LAS VEGAS>> Live updates from the Super Bowl in Las Vegas:

49ERS ARE SUPER BOWL FAVORITES IN 2025

Despite a crushing Super Bowl loss, the 49ers are favorites to be next year’s NFL champions.

San Francisco has +450 odds to get its record-tying sixth Super Bowl title next season, per FanDuel Sportsbook.

The Chiefs, seeking a three-peat, are next at +750, followed by the Ravens (+900), Lions (+1200) and Bills (+1200).

HARDMAN SAYS HE DIDN’T REALIZE GAME WAS OVER AFTER WINNING TD

Mecole Hardman says he didn’t realize he’d won the Super Bowl after catching the game-ending touchdown in overtime.

“I blacked out man,” he said. “I forgot we actually won the game.”

Patrick Mahomes sprinted after him in the end zone and shared the good news.

“I threw a touchdown to this dude to end the game, and he looked at me,” Mahomes said. “He had no idea. I said, ‘Dude, we just won the Super Bowl.’ He had no idea. He didn’t even celebrate at the beginning.”

“It’s time to celebrate now,” Hardman said.

SUPER BOWL STAR: MAHOMES LEADS CHIEFS TO COMEBACK 25-22 WIN OVER 49ERS FOR 3RD RING

The San Francisco 49ers gave Patrick Mahomes two opportunities to drive for the winning touchdown in the Super Bowl.

They should have known — who doesn’t at this point? — that it was one too many.

TRAVIS KELCE BRINGS HOME THE HARDWARE, HOLDS UP ‘END OF THE BARGAIN’ WITH TAYLOR SWIFT

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce shook off a frustrating first half and held up his end of the bargain for girlfriend Taylor Swift.

Kelce finished with nine receptions for 93 yards, including a crucial catch on the winning drive.

TRAVIS KELCE SERENADES WITH ‘VIVA LAS VEGAS,’ THEN FINDS TAYLOR SWIFT

With girlfriend Taylor Swift watching, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce sang “Viva Las Vegas” from the awards stage.

RELATED: Taylor Swift chugs beer, cheers Chiefs at the Super Bowl

He also led his teammates and the Chiefs fans to chant, “You’ve got to fight for your right to party,” a signature statement for him.

Kelce found Swift after the trophy ceremony for a kiss and a long hug.

CHIEFS DIAL UP ‘CORN DOG’ FOR SUPER BOWL-WINNING PLAY

Patrick Mahomes shared the name of the play Kansas City used for the winning TD in overtime.

“It’s just called Corn Dog. And we brought it back at the right time. … Another Andy Reid special.”

RELATED: Patrick Mahomes rallies the Chiefs to 2nd straight Super Bowl title

The Chiefs moved into rarefied air with their third Super Bowl championship in five years and fourth overall.

That tied them with the Packers and Giants for fifth on the NFL’s all-time leaderboard.

The Steelers and Patriots hold the honors with six apiece, followed by the 49ers and Cowboys with five each.

Kansas City also became the first team to repeat since the Patriots in the 2003 and 2004 seasons.

MAHOMES RALLIES THE CHIEFS TO SECOND STRAIGHT SUPER BOWL TITLE, 25-22 OVER 49ERS IN OT

Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs are back-to-back Super Bowl champions.

Mahomes threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Mecole Hardman with 3 seconds left in overtime, and the Chiefs rallied to beat the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 on Sunday in the second overtime game in Super Bowl history, becoming the first repeat champs in 19 years and ninth overall.

With pop star Taylor Swift watching boyfriend Kelce from a suite, the Chiefs captured their third Super Bowl title in five years and firmly established themselves as a dynasty.

TAYLOR SWIFT GETS SMOTHERED

Taylor Swift was barely visible on the telecast when the Chiefs clinched the overtime win because she was smothered by a mob of her suite-mates when the winning touchdown was scored.

CBS immediately cut to her when Patrick Mahomes completed a touchdown pass to Mercole Hardman for the 25-22 victory, but only a wriggling mass of joyful humanity could be seen.

It was the second straight win for the Chiefs, but the first since she became fan-in-chief when she and Travis Kelce, who got a key first down before the touchdown, began dating shortly before the season started.

SHANAHAN OVERSEES ANOTHER SUPER BOWL COLLAPSE

What a crushing loss for 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan, who again will be dogged with questions about not being able to win the big game.

He was the Falcons’ offensive coordinator who lost a 28-3 lead to the Patriots.

Four years ago, the 49ers under his command blew a two-possession lead in the fourth quarter to the Chiefs.

And then tonight, the 49ers took leads with 1:53 left in regulation and again in overtime and couldn’t hold on as Kansas City first forced OT and then won the game.

Shanahan is one of the NFL’s brilliant offensive minds, but until the Niners win a title with him on the sideline, the questions will remain.

CHIEFS REPEAT! MAHOMES LEADS WINNING DRIVE IN OT FOR 25-22 WIN

The GOAT. The dynasty.

Don’t count out Patrick Mahomes, who won his third Super Bowl title with a 3-yard touchdown pass to Mecole Harman in overtime. He is chasing Tom Brady’s seven championships, the current greatest of all time. Mahomes is in the conversation as well.

This the Chiefs’ second Super Bowl championship in a row and third in five seasons.

