Chapter 796: 795 Wolf in sheep’s clothing
Third Gear, five yards, a pass or a run?
However, the New England Patriots didn’t care because Belichick chose to take the initiative, firmly grasping their fate in his palms—
Rush.
This season, Brady remained the undisputed superstar of the New England Patriots, and those who only glanced at the data without watching the gas assud it was still Brady leading the New England Patriots to soar.
After all, the offensive group of the New England Patriots ranked fourth in the league, only behind the Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams, and New Orleans Saints—exactly the top four teams in the conference finals.
But in reality, it was otherwise.
This season, Brady’s performance had clearly declined. It might not have been noticeable usually, but during crucial monts, his pass completion rate, second-reading ability, and other data all fell sharply, with personal mistakes also remaining high, which wasn’t a good sign.
In such a predicant, it was the defensive group of the New England Patriots that constantly stepped up, ranked seventh in the league this season and becoming key to the team’s backstopping.
Among them, the pass defense of the New England Patriots was a ss, just like the Kansas City Chiefs, both were at the bottom of the league; however, in ground defense and frontline rush pressing, the New England Patriots were in the league’s top tier.
Clearly, Belichick was far-sighted.
Although Brady had won the regular season MVP last season, the underlying reason was that the overall performance of quarterbacks across the league was not up to par. Even Wentz, a second-year quarterback who hadn’t played the full season, could get MVP votes, not to ntion Li Wei and Donald in the bustling discussions occupying important positions.
All signs indicated that the thirty-nine-year-old Brady, like Brees, was beginning to decline, and from that ti, Belichick realized the team needed to slightly change—
Usually, they still relied on the offensive group in gas, but at crucial monts, they needed to learn to use the defensive group to break the deadlock. The defensive tactics and actual performance of the New England Patriots had significantly improved this season.
Right now, that was the case, if they didn’t strike, they didn’t, but once they did, they exploded fully, aiming at their prey like a rattlesnake.
Six n rushing!
Beyond the four linen, two more linebackers joined in, leaving one linebacker in the short pass area for flexible defense, the New England Patriots released all the pressure from the front line, breaking the balance with the ferocity of a tiger pouncing down the mountain.
Waves of force, hitting them head-on!
Mahos felt the pressure imdiately, in between steps backward, Li Wei on the right jogged over to assist, Mahos decisively handed the football to Li Wei—
Choosing to run for the third consecutive Gear?
Unexpected! One hundred percent unexpected!
From all indications, the Kansas City Chiefs should have chosen to pass, which was also the reason Belichick chose to rush to pressure further intimidating Mahos.
However, Reed unexpectedly chose to run.
The collision, the misty rain, and the cold were intertwined in chaos, with Van Noy leading the rushing players unfazed, resolutely stepping forward at full speed.
The difference was that the target switched from Mahos to Li Wei, that’s all.
Slap, slap, slap.
Van Noy’s footsteps splashed through puddles, generating lotus with every step, propelling his body forward at full speed, his blurred vision firmly locking onto the number twenty-three.
Closing in, aiming, sniping.
But he found that Li Wei was moving away from him, they were caught in a cat-and-mouse chase.
After getting the football, Li Wei didn’t push forward in a straight line as usual, but instead moved horizontally, passing in front of Mahos, shifting from the right to the left.
Was Li Wei evading Van Noy?
This thought spurred Van Noy to run faster, chasing with the thrill of a cat playing with a mouse, his smile broadening—
Li Wei, there was nowhere to escape.
Because to the front left, he could see another linebacker’s figure.
Dont’a Hightower, affectionately known as “Hightower” by fans, a linebacker chosen in the first round twenty-fifth overall by the New England Patriots in 2012, placed with great expectations, yet only truly shone after his rookie contract ended, making his first Pro Bowl in 2016.
Usually, Hightower appeared unremarkable, but at crucial monts, he always managed to be in the right place at the right ti.
The scene was similar.
Van Noy’s lips curled upward, with danger both in front and behind, now he watched to see where Li Wei would try to escape.
Sure enough, Van Noy was right.
Accurately, Van Noy saw Number 23 running straight into Hightower’s blocking trap—
Bang!
A full-on collision.
Van Noy: Got him.
Without hesitation, he pushed off with his feet, trying to speed up. Despite the slippery field, Van Noy quickly adjusted and caught up, completing a “one plus one” defensive maneuver with Hightower, sandwiching Li Wei in between them.
But, wait, sothing seed off.
Van Noy noticed at the corner of his eye, a streak of red moving through the drizzly, grey rain, too blur to see the number, already circling out from the outside of Hightower.
Who was that?
However, Li Wei was still colliding with Hightower, trying to break through. The continuous impacts and dodges left Van Noy no room to think, forcing him to stay focused. Finally, Li Wei was down, and as Van Noy fell into a puddle, his brain started working again.
In the pocket, who else—
Mahos.
Uh, who?
Mahos reminded himself to stay focused.
Whether it was nervousness or excitent, whether he wanted to prove himself or defeat the opponent, if his mind was cluttered, it was easy to get distracted.
Distraction led to errors.
Hence, he needed to focus, to be completely engrossed in himself and the ga situation.
A trick play?
No surprise, the New England Patriots always chose trick plays at cunning monts. Belichick had a real knack for timing, but Mahos remained unflustered.
A feint, handing off the football to Li Wei, but his right hand quickly pulled back.
Mahos acted as naturally as possible, without overly bending or hiding, casually letting his right hand hang down with the football.
Normally, one might need to hide; but now, with the fine rain and disturbed visibility, no one could see clearly, thus the feint was even more deceptive.
Mahos moved laterally in step with Li Wei, swiftly assessing Hightower and Van Noy, always staying alert.
Perfect, both experienced linen were completely fooled by the feint, their attention firmly on Li Wei.
Mahos moved with agility, like a gentle breeze, circling around Hightower’s position, then cutting inside, his path becoming a straight line, instantly accelerating—
He powered up, gaining speed.
The style changed dramatically, the lamb transford into a mighty wolf, not giving Hightower and Van Noy any ti to think, his body already shooting forward vertically.
In a robust and vigorous surge.
Mahos unleashed his speed, crossing the kickoff line, facing no resistance, an open field ahead of him, slicing through the New England Patriots’ short pass defense as effortlessly as a knife.
Three yards. Five yards.
In just two steps, Mahos had easily secured the first down, his peripheral vision catching a glimpse of white to the right—
The last lineman.
So, should Mahos decide on the spot to go down or keep going?
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