Super Bowl LX wrapped up the NFL season on Feb. 8, with the Seattle Seahawks facing off against the New England Patriots. Neither team was expected to make any sort of championship run coming into the season, but when the two improbable tales collided, the Seahawks proved unstoppable. Seattle cruised to a 29-13 victory on the back of five field goals (a Super Bowl record) and a crushing defensive effort. Here’s the immediate reactions to all the action, from the Seahawks’ dominant defense to the halftime show fanfare and everything in between.

Seattle’s impressive season

Few picked the Seattle Seahawks to make the Super Bowl at the start of the season, but their win caps off an incredibly impressive year. Their 14-3 regular season record was tied for the best record in the NFL with the Patriots and the Denver Broncos (with?), including an 8-1 away record that was the strongest in the NFC. Their offense finished top 3 in total scoring, helped along by a top-tier special teams unit. The Seattle defense (more on them shortly) was likewise spectacular, leading the league in points allowed per game and ranking top ten in yards allowed against both rushing and passing attacks.

Individual Seahawks also had spectacular seasons. On offense, Sam Darnold threw for over 4,000 passing yards and had the fifth most passing yards of any quarterback in the league, while wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba led the league with 1,793 receiving yards and finished tied for sixth overall with ten receiving touchdowns. Linebacker Ernest Jones IV led a team-effort defense, bringing 120 tackles and five interceptions (good for second-most of any player this season). Capping the season off with a Super Bowl win cements an already-excellent season into the history books.

Defense wins championships, again

Most football fans enjoy watching high-flying offensive action, but solid defense is typically what wins championships, and the 2026 Super Bowl was defined by defense. The first half ended 9-0 for Seattle, with the Patriots only gaining 52 total yards of offense across five drives and the Seahawks managing just three field goals despite making it into the red zone twice. The game opened up in the second half, but the three biggest plays of the half were made by Seattle’s defense, forcing a strip-sack fumble near the end of the 3^rd quarter and snagging a pair of brutal interceptions, including a pick-six, in the 4^th to put the game away.

Even with a mediocre offensive performance, the Seahawks’ defense was more than enough to seal the victory, and this is far from the first time that a locked-down defense has pushed a team to a Super Bowl win. The Patriots defense was also clearly their strongest unit and kept them competitive even late into the game. It’s hard to know how much of the Patriots’ offensive struggles were down to the Seahawks’ defense and how much was due to their own errors, but Sam Darnold was certainly right to thank the defense during his post-game interview.

The NFC West: Best Division in Football?

The Seahawks’ win capped off not only a remarkable season for the team, but one for their entire division. Three of the four teams in the NFC West made the playoffs, with the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers both getting wild-card berths with 12-5 records. Of the 13 combined regular season losses those three teams endured, six of them were to each other. Once in the playoffs, the only times the NFC West lost were to other teams from the division, with the Seahawks beating both the 49ers and Rams in succession.

Proclaiming any of the NFL’s eight divisions to be the best division in football would be controversial, and with roster turnover between seasons, it’s hard to predict if this year’s results will hold for 2026. The NFC West also has a nagging weak spot, with the 3-14 Arizona Cardinals arguably dragging the whole division down with them. Despite that, when both teams in the NFC championship and three of the four teams in that conference’s divisional round are all from the NFC West, and when ESPN’s two favorites for next year’s championship are both NFC West teams, it becomes hard to deny that the NFL has a standout division.

The Patriots Are Legit

They may have looked the obviously inferior team during the big game, but don’t let the lopsided scoreboard fool you: the New England Patriots are a legitimate contender for postseason glory. Drake Maye’s struggles in the big game were exacerbated by an injury-riddled offensive line with multiple rookies having to start, and once the line is healthy and gains more experience, the Patriots should be prepared to handle high-pressure defenses.

The most impressive takeaway from the Patriots’ effort was their resolve. Despite being down 19-0 in the 4^th quarter and having shown no signs of life for the first three quarters of the game, the Patriots pushed in a late touchdown to avoid the shutout, and after Seattle scored on a devastating pick-six to take a 29-7 lead with less than 5 minutes remaining, the Pats rallied to score yet another touchdown to push the final score to 29-13. For a young team that was not expected to be in the big game, that level of resolve is a great sign for the future, and the Patriots should be right back in the conversation next year. 

