Super Bowl 2025 five quick hits: Travis Kelce can't catch a break and Serena Williams makes a cameo with Kendrick

Amidst the Kansas City Chiefs' pursuit of a record-breaking third consecutive Super Bowl victory, this year's Super Bowl turned into a one-sided affair, with the Philadelphia Eagles crushing their dreams. The Chiefs' star players underperformed, while the Eagles' defensive unit shone brightly on the field, becoming a major highlight of the game.

Off the field, a pop star caused minor incidents due to strong disapproval from the audience, while the highly anticipated halftime show lived up to expectations, satisfying everyone. Here are five key moments from the 59th Super Bowl.

Early in the game, a referee's call against the Eagles sparked controversy. Considering various conspiracy theories, it was not surprising that the Chiefs benefited from a rather controversial call early in the game. On their first drive, facing fourth down and needing to advance 2 yards, the Eagles decided to go for it instead of punting. Quarterback Jalen Hurts did not choose the tried-and-true "Brotherly Shove" but instead threw the ball far downfield.

He succeeded. Wide receiver AJ Brown caught the 28-yard pass, and the crowd cheered. However, as fans realized a flag was on the field, boos began to echo throughout the stadium. The referee called Brown for offensive pass interference, ruling that he swiped his hand across cornerback Trent McDuffie's face while vying for position. Expert commentator and NFL legend Tom Brady expressed his displeasure with the call, and referee analyst Mike Pereira also made his opinion clear: "I don't think that was necessary." Ultimately, the Eagles regained possession through Hurts and the "Brotherly Shove" and completed the first touchdown of the game, pulling one back.

In the second quarter, the Chiefs were trailing in score, and the pressure mounted. Star quarterback Patrick Mahomes knew he had to do something to score. The problem was, he gave the points to the wrong team. On third down and needing to advance 16 yards, Mahomes saw an open field in front of him. He looked downfield and found DeAndre Hopkins heavily guarded. Mahomes took a gamble, thinking the worst that could happen was an incomplete pass. He threw the ball downfield, but it went straight into the arms of Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean, who quickly ran across the field and intercepted the pass. DeJean sprinted from the 40-yard line, rushing all the way to the end zone with excellent blocking from his teammates, scoring the Eagles' second touchdown of the game. It was the perfect birthday gift for the 22-year-old rookie, who finally had the first touchdown of his career after making his debut in Week 6 of the season.

Just before Kendrick Lamar was about to take the stage, Mahomes was once again hit by the Eagles' defensive unit in his own end zone. With two minutes left in the first half, we were all ready to watch Kendrick Lamar perform. Mahomes had only completed 24 yards of passing and had just thrown a terrible interception to DeJean. He tried to throw the ball over the middle again but lost his balance when an offensive lineman was pushed back. The collision disrupted his pass, and Eagles linebacker Zack Baun seized the opportunity, completing a brilliant interception, once again forcing the Chiefs to give up possession and ultimately leading to another Eagles touchdown. At that stage of the game, the Eagles had more receptions and passing yards from Mahomes than all of the Chiefs' receivers combined. Such a performance was unusual for a player considered to be one of the greatest quarterbacks in history.

Let's be honest, many people came here just for the halftime show. Kendrick Lamar proved his superstar status with a vibrant, aggressive, and masterful performance, from which the Chiefs could have learned a thing or two. Introduced by veteran Hollywood actor Samuel L. Jackson dressed as Uncle Sam, Kendrick Lamar's performance was seamless, first subtly hinting at his Drake diss track "Not Like Us" and then finally performing the song in its entirety at the end of the brilliant show. Keen viewers would also notice tennis legend Serena Williams making a brief appearance on camera, performing the "Crip Walk" on stage in the same iconic way she did at Wimbledon after winning gold at the 2012 London Olympics. Previously, Williams had expressed her support for Taylor Swift on social media after Swift was booed by the New Orleans crowd when she appeared on the big screen during a live broadcast.

Travis Kelce was the most talked-about person on the field, but he barely made an appearance during the first three-quarters of the Super Bowl. Kelce is the best tight end in the league and one of the most recognizable figures in the game, thanks to his relationship with Swift. In the first half, he was only targeted twice. One pass was completely missed, and the other he caught, but it was difficult because the pass was far behind him. Late in the third quarter, Kelce finally caught a pass, advancing 9 yards, but by this point, the game was basically over. It was a huge setback for the Kansas City star, who was key to the team's overtime victory in last season's Super Bowl. The loss also cost the Chiefs the chance to become the first team in NFL history to win three consecutive Super Bowl titles. On the other hand, Eagles offensive tackle Jordan Mailata became the first Australian to play in and win a Super Bowl ring.