49ERS GET OT FIELD GOAL, ONE STOP AWAY FROM WINNING SUPER BOWL

The Chiefs had chances to get the 49ers off the field in overtime, but a dropped interception and a defensive holding penalty on third down extended their drive.

The Niners, though, blew their own opportunity by having to settle for a field goal in the red zone.

San Francisco leads 22-19. Kansas City will get a shot to tie or win.

HOW DO THE NEW PLAYOFF OVERTIME RULES WORK?

Previously, overtime was sudden death if the first team to possess the ball scored a touchdown. That led to situations where the game ended before both teams had a chance to play offense. That’s what happened with New England against Atlanta in Super Bowl 51.

CHEIFS-49ERS FIRST SUPER BOWL TO USE NEW OT RULES

The first use of the NFL’s new overtime rule comes in the Super Bowl.

No longer can the team that gets the ball first win it immediately with a touchdown. Both teams must posses the ball.

BUTKER MAKES LATE FIELD GOAL, FORCES OT

Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker forced overtime with a 29-yard field goal with 3 seconds left to make the score 19-19.

It’s familiar territory for Kyle Shanahan.

The 49ers coach was part of the only other OT game in Super Bowl history when he was the Falcons’ offensive coordinator seven years ago. That was the 28-3 blown lead to the Patriots.

MOODY MAKES AMENDS WITH GO-AHEAD KICK

Jake Moody became the first kicker to make two 50-plus field goals in a Super Bowl –- and this one might be enough to give the 49ers the Super Bowl.

His 53-yarder with 1:53 left gave San Francisco a 19-16 lead. Moody made up for a missed extra point.

But Patrick Mahomes will get the ball. He’s shown what he can do in 13 seconds. Mahomes will have a lot more time now.

CHIEFS STALL IN RED ZONE, SETTLE FOR TYING FIELD GOAL IN 4TH

Big stop for the 49ers.

They kept the Chiefs out of the end zone even though they had first-and-goal at the 4, forcing a tying field goal with 5:46 left.

Both teams have missed opportunities, so in that way, it’s kind of evened out.

Now Brock Purdy can shed the quarterback-manager label or Patrick Mahomes will add to his extraordinary legacy.

Stay tuned.

BROCK PURDY’S TD PASS PUTS 49ERS AHEAD 16-13 IN 4TH QUARTER

49ers coach Kyle Shanahan went for it.

All Niners fans probably couldn’t believe it when he eschewed a field goal on fourth-and-3 early in the fourth quarter and converted it. San Francisco scored a touchdown to take a 16-13 lead.

16-13?

The extra point was blocked, keeping the Chiefs within three. Could be huge.

San Francisco’s Jauan Jennings joined Nick Foles as the only players to throw a touchdown pass and catch one in a Super Bowl. Foles did it six years ago for the Eagles against the Patriots.

BROCK PURDY NEEDS ANOTHER COMEBACK WIN

49ers QB Brock Purdy is hoping to pull off his third playoff victory in a row while trailing in the second half.

He led the Niners on a late touchdown drive to beat the Packers and then erased a 24-7 halftime deficit to beat the Lions in the NFC championship.

The 49ers enter the fourth quarter against the Chiefs down 13-10, but are at Kansas City’s 42.

49ERS HAVE BELIEVERS IN THE ‘BOOKS

The 49ers entered the fourth quarter trailing 13-10, but sportsbooks still believe in them. FanDuel Sportsbook made the Niners 1 1/2-point favorites after the end of the third quarter.

MAHOMES, CHIEFS FINALLY CONNECT, TAKE 13-10 LEAD

One play after the 49ers had a punt bounce off one of their players and get recovered by Kansas City, Patrick Mahomes lofted a 16-yard pass to Marquez Valdes-Scantling in the end zone to give the Chiefs a 13-10 lead in the Super Bowl.

Valdes-Scantling was almost universally loathed by Chiefs fans for much of the season. He dropped several passes at crucial moments, including one that may have cost them a game. And considering he was the highest-paid wide receiver on a group that struggled all season, he became an easy target for failing to live up to his contract.

But he had a big catch against Baltimore to help put away the AFC title game, and now has an even bigger one in the Super Bowl.

SAN FRANCISCO REGRETTING MISSED CHANCES

The 49ers had their chances to put away the Chiefs.

They might soon really regret it.

A punt bounced off the Niners’ Darrell Luter’s leg, and Kansas City’s Jaylen Watson recovered at San Francisco’s 16.

One play later, the Chiefs took their first lead of the game.

You can’t hand any team, but especially a Super Bowl champion, those kinds of breaks.

KC’S DEFENSE LOCKS DOWN IN THIRD QUARTER

Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce are the headliners, but the Chiefs are in the Super Bowl largely because of their defense.

And did it show up in the third quarter.

They forced three 49ers three-and-outs, holding San Francisco to 3 yards.

Quarterback Brock Purdy is 4 for 12 for 17 yards since the start of the second quarter. Those game-management criticisms aren’t going away.

One bit of good news for SF: Deebo Samuel is back after limping earlier with a hamstring issue.

CHIEFS MAKE RECORD 57-YARD FIELD GOAL, TRAIL 49ERS 10-6

Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker made a 57-yard field goal with 5:01 left in the third quarter, breaking a Super Bowl record from… two quarters ago.

Jake Moody’s 55-yarder to open the scoring had been the longest in Super Bowl history, topping a 54-yarder by Buffalo’s Steve Christie.

