Chapter 1343: Chapter 1342: Bewildered and Lost
“Fly! Clap clap!”
“Fly! Clap clap!”
The synchronized chant surged through the stadium like thunder, not just resonating in Arrowhead Stadium, but seemingly enveloping the entire city of Kansas City and even the whole North Arican continent. The overwhelming heat pressed heavily on the chests of the Tennessee Titans players from all directions.
It was suffocating.
Derrick Henry stood rooted to the spot, trying to lift his head, trying to straighten his chest, trying to stand tall—
But it was hard. Really, incredibly hard.
Just monts ago, Henry had been ecstatic, blood boiling as he roared freely. He had proven himself with a trick play and a beautiful pass, showing that he was by no ans inferior to Li Wei. What Li Wei could do, he could match, proving that he too was one of the league’s top running backs.
Running? Catching? Passing?
None of it was an issue; Henry could do it all, and he carried the team’s burdens, playing the role of the team’s superhero at crucial monts.
And the result?
With one turn, he still couldn’t withstand the Kansas City Chiefs’ fierce counterattack.
An interception, one interception ended all of the Tennessee Titans’ efforts on this drive, flushing Vrabel’s calculations and strategies down the drain.
Yet, there was not even ti for sorrow and anger before a counterattack hit them.
Interception return for a touchdown.
Not only did it quash the Tennessee Titans’ all-or-nothing attack, but it also delivered a thunderous counterstrike, piercing straight into the heart of the Tennessee Titans with precision and sharpness.
A fatal blow.
Deeply, Henry took a deep breath, attempting to regain his composure.
But it was truly difficult. Looking up at the scoreboard above the field, a sense of bewildernt seized his ankles, causing him to feel as if he was plumting straight down from the sky.
It wasn’t that the Tennessee Titans were underperforming; in fact, they had already revealed all their secret weapons, focused and giving their all, exerting 120% of their energy. Except for this interception, they had almost made no mistakes in the entire first half, playing nearly a perfect half.
And yet—
“28:28.”
The four-touchdown lead vanished in an instant, returned to an even starting line, making it seem as if all the struggles and efforts of the first half were for nothing, all were in vain.
The feeling of powerlessness clogged his chest, stifling and worrying.
What happened to the so-called “ho curse”? And what was going on with the scoreboard?
Did the curse only work for one quarter at Arrowhead Stadium?
Darn it.
Darn it, darn it, darn it!
Even just standing there, Henry’s knees trembled involuntarily. Imrsed in the ga throughout the first half, he temporarily forgot fatigue. Now that he stopped, that burning sensation thrashed around in his calf muscles, his steps felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, and he couldn’t take a step forward, as if lifting a leg would cause his whole body to fall apart.
He had to use all the remaining strength to barely continue standing.
As he raised his head, Henry imdiately spotted Li Wei among the bustling crowd—
Steadfast. Calm. Focused. Solid as a rock.
No outburst, no celebration, no cheering, and certainly no arrogance or swagger.
The steady aura emanating from him, like a sharp blade moving forward unhesitatingly, kept the Kansas City Chiefs focused and calm.
That deanor was unmistakable:
Erasing a 28-point deficit was worth being happy about, but not worth celebrating because the ga was not over; the Kansas City Chiefs’ goal was ultimate victory.
The imnse conviction radiating subtly yet powerfully stifled the morale of the entire Tennessee Titans.
Even Henry was not immune to the suffocating pressure. And what of the others? Their eyes were filled with confusion and bewildernt, unsure of where to seek answers.
“Hey!”
A shout ca to his ears. It was Vrabel, clapping hands to draw attention and calling out loudly.
“Hey, everybody snap out of it. There’s still the second half!”
“It’s just a tie, back to square one, equal opportunity, everybody get it together, go back to the locker room to adjust properly and get it together.”
Yelling, shouting, trying to energize the Tennessee Titans players, but Vrabel’s voice carried an undertone of uncertainty.
He cautiously concealed his sweaty palms, but the motivational speeches he was trying to convey lacked warmth, and a hint of bewildernt was visible in his eyes.
Vrabel understood the logic—
It’s just a tie; there’s still the entire second half to decide the winner.
But the reality?
Vrabel’s pocket was emptied, all sorts of secret weapons were deployed, thinking at least that they could help the Tennessee Titans gain a foothold, yet they were all broken in the straightforward frontal assault by the end of the first half, shattering his plans.
Having another half should have been good news, but Vrabel was at a loss for how to confront it.
“This is a tough problem.”
“We all know, this is a tough problem.”
“This season, praise and skepticism surrounding the Kansas City Chiefs intertwine, everyone voicing their opinions, on the one hand they achieved a historic undefeated season, on the other they’re at the crossroads of entering a new era, facing countless controversies and challenges, yet one thing is indisputable.”
“Whether leading or trailing, the fighting spirit and resilience inherent in this team have never extinguished.”
“Now, the Tennessee Titans face a daunting problem: how to stop the Kansas City Chiefs’ surge? This is also a challenge for the entire league.”
“The imdiate challenge is that the second half will start with the Kansas City Chiefs on offense. If the Tennessee Titans can’t stop them, the second half might fall completely under the Kansas City Chiefs’ control, allowing them to potentially widen the gap unchallenged.”
“The start is key.”
Nantz, with his seasoned experience, was ready to grasp the ga’s rhythm, accurately predicting the opening of the second half—
As soon as it began, the tension mounted to the maximum.
A ten-yard play, the Tennessee Titans opted for a blitz.
Vrabel went all in, shedding his burden, quickly setting up at halfti, and launching an all-out strike to disrupt the balance.
The entire first half, the Tennessee Titans blitzed only once, yet at the start of the second half, they opted for a six-man blitz, showcasing an all-or-nothing stance.
The pocket broke.
The Tennessee Titans had the strategy and determination, and the key lay in creating a nurical advantage, forcefully breaking through, with middle linebacker Woodyard successfully storming into the pocket.
Vrabel relied on defensive players’ misalignnt to interfere with the offensive line’s judgnt, not breaking through from the sides, but facing off head-on from the middle.
This small strategy was undeniably effective, as Woodyard smoothly entered the pocket.
However, was Kansas City unprepared?
The answer is no.
Li Wei, the sixth offensive lineman, was ready and waiting, stepping up to face Woodyard, promptly interposing between Woodyard and Mahos, buying Mahos crucial breathing space.
Mahos retreated step by step, increasing the distance, raising his head to read the defense.
But Li Wei noticed a trace of smugness in Woodyard’s eyes, and his intuition instantly sounded an alarm:
Uh oh, they’ve drawn out!
Reviews
All reviews (0)