Chapter 342: 341 Holding one's breath and staring intently
Arrowhead Stadium: ...Huh?
From Mariota to Mariota, a touchdown pass to himself, what kind of play was that? Discover more stories at My Virtual Library Empire
Even Revis, a veteran in the League for ten years, was completely flabbergasted. Everything happened in the blink of an eye, and there was simply no time to react—
The Kansas City Chiefs, from offense to defense, were somewhat... at a loss for words, struggling to find an accurate term to describe the scene they had just witnessed.
Li Wei was no exception.
At a glance, Li Wei noticed Henry's awakening, his fighting spirit and hostility plain to see. Although Li Wei himself was filled with question marks, caught off guard by Mariota's suave move, he immediately sensed the crisis:
A turning point.
Just like in their home game against the Oakland Raiders, one touchdown, one breakthrough, one chance could overturn the situation; now, the Tennessee Titans might also rely on this unbelievable touchdown to upend the game. They needed to be vigilant, and even more, they needed composure.
Immediately, Li Wei went up to high-five his defensive teammates to comfort them.
Especially Revis.
Without saying much, Li Wei simply gave Revis a hug with a smile, patting his back, but this gesture made Revis pause.
Then it was the offensive group's turn. Li Wei and Kelsey chatted and laughed, subtly easing the odd atmosphere hanging in the air, trying to help everyone relax and refocus their attention.
They needed to concentrate on themselves.
However, this was easier said than done—
Firstly, the Kansas City Chiefs had been losing consecutively in the playoffs, especially with five straight home losses, a habitual weakness rooted in a lack of self-confidence. When the unexpected and setbacks occurred, nightmares would once again encroach.
The Reid-era Kansas City Chiefs had also never managed to shake off such nightmares.
Secondly, this Kansas City Chiefs team still lacked some determination and domineering presence.
From Quarterback Smith to the style of both offense and defense, it was all the same. Plus, Li Wei and his young teammates were still inexperienced, and a few motivational slogans were insufficient to change the situation.
And, let's not forget.
The on-the-spot offensive tactics were called by the Offensive Coordinator Nagy, who was also an inexperienced coach. Ultimately, he wasn't worldly enough, and his on-the-spot adjustments and improvisations may not always result in the right choices.
So, although Li Wei and Kelsey had already noticed the turning point, their efforts still couldn't stabilize the wavering and chaotic situation—
The Kansas City Chiefs' focus wavered somewhat, no serious mistakes were made, and the offense could still advance, but the coordination started to show slight deviations, lacking the natural, smooth flow of the first half.
The momentum was shifting.
Then.
"Henry!"
"Derrick Henry! Wow, Henry's power advantage completely exploded, bulldozing through two defenders to break free."
"Incredible!"
"Henry is still moving! A tackle! Kansas' secondary defense didn't let up, but... wow! Henry has broken through! Henry forces his way through, sending Kansas City Chiefs' Red Zone into complete disarray!"
"Beautiful!"
"Touchdown!"
"Henry completes a thirty-five-yard rushing touchdown!"
"Fantastic, Henry has fully showcased the charm of this retro ground offense approach, tough, steady, and solid. No frills, relying solely on direct breakthroughs! Henry has proven that, even without Murray, there's no need to worry. He's ready to take on the responsibility for the Tennessee Titans' ground offense!"
"Henry, on his own, turned a second-and-five into a touchdown! Now, the Tennessee Titans narrow the gap in the score even further!"
...
"Oh, oh, oh!"
"Decker!"
"Tennessee Wide Receiver Decker steps up at the crucial moment to make the catch; he reemerges with the peak form he once showed playing for the Denver Broncos with Manning, and in this game, where he had been almost entirely invisible, a moment's brilliance becomes the key to a complete turnaround for the Tennessee Titans."
"A twenty-two-yard pass for a touchdown!"
"Mariota finally finds a Wide Receiver other than himself!"
"The game, this, wow."
"The Kansas City Chiefs' Red Zone defense is still outstanding, tough and resolute. Mariota is completely lost in front of the multi-layered defensive bulwark; but Mulkai still finds a way—they don't even get into the Red Zone, launching deep strikes from twenty, even thirty yards out from the end zone."
"Now it seems Mulkai's gamble has finally paid off!"
"The Tennessee Titans, have taken the lead."
The entire stadium is in shock.
Since Mariota threw the ball to himself for a touchdown, the Tennessee Titans went on a "19:0" run in the second half, completely overturning the situation of the game.
"22:21."
Now, the Tennessee Titans have taken the lead in the score.
What's the deal with the score?
For the two touchdowns afterwards, Mulkai chose to take risks to the end, opting for the two-point conversion challenges both times; but as the commentators said, the Kansas Citadel Chiefs' Red Zone defense was watertight, and Mariota's awry passes had no chance whatsoever, resulting in both two-point conversions failing.
So, after the two touchdowns, the Tennessee Titans only scored six points each time.
Mulkai is going mad, his eyes bloodshot, showing the desperate gambler's resolve, battling the Kansas City Chiefs in a pyrrhic way, willing to inflict a thousand damages on the enemy even if it costs him eight hundred."
There were rumors before the game that Tennessee Titans executives had already decided, regardless of the outcome of the wildcard game, they would show Mulkai the door.
This means the only way for Mulkai to keep his job is to win. If the Tennessee Titans can keep winning in the playoffs, he might be able to postpone his termination notice, again and again.
And perhaps, stage a comeback.
So, when the unexpected situation occurs in the second half, Mulkai seizes the opportunity firmly.
The Tennessee Titans overturn the situation, completely suppressing the Kansas City Chiefs.
At Arrowhead Stadium, the entire stadium holds its breath, hearts nearly exploding from beating so franticly, the nightmares of the past years returning to the brain over and over again, blood that was boiling a second ago now plunging to freezing point—
Could it be happening again?
In the Old Oak Tavern, there is dead silence, faces anxious and dazed, staring at the television screen; no one speaks, the words of Provo echoing above their ears, but now even anger seems to have no strength left.
When the Kansas Chiefs Offense strikes out again, and the ball goes back to the Tennessee Titans, the air explodes with despair.
Bart: Oh yeah! I told you, I've been saying! Relying on just a rookie running back isn't enough to change the playoff landscape, don't forget, this is football, not basketball or soccer.
Bart watches Li Wei in the live broadcast, finally regaining long-lost confidence—
His judgment is correct, his expertise and authority can at last redeem themselves!
At this moment, Bart feels a bit of sympathy for Li Wei. To experience such highs and lows in his first professional season and to end in such a brutal manner, the lesson is a bloody one; for a kid, it's just too cruel.
But…
This is the professional field, a merciless and unsympathetic reality.
Welcome to the NFL, rookie.
A smile crawls across Bart's lips.