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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Sport
Hunter Felt (now) and Bryan Armen Graham (earlier)

Super Bowl: San Francisco 49ers 20-31 Kansas City Chiefs – as it happened

And the Guardian’s guide to the ads of Super Bowl LIV ...

Updated

Final thoughts

It’s a rare thing when a game that looks like it should be a thrilling, close one actually ends up living up to the hype but I think it’s fair to say that Super Bowl LIV absolutely did.

That will do it from us here at the Guardian. Thanks to everybody for following along with us, particularly everybody who contributed. We’ll have more coverage of the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory over the San Francisco 49ers over the upcoming days.

Also make sure you read the Guardian’s game report, which is now up:

Updated

The interview with the Chiefs’ Kyle Shanahan is, uh, rather more subdued than the interviews with Andy Reid. It’s a rough way for the 49ers season to end as they were probably the best all-around team in the league and seemed to be in control late in today’s game. The difference, as predicted way back during the start of this liveblog, was that the other side had Mahomes.

Email from Matthew Johnston:

Pat Mahomes is like the “anti-Brady” hahah

And thank god for that. So happy the chiefs won it the way they have been playing all year. Andy Reid deserves this .

Thanks

It was a thrilling game,

Well, at least he got it right the second time?

And now he knows

Patrick Mahomes is named Super Bowl MVP

And we’re here for the presentation of the Vince Lombardi trophy. Roger Goodell hands the trophy the Hunt family, noting that it’s the first time the Chiefs have won the Super Bowl in 50 years. Andy Reid gets a turn at the microphone, as does Patrick Mahomes who is the MVP of Super Bowl LIV.

This is why I feel like this wasn’t really a choke from San Francisco: these Chiefs are built to make huge comebacks. They can score fast, Mahomes can break an opposing defense on a single throw, and they know it. There’s no panic with them.

You be the judge

Judging from my inbox, there will be some controversy coming out of this Super Bowl, at least from 49ers fans.

Email from Gary Harley on the key Damien Williams touchdown:

What a ridiculous game!!! That guy was clearly in touch with one foot after another and in any proper sport he would have been in touch and no touchdown!

You know what, I feel that it’s less that the 49ers lost it and more that the Chiefs made a comeback.

And now we have the on field celebrations, as the players frolic in the confetti and get their swear words muted by the network. FOX immediately goes to Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, as well they should, as the likely Hall of Famer has just won his first Super Bowl. Finally.

Chiefs win!

49ers 20-31 Chiefs, FINAL

Mahomes throws the ball long to eat up the rest of the clock and that will do it. The Kansas City Chiefs have won the Super Bowl!

49ers 20-31 Chiefs, :05, 4th quarter

With five seconds left, Andy Reid takes a timeout. No complaining about time management here.

49ers 20-31 Chiefs, :57, 4th quarter

It feels kind of silly to keep on playing here, but rules are rules. The 49ers start their final, futile drive at their own 25 after a touchback. Garoppolo’s first down pass is ruled incomplete, just barely not a fumble. Garoppolo’s next pass is picked off by Kansas City’s Kendall Fuller who effectively puts the 49ers out of their misery.

Touchdown! 49ers 20-31 Chiefs, 1:12, 4th quarter

The Chiefs are at the San Francisco 42. They hand it to Williams, here to eat up the clock mostly. He picks up four yards. The 49ers take a timeout. On 2nd & 6, Williams gets the ball again and, oh boy, he takes it all the way to the end zone for a touchdown that will end San Francisco’s chances. The extra point is good, but all that’s going to do is decide the final margin.

Updated

49ers 20-24 Chiefs, 1:25, 4th quarter

I just now realized that this could all end up coming down to clock management within the last two minutes of the game. Just keeping that Andy Reid Narrative alive.

Garoppolo finds Bourne who picks up 16 yards and gets to the Chiefs’ 49 yard line. They’re making progress. Garoppolo’s next pass… is incomplete to Bourne. And the next one is nearly intercepted. It’s 3rd & 10 at the Kansas City 49. Garoppolo tries to answer Mahomes with a long pass of his own, but it’s just over a running Sanders’s head. 4th & 10, Garoppolo gets sacked and Kansas City takes over downs.

49ers 20-24 Chiefs, 2:00, 4th quarter

1st & 15, Garoppolo finds Kittle for a 8 yard gain. That takes us to the two minute warning, with the 49ers at their own 35 and essentially needing a touchdown on this drive.

We told you that this was going to be a good one.

49ers 20-24 Chiefs, 2:02, 4th quarter

The 49ers are under pressure now. James Jr returns the kick to the San Francisco 15. They’ve got some ground to make up here as the Chiefs fans who have made the trip to Miami start into their chants. Mostert gets the ball on first down, as always, and he picks up 17 yards. A good start for the 49ers’ drive.

And on the next play, there’s a false start on the 49ers, that’s a 5 yard penalty which they really didn’t need.

Touchdown! 49ers 20-24 Chiefs, 2:44, 4th quarter

49ers 20-24 Chiefs, 2:44, 4th quarter

The ruling on the field stands! Touchdown, Chiefs! They’re on top! Now, a key extra point attempt… which is good. A field goal will do nothing for the 49ers.

Updated

Touchdown under review

49ers 20-17 Chiefs, 2:44, 4th quarter

Holy cow! Mahomes goes deep again and it’s a pass to Watkins for 38 yards. They’re at the San Francisco 10. It’s safe to say that they have momentum here. 1st & goal, Mahomes picks up six yards. 2nd & goal, Mahomes loses a yard. It’s 3rd and goal, can the 49ers force a field goal…

NO! It looks like Williams makes it into the end zone for a touchdown! Maybe! The officials are going to review it.

