Super Bowl Domination

Chapter 338: Continuing the Momentum
Levi, Levi again.

When the Kansas City Chiefs and Tennessee Titans were slow to get into the game in the wild card match, Levi stepped up.

He relied on his personal ability to break free from four tackles and ran 24 yards into the red zone to break the balance.

Although the Tennessee Titans showed intensity in the red zone and did not give up many yards on the first two plays, Levi still broke through the defense on third and one.

The Kansas City Chiefs took the lead.

"0:7".

Just like the home game against the Oakland Raiders in the 14th week of the regular season, after Levi broke the deadlock at the beginning, the Kansas City Chiefs were completely excited and got into full swing on both offense and defense.

First, facing Mariota's read-option offense, the team continuously displayed high-quality and high-intensity defense, which severely dealt a heavy blow to the third-year quarterback and forced the Tennessee Titans to choose to punt continuously.

Then Smith cleverly used Levi as bait, and the passing offense finally opened up the situation. Facing the Tennessee Titans' double cornerbacks Williams and Olakapo, who played at the Pro Bowl level this season, he made a breakthrough by continuously moving the tiger away from the mountain. The last 14-yard pass connected with tight end Kelsey.

Kelsey ate Olakapo alive and scored a touchdown.

The Kansas City Chiefs continued to expand their lead.

Everything in the first half seemed familiar. In the last four weeks of the regular season, the Kansas City Chiefs swept their opponents in this way and made their way into the playoffs. Now they continue with this momentum and leave no room for the Tennessee Titans to play.

At the two-minute timeout in the first half, Mariota finally made a run, relying on his own legs to lead the team to complete continuous advancement, and finally the special team completed a 49-yard free kick to finally score.

However, they did not expect that the Kansas City Chiefs were in such a hot state in the first half that in less than two minutes, Smith's passing attack went completely crazy. He kept passing the ball out of bounds towards the sideline and finally connected with Hill for a 13-yard touchdown pass in the last seconds of the first half. His smooth offense completely stunned the visiting Tennessee Titans.

"3:21".

At the end of the first half, the Kansas City Chiefs were leading with an absolute advantage.

There were exclamations and admiration in the live broadcast room. The progress of the game completely exceeded expectations. The one-sided crushing sweep did not seem like a playoff game at all.

"There's no doubt that the Kansas Chiefs come prepared."

"So far this season, the Kansas City Chiefs have suffered five consecutive home losses in the playoffs, which is the longest losing streak in NFL history so far. If they continue to lose this game, they will push the record to a new height, which is obviously not what the Kansas City Chiefs want to see."

In the 2015 wild-card game, the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Houston Texans in the playoffs, which was an away game.

A home court in the playoffs means that the team is a higher seed. Regardless of whether it is a wildcard game or a divisional game, the home team is the one that performed better in the regular season and should often be the favorite to win.

however.

The Kansas City Chiefs are now experiencing a five-game losing streak at home in the playoffs. In a sense, this is even more embarrassing and shameful than the 24-year playoff winless streak.

After all, a 24-year winless streak in the playoffs could mean that the team has been in a slump, in a rebuilding phase, and may not even be able to advance to the playoffs; but a five-game home losing streak in the playoffs could mean that the team was able to start the regular season and even be ranked as a high seed, but then performed poorly in the playoffs.

No one wants to hold such a record.

No wonder professionals, led by Butt, have always been pessimistic about the Kansas City Chiefs.

At the critical moment, no.

and so.

"But today, the Kansas City Chiefs' pre-game preparations were sufficient and comprehensive, with multiple points on both offense and defense, completely suppressing their opponents."

"In the first half, the Kansas City Chiefs scored three touchdowns from three players in three different ways. The defense also restricted Mariota's read-option offense at different levels, and the ground defense was even better." "There is no doubt that the Kansas City Chiefs really showed the style of a strong team."

"The current situation is indeed very, very difficult for the Tennessee Titans. In the history of the NFL playoffs, there are not many cases where they can turn the game around after falling behind by 18 points..."

Derrick Henry stood at the side of the field, watching Hill celebrating his touchdown in the end zone. With two seconds left in the first half, the Kansas City Chiefs scored another touchdown, stabbing the Tennessee Titan in the heart. But his eyes couldn't help but fall on Levi standing aside.

Feint shot.

This time, when Smith passed the ball, almost everyone thought that Levi would play the role of wide receiver again. Even Henry standing on the sidelines was no exception, not to mention the defensive team in the middle of the field.

As a result, Levi was a smokescreen, and Smith and Hill completed the connection.

Levi, who can play a role that breaks the balance regardless of whether he has the ball or not, is becoming the core of mobilizing the Kansas City Chiefs' offensive team's diverse tactics, interpreting the running back position in different colors, which is eye-catching.

But what about him?
Henry's heart couldn't help but shrink.

He has been complaining all the time because the head coach did not give him a chance, because the main running back Murray refused to treat him well, and because the team focused on Mariota... blah blah, he did not get a chance and had no room to play. In the two seasons since entering the professional league, he has been playing the role of a scavenger.

Compared with university, there is a world of difference.

Once a child of destiny, he now has to beg for the chance to hold the ball. He has never been able to adjust his mood and is unable to adapt to such a role.

This game is no exception.

Murakai's tactics completely revolve around Mariota. He has been circling around Mariota like a headless fly. Where is the room for him to play?

He longs to hold the ball, he longs to break the deadlock, he longs to confront the defensive players head-on, he longs to maintain his image and status as a genius king in front of his fellow Crimson Tide players, but the cruel reality makes him miserable.

Desolation. Shame. Distress.

Henry didn't need to compare the data to know that his performance in the first half was a mess; but Levi was still shining -

That rookie.

So, admit defeat? Disarm? Surrender?
No.

of course not.

In Levi, Henry saw the key point that he had always forgotten.

Don't shirk responsibility and don't blame others.

Maybe they are the stars, the core and the soul of the team in the college arena, but it is another matter in the professional arena. He needs to be a member of the team, he needs to understand that shining with teammates is also a way to shine, and he needs to accept the intricate tactics that are more important than personal strength to win.

It was not until now, from Levi, that he finally learned this.

Henry couldn't help but think back to the words of his mentor Burns.

"It's true that he's a rookie, but precisely because of this, he can re-examine the sport without any burden or baggage, which is his advantage. Derek, there are things in him that are worth learning from."

Once, Henry shrugged it off; but now, he seemed to finally understand what those words meant.

It's not too late.

(End of this chapter)