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In photos: Scenes from first Super Bowl with socially distanced fans

Rebecca Falconer

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Tom Brady celebrates with the Lombardi Trophy after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, on Sunday. Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

The first Super Bowl with coronavirus precautions in place ended in victory for Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Florida Sunday night.

The big picture: The game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa took place with more cardboard cutouts (30,000) than fans (25,000). The NFL provided those present with personal protective equipment including masks and hand sanitizer before the game.

The scene on the field after the Buccaneers' win. Photo: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
Head coach Bruce Arians of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers celebrates after the win. Photo: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
Tanoh Kpassagnon #92 of the Kansas City Chiefs walks off the field following the loss to the Buccaneers. Photo: Patrick Smith/Getty Images
Kenjon Barner, #44 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers walks on the field with a cutout of Sen. Bernie Sanders after defeating the Chiefs. Photo: Patrick Smith/Getty Images
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense celebrates during the third quarter. Photo: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
Line judge Sarah Thomas #53, has made history at the game, becoming the first woman to officiate in a Super Bowl. Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Patrick Mahomes, #15 of the Chiefs, takes the snap during the third quarter against the Buccaneers. Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
A worker holds a "face coverings required" at the stadium. Photo: Patrick Smith/Getty Images
Masked fans cheer at Raymond James Stadium. Photo: Patrick Smith/Getty Images
The scene during the Weeknd's performance during the halftime show. Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Harrison Butker #7 of the Kansas City Chiefs kicks a 49-yard field goal in the first quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
The scene in the stands at Raymond James Stadium during the game. Photo: Patrick Smith/Getty Images
Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looks to pass during the second quarter. Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
A general view of the stadium as the coin is flipped before the game. Photo: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
Jazmine Sullivan and Eric Church perform the national anthem before the game. Photo: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden express gratitude to health care workers during an address delivered via a big screen at Raymond James Stadium ahead of the game. Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
With restrictions on attendance, many fans were represented as cardboard cutoffs — including four-legged ones. Photo: Patrick Smith/Getty Images
A vendor selling merchandise at the stadium before the game. Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
A tweet previously embedded here has been deleted or was tweeted from an account that has been suspended or deleted.
A tweet previously embedded here has been deleted or was tweeted from an account that has been suspended or deleted.

Go deeper: How the NFL countered COVID-19

Editor's note: This article has been updated with more images and details from the game.

Go deeper

Kendall Baker, author of Sports
Feb 8, 2021 - Sports

Super Bowl parties, post-game celebrations risk COVID spike

Data: The COVID Tracking Project; Chart: Andrew Witherspoon/Axios

Many of America's COVID-19 spikes came on the heels of holidays, when friends and families gathered to celebrate. Could Super Bowl LV lead to another spike?

Go deeper (<1 min. read)Arrow
Rebecca Falconer
Feb 7, 2021 - Politics & Policy

"SNL" cold open tackles the Super Bowl

Photo: Will Heath/NBC

The latest "Saturday Night Live" cold open steered clear of D.C. politics to parody the Super Bowl, ahead of Sunday's game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Kansas City Chiefs — with Aidy Bryant playing both coaches.

The big picture: The "SNL" regular as Chiefs coach Andy Reid revealed their strategy was to "pass it, and then we're gonna run it and when they have the ball, we're gonna stop it." Then as Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians, Bryant revealed a strikingly similar game plan. The show also skewered firms that take political stands in Super Bowl commercials.

Go deeper: Super Bowl advertising is going to look a lot different this year

Editor's note: This article has been updated with more details from the sketch.

Jeff Tracy, Kendall Baker
Feb 8, 2021 - Sports

Unpacking Super Bowl LV

Photo: Patrick Smith/Getty Images

The Buccaneers crushed the Chiefs, 31-9, winning Super Bowl LV in front of 25,000 socially distanced fans at Tampa's Raymond James Stadium on Sunday.

Why it matters: With the win, Tom Brady moves to 7-3 in the Super Bowl, further cementing his legacy as the G.O.A.T. at the expense of Patrick Mahomes — the player with perhaps the best shot at one day challenging Brady's throne.

Go deeper (3 min. read)Arrow