49ers 20-17 Chiefs, 4:27, 4th quarter

The Chiefs will start on their own 35 after the 49ers punt. Mahomes finds Hill for a 5 yard gain. Very next play, Mahomes escapes defenders and finds Kelce for a first down. Chiefs are at their own 49. 1st & 10, Hill picks up 3 yards and they’re in San Francisco territory.

49ers 20-17 Chiefs, 5:18, 4th quarter

Mostert continues to get his work in here. He picks up five yards on first down. On 2nd & 5, Garoppolo’s pass is batted down by Kansas City’s Chris Jones. 3rd & 5, Garoppolo throws under heavy pressure… and the ball lands in no man’s land. Exactly the three and out that the Chiefs needed.

49ers 20-17 Chiefs, 6:06, 4th quarter

The 49ers will start at their 20, it’s time for the Kansas City defense to try to come up with another stop here.

Touchdown! 49ers 20-17 Chiefs, 6:13, 4th quarter

The Chiefs get stuck on the San Francisco 21 and Mahomes’s next three passes are all incomplete BUT there’s pass interference on the defense the third time around! That will put them at the 49ers’ one yard line! Mahomes finds Kelce who takes it into the end zone. Touchdown!

The extra point is good and this is a three-point game!

Updated

49ers 20-10 Chiefs, 7:13, 4th quarter

And the call is indeed overturned. It’s 3rd & 15 instead. Mahomes is in a tight spot, so he decides to just launch one to Hill, and I mean launch! It’s a 44 yar completion and the Chiefs are at the Kanas City 35. THAT is what Mahomes has been doing these past two seasons.

49ers 20-10 Chiefs, 7:17, 4th quarter

The Chiefs are hit with an untimely false start penalty, which pushes them back five yards. Mahomes’s first down throw… is to nowhere. 2nd & 15… Oh now that’s what the Chiefs need right here, it’s a pass to Hill for a first down.

…Or is it? The 49ers challenge the ruling on the field, thinking that Hill actually trapped the ball. Replay suggests that they might be right.

49ers 20-10 Chiefs, 7:33, 4th quarter

Williams picks up a few yards on first down. It’s 2nd & 6, Mahomes scrambles again and he finds a first down. He’s doing more with his legs than his arm, it seems. His next throw, is very low to Tyreek Hill and that’s almost—but not quite—a first down. 2nd & 1, they’re going fast here, Williams picks up a few yards and a new set of downs.

Roger Kirkby:

The Chiefs have a guy on their team who has a beard longer than Mahomes longest pass to his own guys.

They’re going to need some Mahomes Magic if they want to pull off this comeback and they’re running out of time.

49ers 20-10 Chiefs, 8:53, 4th quarter

Hardman makes a fair catch at the Kansas City 17. They’ll have a lot of ground to cover here.

49ers 20-10 Chiefs, 9:31, 4th quarter

1st & 10, Mostert picks up just a yard. 2nd & 9, Garoppolo throws incomplete. It’s 3rd & 9 and the Chiefs desperately need a stop right here, right now.

And here’s a flag. False start on the 49ers, which means a five yard penalty. It’s now 3rd & 14 , which will make this somewhat easier for the Kansas City defense. Garoppolo tries to scramble and is pushed out of bounds before getting a first down. The 49ers have to punt, and the Chiefs have a chance at a do-over here.

49ers 20-10 Chiefs, 11:18, 4th quarter

If the 49ers end up winning, that interception will be remembered as the key play. The Chiefs looked to be in position to score and instead San Francisco has the ball back on its 20. Mostert picks up six yards on first down. Expect a lot of running from here on out.

49ers 20-10 Chiefs, 11:57, 4th quarter

Mahomes unleashes a risky flow, he’s lucky that it only falls incomplete. On 2nd & 10, his aim is much better, he finds Hill for a 14 yard gain. They’re in San Francisco territory now. On 1st & 10, Mahomes finds Williams who is able to avoid defenders and pick up 13 yards. They’re at the San Francisco 27.

Well, very briefly. DeForest Buckner gets a huge sack on Mahomes, pushing him back nine yards. On 2nd & 19, Mahomes scrambles—he’s quite good at that—and picks up 13. That sack could loom large if they can’t convert here on 3rd & 6.

Oh no, Mahomes’s pass to Hill is picked off by Tarvarius Moore! Disaster for Kansas City!

Gary J. Byrne:

Hey Hunter,

Why is the KC Chiefs Safety #32 Tyrann Mathieu allowed to wear yellow luminous gloves... the same colour as the officials’ penalty flags. Very confusing, especially this late at night

Cheers,Gar.

Well, what other color gloves would you wear if your nickname was the Honey Badger?

49ers 20-10 Chiefs, end of the 3rd quarter

Mahomes targets Watkins and that’s nothing doing. He does find Kelce on second down, but Kelce can’t quite pick up the first down. They try it again on third down and this time Kelce converts as time runs out in the third quarter. The Chiefs will be at their own 46 to start the fourth quarter.

49ers 20-10 Chiefs, 1:47, 3rd quarter

The Chiefs will have to play comeback here, but the good news for them is that they’re the masters at doing so. Just ask the Houston Texans. On 1st & 10, Mahomes has to throw his pass away thanks to the 49ers’ defense. 2nd and 10, they opt to go back to the run, with Williams picking up five. 3rd & 5, the Chiefs are in danger of a three-and-out. Mahomes, again under pressure, scrambles and…. Just makes a first down.

