Super Bowl Domination

Chapter 1628 Burning the Universe
"Wow, what a little surprise."

"In his third year as the starting quarterback, Mahomes has also grown and transformed, becoming less impetuous and more composed."

"In the tense and anxious atmosphere of the confrontation, Mahomes calmly tricked the opponent into making an early move through tactical adjustments, easily breaking the deadlock. This not only eased the tension at Arrowhead Stadium, but also quietly put pressure on the Houston Texans, and the confrontation had already begun earlier."

"It's only the start of the new season, and the first down has not even begun, so it's too early to say anything; but without a doubt, the Kansas City Chiefs have shown their maturity and composure, and their handling of this situation exudes a confidence that comes from within, which is truly impressive."

"Now, the pressure is on the Houston Texans."

"Now it depends on O'Brien's ability to make adjustments on the court. Whether he likes it or not, the advantage that the special teams had worked so hard to build has vanished, and the tension and pressure on the Houston Texans' defensive players will continue to rise."

"So, should they stick to their existing defensive tactics? Or should they be more aggressive and seize the opportunity to turn the tide?"

The atmosphere had indeed subtly shifted. The Kansas Chiefs relaxed a little, while the Houston Texans became more tense. The balance of power shifted slightly, and the accompanying psychological and state-of-mind changes were also happening quietly.

Mahomes deliberately slowed down, adopting a leisurely attitude, watching the tip-off time tick by, tormenting the Houston Texans players. The defensive players were so tense that they had to suppress their movements to avoid committing a second foul early.

That tension was like roasting them over a fire.

Tension spread in the blink of an eye.

With the kickoff about to be announced, Mahomes straightened up again—

He.

Wait, is Mahomes planning to trick us into moving early a second time?

Houston Texans were on edge, their nerves stretched to the limit.

Unexpectedly, Mahomes paused as he stood up, then suddenly changed his tune and announced the start of the game.

"attack!"

With a back-and-forth motion, Mahomes seized the initiative by braking twice in a mere half-second.

Cunningham grunted, but before he could protest or complain, he swallowed the grunt and his body instantly started up.

Push off the ground, exert force, and sprint.

Let's move forward!

Hmph, all Mahomes knows are these low-level tricks. If he thinks these strategies can defeat them, then Mahomes is too naive. Their three-peat miracle is over, and the 2020 season is destined to no longer belong to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Although his reaction speed was slightly slower, Cunningham's attack speed was absolutely top-notch, flying out instantly like a bullet leaving the barrel.

In professional leagues, there's a concept called "contract year," which means that when a player faces a contract renewal or layoff crisis, they often unleash incredible energy, performing at a top level, even exceeding their own capabilities, in the year leading up to signing a new contract.

150%, or even 200%.

However, after their contracts expire, many of these players seem to burn out and become ugly ducklings again, falling below average levels, even below the league average. It's like they had a breakout year, signed a super contract, and then just retired.

For this reason, team managers also need to consider the "contract year" factor when renewing contracts. Is this player's breakout year or does he/she have more potential to be explored? The "contract year" may become a turning point for him/her to go further.
Of course, for fourth-year players, this is also their "contract year," as their rookie contracts are about to expire. Cunningham is one of the players facing a "contract year" crisis. His will and belief are completely different from any previous season. He bursts out with incredible energy as if his inner universe is burning, and his speed, strength, and explosiveness are all elevated to a new level.

Whoosh!
Like a raging storm, comparable to a torrential downpour.

Cunningham found an opening in the gaps between the attacking lines. Without even a direct confrontation, he inexplicably squeezed through the gap with a sidestep and a leap, and he was already in the pocket. He rushed forward without even adjusting his footing.

Agile. Swift. Tough.

Without giving him any breathing room, Cunningham had already spotted Mahomes retreating.

This was a surprise attack, without a doubt.

Clearly, O'Brien was also strategizing and adapting. The moment Mahomes successfully made his early move, O'Brien immediately realized the subtle shift in momentum. The game hadn't even started yet, and the Kansas City Chiefs had already gained the upper hand. But O'Brien wouldn't give up easily and immediately launched a counterattack.

A surprise attack. Capture and kill. Applying full pressure on the front lines.

The Houston Texans must have played together many times during the offseason and are very familiar with each other. Without Watt, the defensive line lost its intimidation and pressure of previous years. Instead, the three defensive line players consciously and systematically matched up against the five offensive line players. Although they were outnumbered, they still cleverly pushed the offensive line to the sides, creating a mismatched opening.

Cunningham broke through the middle perfectly, like a tiger descending a mountain.

The entire coordination was light and skillful, with the intensity bursting forth instantly.

A fierce wind swept down.

Cunningham gritted his teeth and gave it his all. He was neither complacent nor overconfident, because he knew that he could not relax until the capture and killing were complete. He would return all the humiliation he had just suffered.

Cunningham kept his eyes firmly on Mahomes, and could see at a glance Mahomes' passing intentions. Mahomes stepped back early to create space for himself to pass the ball.

So, what about Li Wei?

As a passing target or as a sixth attacking forward?
Cunningham caught a glimpse of Levi on his left out of the corner of his eye, which pleased him, because Levi hadn't figured out their strategy. The focus of their defense, as offensive forwards, was on the outside linebackers—

That side, which used to be Watt's responsibility, was always a hellish territory for the Houston Texans, thanks to Watt's ability to coordinate with the outside linebackers' pick-and-roll and box-out.

Of course, Li Wei wasn't afraid; he could always break through from that side head-on.

Therefore, Li Wei still focused on that side.

However, if Levi continues to view this Houston Texans team with the same old mindset, he is destined to suffer.

As expected, Li Wei realized Cunningham's sudden attack and hurriedly retreated to prepare to disengage.

However, it was too late.

Cunningham was determined to win! With a ferocious expression, he lunged at Mahomes!

To hell with the three-time defending champions!
(End of this chapter)