The kick came moments after a shirtless fan ran onto the field during a third-and-11.

BEYONCé TEASES NEW MUSIC IN SUPER BOWL AD

Beyoncé is…. Back?

After a Verizon commercial starring Beyoncé aired during the Super Bowl ended with the superstar saying “They ready, drop the new music,” the question became — was she serious?

Later, a cryptic Instagram video with country iconography appeared on her page, teasing “act ii” on March 29. Beyoncé’s 2022 album “Renassiance” is frequently referred to as “Act I: Renaissance.”

49ERS’ SAMUEL LIMPS OFF WITH HAMSTRING INJURY

49ers receiver Deebo Samuel limped off the field early in the third quarter of the Super Bowl.

San Francisco said it was a left hamstring injury and his return is questionable.

The Niners’ do-everything receiver went down on a third-down pass on San Francisco’s second drive of the third quarter. Trainers came out to attend to him before walking off under his own power. He went briefly to the injury tent.

The 49ers have struggled this season when Samuel has been hurt. They lost three straight games in October when he hurt his shoulder and struggled for most of a divisional round win against Green Bay after he hurt his other shoulder on the opening drive.

AFTER USHER THRILLS, 49ERS-CHIEFS A SLOG IN SECOND HALF

Well, there was Usher. And Alicia Keys.

But not so much to see after halftime.

The Super Bowl is the NFL’s premier event, but the 49ers and Chiefs are playing like it’s the second game of the preseason. Penalties, punts and turnovers. Not exactly what the league wanted for the first big game in Las Vegas.

At least there were the multiple cutaways on the stadium screens to Taylor Swift.

REVIEW: USHER DELIVERS TIMELESS, WELL-KNOWN HITS

Usher emerged at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium for the 2024 Super Bowl halftime show seated on a throne, joined by a marching band and a trove of Vegas performers — but stayed its center.

It was an immediate confirmation of his position as the ideal halftime performer: one with timeless, well-known hits, masterful choreography, and a devoted audience, AP’s Music Writer Maria Sherman writes in her review.

WHAT’S IT LIKE PERFORMING AT HALFTIME?

Suwasit Ritthiphon, clad in silver and black, was one of hundreds of people partying on the field during the halftime show. A longtime fan of Usher, Ritthiphon, 43, said he couldn’t believe his luck when his application for a spot on the field was accepted.

“My heart was beating. It was exciting,” he said, flashing a smile. He described the experience of running through the tunnel and onto the field as “an opportunity of a lifetime.”

USHER ROCKS VEGAS WITH HELP FROM LIL JON, LUDACRIS

A steady stream of stars joined Usher during his 13-minute halftime show. H.E.R. took the field with a guitar solo, and he made a costume change into a purple and black sparkling suit with roller skates, which he used to glide in circles around the stage.

Lil Jon joined, starting with a rousing snippet of his “Turn Down for What” before Usher’s biggest, hit, “Yeah,” began blaring on the stadium speakers.

Lil Jon and Ludacris – with shoulder pads and big afro – recreated their roles on Usher’s 2004 recording of the song from the midfield stage as the R&B star danced amid a bedazzled crowd to close the show.

ALICIA KEYS, H.E.R. JOIN USHER FOR HALFTIME SHOW

Alicia Keys joined Usher as a surprise guest during his halftime show, singing her “If I Ain’t Got You” while standing at a midfield piano that looked like a red hunk of abstract sculpture.

She then stood up and entangled with Usher as they sang their duet “My Boo,” with her dressed in sparkling red and in contrast with his sparkling white. The singer shed his shirt soon after.

Usher was also joined by a marching band on the field as he raced through both dance and slow jams including “U Don’t Have to Call.”

USHER OPENS HALFTIME SHOW IN VEGAS STYLE

Usher has kicked off his halftime show in Vegas style – surrounded by a field full of showgirls and other showy dancers, he shed an extravagant feather cape as he stepped from a stage onto the field while singing his 2004 hit “Caught.”

It’s the first song in a medley of many from the R&B star as he tries to squeeze highlights from a 30-year career into 13 minutes.

Patrick Mahomes, the king of comebacks

Be careful about betting against Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

He is 7-1 in playoff games over the past five seasons after trailing by at least seven points.

All other QBs? They are 12-55.

The Chiefs are 4 1/2-point underdogs going into the second half, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

NO TURF DRAMA

One story of the first half was a nonstory.

Players didn’t slide around on the field as if it was ice like they did in last season’s Super Bowl in Glendale, Arizona.

Of course, that was before halftime when hundreds of fans danced on the turf as Usher performed.

CHIEFS TRAIL 49ERS 10-3 AT HALFTIME, BUT COMEBACKS ARE A SPECIALTY

This is why the Chiefs deferred after winning the coin toss.

KC trails 10-3 but will get the ball first to start the second half, giving them a chance to double up after finally getting on the scoreboard late in the second quarter with Harrison Butker’s 28-yarder.

The Chiefs are quite comfortable coming from behind. They have rallied from double-digit deficits to win two Super Bowls, including against San Francisco four years ago.

Patrick Mahomes has trailed in all four Super Bowls by double digits, yet he is 2-1.

The 49ers were the better team for most of the first half, but the combination of the Chiefs mounting a scoring drive and San Francisco blowing earlier opportunities to score has made this a game.

