Super Bowl Domination

Chapter 1294 The Chosen Son

Since Michael Vick emerged in 2001, the running quarterback has matured after nearly two decades of development.

In the past few years, running quarterbacks have become a force that changes the times in the league. Four new generation running quarterbacks, Russell Wilson, Robert Griffin III, Colin Capenicole, and Cam Newton, have emerged. They can not only pass the ball, but also run. They are considered dual threats and are hailed as the super-evolved version of quarterbacks, completely subverting the sport of football.

However, the ideal is full, the reality is skinny.

The so-called double threat of passing and running finally presented to us the "four major running backs". Only Wilson's passing ability was above the passing line. Overall, their unsatisfactory passing ability made them running backs with slightly stronger mobility, but they were far inferior to the running backs in terms of the ability to withstand collisions. Injuries became a stumbling block before them.

In the NFL, how much does a running back make per year, how much does a quarterback make per year? How can a team afford to use a quarterback's salary to support a running back with mediocre passing ability?

Gradually, the trend of running quarterbacks in the league has declined.

Until this season——

"The Chosen One" Jackson emerged.

Last season, Jackson was given the task at a critical moment and performed well, but his passing ability was terrible. Everyone thought that Jackson was at most a younger version of Newton.

This season, Jackson has been reborn. The improvement and transformation in his passing ability has surprised the entire league. He has demonstrated his ultimate version of a running quarterback. Not only is he versatile in passing and running, but his control of mistakes such as interceptions and drops is also perfect.

Finally, the ideal version of the running quarterback has emerged from imagination into reality.

Keep waiting, keep searching, keep questioning, people even gave up at one point, and gradually gave up the fantasy of running quarterbacks in the past two seasons. Perhaps the so-called dual threat of passing and running is just an illusion, a conception, a fairy tale, an unattainable idealism that only exists in imagination.

Now, Jackson's appearance is not just a miracle, it is a fairy tale turned into reality.

So, the whole league went crazy.

Indeed, Mahomes performed well last season, but Mahomes' high number of interceptions and intentionally restrained running the ball only made Mahomes a unicorn-arm version of Manning. Maybe Manning was the top benchmark for traditional quarterbacks in the first twenty years of the 21st century; but with the second decade coming to an end, the times should have progressed.

Indeed, Levi continued to grow this season. He can not only run and catch the ball, but also pass the ball. But in the final analysis, Levi is still just a running back. Running backs cannot replace the quarterback's core position in football. Levi's comprehensiveness and strength are slightly dimmed by the overall rise of Jackson. Even if we only compare the season data, Jackson is not inferior.

It's unbelievable and unthinkable, but it's happening.

Imagine how the league performed when Levi suddenly appeared. Now Jackson's shining appearance can easily create ten or a hundred times the energy.

In such a situation, the league gave a little boost, and the praise and admiration surrounding Jackson became unstoppable.

Wait, did someone say performance?

The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the fully upgraded Baltimore Ravens head-on in the regular season and achieved the second 16-game winning season in the Super Bowl era. Shouldn't this give Levi extra points?

The point is that the Baltimore Ravens' record of 14 wins and 2 losses is not inferior. When people discuss the biggest rival of the Kansas City Chiefs in the playoffs, the Baltimore Ravens are the first to be mentioned.

Whether from the perspective of the individual player or the team as a whole, Jackson is the "chosen one", a superhero who subverts and leads the league.

Moreover, this time it is not a running back, but a quarterback, who perfectly fits all the league's imaginations and expectations.

then--

Lamar Jackson!
The bustling and noisy calls for the regular season MVP were directed towards Jackson.

All kinds of things, endless noise.

It is hard to imagine how many professionals expressed concern that Harbaugh might be making a mistake when the Baltimore Ravens let Joe Flacco go during the offseason. But now, Jackson has undoubtedly become the biggest attraction of this season. Who would mention Flacco, who is lost in the crowd?
Young. Versatile. Talented. Excellent. Just like Levi in ​​2017, just like Mahomes in 2018, just like Goff, Wentz, Foles, Donald, etc. in the past two years.

The media, which is always fickle, has found a new toy. The rolling heat wave surrounded Jackson, and countless microphones filled every corner of Jackson's vision. He finally experienced the feeling of standing at the top.

So, is this how Levi has felt for the past two years?
Not bad.

"Lamar, what are your prospects for the playoffs?"

"Champion. Our goal is to be champion."

"Lamar, are you confident you can beat the Kansas City Chiefs?"

"of course."

"Lamar, do you think Levi is your nemesis?"

"No, I'm on the offensive team, he's on the offensive team, we have nothing to do with each other, I need to focus on the defensive players."

"But, Lamar, you have never defeated Levi once, from the NCAA to the NFL, including the Heisman Award and the regular season MVP. You have lost both on and off the court. When facing Levi, do you feel that it is a mountain that cannot be climbed?"

"..."

Jackson told himself to stay calm, stay cool and not be angered by the media, but such wave after wave of attacks were really too much for him to handle. The anger burned uncontrollably in his stomach, and the gurgling boiling sound almost exploded.

"No, I don't think so."

Jackson finally controlled himself and gave a polite smile. He was determined to defeat Levi not only on the court, but also off the court.

Just so confident.

"Lamar, so you believe you can beat Levi and beat the Kansas City Chiefs, the 'Chiefs in the playoffs,' the 'Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium'?"

Ho!
Suddenly, emotion overwhelms reason——

Levi, Levi, Levi, the devil's voice filled Jackson's brain, awakening the worst and most terrifying nightmare in his memory. It almost became his inner demon.

Damn it.

"Playoff Chiefs", the team that created miracles in the 2017 season.

The "Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium," the team that remained undefeated at home in the 2018 and 2019 seasons.

This season, the Kansas City Chiefs not only won all 16 regular season games, but also achieved the amazing feat of winning all 16 home games in two seasons.

So, when was the last time the Kansas City Chiefs lost at Arrowhead Stadium?
On November 2017, , the Kansas City Chiefs lost to the Buffalo Bills at home when they were facing a six-game losing streak.

Two weeks later, the Kansas City Chiefs defeated their division rivals, the Oakland Raiders, at Arrowhead Stadium to end their six-game losing streak, and started a 22-game winning streak at Arrowhead Stadium, including the playoffs. For more than two years, no team could shake them at Arrowhead Stadium.

This is who every team wants to beat this season, including Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens.

(End of this chapter)