It's a 27-yard kick from Harrison Butker, who delivered Kansas City, 8 seconds from the siren and after a breathless suspense.

The Missouri team succeeds the Los Angeles Rams, for its third attempt on the last step in four years, after a failure in 2021 and a victory in 2020. And Mahomes confirms that he is a credible heir to Tom Brady in the NFL, even if with this second ring, he is still far from the seven of his glorious eldest, neo-retired.

Led by the score for three quarters during, ten lengths at half-time, they went through all the emotions, hanging on the fate of Mahomes, when, at the end of the second quarter, it was done again pain in the right ankle, already battered by a sprain during the play-offs.

His grimace of pain indeed raised fears of an inability to continue this 57th Super Bowl.

“I said this week that nothing was going to take me away from the field (…) The competitor that there is in you is what you work for all your life. I wouldn't get out of this game, even with this sprain a little worse, "said the MVP of this final, who was already that of the regular season.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes runs with the ball during the 57th Super Bowl against the Philadelphia Eagles on February 12, 2023 in Glendale, Arizona © Sean M. Haffey / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP

Rihanna, the moment suspended

With courage, he managed to revive his team in the third quarter, with a 14-yard run, prior to the touchdown of running-back Isaiah Pacheco (24-21).

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes injured his right ankle in a tackle during the 57th Super Bowl on February 12, 2023 in Glendale, Arizona © ANGELA WEISS / AFP

The suspense then quickly resumed its rights in this spectacular poster, between the two best teams of the season, "driven" by the two best quarterbacks.

Because opposite, Jalen Hurts had just struck the spirits for his first final.

After opening the scoring on the run in the first quarter, then finding AJ Brown in the end zone, on a wonderful pass from 45 yards, he made his only mistake of the match by losing a ball, immediately punished by Nick Bolton against (14-14).

But he immediately showed a steel mind on the next possession, moving up the field with the strength of his legs.

Elusive, he chained three races of 14, 28 and 4 yards to put the Eagles in front (21-14), becoming the first quarterback in history to score two touchdowns on the run and one on the pass in a Super Bowl. .

And this, even before half-time, the show of which was provided by Rihanna.

All dressed in red, suspended by cables on a platform lowered onto a long stage placed in the center of the field, she chained her hits including "Umbrella", surrounded by around fifty dancers.

Then, the Barbadian artist, pregnant with her second child, went up there, for her finale, on the chorus "Diamonds in the Sky".

Great publicity

There was no shortage of diamonds either in Glendale (Arizona), on the lawn of State Farms Stadium, filled with some 67,000 spectators and an audience of stars, Paul McCartney and LeBron James in the lead.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts scores a touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs during the 57th Super Bowl on February 12, 2023 in Glendale, Arizona © TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP

Because Hurts and Mahomes, who had not been outdone in the meantime, finding Travis Kelce, for a first equalizing touchdown (7-7), shone even more beautifully in the second act.

On an even more historic note, it was the first time that two African-Americans in this key position opposed each other in the high mass of US football.

And, between several million-dollar television ads, they did the best publicity there is for the sport, which is also talked about for the violence of its shocks, as the cardiac arrest suffered by Damar Hamlin in full game after a tackle.

A little over a month later, the Buffalo player was present on the lawn before kick-off.

In the unsustainable last quarter Mahomes found Kadarius Toney on a throw, to finally give the Chiefs the lead (28-27).

Which we break when their "QB" found Skyy Moore for his third passing touchdown, after a fantastic comeback from Toney, again him (35-27).

Folded match?

Not yet, because Hurts managed his third touchdown on the run, offering himself a record for a quarterback in a final, before converting it by two points by still going into the in-goal (35-35).

Vain exploit... To shine like a diamond in the rough was not enough, it was a little more polished in the face.

© 2023 AFP