ANDRA DAY ALL SMILES AFTER PREGAME PERFORMANCE

After Andra Day finished her Super Bowl pregame performance, the soul singer’s nerves were still getting the best of her.

The Grammy winner was all smiles after she performed “Lift Every Voice and Sing” ahead of the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers championship game Sunday at Allegiant Stadium.

“I’m excited but still feeling some nervousness,” said Day, who was a pregame performer along with Reba McEntire and Post Malone. McEntire sung the national anthem and Malone performed “America the Beautiful.”

Day said she’s happy with her performance, and relieved it’s over. She said her experience on the field was a “blur.”

“The trick is not to look at people’s faces,” she said. “I just see this one big blur. If I was to see faces, I would flip out.”

KC LUCKY TO BE WITHIN A SCORE

The Chiefs are fortunate to be trailing 10-3 at halftime of the Super Bowl after making the same silly mistakes that caused them to lose five of eight games midway through the season.

The AFC champions were penalized five times for 50 yards. They fumbled three times but were lucky to lose only one of them. Justin Watson dropped a long pass for the team that led the NFL in drops this season. And there have been so many blown assignments up front that Patrick Mahomes, who is rarely sacked, has been brought down twice already.

The Chiefs get the ball to start the second half after winning the coin toss and deferring, and Andy Reid is one of the best coaches in the NFL at making halftime adjustments. But unless his players start to execute, nothing that Reid says or does in the locker room will matter.

CHIEFS GET FIELD GOAL, BUT FRUSTRATION MOUNTING

The Chiefs are on the board with a 28-yard field goal from Harrison Butker with 20 seconds left before halftime.

The 49ers have done a nice job on Travis Kelce so far — even in the red zone, where he and the Chiefs are often so effective.

Kelce only has one catch for 1 yard on the day. On that last third down from the San Francisco 9, he lined up in the slot and was covered by safety Ji’Ayir Brown. Kelce appeared to swing an arm in frustration when Patrick Mahomes was taken down before being able to throw.

49ERS GET TD OFF TRICK PLAY, LEAD 10-0

The San Francisco 49ers got tricky for the first touchdown of the Super Bowl.

Coach Kyle Shanahan dialed up a rare trick play that led to a TD pass from receiver Jauan Jennings to running back Christian McCaffrey.

Brock Purdy started the play with a lateral to the left side to Jennings, who immediately threw it back to the other side to McCaffrey, who had a convoy of blockers and ran in for a 21-yard TD to put San Francisco up 10-0.

McCaffrey has tied an NFL record with his seventh straight playoff game with at least 50 yards from scrimmage and a TD.

San Francisco has moved to a 7 1/2-point favorite on FanDuel’s live line after the spread was a good bit closer at the start of the game.

TAYLOR SWIFT CHUGS A DRINK, DRAWS BIG APPLAUSE

There has been plenty of Taylor Swift on the big screens of Allegiant Stadium, and during the last timeout, cameras caught her in a race to chug what appeared to be a beer in her suite.

Swift was the first to finish, and she triumphantly slammed the cup down as the video cut away to other fans. But not before an appreciative roar rippled through the stadium.

If only the Chiefs were able to move the ball as successfully as she downed her drink. Their offense has gone nowhere in the first half of their Super Bowl showdown with the 49ers.

‘BENNIFER’ IS BACK FOR SUPER BOWL AD

“Bennifer” has teamed up with Dunkin for a second Super Bowl in a row.

In an ad for the Massachusetts-based chain, Ben Affleck enlists Matt Damon, Tom Brady and more to visit Jennifer Lopez at work and give a “DunKings” performance full of Boston pride. Rappers Jack Harlow and Fat Joe also make an appearance in the celebrity-filled commercial.

49ERS’ DRE GREENLAW INJURES ACHILLES TENDON RUNNING ONTO FIELD

49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw was carted to the locker room midway through the second quarter after injuring his left Achilles tendon in a bizarre moment.

He began to sprint onto the field for the start of a defensive possession when he stumbled, fell and needed medical attention.

Greenlaw already had made an impact in this game with three tackles when he went out.

TRAVIS KELCE BUMPS INTO, YELLS AT ANDY REID

Travis Kelce bumped into coach Andy Reid and yelled at him after teammate Isiah Pacheco’s red-zone fumble in the second quarter. Frustration is clearly building for KC, which still trails 3-0.

FROM SNL TO SUPER BOWL SUNDAY

In an ad for Hellmann’s, Kate McKinnon makes an unusual discovery: her cat can talk. Well, sort of. Her furry friend can say one word, “may-ow” — which skyrockets her to celebrity status and causes a mayonnaise-buying frenzy. The “Mayo Cat” becomes so famous that she even dates (and soon dumps) Pete Davidson.

49ERS-CHIEFS A DEFENSIVE STRUGGLE SO FAR

For all the talk of stars Patrick Mahomes, Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey and Travis Kelce, it’s defenses that have had the edge early in the Super Bowl. The teams have combined for one score on the first six drives.

Kansas City looked to be on the verge of a breakthrough when Mahomes connected on a 53-yard pass to Mecole Hardman to get the Chiefs to the 9. But Isiah Pacheco lost a fumble on the next play with Javon Hargrave recovering.

Kansas City had gained only 16 yards in the first quarter and now has gone nine straight possessions in the postseason without a point, dating to the AFC title game.

