With the 2021 NFL season coming to a close on Sunday, Feb. 13, students have been reflecting on the end of the Kansas City Chiefs season. This season, the Chiefs made it to their fourth straight conference championship, had seven Pro Bowlers and secured their sixth American Football Conference (AFC) West division championship.

The Chiefs’ season started on Sept. 12 at their newly renamed GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium with a 33-29 win against the Cleveland Browns. After that win, they would see two losses to the Baltimore Ravens and the Los Angeles Chargers. 

They suffered the same fate during weeks five and seven with losses to the Buffalo Bills and the Tennessee Titans. It wasn’t until week eight, when they hosted the New York Giants at home, that they found the spark they needed, winning 20-17. 

With that spark lit, they found success in winning their next seven games at home and on the road. After clinching their sixth AFC West division championship, they hosted the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild Card round of the playoffs. 

The following week, the Chiefs hosted the Buffalo Bills on Jan. 24 in the divisional round game to see who would be heading to the AFC championship game. Many considered this game to be one of the greatest NFL playoff games. With the score being 36-36 at the end of the fourth quarter, the game was extended into overtime when the Chiefs’ tight end Travis Kelce caught an eight-yard pass for the win. 

On Jan. 30, the Chiefs hosted the Cincinnati Bengals at home with a 24-24 score, which again sent the teams into overtime. This would be the Chiefs’ last game of the season as Cincinnati made it into field goal range and won the game 27-24 sending them to the Super Bowl for the first time since 1988. This would also be the first Super Bowl since 2019, to not include the Chiefs

Long-time Chiefs fan freshman Cole Rorick was disappointed at the Chiefs’ loss. “It was pretty upsetting,” Rorick said. “But Patrick Mahomes is going to be back with another year next year, so we’ll just have to wait until then.

Freshman Gage Callahan was also frustrated by the Chiefs’ performance against the Bengals but is ready to enjoy Super Bowl weekend. “I like to watch the game or the half-time show,” Callahan said. 

Rorick is also excited about the match-up. “I am rooting for the Rams because I want to see Von Miller get another ring,’’ Rorick said. 

As of Nov. 1, the Rams have agreed to trade a second and third-round pick for Von Miller. He is one of the newly acquired linebackers for the Los Angeles Rams. During his time in the NFL, he has had 8 pro bowl selections, one Super Bowl championship and won the most valuable player award in 2016.

Freshman Emma Berkley says that she will be watching the Super Bowl this year. “I definitely like the commercials,” Berkley said. 

Super Bowl LVI will air this Sunday, Feb. 13 on NBC live from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California with the Los Angeles Rams going up against the Cincinnati Bengals. The halftime show will be headlined by Mary J. Blige, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem and Kendrick Lamar.