Things can change quickly in the NFL

Touchdown! 49ers 20-10 Chiefs, 2:35, 3rd quarter

Mostert picks up two yards and Garoppolo’s next throw to Sanders lands somewhere in no man’s land. Sanders gets grabbed on the play, but there’s no holding call on this play. Instead, it’s 3rd & 8. Garoppolo finds Kendrick Bourne for a 26 yard gain and they’re at the San Francisco 11.

Garoppolo goes to Juszczyk who almost makes it into the end zone for the second time tonight. Instead, it’s first and goal and the 49ers give it to Mostert who punches it in. The extra point is good and the interception proves incredibly costly for the Chiefs.

Updated

49ers 13-10 Chiefs, 5:03, 3rd quarter

So far, this game is playing towards San Francisco’s strengths. They have the ball here at their own 45.

Garoppolo with a big throw here on first down, a 16-yard completion to Samuel. They’re on the Kansas City 39.

Interception! 49ers 13-10 Chiefs, 5:23, 3rd quarter

Mahomes-to-Kelce gives them four yards, but on 2nd & 6, Williams can’t advance. There’s a chance here for San Francisco for a stop, but Mahomes finds Watkins again for a nine-yard gain. The Chiefs stay alive.

1st & 10 on the Kansas City 41, Williams picks up five yards. Oof, Nick Bosa with a great play to knock the ball out of Mahomes’s hands. The quarterback recovers the ball and keeps possession, but that’s a six-yard loss. On the next play, Mahomes lets it fly downfield …

... right into the hands of San Francisco’s Fred Warner! A huge interception!

Updated

49ers 13-10 Chiefs, 9:03, 3rd quarter

First Chiefs possession of the half. Hardman goes off for a 15 yard gain but it’s cut in half thanks to a holding penalty. The Chiefs start on their own 9. Mahomes with a nifty throw finds Watkins for a 19 yard gain. The Chiefs can get back yards quite quickly.

Field goal! 49ers 13-10 Chiefs, 9:29, 3rd quarter

49ers form in shotgun, he gets Coleman for four yards. On 2nd & 6, Garoppolo targets Juszczyk again, it worked pretty well last time, and this time around it’s a 14 yard gain that brings them to the Kansas city 32. Kittle gets them another 5 yards, no flag here. On 2nd & 5, Mostert can’t get anything, however, and Garoppolo’s next pass gets them 3 yards when they needed 5.

They settle for a 42-yard field goal, which is good.

Updated

Note: We should boycott every movie that uses a “spooky, slowed down” version of a pop song in their advertising campaign just so the trailer-makers come up with a second idea.

49ers 10-10 Chiefs, 13:37, 3rd quarter

Garoppolo goes to Sanders in two consecutive throws, getting the 49ers to their 36. On 1st & 10, Samuel gets the ball and he runs for a solid 14 yards. The rookie now has the most rushing yards by a wide receiver (53) in Super Bowl history.

Meanwhile, Breeland, who made a key interception in the first half for Kansas City, is down.

Deebo Samuel
San Francisco rookie Deebo Samuel has set a Super Bowl record for rushing yards by a wide receiver. Photograph: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Updated

Start of the second half!

49ers 10-10 Chiefs, 15:00, 3rd quarter

James Jr returns the kickoff to the San Francisco 16 to start the second half.

Email from John Rogers:

Hi Hunter,

Hello from Galway.

I’m with my kid all day tomorrow and he gets up EARLY so you know I should hit the hay but I can’t and I won’t.

Regards,

John Rogers.

PS That was a cracking halftime show.

It didn’t make me want to throw the remote in disgust, which is about as high of a compliment I can give a halftime show.

And the awkward transition from a high-octane, heavily choreographed musical medley to aging commentators talking football. A Super Bowl tradition.

Roger Kirkby:

Oh, oh oh my friends, the speed of the first half means TV will want their pound of flesh, and a pint of blood nearest the heart in the second half. And you thought you were going to bed early. Ha ha.

I am basically assuming that this one is going to overtime, to be honest. I am pro-brevity and take no pleasure in reporting this.

Does... Does Jennifer Lopez age?

Jennifer Lopez
Singer Jennifer Lopez performs during the Super Bowl half-time show at Hard Rock Stadium. Photograph: Elsa/Getty Images

Updated

Email from Nicholas Alvarez:

Hello Hunter, Greetings from Portugal. Long time Niners fan here...that was a bullshit call from the ump for the big pass to George Kittle just before the end of the half....robbed us of three points. Tight game...low scoring. I still think the niners can do it...just keep the rush going on Mahomes and get the running game sparked up. Last team to score wins this one. Great game!!!!

It’s true, if the officials don’t call pass interference on Kittle, the 49ers had a real good shot at a successful field goal attempt. From my vantage, it was the correct call but not necessarily one that gets called 10 out of every 10 times.

Email from J.R. in Illinois:

Hey Hunter,

I’m not a football fan but I am a massive Syd Barrett fan and was very surprised to see him mentioned earlier in this MBM. I’ve spent the entire first half puzzling over what “the most Syd Barrett National Anthem ever?” might mean but for the life of me I have no idea. Little help?

-- J.R. in Illinois

I would be lying if I said I fully got it myself, but I will note that Shakira’s Whenever, Wherever, which she just performed as part of her Super Bowl medley, starts with a direct quote from Pink Floyd’s Shine On You Crazy Diamond. Which is, of course, about Syd Barrett.