San Francisco has had its own issues with McCaffrey losing a fumble on the opening drive and Trent Williams committing two penalties to stall the second possession.

49ERS’ MOODY KICKS RECORD 55-YARD FIELD GOAL, SF LEADS 3-0

Jake Moody made a Super Bowl-record 55-yard field goal just 12 seconds into the second quarter to put the San Francisco 49ers on top 3-0.

Buffalo’s Steve Christie held the record with a 54-yarder against Dallas in Super Bowl 28.

This could be a confidence booster for Moody, who missed field goals in the past two playoff games.

CHIEFS OFFENSE SLOW TO GET GOING, SCORELESS AFTER FIRST QUARTER

Kansas City gained just 16 yards in the first quarter. That’s the lowest total since the Denver Broncos had 11 yards against the Seattle Seahawks in 2014.

The first quarter ended scoreless for the first time in five years.

CHIEFS-49ERS GETTING CHIPPY IN SUPER BOWL REMATCH

There is already some chippiness between the Chiefs and 49ers, two franchises that met in the Super Bowl just four years ago in Miami.

Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie and 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk had to be separated after getting into a shoving match on the game’s opening possession. Later in the first quarter, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce had to be dragged away from most of the San Francisco defensive line by the officials.

49ERS OUTGAINING CHIEFS, BUT YET TO FIND END ZONE

The 49ers are their own worst enemies midway through the first quarter. Christian McCaffrey fumbled on their first drive, and then San Francisco lost yardage on three consecutive plays — two penalties and a run by Deebo Samuel.

Then as the 49ers were about to punt, they were penalized another 5 yards because of a false start.

That kept the game scoreless even though the Niners have outgained the Kansas City Chiefs 84-6 in yardage.

49ERS’ STRONG OPENING DRIVE SPOILED BY MCCAFFREY FUMBLE

San Francisco opened the game with an impressive drive but wasted the opportunity to score when Christian McCaffrey fumbled at Kansas City’s 27-yard line.

Leo Chenal knocked the ball out of McCaffrey’s hands, and fellow Chief George Karlaftis recovered.

The Chiefs had a turnover ratio of minus-11 in the regular season, among the NFL’s worst.

This is the fourth time since 2000 that the game’s opening drive ended in a turnover.

The Chiefs didn’t do anything with the turnover, going three-and-out. That ended a streak of eight straight playoff games in which Kansas City scored on its opening possession, an NFL record.

‘HE GETS US,’ DOVE AND M&M’S AMONG EARLY ADS

“He Gets Us” returned to the Super Bowl again this year. The campaign, which is backed by a group of wealthy Christian donors, aired an ad with the message, “Jesus didn’t teach hate. He washed feet,” in the first quarter of the game.

OTHER EARLY ADS:

Dove’s ad begins seemingly whimsically showing young girls having mishaps playing sports to the tune of “It’s a Hard Knock Life.” But the ad cuts starkly to a girl looking self-consciously in the mirror. The message: low body-confidence leads to girls quitting sports, not the mishaps.

Hall of Famers Dan Marino, Bruce Smith and Terrell Owens never got a Super Bowl ring, but M&M’s and Scarlett Johansson present them with “Almost Champions” rings in a Super Bowl ad.

GRONK MISSES WIDE-RIGHT

In a pregame promotion for gambling site FanDuel, NFL legend Rob Gronkowski missed a 25-yard field goal for a second year in a row.

That means fans who bet against Gronkowski are set to win a share of $10 million in FanDuel Bonus Bets.

CHIEFS WIN THE TOSS

A huge roar went up when Kansas City won the toss. Either Chiefs fans felt that was unusually crucial in this game — or a lot of people had bet on heads.

KC deferred its choice to the second half, meaning the 49ers get the ball first.

REBA SAILS THROUGH NATIONAL ANTHEM

Reba McEntire made quick but majestic work of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

The “Queen of Country” sang the national anthem moments before kickoff, backed by a recorded track of a country band with a horn section. Flag-bearing service members stood behind her, a huge U.S. flag covered most of the field, and military jets flew over Allegiant Stadium as she sang.

She got through the song in about 1 minute 40 seconds. That’s a good 10 seconds longer than the over-under from oddsmakers, but still the quickest version of the anthem at the Super Bowl since Kelly Clarkson sang it 12 years ago.

POST MALONE OFFERS TWANG-Y TAKE ON “AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL”

Grammy-nominated musician Post Malone sang “America the Beautiful,” bringing his unique vocal tone — most frequently paired with his idiosyncratic approach to pop-rock-rap — to the Super Bowl.

Wearing a bolo tie and playing acoustic guitar, Malone’s take on the song was twang-y, his Texas roots taking a front seat. Mid-song, cameras cut to Taylor Swift and Blake Lively holding each other and enjoying the performance. Earlier this week, Malone’s breakout hit, “Sunflower,” with Swae Lee — released for the “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” soundtrack — was named the first-ever double-diamond single in Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) history.

ANDRA DAY LIFTS VOICE WITH GOSPEL CHOIR

Andra Day gave a stirring, gospel-flavored rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” a song that has become known as the Black national Anthem, before kickoff.

Day, wearing a gray suit, was backed by a choreographed choir. Day told the AP during the week that she planned to calm her nerves with pregame prayers.

