Pass or run?
Second down with ten yards to go, facing the defensive group whose performance was steadily improving, how would the Kansas City Chiefs' offense choose their tactics?
The answer, of course, was... to run.
Mark's focus was intense, and he imdiately noticed Smith and Li Wei's handoff. With a misstep, he drove his left shoulder into Fisher's right, this ti, Fisher wasn't easily shaken off. He clung to Mark, steadfastly refusing to let him break through again and again.
Mark wasn't surprised.
Even though Fisher wasn't considered a top player, his ability to be the first overall draft pick was rooted in his physical qualities. Once he made an accurate prediction, Fisher could still carry out his offensive line duties, and do it very well.
As the ga progressed, Fisher didn't allow Mark to have his way. The confrontation had begun.
Mark ntally prepared himself. This ti, he didn't try to shake Fisher off. Instead, shoulder against shoulder, he kept pushing forward, stepping up, exerting force, forcefully disrupting the balance, making Fisher spin like a carousel.
Bang!
Fisher was left reeling, while Mark slipped into the pocket alongside Fisher's spinning body. Although not completely free, their bodies entangled, he spread his arms wide, blocking the path that Li Wei was advancing on.
Wait—
A fake run and an actual pass?
Mark, delayed by Fisher, was half a beat late when he realized the football was still in Smith's hands; moreover, Li Wei hadn't chosen to co up and block, but was still running along his slot route.
Damn it.
A foreboding feeling gripped Mark's heart, as the nightmare of the start of the ga quickly woke up.
Mark's second reaction followed imdiately—
He didn't think Li Wei was an exceptional wide receiver, with routes, footwork, posture, and control all very raw. Just one collision was all he needed to disrupt Li Wei's catch, ridiculously easy.
In an instant, Mark unleashed a burst of power, taking a violent step forward.
Fisher was completely spun around, dizzy from losing his balance: Why is it always getting hurt?
Li Wei moved quickly diagonally along the right sideline, while Mark, after breaking away from Fisher, kept pace, closing the gap between them—chase ensued in the blink of an eye.
He's closer.
Mark stepped up his pace to full speed, while Li Wei, looking back over his shoulder, began to adjust his steps to catch the ball. The distance between them rapidly closed as one sped up and the other slowed down.
Even closer.
With his back to Smith and facing Li Wei, Mark couldn't see what was happening behind him; Li Wei was all that was in view.
Stomp, leap, dive.
Seizing the opportunity, Mark took the initiative to collide.
Within arm's reach—
Bang!
The collision ca, but not from directly ahead—it ca from the left side.
Bowman.
While Mark aid for Li Wei, Bowman also targeted Li Wei, but everything happened in the brief mont within a confined space, so neither Mark nor Bowman saw the other coming—they collided with each other.
What, what happened?
Before Mark and Bowman could react, they saw Li Wei halt his stride, push off with his left leg, spin counterclockwise—a full three hundred sixty degrees—skillfully avoiding the collision as Mark and Bowman lost balance and continued their charge.
One glance was enough to tell that Li Wei had prepared in advance, taking everything into account.
Had been tricked.
But what about the catch?
If Li Wei was performing acrobatics here, then he would surely miss the catching point. Did this an that Li Wei, trying to show off, was ruining the team's offensive play?
Idiot.
The smile at the corner of Mark's mouth had just begun to curl up when, the next second, he saw a blur of chestnut red fly over his head, and his smile stiffened on his face.
The target of the pass was not Li Wei.
Mark: ...
Unable to control his body any longer, he lurched forward, plunging straight to the ground, his peripheral vision catching another red figure in front of Li Wei. Stay updated through My Virtual Library Empire
Was that... number 87, Kelsey?
Mark and Bowman tumbled together, by then completely losing sight of the play.
"Uh, this..."
"Clearly, both Mark and Bowman thought Smith's target was Li Wei; however, Li Wei and Kelsey ran overlapping routes, one shallow and one deep, and it was entirely up to Smith to control the pass. In the end, Li Wei served as the smoke bomb, with Smith connecting with Kelsey."
"That was an eight-yard short pass, and once again Smith showed his precision in the short pass area; but the real hero is definitely Li Wei."
"Wow!"
"Whether it's running or catching, Li Wei now has the ability to act as a super decoy. As long as he's on the field, no one can afford to ignore him."
"Moreover, he's even helping Kelsey block."
"Running. Passing. Blocking. Li Wei is omnipresent, enveloping the Oakland Raiders like a shadow."
Second gear ten yards?
No, with Li Wei's coverage and blocking, Kelsey advanced a full twenty-three yards, eventually being brought down within a triple-team tackle.
So what is called offensive explosiveness—
This, is explosiveness.
When Mark and Bowman got up, the thing they worried about still happened; Li Wei played decoy again. As they beca overwheld, reminding themselves over and over not to fall for it, they still stepped right into the trap.
After exchanging a glance, Mark could instantly see Li Wei turning to look back at him.
Gaze as sharp as a dagger, unyielding.
No words, no gestures, a single fierce look was enough to easily ignite the flas, with the surrounding smoke spreading everywhere.
An exchange, a response, this is what they call an eye for an eye.
Mark felt aggrieved: was that rookie just taunting him? Fine, very well then, let them settle it on the field. He would certainly fulfill the rookie's wish.
On one hand, Mark for the first ti in the ga stopped Li Wei right on the kickoff line, roaring to the sky like Hulk.
On the other hand, Li Wei and Kelsey once again perford their coordinated dance past the defense, this ti with Kelsey blocking and Li Wei advancing, narrowly completing a third gear six-yard conversion.
On one hand, Bowman stepped up in ti to make a tackle on Hill, and though Hill caught the ball, it was a near thing to create a fumble, and the intensity of the defense was ramping up.
On the other hand, Hunter ca on as a wide receiver to help the team complete a third gear four-yard conversion.
Back and forth, bayonets clashed, there was no need for a comntator to further explain, the audience could feel the blood and murderous intent perating the field.
And to explode on the verge of the Red Zone.
Originally, the Oakland Raiders had pulled off a beautiful three-and-out, but because Kerry was flagged for holding Kelsey without the ball, they not only gave up the play but were penalized in yardage.
Similarly, Kansas City Chief Hunter had caught a five-yard short pass to the edge of the end zone, but was penalized for jersey holding, nullifying the play and even costing them ten yards.
The yellow flags kept coming, disrupting the flow of the ga.
Players from both teams were noticeably charged with aggression, with the tension between these division rivals escalating. The Oakland Raiders realized they needed to stop their opponent's offense, and the Kansas City Chiefs realized they had to suppress their opponent's rising montum; the whole first half's atmosphere hinged on this single offensive and defensive play.
Even though the ga beca fragnted, it had to be said, this was normal—
The Oakland Raiders weren't so pushover that couldn't fight back, nor were the Kansas City Chiefs the sword that began the season with a six-ga winning streak.
The one-sided "0:17" at the start was more of an illusion, the true battlefield to determine the victory was right before their eyes.
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