Daily Briefing: Patrick Mahomes is breaking the NFL

  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

Behind another MVP performance from star quarterback Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs erased a 10-point halftime deficit to topple the Eagles 38-35 in Super Bowl 57. Also in the news: A look at President Joe Biden's meeting with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and halftime performer Rihanna is pregnant with her second child.

🙋🏼‍♀️ I'm Nicole Fallert, Daily Briefing author. Are you wishing Super Bowl Monday was a national holiday?

Now, here we go with Monday's news.

Mahomes, Chiefs beat Eagles 38-35

Playing on an injured ankle, Kansas City Chiefs' quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter and scrambled 26 yards on the go-ahead drive before Harrison Butker kicked a 27-yard field goal with 8 seconds left to give the Chiefs a 38-35 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday night.

MVP x2: Mahomes, who was named Super Bowl MVP for the second time just days after collecting his second league MVP award, was magnificent, despite aggravating his high ankle sprain late in the first half.

  • Super Bowl winners and losers: Even with a fumble that led to a scoop-and-score, this loss was not on Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts.

  • Philadelphia achieved the longest punt return in Super Bowl history65 yards by Kadarius Toney to set up Kansas City’s third touchdown of the second half. After leading the NFL in sacks during the regular season, the Eagles didn't get to Mahomes once.

  • Why did fans call Super Bowl #rigged? A late Philadelphia Eagles penalty sent fans and social media into a frenzy, lamenting the referees and accusing the NFL of rigging Super Bowl 57. But the player called for holding, cornerback James Bradberry, said afterward it was the correct call.

More Super Bowl 57 coverage from USA TODAY:

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (left) celebrates with tight end Travis Kelce (right) after winning Super Bowl 57.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (left) celebrates with tight end Travis Kelce (right) after winning Super Bowl 57.

Death toll surpasses 33,000 in Turkey, Syria earthquake

One week since the most devastating earthquakes in recent history, workers in Turkey and Syria were searching for signs of life in freezing temperatures as the death toll surpassed 33,000 and survivors expressed frustration about the rescue efforts. The United Nations' top aid official on Sunday said aid efforts have "failed the people in north-west Syria," where more than 12 years of civil war have resulted in a complex political situation. As many as 5.3 million people in Syria may need shelter, the U.N. Refugee Agency said, and the number of fatalities in both countries continues to rise. Read more

Relatives warm up around a fire in front of rubble of collapsed buildings as rescue teams continue to search victims and survivors, after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck the border region of Turkey and Syria earlier in the week, in Kahramanmaras on February 12, 2023.
Relatives warm up around a fire in front of rubble of collapsed buildings as rescue teams continue to search victims and survivors, after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck the border region of Turkey and Syria earlier in the week, in Kahramanmaras on February 12, 2023.

More news to know now

🌤 What's the weather today? Check your local forecast here.

US military shoots down unidentified object over Alaska

The U.S. military shot down an unidentified flying object over Michigan Sunday – the third in three days and fourth since downing a Chinese spy balloon off the coast of South Carolina Feb. 4. Sunday’s shoot down occurred hours after airspace had been temporarily closed over Lake Michigan by the Federal Aviation Administration and NORAD. The object had been flying at about 20,000 feet over Lake Huron in a path and altitude that raised concerns about it being a hazard to civilian aviation, said Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary. Shooting it down over the lake minimized the chances of injuring people or damaging property. Read more

Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder speaks during a press briefing at the Pentagon on February 10, 2023 in Arlington, Virginia. The Pentagon announced today that the U.S. military shot down an unidentified object that was flying over frozen waters of Alaska.
Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder speaks during a press briefing at the Pentagon on February 10, 2023 in Arlington, Virginia. The Pentagon announced today that the U.S. military shot down an unidentified object that was flying over frozen waters of Alaska.

Biden meets Brazil's Lula

Nearly a month after Brazil experienced riots that mirrored the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection, President Joe Biden met with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Top of the agenda: preserving democracy, and collaborating on fighting climate change. The two leaders are self-described pro-union men and are both the oldest presidents elected to each country. The meeting came a month after supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro attacked several buildings in Brazil’s capitol, including the building where Brazil's Congress meet, as a retaliation for Brazil's election results. Read more about the leaders' meeting.

February 10, 2023: US President Joe Biden and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva walk together along the Rose Garden colonnade at the White House in Washington, DC.
February 10, 2023: US President Joe Biden and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva walk together along the Rose Garden colonnade at the White House in Washington, DC.

Just for subscribers:

These articles are for USA TODAY subscribers. You can sign up here

Harry's night at the 2023 Brit Awards

Harry Styles won four prizes, including album of the year, at the U.K.’s leading music awards Saturday, while female-led indie rock band Wet Leg took trophies for group of the year and best new artist. Styles took the album of the year trophy for “Harry’s House,” less than a week after winning the same category at the Grammy Awards. He also won for pop/R&B act, song of the year for “As It Was,” and artist of the year. “I am very aware of my privilege up here tonight,” said Styles, who drew criticism for saying at the Grammys that “this doesn’t happen to people like me very often.” Read more

  • Sam Smith turned heads in a dramatic latex jumpsuit with inflatable arms at the Brit Awards.

📷 Photo of the day: Every photo you must see from Rihanna’s Super Bowl performance 📷

On Sunday, "Lift Me Up" singer Rihanna hit the halftime show stage for Super Bowl 57 in a crimson red ensemble, which featured a stylish jacket and bralette. The singer's outfit, a custom-made design by LOEWE, also showed off the 34-year-old's growing baby bump. Rihanna could also be seen caressing her stomach during the performance, a nod to her soon-to-be bundle of joy. The singer’s representative confirmed the pregnancy shortly after she ended her 13-minute set. Read more about the performance and click here to see photos from Rihanna's stunning set.

Rihanna performs during halftime of Super Bowl 57.
Rihanna performs during halftime of Super Bowl 57.

One more thing

Ming Lee Simmons, from left, Aoki Lee Simmons and Kimora Lee Simmons attend the Prabal Gurung Fall/Winter 2023 fashion show at Gotham Hall on Friday, Feb. 10, 2023, in New York.
Ming Lee Simmons, from left, Aoki Lee Simmons and Kimora Lee Simmons attend the Prabal Gurung Fall/Winter 2023 fashion show at Gotham Hall on Friday, Feb. 10, 2023, in New York.

Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at USA TODAY, sign up for the email here. Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot her an email at NFallert@usatoday.com or follow along with her musings on Twitter. Support journalism like this – subscribe to USA TODAY here.

Associated Press contributed reporting.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Super Bowl 57, Turkey-Syria earthquake, Pentagon, Harry Styles, Rihanna: Daily Briefing