Beyond the Game

The Super Bowl is more than a football game. It’s arguably the single biggest event in the United States on a yearly basis, with world-famous music artists performing at the halftime show and major corporate sponsors pouring in up to ten million dollars for a single 30 second advertisement slot. The advertising, music, and general pageantry around the Super Bowl gives a quick snapshot of the state of the U.S., and the 2026 game had plenty to discuss. The action off the field brought plenty of good (including a spectacular halftime show by Bad Bunny, a fun pre-game performance by Green Day, and the reveal of Cadillac’s new Formula 1 car) and a good deal of bad (far too many AI-generated ads). The current political state of the US was not directly referred to, even by the politics-happy Green Day. However, the closing shot of the halftime show, with a parade of flags from Latin America marching down the field in front of a screen saying “The only thing more powerful than hate is love” definitely struck a political chord and even incited a social media rant from President Trump.

Photo by Nihal Demirci Erenay via Uplash.

In 2025, Kendrick Lamar solidified his place as one of the most influential artists of the 21st century. With his unique blend of lyricism and cultural commentary, Kendrick Lamar has become a force to be reckoned with. This year, Lamar’s continued success at the Grammys, his role in the ongoing discussion about Black culture and social justice, and his culturally significant Super Bowl halftime performance have all further cemented his legacy.

Kendrick Lamar Dominates the Grammys 

2025 marked yet another historic year for Kendrick Lamar at the Grammys. This year, he not only added more trophies to his already impressive collection but also triumphed in some of the most prestigious and highly competitive categories.

Lamar’s critically acclaimed track “Not Like Us” emerged as a standout of the year, earning him an impressive five awards. The song took home Rap Song of the Year, Song of the Year, Record of the Year, Best Rap Performance, and Best Music Video, solidifying its cultural and artistic impact.

These Grammy wins in 2025 weren’t just personal victories for Lamar; they symbolized the increasing mainstream recognition of rap. As Kendrick said himself, “This is what it’s about man, because at the end of the day, nothing is more powerful than rap music. We are the culture, it’s gonna always stay here and live forever.”

 Black Artists and the Grammys – Is 2025 a Turning Point?

Kendrick Lamar’s triumph at the Grammys in 2025 also raises important questions about the relationship between Black artists and the Recording Academy. Historically, Black musicians, particularly in genres like rap and R&B, have faced systemic barriers to receiving proper recognition for their work. The controversy surrounding Beyoncé’s repeated losses in major categories, such as her 2023 “Renaissance” loss for Album of the Year, has fueled debates about the Grammys’ treatment of Black artists.

But 2025 seems to mark a shift in how Black artists are being recognized. With Lamar’s sweeping wins in major categories, especially in categories like Song and Record of the Year, traditionally dominated by pop and rock artists, there is a growing sense that the Grammys may be moving in a new direction.

This year Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Cater” also won Album of the Year, a win that was widely celebrated. Critics and fans alike are hopeful that 2025 represents a turning point, one where Black artists are no longer sidelined but celebrated for their contributions to music and culture at the highest level. While questions remain about whether this shift will be permanent, the success of artists like Lamar and Beyoncé in 2025 is a promising sign. It may mark the beginning of a more equitable future for Black musicians in the music industry’s most prestigious award show.

Kendrick Lamar’s Symbolic Super Bowl Halftime Show

Kendrick Lamar’s performance at the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show was impactful. In a year where social justice continued to dominate conversations, Lamar used his platform to make a powerful statement about race, identity and resilience. 

Throughout the halftime show, Kendrick relied heavily on imagery and symbolism to make his point. The giant PlayStation controller that dominated the stage may have represented the idea of life as a game, with the American Dream being something that is “played” and often controlled by larger systems. At one point,  the dancers were arranged in formations of red, white, and blue, which at first seemed like just a standard patriotic gesture. However, the dancers often shifted in ways that fractured the imagery of the American flag, symbolizing a nation deeply divided by race, class and political tensions.
In addition, the decision to have Serena Williams perform the Crip Walk was laden with meaning. As Dr. Sequoia Maner, a professor at Spelman College in literature, explained. 