So perhaps it was a message from the future.

Updated

The halftime show will be starting shortly. For in-depth coverage, I would recommend following the Guardian’s No Football Liveblog.

Email from Dirk van der Merwe:

Hi Hunter

Following your play by play.. but was wondering: why are they playing in Miami?

Dirk - Hertfordshire UK

The Super Bowl is played on a neutral site that is chosen in advance (although, in theory, if the Miami Dolphins won the AFC they would have lucked into a home game but, uh, that wasn’t going to happen). They typically try to pick warm weather locations, because, well, it’s start of February. So, this year it was Miami.

Well it’s looking like this is going to be a close one. Fast-paced too. I’d say this one looks likely to be entertaining from here on out.

Now watch Mahomes like throw four unanswered touchdowns to start the third quarter.

Half-time: 49ers 10-10 Chiefs

Garoppolo finds Jeff Wilson for a 20-yard gain, but there are only 14 seconds left in the half. San Francisco quickly takes a timeout. Garoppolo throws a ball super, super deep to Kittle but he gets called for pass interference for pushing off on a defender. So that will do it, this game’s going to be tied heading into halftime.

George Kittle
George Kittle of the San Francisco 49ers makes a reception that’s called back for pass interference. Photograph: Al Bello/Getty Images

Updated

The best thing about being on liveblog duty during the Super Bowl is being too busy to spend practically any time paying close attention to these awful, awful ads.

49ers 10-10 Chiefs, :19, 2nd quarter

Mostert picks up three yards. It’s 2nd & 7, Mostert gets an additional two yards.

Kansas City will use its first timeout.

49ers 10-10 Chiefs, :59, 2nd quarter

The 49ers will start at their own 20 with all three timeouts. Can they get an extra score here before heading into the half?

49ers 10-10 Chiefs, :59, 2nd quarter

… and as soon as I say that, the 49ers come up with a huge defensive stop, dropping Hardman to a six yard loss. On 3rd & 14, they limit Williams to a single run and they have forced a punt here.

Updated

They’re really carving up the defense right now. The tempo doesn’t help either, it’s sometimes exhausting to keep up with this offense just as a blogger. I can’t imagine as a defender.

49ers 10-10 Chiefs, 2:00, 2nd quarter

Hardman returns the 49ers’ kickoff to their own 19, but he gets hit hard on the play. He’ll be on the sidelines for the moment. Meanwhile, Mahomes goes back to work, finding Damien Williams for a too-easy first down. Then we see our first Blake Bell appearance in the box score as he takes a Mahomes pass to the Kansas City 38.

2nd & 1 is no challenge for Damien Williams, who picks up the first down and more. They’re just absolutely relentless, this bunch. Mahomes finds old friend Tyreek Hill for another 10 yards and Williams picks up another two yards right before the two-minute warning.

Updated

Touchdown! 49ers 10-10 Chiefs, 5:05, 2nd quarter

The 49ers are sticking with what’s working. Mostert gets 11 yards and Tevin Coleman goes off on a fantastic long run to the Chiefs 26. Garoppolo throws to Samuel for an additional 15 yards.

And, wow, Garoppolo makes a short pass to the fullback Kyle Juszczyk, who goes off on a breathtaking run before leaping into the end zone, almost tumbling. That’s San Francisco’s first touchdown of the game! Gould’s extra point is good and we have a tied game!

Updated

49ers 3-10 Chiefs, 7:12, 2nd quarter

James Jr. takes the Butker kickoff to the San Francisco 20, so the 49ers drive will start there. It does indeed look like the 49ers are going to be running here, at least to start things, as Mostert gets two straight carries that take him to their own 30 and gives them a first down.

Garoppolo passes to Samuel, who takes off after the catch and gets to the San Francisco 46. This is promising here.

Email from Roger Kirkby:

Run established by both teams, are we about to see a lot of air ball, or much of the same? If it’s run, it’s a waste of two good arms.

It does feel like both teams are concentrating a bit more on the ground game than usual. Of course considering Garoppolo’s last throw, maybe SF will end up being a little gun-shy.

Field goal! 49ers 3-10 Chiefs, 9:32, 2nd quarter

The Chiefs are at the San Francisco 16 with a chance to really hurt the 49ers’ chances. Mahomes’s first down pass is incomplete. Williams gets 3 yards. On 3rd & 7, Tarvarius Moore gets to the quarterback whose throw is incomplete. The 49ers force a field goal attempt, which is about the best they could hope for there.

Harrison Butker makes the 31-yard field goal to extend the Kansas City lead, however.

Harrison Butker
Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker (7) kicks a field goal to give Kansas City a 10-3 lead over the San Francisco 49ers in the second quarter. Photograph: Steve Mitchell/USA Today Sports

Updated

49ers 3-7 Chiefs, 11:04, 2nd quarter

The Chiefs try to piece together another first-down run, but they end up at a 4th & 1 situation. No matter, Reid’s going for it again. Mahomes finds Williams and he gets three yards and another first down.

49ers 3-7 Chiefs, 12:47, 2nd quarter

Now that’s a Mahomes throw. He throws a 28-yard completion to Sammy Watkins. They’re already at the San Francisco 28. Except, they get called for a false start, that’s a five yard penalty. So, it’s 1st & 15.

No, never mind, the 49ers defense commits a neutral zone infraction, and that wipes away their five yard penalty. No harm, two fouls. As it were.

Well, he’s got another chance to impress here. The officials have taken a look at the interception and have confirmed it.

