MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — For the first time in what felt like forever, America was treated to a Super Bowl without the New England Patriots on Sunday. The upstart San Francisco 49ers, with their smothering defense, took on the Kansas City Chiefs and their wunderkind quarterback Patrick Mahomes. With aging stars like Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees also watching the game at home, the Super Bowl looked like a debutante party for the N.F.L.’s next generation.

Yet through it all, the Patriots, who last missed this big stage in the 2015 season, loomed over Hard Rock Stadium like a blimp commanded by the usual villains, Tom Brady and Coach Bill Belichick. The leaders of the N.F.L.’s most enduring dynasty, which seemed to be on death’s door three weeks ago when the Patriots slinked out of the playoffs, all but taunted N.F.L. fans with their mere presence, as if grabbing for the torch being passed.

Brady and Belichick were both on the field before the game, when the top 100 players in N.F.L. history were introduced to honor the league’s centennial season. Brady was shown palling around with his boyhood idol, Joe Montana, as well as with other great quarterbacks, such as Brett Favre, John Elway and Dan Marino. Brady, of course, is the only one still playing.

Then the cameras panned to Belichick, and the boos rained down on the coach who is third on the N.F.L.’s career wins list. Belichick let out a hearty laugh, lifted his hands to the camera and showed off three of his eight Super Bowl rings. Point made: I’m great and I’ll be coming for more.