Super Bowl Domination

Chapter 585 Real Materials
"...James, it's Jesse-James!"

"Roethlisberger's pass to Antonio Brown successfully fooled the Kansas City Chiefs defense and aimed at James behind Brown!"

"This is not a mid-range pass, but a long pass. The parabola completely passes Brown's position. Brown is actually a smoke bomb. Roethlisberger successfully deceived the attention of the defensive players and pushed out a long pass."

"Fifteen yards!"

"Twenty yards!"

"Twenty-five yards!"

"Roethlisberger throws a 25-yard pass!"

"James! James completed the catch and successfully shook off the tackle of safety guard Murray!"

"go ahead!"

"End zone!"

“Touchdown!”

"Great! The Pittsburgh Steelers' offense finally broke the deadlock and scored the first touchdown of the game! Can this be the turning point for the Pittsburgh Steelers to turn the tide?"

The answer is correct.

Tomlin did not lose his composure, but instead showed his true qualities as a head coach.

He still insists on the backup tactics to prevent Bell from missing games during the offseason, opening up routes and vision, transforming the Pittsburgh Steelers into a team that focuses on passing offense, making full use of Roethlisberger's passing ability to cover the entire field and launching multi-point offense.

The difference is, how to use Brown?
Brown just renewed his contract during the offseason last year. Now he is not only the highest-paid wide receiver in the league, but also the recognized No. 1 wide receiver among professionals and professional players. He is in hot form and is undoubtedly a killer.

How to use Brown correctly is the most important part for the Pittsburgh Steelers to win and even compete for the championship. Especially in the absence of Bell, Brown's tactical position has skyrocketed.

Although Brown looked a little embarrassed in the first quarter and did not perform well, he also needs time to find his competitive form.

However, Tomlin showed his cold side.

Just like Bell, when facing Brown, just say no.

In the second quarter, Tomlin used Brown as bait. Brown alone could attract the attention of at least two or even three people, and Roethlisberger had more space to pass the ball.

Including James, Zhu Zhu, the fourth and fifth wide receivers, and the new starting running back Connor, all may be passed targets. The Pittsburgh Steelers fully opened up the entire passing offense strategy.

Same with the Kansas City Chiefs.

In this way, the defensive team cannot follow the routine step by step, and each offense and defense must be adjusted, paid attention to, and flexible.

Moreover, Tomlin was decisive enough. He said he would not use Brown and he did not pass the ball aimed at Brown even once in the entire second quarter. However, the Kansas City Chiefs could not let their guard down and had to be alert to Brown at all times. Even if Brown was just a goalkeeper standing there, they still needed to distract themselves from defense. Why not be safe than sorry?
Thus, the advantage was reversed.

In addition, there is one more thing——

adventure.

In the second quarter, the Pittsburgh Steelers faced fourth-down situations three times, and they chose to force fourth-down all of them.

It's understandable that they took risks on a fourth-down, one-yard play and a fourth-down, two-yard play; but Tomlin still took risks on a fourth-down, four-yard play.

The Pittsburgh Steelers write an amazing history:

The first team ever to declare power play on fourth down three times in a row in the first half.

Two strong hits were successful and one strong hit failed.

The core of Tomlin's strategy is to pursue a winning momentum.

The score gap in the first quarter was too big. If they waited until the second half to give it a try, they might not have a chance; so they had to fight back in the second quarter and turn the situation around before the Kansas City Chiefs completely widened the gap in the game. What's more, the tolerance rate in the first half was higher.

Under Tomlin's strategy, the Pittsburgh Steelers' offensive tactics were a bit rough, but they won in momentum and turned the situation around with a brutal attitude.

Of course, that’s not all, offense alone is not enough to win the game – defense, or standing by, is not enough.

After finally scoring the first touchdown to break the deadlock, the pressure on the Pittsburgh Steelers was significantly reduced, and the defense gradually relaxed and regained its form.

Strategy, with targeted adjustments.

First, the front line gave up the raid.

The Pittsburgh Steelers just need to maintain basic pressure on the pass rush level and not let Mahomes get too relaxed and comfortable and have his way.

Second, adopt the five-point guard tactics.

Reduce one linebacker and add a nickel back (a role between cornerback and safety).

Use a nickel back to specifically guard Levi; the other three linebackers join the four defensive second-line players to play man-to-man defense and zone defense.

No matter whether it is Levi or the wide receiver who enters the short pass area, the zone defense can form a situation where two to three players cover the area. Coupled with the players who are already on guard, the offensive players will be surrounded.

In fact, more than that, when Mahomes chooses the passing target, he can find that there are defensive players all around his passing target, and defensive players can be seen wandering in different passing areas.

There is no space at all.

Pressure naturally rises.

At the same time, Levi needs to face the close defense of a five-point guard. If he cannot get rid of it in the first time, a two- to three-person double-team will immediately stick to him and he will be trapped.

The Pittsburgh Steelers transplanted the Kansas City Chiefs' tactics against Brown to Levi, which immediately made Levi relive the nightmare of the sixth week of last year's regular season.

The key to the entire tactic is that there is no surprise attack, which to some extent frees up Mahomes; and Tomlin takes advantage of Mahomes' immaturity and personality.

First, lack of experience.

Second, dare to take risks.

The trap that Tomlin tried to set in the Kansas City Chiefs' second offensive wave but failed was successful in the second quarter. When Mahomes faced such a situation, the smooth sailing in the first quarter gave him confidence, and he dared to take risks and pass the ball, but some of the passing routes and target choices still exposed the young man's rashness and recklessness.

After all, this was only the first start of his career.

As long as Mahomes dares to take risks, the Pittsburgh Steelers' defensive team's first double-team will put the Kansas City Chiefs in danger of interceptions.

The tip of the knife dances wildly.

Although the Pittsburgh Steelers have not been able to steal the ball for the time being, the pressure is always there. Hill, Kelce, Watkins and other receiving points are all surrounded, and the Kansas City Chiefs' offense has become stumbling.

The first time I ran the ball into the wall.

The first pass was incomplete.

First strikeout.

Young people are beginning to pay the price for their lack of experience.

The Pittsburgh Steelers seized the opportunity and showed the style of a mature team.

First, Roethlisberger connected with Juju for a two-yard touchdown, but missed the extra point.

Then, as the first half drew to a close, the Pittsburgh Steelers actually performed a trick attack.

Running back Connor passed the ball to Roethlisberger, who then passed it to this year's rookie wide receiver James Washington for a 14-yard touchdown.

Then, the two-point extra point was chosen, and incredibly, Roethlisberger connected with running back Connor and succeeded!

Beep!
First half, the game is over.

(End of this chapter)