Hers was the first of three anthemic performances. After the teams take the field, Post Malone will perform “America the Beautiful” and Reba McEntire will sing “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

WHAT’S AT STAKE FOR THE CHIEFS AND 49ERS?

The Chiefs are set for their fourth Super Bowl in five seasons. A win against the 49ers will make the Chiefs the first team to repeat since New England did it in 2003-04. That’s the longest stretch without a repeat champion in NFL history. With a win, Patrick Mahomes will become the fifth QB to win at least three Super Bowls and Andy Reid the fifth coach to win at least three Super Bowls

The 49ers are back in the Super Bowl seeking their record-tying sixth championship. The Niners haven’t won it all since the 1994 season, losing in their past two trips in the 2012 season and 2019 against Kansas City. Brock Purdy has gone from the last pick of the 2022 draft to becoming the third youngest quarterback to start a Super Bowl and is seeking to join Hall of Famers Joe Montana and Steve Young as QBs to lead San Francisco to a title.

BOTTLE SERVICE FOR THE BIG GAME

This Super Bowl comes with bottle service, at least for those willing to pony up six figures to sit in some of the NFL’s most exclusive seating located on the field just beyond the north end zone.

There are 29 booths, each seating up to 15 people. Fans who occupy those booths receive wait service, access to private bars and a special entrance.

BILETNIKOFF, PLUNKETT, ALLEN LIGHT MEMORIAL TORCH

Former Raiders Super Bowl MVPs Fred Biletnikoff, Jim Plunkett and Marcus Allen “lit” the Al Davis Memorial Torch before the game.

It’s a Raiders tradition for someone of note to light the electronic torch during Las Vegas home games. Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson and recording artist and actor Ice Cube were among those who turned on the torch this season.

The torch is 92 feet high, the world’s tallest three-dimensional printed structure.

Biletnikoff was the Super Bowl 11 MVP, leading the Oakland Raiders to a 32-14 victory over the Minnesota Vikings. Plunkett quarterbacked the Raiders to a 27-10 win over the Philadelphia Eagles four years later

Allen was the MVP of the Raiders’ lone championship when they were in Los Angeles. The Raiders defeated the Washington Redskins 38-9 in Super Bowl 18.

MCKINNON, MOORE ACTIVE FOR CHIEFS, BUT TONEY SITS

Running back Jerick McKinnon and wide receiver Skyy Moore were active for the Kansas City Chiefs for the first time in nearly two months for their Super Bowl showdown with the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.

McKinnon and Moore, who both played a crucial role in the Chiefs’ win over the Eagles in the Super Bowl last year, have not played since Dec. 17 in New England. McKinnon had surgery for a core injury in early January and was considered questionable to play against the 49ers, while Moore spent a stint on injured reserve with a lingering knee injury.

Wide receiver Kadarius Toney, who also had a TD against the Eagles, was not active on Sunday.

MR. IRRELEVANT REACHES NFL’S BIGGEST STAGE

Brock Purdy’s meteoric rise from final pick of the 2022 draft to Super Bowl starting quarterback is complete.

Purdy is getting ready to start in the Super Bowl 11 months and one day after undergoing major elbow surgery. Purdy’s comeback from the injury to his throwing arm suffered in last season’s NFC championship loss to the Philadelphia Eagles has been part of the storybook start to his career that started as Mr. Irrelevant as the 262nd pick in the 2022 draft.

The 24-year-old Purdy is the third youngest quarterback to start a Super Bowl, behind only 23-year-olds Dan Marino and Ben Roethlisberger.

With a win Sunday, Purdy would join Hall of Famers Joe Montana and Steve Young as the only QBs to lead the Niners to a title.

TAYLOR SWIFT GREETED AT SUPER BOWL BY ROGER GOODELL, JASON KELCE

Taylor Swift’s arrival at Allegiant Stadium even drew the interest of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, who visited her in a luxury suite before the game.

Goodell spoke glowingly Monday about the pop star’s effect on the NFL.

“Taylor is obviously a dynamo,” he said. “Everything she touches, there are people following. We count ourselves fortunate, and we welcome it.”

Kelce’s brother, Jason, hugged Swift in the suite, and Swift introduced him to Ice Spice. Jason Kelce plays for the Philadelphia Eagles but has fully supported his brother during the playoffs. The two faced each other in last year’s Super Bowl.

KRISTIN JUSZCZYK ARRIVES IN SELF-MADE STYLE

Kristin Juszczyk arrived at the Super Bowl in a snazzy jacket that includes her husband Kyle’s 49ers jersey and his Harvard shield. Kyle is a fullback out of Harvard who plays for San Francisco.

Kristin has become a star after designing a coat worn by Taylor Swift that looked like a jersey of her boyfriend, Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce.

TAYLOR SWIFT HAS ARRIVED

Taylor Swift finished her epic trek from the Tokyo Dome to Allegiant Stadium for the Super Bowl on Sunday. She arrived with Blake Lively and a few others wearing a black top with black pants and a red jacket slung over her shoulder.

Swift is on hand to watch Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, whom she has been dating since the first couple of weeks of the season. She performed in Japan on Saturday night before a flight across nine time zones and the international date line to reach the U.S.

NO MIXED LOYALTY THIS YEAR FOR DONNA KELCE

The mother of Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce arrived for the game wearing a jacket with “SUPER BOWL LVIII” and “MAMA KELCE” on the back. In last season’s Super Bowl, Travis Kelce’s Chiefs defeated his brother Jason Kelce’s team, the Philadelphia Eagles.