Interception! 49ers 3-7 Chiefs, 14:08, 2nd quarter

The 49ers are on their own 43 (which is a weird thing to say outloud). Garoppolo passes to Samuel, but the Chiefs defense forces a two-yard loss. Garoppolo throws under pressure on the next play and that’s… that’s a mistake. Kansas City’s Bashaud Breeland is there to make the interception and take it to the Chiefs 44.

You do not want to give this Kansas City offense extra possessions.

Updated

We’ll see if the 49ers change their strategy here on this drive (although that last pass was pretty nifty).

Updated

49ers 3-7 Chiefs, end of the 1st quarter

The Chiefs’ kickoff bounces into the end zone and that will be a touchback. Garoppolo decides to show off his arm on first down, throwing a 18-yard pass to Emmanuel Sanders and that will do it for this fast-paced first quarter.

Oh here’s the infamous Tom Brady commercial that he teased early this week. “I’m not going anywhere,” he says, while plugging Hulu.

So no retirement I’m guessing.

Touchdown! 49ers 3-7 Chiefs, :31, 1st quarter

It looks like the ball came loose right before Mahomes picked up the first down. On 4th & 1 at the 5, Andy Reid decides they’re going for it. Williams gets to the San Francisco 1. That’s a first down. They give the ball to Darwin Thompson, who can’t punch it in. So we’re second and goal… Mahomes decides to take it himself and he makes it. Touchdown, Chiefs! The fourth down decision pays off.

The extra point is good.

Patrick Mahomes
The Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes runs for the game’s first touchdown. Photograph: Shannon Stapleton/Reuters

Updated

49ers 3-0 Chiefs, 2:22, 1st quarter

The 49ers manage to force a 3rd & 11 thanks to a sack on Mahomes and an incomplete pass. That’s when Mahomes decides to take care of business himself, scrambling all the way to the San Francisco 3… but the ball goes out of bounds a bit before that. We’ll see where the officials spot it.

Meanwhile, San Francisco’s Jimmie Ward is hurt on the play.

49ers 3-0 Chiefs, 3:32, 1st quarter

Now this is more like the Chiefs offense. They’re moving with lightning speed. Williams goes off for 14 yards to get to the San Francisco 28. Hill picks up a few more yards and on 2nd & 7, Mahomes gets a free play thanks to a defensive penalty and cashes it in, finding Kelce for 11 yards.

They decline the penalty.

49ers 3-0 Chiefs, 5:22, 1st quarter

Damien Williams picks up two with ease and there’s Kansas City’s first first down. Mahomes goes with Hill again for eight yards. On 2nd & 2, Mahomes throws a pass way too high and there’s a flag on the play. It’s on the offense and it’s declined. On 3rd & 2, Williams grabs 5 yards and that’s a first down.

The Chiefs are at midfield here… and they’re past midfield. Mahomes finds Travis Kelce who gets to the San Francisco 42.

49ers 3-0 Chiefs, 7:57, 1st quarter

Mitch Wishnowsky’s kick goes in the endzone for a touchback, so the Chiefs’ second drive will start at their own 25. Mahomes passes to Tyreek Hill who immediately nets them nine yards.

Email from Eve Adams:

Mr Felt - as a true-blue, born and raised, Midwestern American who would rather watch paint dry than what we call “football,” I’m nonetheless supporting the 49ers, simply because Garoppolo’s from a suburb up the road from mine. Mr Dony might consider doing the same. Or, as when I go to the horse track, pick the team whose silks you like.

Best regards,

Eve, somewhere near Chicago

Well that was a pretty solid start for San Francisco. The defense got a three-and-out and the 49ers were able to score on their first drive. They might feel like they left points on the board by not punching it into the end zone here, however.

Field goal! 49ers 3-0 Chiefs, 7:57, 1st quarter

So, it’s 3rd & 10 and… there’s a flag on the play. It’s offside on the defense, that’s a five yard penalty so it’s now 3rd & 5… but Garoppolo’s pass to Kittle gets tipped. It’s fourth down here, so they’ll settle for a field goal. Robbie Gould’s 38-yard attempt is good and the 49ers strike first.

Robbie Gould
San Francisco kicker Robbie Gould kicks a field goal to get the Niners on the board in the first quarter. Photograph: Steve Mitchell/USA Today Sports

Updated

49ers 0-0 Chiefs, 8:42, 1st quarter

49ers keep driving., Coleman gets an additional yard and then Samuel scrambles for a first down. They’re at the 25. Raheem Mostert, who is having himself a postseason, only manages two yards which are instantly negated when Samuel gets pushed for a loss.

49ers 0-0 Chiefs, 11:51, 1st quarter

The Chiefs receiver muffs the punt, which is a near disaster. Luckily, they maintain possession. They start at their own 18. Tevin Coleman gets taken for a yard loss on first down. However, Garoppolo finds George Kittle for 11 yards and then Deebo Samuel gets a huge gain, 32 yards, and it’s a first down at the Chiefs 40.

On 1st & 10, Coleman picks up seven yards and they’re at the 33.

49ers 0-0 Chiefs, 14:08, 1st quarter

Damien Williams picks up seven yards on first down. Patrick Mahomes tries to find Williams on second down, but he’s stymied by Nick Bosa. It’s 3rd & 3, Mahomes is incomplete and that’s a three-and-out for the 49ers defense. Exactly what you want if you’re SF. Chiefs punt.

Opening kick!

49ers 0-0 Chiefs, 14:54, 1st quarter

The 49ers kick off. Mecole Hardman takes it to the Chiefs 26. We have actual football!