“A lot of people said, ‘Oh, you know, that’s a jab at Drake,’ right? Serena is Drake’s ex. But we forget in 2012, Serena was lambasted for doing the crip walk on the world stage at the London Olympics. And that was a moment in which we really saw this vitriol aimed at one of the most excellent top performers, saying that she was too loud and that she was too ghetto for a kind of respectable sport like tennis, right?” 

For a deeper dive into the symbolism in the half time show  you can read more in Halima Jibril’s article titled,  “America Has a Problem: Unpacking Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl symbolism.”

As 2025 continues, Kendrick Lamar’s influence on music, culture and social justice shows no signs of slowing down. His Grammy wins represent a new era for Black artists in the Recording Academy, while his Super Bowl halftime performance stands as one of the most significant cultural moments of the year. Lamar’s ability to use his platform to address difficult social issues while pushing the boundaries of his craft makes him one of the most important artists of our time. 

18-year-old Dominic Miller and 23-year-old Lyndell Mays were charged with “second-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon.” As the parade concluded, locals overheard Miller and Mays arguing with one another, which quickly escalated to gunfire. Two other teenagers were also charged with both gun-related offenses and with resisting arrest. 

Video evidence from the event shows onlookers chasing down and tackling the shooters, detaining them until the police arrived. In an interview with NBC’s Today Show, Paul Contreras, who was seen tackling one of the shooters, explains the event. “When I took him down to the ground, his hood went over his head so he was face down the whole time,” Contreras said. “I had him face down to the ground with me on top of him…”

As our community members and families process the tragedy that took place, the Chiefs players have teamed up with United Way of Greater Kansas City, a non-profit organization, to launch the #KCStrong Fund for emergency monetary funding to support those affected by the shooting, violence protection organizations, recovery facilities and first responders.

Lisa Lopez-Galvan, whose life was unfortunately taken at the shooting, was a part of the William Jewell community, both as a sister and as an aunt. In a supportive effort to honor Ms. Lopez-Galvan, the Faith and Culture center at Jewell has set up a memorial outside of Gano Chapel.

The Jan. 28, 2024 fight for the NFC Championship title came down to the San Francisco 49ers and the Detroit Lions, as they battled it out at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, the home field of the 49ers. Things were not looking good for quarterback Brock Purdy and the 49ers, as they found themselves at a 17-point deficit by halftime, but they persevered and performed a miraculous comeback, outscoring the Lions 27-7 in the second half. The 49ers clinched the NFC Championship with a final score of 34-31, advancing to the Super Bowl.

The Kansas City Chiefs faced off against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore for the AFC Championship game. Many people doubted the Chiefs’ ability to stop the Ravens’ explosive offense, but the Chiefs’ defense, coached by Steve Spagnuolo, was able to put pressure on quarterback Lamar Jackson and hold the Ravens to 10 points, tied for their season low. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes along with tight end Travis Kelce made an unstoppable duo, with Kelce scoring the first touchdown of the game to give the Chiefs an early lead. The game ended with a final score of 17-10 with the Chiefs claiming the AFC Championship title and moving on to compete in the Super Bowl yet again.

As Super Bowl LVIII approaches, we can look back and see what happened the last time the Chiefs and the 49ers competed against each other in Super Bowl LIV. Patrick Mahomes became the Chief’s starting quarterback in 2018 and has since led his team to the Super Bowl in four of the previous five seasons, winning two of them. Super Bowl LIV was Mahomes’ first appearance in the Super Bowl, and though the Chiefs were down early, Mahomes’ offense scored 21 unanswered points in the 4th quarter to win 31-20. 

This will be a challenging matchup between two teams led by talented young quarterbacks and two of the league’s top ten defenses, with both teams proven to be able to handle comeback situations. Chiefs fans hope to see their team win their second consecutive Super Bowl, while the 49ers aim to win their first Super Bowl since the 1994 season. Super Bowl LVIII will be played at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada on Feb. 11 at 5:30 p.m. (CT) with Reba singing the National Anthem and Usher performing for the halftime show.