Instead of a matchup between two brothers, the Kelce family is in the spotlight this year because of Travis’ relationship with pop star Taylor Swift. Donna Kelce has appeared in a suite alongside Swift this season.

49ERS ENTER THE SUPER BOWL AS 2 ½-POINT FAVORITES

The San Francisco 49ers are 2 ½-point favorites against the Kansas City Chiefs ahead of their Super Bowl matchup, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

The 49ers are -134 favorites to win the game, while the over/under sat at 46.5 points.

Despite being the underdog, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is the favorite to win Super Bowl MVP at +150, followed by 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy at +210.

JASON KELCE READY TO ROOT ON BROTHER TRAVIS, CHIEFS

Travis Kelce played against Jason Kelce last year, when the Chiefs beat his big brothers’ Eagles in the Super Bowl in Arizona. But Jason was fully behind the Chiefs on Sunday, wearing red and yellow plaid overalls over a T-shirt that read, “Big Yeti,” his nickname for Travis.

The brothers host “New Heights,” one of the hottest podcasts in the country. And once the Eagles were knocked from the playoffs, Jason began following the Chiefs. He famously took off his shirt during a celebration in Buffalo, and he watched the Chiefs win the AFC title in Baltimore.

REBA ARRIVES, SET TO PERFORM NATIONAL ANTHEM

Reba McEntire walked into Allegiant Stadium for the Super Bowl about 3 1/2 hours before kickoff Sunday wearing a puffy, gray faux fur coat and holding hands with her partner, Rex Linn.

McEntire is due to perform the national anthem before the Kansas City Chiefs play the San Francisco 49ers in a rematch of the Super Bowl four years ago in Miami. She will have a lot to live up to after Chris Stapleton’s performance last year in Arizona received high praise.

SOME NFL FANS PASS ON EXPENSIVE TICKETS AND JUST HAVE ‘A GOOD TIME’ IN VEGAS

Super Bowl ticket prices remain out of reach for many fans who made travel reservations months ago to come to Las Vegas this week, so they’ll likely be watching on TV like millions of others.

To buy tickets days before the game can be costly. This year they’re going for roughly $7,700 — though that is about $2,000 less than they were two weeks ago.

Carl Bray, a Cincinnati fan, booked his trip to the Super Bowl two months ago and came even though the Bengals didn’t make it.

“I don’t have tickets yet, but I got the hotel, flight, and I thought ‘Welp, if I lock into something, I’ll go,’” Bray said. “If not, I’ll just go to MGM or someplace and watch it.”

PATRICK MAHOMES LOOKS READY FOR BUSINESS IN SUPER BOWL ARRIVAL

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes paid homage to the team that calls Allegiant Stadium home when he showed up for the Super Bowl on Sunday wearing a jet-black suit and silver tie that made him look like a fan of the AFC West-rival Las Vegas Raiders.

Mahomes appeared to be all business behind his black shades as he wheeled along his matching black Louis Vuitton luggage through the corridors of the stadium. He is trying to move into a tie for fourth behind Tom Brady, Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw by picking up his third Super Bowl ring.

SUPER BOWL GATES OPEN, FANS ARRIVING IN LAS VEGAS

Gates to Allegiant Stadium opened just after 11 a.m. local time, unleashing a flood of fans in red. Five San Francisco 49ers fans were the first let through the gates.

“Woo!” They yelled. “First ones in! We’re the first ones!”

Tony and Susan Chiosso traveled to Las Vegas from the Bay Area to watch their first-ever Super Bowl and, they hope, witness their team defeat the Kansas City Chiefs.

They think their luck so far this morning is a good indicator of which team will come out on top.

“I’m only seeing good signs today,” Tony Chiosso said.

TAYLOR SWIFT REACHED LAX IN HER JOURNEY FROM TOKYO TO THE SUPER BOWL, ONLINE SLEUTHS SAY

Will she make it in time? Intrepid flight trackers online seem to think so.

On social media, fans of Taylor Swift and aviation journalists believe they’ve identified Swift’s private jet, labeled “The Football Era.” It arrived from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport to Los Angeles’ LAX airport just after 3:30 p.m. local time Saturday.

Her transportation plans onward to Las Vegas, where her boyfriend, NFL star tight end Travis Kelce, will play in Sunday’s Super Bowl, have yet to be revealed.

WHY WILL THE CHIEFS WIN THE SUPER BOWL? THEIR VAST EXPERIENCE

If the Chiefs beat the 49ers for their third Super Bowl title in four trips over the past five years, it will be for one simple reason: experience.

The Chiefs can lean on what they learned and endured over a dominant six-year run with Patrick Mahomes at quarterback. In fact, when the Chiefs beat the 49ers in Miami for their first title during this run, San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy, wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk and many others were still in college.

Throw in the fact that Chiefs coach Andy Reid will be in his fifth Super Bowl, the third most in NFL history, and has a chance to win a third ring, and the knowledge on the Kansas City sideline will be an advantage too big for the 49ers to overcome.

WHY WILL THE 49ERS WIN THE SUPER BOWL? IMPROVED QB PLAY

The 49ers had Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs on the ropes four years ago in the Super Bowl before everything fell apart, leading to a 31-20 loss that still stings today.