Mecole Hardman
Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman (17) returns the opening kickoff. Photograph: Steve Mitchell/USA Today Sports

Updated

Email from Joe Pearson:

At least the man who presented the coin was a member of the Tuskegee Airmen. Look it up.

This whole thing is so clearly the NFL desperately trying to cover itself in the American Flag after the players kneeling controversy of the last few years. It’s ridiculously blatant.

Coin toss

And they throw in a group of 100 year old veterans for the coin toss.

Yeah, we’re definitely not going to hear any mention of Colin Kaepernick tonight.

49ers call tails. It’s tails, San Francisco will defer.

I enjoyed the fact that it was quick and to the point.

National anthem

The sign that we’re almost there, the singing of the Star Spangled Banner. Demi Lovato is doing the honors and I’m giving her 10/10 because I’m always rooting for her.

Demi Lovato
Demi Lovato performs the national anthem before Super Bowl LIV. Photograph: David J Phillip/AP

Updated

Yolanda Adams is up to sing America the Beautiful with a children’s choir because apparently there hasn’t been enough over-the-top gestures towards patriotism in the broadcast already.

She’s got a heck of a voice though, so I can’t complain too much.

Yolanda Adams
Yolanda Adams sings America the Beautiful before Sunday’s kickoff. Photograph: Mike Blake/Reuters

Updated

Email from Matthew Dony:

Ok. I don’t know much about the sport, and I’ve not had many chances to get into it, but I’ve drunk a decent amount of wine and I’m looking forward to the game. Who should I support? On a side note, that stadium is absolutely beautiful.

Matt Dony

As someone who always instantly develops rooting interest in games where I should be neutral: My recommendation is just follow the action and your brain will find some reason to support one team over the other.

The game itself is getting closer, but here’s a friendly reminder that the game itself is only part of the whole Super Bowl experience. The Guardian has a liveblog running all night long here for the ads, the halftime show and all that fun stuff! Follow it here:

And we’re into team introductions, courtesy of The Rock. Because why not?

I admire the attempt, but the thing about celebrating the top 100 players in NFL history in like seven minutes is that it’s basically just rattling off names.

Speaking of Bill Belichick, he gets some clear boos when his time comes during the never-ending roll call of NFL greats.

And now it’s the Pre-Kick rather than the Pre-Game. We’re getting there folks. We have Joe Buck and Troy Aikman doing the call which is...

Well, it is what it is, as Bill Belichick would say.

The pregame festivities continue with an on-field celebration of the NFL 100.

I have to admit that a part of me would like Andy Reid to finally win a Super Bowl. He’s a great head coach and it’s a shame if he’s remembered mainly for his late-game time management struggles.

A moment of silence for Kobe Bryant and the other eight victims in last weekend’s helicopter accident alongside NFL legend Chris Dolman, who passed away from cancer.

I love Johnny Cash as much as any human being alive, but I am really not certain that we needed to hear the entirety of “Ragged Old Flag” before this football game.

Email from Gary J. Byrne, who is also going with San Francisco:

Hey Hunter,

Patrick Mahomes is certainly a very talented QB but, he is just one man, while the Niners are the complete team. Niners to win it 30-20 in regular time.

Cheers,Gar.

Email from Ian Graham:

Another European hoping this doesn’t go to overtime because of work in the morning! Admittedly the sleep deprivation has been worth it most Superbowls of the last decade.

I feel we’ll know the result early on. If 49ers offence can’t match the Chiefs score by score they’ll be left behind by 3rd quarter. Chiefs 43-28. Mahomes legend begins. Brady forgotten.

If 49ers stick to the Chiefs or even lead at half time that defence will win it.

My gut and heart says Chiefs.

Ian.

Cork, Ireland.

Meanwhile Malcolm Henderson has the 49ers easily winning:

My forecast. 49ers 38. Chiefs 22.

Thank you.

Malcolm L Henderson

The San Francisco 49ers had a rather impressive turnaround, as the Guardian’s Oliver Connolly, who makes the argument that the 49ers have the advantage in nearly every category over the Chiefs:

Everything the Chiefs do is about Mahomes and their passing game, a terrifying supernova that’s ready to explode at any time. Only the Mahomes-led crew and the Chiefs’ special teams are a real threat. The defense has talent, but it’s more dependent on individual matchups than the Niners’ unit.

San Francisco have built the most complete roster the NFL has seen in recent years, staying true to the ideals of their general manager and coach. It will take a remarkable Mahomes performance to deny them a Championship.

The FOX pregame brings on Rob Riggle which means this is the perfect time to take a bathroom break, fix a sandwich, grab a drink, etc.

Our Tom Lutz is at Hard Rock Stadium and he brings us this report, where the jersey situation is causing more than a little confusion:

It’s a beautiful evening in Florida as the teams take to the field for the final warm-ups before kick off. An unscientific survey of jerseys on my stroll around the stadium finds that the fans are split roughly 60/40 in favour of the Chiefs. Although the fact that both teams, inconsiderately, play in red makes it tougher to tell at distance.

Email from Hal Levin:

game shmame. just show commercials for 4 hours. go 9ers!

Always a reminder that the Super Bowl is just as much a celebration of unbridled consumerism as much as it is football.

Email from Gary J Byrne:

Hey Hunter,

Which team gets to wear their favoured red jerseys this evening in Miami?

Cheers,Gar.

The Chiefs are in red & white, while the 49ers are in white & gold. Pretty snazzy, really.

