Super Bowl Domination

Chapter 796 Sheep Transformed into Wolf
3rd and 5, pass? Or run?

However, the New England Patriots didn't care, because Belichick chose to take the initiative and firmly grasp his destiny in his own hands.

Raid.

This season, Brady is still the undisputed superstar of the New England Patriots. The spectators who did not watch the game but just glanced at the data took it for granted that Brady is still leading the New England Patriots.

After all, the New England Patriots' offense ranks fourth in the league, behind only the Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams, and New Orleans Saints - coincidentally, the top four teams in the conference finals.

But the fact is, it is not.

This season, Brady's condition has obviously declined. It may not be noticeable at normal times, but his passing success rate, second-time reading ability and other data at critical moments have all dropped, and his personal mistakes are also high. This is not a good thing.

In such difficult situations, it is the New England Patriots' defense that has repeatedly stepped forward. Ranked seventh in the league, the defense has become the key to the team's bottom line this season.

Among them, the New England Patriots' passing defense is a mess, and like the Kansas City Chiefs, they are at the bottom of the league; but in terms of ground defense and front-line pass pressure, the New England Patriots are in the first tier of the league.

Clearly, Belichick is looking ahead.

Although Brady won the regular season MVP honor last season, the reason behind it was that the overall performance of the league's quarterbacks was not satisfactory. Even a second-year quarterback like Wentz who did not play a full season was able to get MVP votes, not to mention Levi and Donald occupying an important position in the bustling discussion.

All signs indicate that the 39-year-old Brady, like Brees, is beginning to decline. From that time on, Belichick realized that the team needed to change slightly.

Usually, they still rely on the offensive team to play, but at critical moments, they need to learn to use the defensive team to break the balance. This season, the New England Patriots' defensive tactics and actual performance have made great progress.

This is what is happening right now. If you don't make a move, it's fine. But once you make a move, you will explode with full force, like a rattlesnake aiming at its prey.

Six people rushing the pass!

In addition to the four defensive frontmen, two linebackers also joined in, and finally one linebacker was left standing in the short pass area for mobile defense. All the pressure on the New England Patriots' front line was released, breaking the balance with the posture of a tiger descending the mountain.

A rolling wave of air is blowing towards you!

Mahomes felt the pressure immediately. As he stepped back, Levi, who was standing on the right, jogged over to meet him. Mahomes immediately handed the ball to Levi.

The third consecutive offense chose to run the ball?

Accident! Absolutely unexpected!
From all indications, the Kansas Chiefs should have chosen to pass the ball, which is why Belichick chose to rush the pass to put pressure on Mahomes, further intimidating him.

However, Reed unexpectedly chose to run the ball.

Amid the chaos of collisions, rain, fog, and cold, the raiding players, led by Van Noy, remained unmoved and marched forward at full speed with determination.

The difference is that the target switched from Mahomes to Levi, that's all.

Snap, snap, snap, snap.

Van Noy's footsteps were like lotus flowers in puddles, pushing his body forward at full speed, firmly grasping the figure of number 23 in his blurred vision.

Get close, aim, and snipe.

But he found that Levi was moving away from him, and they were caught in a cat-and-mouse game of chase.

After getting the football, Levi did not move straight forward along the normal route, but moved sideways, passing in front of Mahomes and moving from the right side to the left side.

Could it be that Levi is avoiding Van Noy?

This thought gave Van Noy a gust of wind, and he ran faster and faster, catching up at full speed, feeling the pleasure of a cat playing with a mouse, and smiling.

Levi, there is nowhere to escape.

Because you can see another linebacker in the front left side.

Dont'a Hightower, the linebacker affectionately called "Hightower" by fans, was selected by the New England Patriots with the 2012th pick in the first round in 2016. He was highly expected, but he did not really shine until the end of his rookie contract. In , he was selected for the Pro Bowl for the first time.

Normally, Hightower seems inconspicuous, but at critical moments he always appears in the right place at the right time.

The same thing happened in front of him. Van Noy raised his lips. There were wolves in front and tigers behind. Now let's see where Levi can escape.

Sure enough, Van Noy was correct.

Correctly, Van Noy saw No. 23's running route run head-on into Hightower's blocking trap—

boom!
Full of bangs.

VAN NOY: Yeah.

He acted decisively, exerted force on his feet, and tried to speed up. Although the wet ground made him slip a little, Van Noy quickly adjusted and caught up. He and Hightower completed a "one plus one" defensive cooperation, turning Levi into a sandwich.

But wait, something seems to be wrong.

Van Noy noticed at the end of his sight a flash of red moving through the blue-gray rain curtain. He couldn't even see the back mark clearly, but it had already gone around the outside of Hightower.

Who was that?

However, Levi was still hitting Hightower, trying to break through. The continuous collisions and escapes made it impossible for Van Noy to think and he had to stay focused. He finally managed to get Levi to the ground. Van Noy fell into a puddle and his brain finally started to work.

Who else is in my pocket——

Mahomes.

Uh, who?
Mahomes keeps reminding himself to stay focused.

Whether you are nervous or excited, whether you are eager to express yourself or trying to defeat your opponent, it is easy to be distracted as long as your mind is full of thoughts.

It is easy to make mistakes if you are distracted.

So, he needs to focus, 100 percent on himself and the situation on the court.

Raid?

Not surprisingly, the New England Patriots always choose to pounce at cunning moments, and Belichick does have a philosophy for timing, but Mahomes won't panic.

With a fake move, he handed the football to Levi, but quickly took it back with his right hand.

Mahomes acted as naturally as possible, not bending over or hiding, just holding the football in his right hand, naturally and relaxedly.

Under normal circumstances, it might be necessary to hide; but now, the drizzle is interfering with the vision and it is impossible to see clearly, so the fake move is more deceptive.

Mahomes followed Levi's steps and moved sideways, quickly looking at the figures of Hightower and Van Noy, and remained alert at all times.

Perfect, both experienced linebackers didn't notice the fake, and their attention was completely captured by Levi.

Mahomes' footsteps were light, like a breeze, bypassing Hightower's position, and then, with an inside cut, the route cut into the straight line and started instantly -

Apply force and speed up.

The scene suddenly changed, and the little sheep turned into a big bad wolf. Without giving Hightower and Van Noy time to think, his body had already rushed out vertically.

Vast and vigorous.

Mahomes also fully unleashed his speed, crossing the line of scrimmage without encountering any obstacles. There was an open space in front of him, and he easily tore through the New England Patriots' short pass defense like a sharp knife.

Three yards. Five yards.

In just two steps, Mahomes easily took the first down. He noticed a smudge of white on the right side.

The last linebacker.

So, should Mahomes just fall to the ground, or should he continue?
(End of this chapter)