The difference when the teams meet in the rematch on Sunday? This time, the 49ers will have a quarterback in Brock Purdy who is capable of making a big play down the stretch.

Purdy has gone from “Mr. Irrelevant” as the final pick in the 2022 draft to the franchise quarterback who has elevated coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense in less than two years. He led the NFL in passer rating (113) and yards per attempt (9.6), with his ability to throw deep and scramble adding new wrinkles to the offense.

Purdy also has a far better group of playmakers than the one that surrounded Jimmy Garoppolo four years ago.

THREE LONGTIME FRIENDS HAVE ATTENDED EVERY SUPER BOWL — AND DON’T INTEND TO STOP

As long as they still have each other, they’re still going to go to every Super Bowl.

That’s the sentiment shared by three friends who say they are the final fans who can claim membership in the exclusive “never missed a Super Bowl” club. And they’re back again for number 58 — Super Bowl 58 — this year.

The three fans, all in their 80s, are Don Crisman of Maine, Gregory Eaton of Michigan and Tom Henschel, who splits time between Florida and Pennsylvania. The three are gathering this weekend in Las Vegas for the big game, and they’re hoping they can all make it to the sixtieth edition of the game two years from now.

TAYLOR SWIFT’S CONNECTIONS TO SPORTS GO BACK TO HER EARLY DAYS PERFORMING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM

Before Taylor Swift grew into a global superstar and the talk of this Super Bowl, she got her singing career started by performing the national anthem at sporting events as a young child and teenager.

She sang the anthem before 45,900 fans at Game 3 of the 2008 World Series. The U.S. Open. NASCAR. The World Series. Yes, even the Double-A Reading Phillies.

Swift was an unsigned artist who looked for any kind of break by belting out the song about the land of the free and the home of the brave in front of as many packed crowds as she could find.

FOR NATIVE AMERICAN ACTIVISTS, THE KANSAS CITY CHIEFS HAVE IT ALL WRONG

Dozens of Indigenous activists have traveled to Las Vegas to gather outside the Super Bowl and demand the Kansas City Chiefs change their name and ditch their logo and gametime rituals.

Rhonda LeValdo founded and leads a group called Not In Our Honor that is calling for the changes. The Acoma Pueblo journalist and faculty member at Haskell Indian Nations University has been in the Kansas City area for more than two decades.

EVERYONE HOPES THE CHIEFS-49ERS SUPER BOWL WON’T COME DOWN TO AN OFFICIATING CALL

One of the biggest fears when it comes to football’s biggest games is that a high-profile officiating mistake will play a role in the result.

So the seven on-field officials will get plenty of screen time when the Kansas City Chiefs face the San Francisco 49ers in Sunday’s Super Bowl.

The referee in charge of the crew in black-and-white unforms will be Bill Vinovich. He was also the referee when the Chiefs beat the 49ers in the Super Bowl four years ago — and when the Rams beat the Saints in the 2019 NFC championship game after an infamous missed call.

HERE’S WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM SUPER BOWL COMMERCIALS THIS SUNDAY

Advertisers will be pulling out all the stops on Super Bowl Sunday — enlisting the biggest actors, investing in the most dazzling special effects and, they hope, going for laughs as they seek to win over viewers.

Most companies appear to be doubling down on flights of fantasy or light humor, often with a dose of nostalgia and a lot of mini-reunions of TV characters.

Big names like Jennifer Anniston, Christopher Walken, Arnold Schwarzenneger, Ice Spice, Jenna Ortega, Lionel Messi, Tom Brady, “Judge Judy” Judy Sheindlin, Super Bowl Halftime Show headliner Usher and more will appear during game breaks. And as always, there will still be some gameday surprises.

THE GAME. THE ADS. THE MUSIC. THE PUPPIES. HERE’S WHY MILLIONS ARE EXCITED FOR SUPER BOWL SUNDAY

Millions of Americans will find something to be excited about when it comes to Super Bowl Sunday. That’s before even factoring in the influence of Taylor Swift.

Four in 10 U.S. adults are extremely or very excited for at least one part of the Super Bowl day’s festivities. That could be the game, commercials, halftime show or the Puppy Bowl, according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

49ERS ALL-PRO OFFENSIVE TACKLE TRENT WILLIAMS SAVORS HIS FIRST SUPER BOWL TRIP IN HIS 14TH SEASON

Trent Williams’ accomplishments are already worthy of a Hall of Fame career with 11 Pro Bowl bids, three first-team All-Pro selections and near universal recognition as the best left tackle of his generation.

All that was missing for the San Francisco 49ers star was something he never envisioned would be possible as he spent the first decade of his career mired in the dysfunction and ineptitude in Washington.

Williams has gotten that missing piece with his first chance to play in the Super Bowl this week against Kansas City.

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL GAVE HOPE AFTER THE DEADLY MAUI WILDFIRE. TEAM CAPTAINS WILL BE AT THE SUPER BOWL

Captains of a Hawaii high school football team whose town was destroyed by a deadly wildfire are at the Super Bowl as guests of the NFL.

The four students and three of their coaches are serving as honorary coin toss captains before the game.

A little more than two months after the Aug. 8 fire, tickets for the Lahainaluna High School homecoming game sold out in minutes. That was an indication of how badly Lahaina residents needed a glimmer of hope amid a tragedy that claimed at least 100 lives.