Predictions

Man, this is a difficult one. This really does feel like the matchup between the two best teams in the NFL (which is not always the case when it comes to the Super Bowl). The 49ers might be a more all-rounded team, especially defensively, but the Kansas City offense can only be contained rather than completely stifled. Ultimately, I just don’t really think they have an answer if Patrick Mahomes plays up to his capabilities, so I think the Chiefs will win this one. But it won’t be a runaway, expect this to be dramatic all the way until the end. Let’s say Chiefs 31-24 49ers.

Your predictions? You can email them to us (to hunter.felt.freelance@theguardian.com) or tweet them (@HunterFelt) and we’ll include them in this liveblog.

We’re now in roughly Hour 13 of the Super Bowl pregame show. There is a reason why they spend so much time breaking down the game beforehand, and it’s pretty simple: people watch. So, we only have ourselves to blame.

The San Francisco 49ers last appeared in the Super Bowl in 2013, but don’t expect the announcers to dwell on it. As the Guardian’s Melissa Jacobs wrote earlier this week, that would involve mentioning their quarterback at the time: one Colin Kaepernick.

Nestled among this year’s silly Super Bowl prop bets – such as whether or not Jennifer Lopez will show butt cleavage during the halftime show – is a far more interesting one: will the Fox broadcast mention Colin Kaepernick’s name? Even once?

Kaepernick is relevant this year, and not just for his activities off the field. He was the 49ers quarterback the last time the team reached the Super Bowl, in 2013, and played a huge part in their success that season – it stands to reason he would be discussed when we look back at the team’s last title shot. But you’d be smart to emphatically place your money place on Kaepernick not getting a single mention on Sunday. After all, his name wasn’t uttered when 49ers running Raheem Mostert broke Kaepernick’s postseason rushing record during the NFC Championship game earlier this month, a game televised by Fox.

Preamble

Thanks Bryan!

It feels like there has been a little less buzz around the Super Bowl this year. The sports world has been reeling from the death of Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, his daughter and seven others in a helicopter crash just a week ago. (Roger Goodell has confirmed that there will be a tribute to Bryant during today’s proceedings.) The news outside of sports has also been rather heavy: there’s been impeachment, a potential global pandemic, devastating fires across the globe, etc. It feels like it’s been centuries since the conference championships.

Maybe today’s game will end up being a welcome distraction, this should be a tight matchup between two great football teams. The Kansas City Chiefs clinched the AFC by defeating an overachieving Tennessee Titans team that killed perennial Super Bowl participants in the New England Patriots and the unanimous MVP in the Baltimore Ravens’ Lamar Jackson. Kansas City will rely on Patrick Mahomes, who has already become one of the most eye-popping pass quarterbacks in NFL history, and his ridiculous number of offensive weapons. The San Francisco 49ers, who crushed the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game, might be the most well-balanced team in the league, with a defense that should prove a challenge even to Mahomes.

So here we are, the last game in the 2019-20 NFL season. If you want to join in the conversation, please send us your thoughts on all things Super Bowl related. You can tweet us at @HunterFelt or email them to hunter.felt.freelance@theguardian.com. It’s the Kansas City Chiefs vs the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. We’re set to start at 6:30pm EST, but considering all the pomp and circumstances, you probably shouldn’t take any prop bets that involve the game actually starting at that point.

That’s all from me. I’m handing off to Hunter Felt, who will take over from now through the end of the game. I’ll leave you with this shot of Kansas City quarterback Len Dawson smoking a cigarette during half-time of the very first Super Bowl back in January 1967, just because I like it. Enjoy the game, wherever you may be.

Chiefs fan Tom Pugh checks in, appropriately enough, from Amsterdam’s Red-Light District. There’s a watch party at Belushi’s and room for more if anyone happens to be in the area.

A lifelong britchief living now in Amsterdam

After plans to join hundreds of chiefs fans in London fell through - I’m heading into Amsterdam and have secured front row seats in a cool funky bar called Belushi’s in the Red Light district - not too late to join us if anyone is still looking. God I can’t take the excitement - this would be like england winning the worLS cup for me.

Might be tempting fate to bring that hoodoo into the mix, but I’m feeling the excitement.

Patrick Mahomes will become the fifth-youngest quarterback ever to start a Super Bowl today. The Kansas City phenomenon (24 years, 138 days), who’s won 27 of his 35 career starts (and never had a bad game), will look to do better than Miami’s Dan Marino (23y, 127d) in the Super Bowl after the 1984 season, Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger (23y, 340d) after 2006, Miami’s David Woodley (24y, 97d) after 1982 and the LA Rams’ Jared Goff (24y, 112d) last year, each of whom came up on the losing end.

Our Andrew Lawrence wrote about how Mahomes, whose Chiefs are favorites today, is on the verge of becoming the face of US sports.

In football, it is customary to pick the best team over the best player. And yet, for Patrick Lavon Mahomes II, many are more than willing to make an exception. Understand: there’s a reason why they call it a gridiron. The game flows in two dimensions, along an x-y plane. Young quarterbacks in particular are trained to move laterally and longitudinally along the grid to evade pressure and are dismissed as serious prospects in an instant for not adhering to a prescribed set of throwing mechanics. Keeping the arm at a 90-degree angle, tracking the elbow up and over the shoulder, setting the feet perpendicular to the target, never throwing off the back foot, etc. Mahomes? He throws overhead, side armed, damn near underhanded; he throws fadeaway passes, no-looks – and finds his man 66% of the time. And when those options are off the table? He’ll run right past you. It’s a lesson the Titans learned the hard way in the AFC Championship game. And if you weren’t rooting for them or the Chiefs, well, what else could you do but giggle? Or kick yourself if you were one of the nine teams that passed on Mahomes in the 2017 draft.

