Brady earns seventh Super Bowl win with Buccaneers

Fans rejoiced and fireworks exploded in Tampa Bay on Sunday night as veteran quarterback Tom Brady led the Buccaneers to their first Super Bowl victory in nearly two decades.

The team held a commanding lead throughout most of the game, defeating the reigning champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, 31 to 9.

Their victory in Tampa Bay makes the Buccaneers the first team to play and to win on home soil.

Celebrations were limited inside the stadium this year due to the global health crisis, but that didn't keep some overjoyed Bucs fans from erupting in excitement outside.

"This is great for Tampa Bay area. Brady is like a savior for Tampa. Thank God for Brady, go Bucs! Tom Brady, you'll be the preacher at my wedding next year!"

It's a record-extending seventh Super Bowl championship for the 43-year-old Brady, who also got the game MVP title for the fifth time.

Brady is widely regarded as the greatest quarterback of all time.

This year's game was largely billed as a showdown between Brady and his much younger rival, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

But the Chiefs' loss Sunday was the worst NFL defeat yet for the 25-year-old Mahomes, who was hobbled by a lingering toe injury and unable to crack through the Bucs' rampaging defense.

Firing three touchdowns in the first half alone, Brady had an unstoppable night with the help of tight end Rob Gronkowski.

And after the Chiefs failed to move past a first half riddled by penalties, a 27-yard touchdown run by Leonard Fournette in the third quarter virtually sealed the win for the Buccaneers.

Only 25,000 masked-up spectators were allowed inside the game this year, socially distanced by some 30,000 cardboard cutouts.

It was a fitting conclusion to a tough NFL season, which saw postponed games and significantly fewer fans.

Canadian singer The Weeknd headlined the high-profile Super Bowl halftime show largely from the stands, in lieu of a normal stage surrounded by thousands of cheering fans.