't afraid to be critical, either. It’s rare to hear a broadcaster call out the "Greatest of All Time" for holding the ball too long, but Brady has the rings to back it up.
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The Commercials: $8 Million for 30 Seconds
If you think your rent is high, imagine paying $8 million for 30 seconds of airtime. That was the going rate for a commercial during the NFL 2025 Super Bowl.
We didn't see as many movie trailers as usual—only a few big ones like Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning and M3GAN 2.0. Instead, the brands went heavy on humor and poking fun at themselves. Taco Bell did a whole bit mocking celebrity cameos, which was ironic considering how many celebrities were actually in the stands.
What This Means for the Future of the NFL
This game officially ended the "Three-Peat" talk and cemented the Philadelphia Eagles as a powerhouse for years to come. Jalen Hurts joined the elite company of Tom Brady and Joe Burrow as the only quarterbacks to ever take down Mahomes in the postseason.
The NFL is moving into a weird, transitionary era. We have a new "king" in the broadcast booth with Brady. We have a shifting landscape of how people watch the game via streaming. And we have a league that is clearly leaning into massive entertainment spectacles like the Kendrick Lamar show to keep people engaged even when the score is a blowout.
If you’re planning for next year, the circus moves to Santa Clara. Super Bowl LX is headed to Levi’s Stadium in 2026. If the 2025 game taught us anything, it’s that you can’t bet against the underdog—and you definitely shouldn't skip the halftime show.
Key Takeaways for Fans
- Don't ignore the defense: The Eagles proved that a dominant pass rush is still the only way to stop a generational quarterback like Mahomes.
- Watch the rookies: Cooper DeJean’s pick-six was a reminder that the draft really does matter, even for teams that are already "loaded."
- Check the streaming options: If you’re still paying for expensive packages just for the Super Bowl, remember that Tubi and other platforms are making it easier (and cheaper) to watch for free.
- Follow the money: With ad prices hitting $8 million, expect even wilder and more experimental commercials in the 2026 season as brands try to justify the spend.
The 2025 season is in the books, and while the Chiefs' hunt for history fell short, the Eagles' rise to the top of the mountain was a masterclass in modern football.