Patrick Mahomes
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes sits on the bench at Hard Rock Stadium ahead of Sunday’s meeting with the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV. Photograph: Larry W Smith/EPA

If you’re an American viewer worried about tonight’s game finishing late, spare a thought for our European friends. Here’s an email from Giovanni Pisoni, who checks in from Italy:

Hi Bryan,

the Superbowl is scheduled at an absolutely awful time for normal Monday to Friday workers, especially in this part of Europe... starts at 12:40, likely to be over at something like half four. I do want to watch it this year, but being a teacher I couldn’t go to work on two hour’s sleep, so I’m trying something different: I’m about to go and lie down next to my sleeping kids (normally good at inducing sleepiness), alarm set for 12:35, hoping to get three hours in before the game. Anyone else employing strategic plans to amend their routines either tonight or tomorrow?

Giovanni

After two straight weeks of waking up and/or staying up for Australian Open night sessions at 3am, let’s just say I can sympathize.

Kansas City Chiefs fan
A Kansas City Chiefs fan watches from the Hard Rock Stadium stands ahead of Sunday’s game. Photograph: David J Phillip/AP

The coaches carrying the 49ers and Chiefs have pulled into Hard Rock Stadium. There’s not a cloud in the sky at the moment with all signs pointing to pristine weather conditions: a forecast of about 61F (16C) at kickoff and cooling into the upper 50s as the sun goes down.

Super Bowl LIV
Fans look search for their seats ahead of Super Bowl LIV at Hard Rock Stadium. Photograph: Morry Gash/AP

In the time-honored tradition of sticking to sports, Fox’s pre-game pomp continues with Sean Hannity’s interview with Donald Trump. The embattled president, who is spending an estimated $11.2m on two half-minute advertisements during tonight’s broadcast, bemoans the suffering his family endured during his impeachment battle and says he hopes it never happens to another president again.

Trump then takes aim at Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg, who is also running two anti-Trump ads during tonight’s game, accusing the former New York City mayor (who is 5ft 8in) of making a special request for a box to stand on if he qualifies for future presidential debates. (Bloomberg’s campaign denies that and calls Trump a “liar”.)

“Why he should he get a box to stand on?” the president asks. “Why should he be entitled to that, really? Then does that mean everyone else gets a box?”

Hannity follows with an impromptu free-association exercise, during which Trump calls Joe Biden “sleepy”, Bernie Sanders “a communist”, Elizabeth Warren “a fairytale”, Hillary Clinton “a disgrace” and Nancy Pelosi “very confused” and “very nervous”.

The president is expected to host his annual Super Bowl watch party at Mar-a-Lago before returning to Washington late Sunday.

Updated

Both teams are expected to be a full strength for tonight’s game. That includes Kansas City defensive lineman Chris Jones, tight end Travis Kelce, center Austin Reiter and tight end Deon Yelder, who had been listed on the injury report but practiced on Friday, and San Francisco running back Tevin Coleman, who had been coping with a shoulder injury but expects to play.

Super Bowl LIV
A view of a Super Bowl ticket before Sunday’s game between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers at Hard Rock Stadium. Photograph: Kirby Lee/USA Today Sports

Today’s run-up

And away we go. Two hundred sixty-six games have been played and only one remains to determine the NFL championship for the 2019 season. The San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs will kick off Super Bowl LIV in roughly three and a half hours’ time to settle one of the most evenly matched title games in recent memory. The Chiefs have been installed as narrow one-and-a-half-point favorites in today’s showdown at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, marking only the fourth point spread of under two points in Super Bowl history. All signs point to a close game as San Francisco take aim at a record-tying sixth title – and Kansas City try for their first in 50 years.

Plenty of time between now and then. Here’s a look at the schedule for the extremely on-brand run-up to tonight’s kickoff (all times Eastern and apparently estimated):

  • 3pm Dan + Shay perform at NFL Tailgate Tropicale
  • 4pm Pitbull performs at NFL Tropicale
  • 4pm Michael Strahan’s exclusive sit-down interview with J-Lo and Shakira
  • 5pm DJ Khaled spins from the sidelines
  • 6pm NFL 100 All-Time Team honored
  • 6pm The Rock makes the team introductions
  • 6pm Yolanda Adams sings America the Beautiful

Bryan will be here shortly. In the meantime here is how our writers see tonight’s game playing out:

49ers 28-35 Chiefs. If anybody could slow down a healthy Patrick Mahomes, it would be this Niners defense. But I don’t think anybody can. The Chiefs edge an instant classic. Oliver Connolly

49ers 24-37 Chiefs. Consider that Mahomes has never had a bad game as a professional. I mean take a look. He’s won 27 of his 35 career starts and put up 40, 51, 28, 31, 31, 13, 24 and 32 points in the losses. San Francisco have been the class of the NFC from Week 1 and will keep within touching distance until the fourth quarter, but the most dynamic player on the field will make the throws in winning time to deliver Kansas City their first Super Bowl title in 50 years. Bryan Graham

49ers 33-31 Chiefs. Mahomes is too special to go quietly, but so many other matchups favor the Niners. They are stronger on both lines, better at running the ball and far deeper in the secondary. To beat Kansas City, though, San Francisco will need a strong showing from their own quarterback. Garoppolo has demonstrated several times already this season – most notably the Week 14 win over New Orleans – that he can offer more when needed. Nicky Bandini

Updated

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