American Football: Domination

"Ah, what a pity. If you tried a little harder, maybe you'd make it back just in time for the Super Bowl."

Lance's words left Berry momentarily stunned.

He hadn't expected Lance to say something like that. Looking up sharply, Berry saw Lance's confident smile.

"What? Don't believe me?"

Berry remained silent, frozen in place, his thoughts struggling to keep up with Lance's quick-wittedness.

Lance spread his hands wide. "Why don't we make a bet? I bet we'll make it to the Super Bowl, but you won't recover in time to rejoin the team, so you'll be watching from the sidelines."

"After all, you're already 28. Your career's approaching its twilight years. If you choose to call it quits now, no one could blame you..."

Before he could finish, Berry interrupted. "What if I recover, but the team doesn't make it to the Super Bowl?"

Lance didn't answer immediately. Instead, he reached into his pocket, a sly grin forming on his lips, and placed something on the edge of Berry's bed.

A quarter.

Berry stared at the coin for a long moment. Then, as if rediscovering his fighting spirit, his face broke into a broad, defiant grin. Laughter burst forth, wild and unrestrained.

"Ha! Twenty-five cents. Fine, twenty-five cents it is!"

"Alright, it's a deal. And remember, this coin is mine. I have a hundred percent confidence in that."

Lance picked the coin back up, flipping it into the air before catching it. With a flick of his wrist, he held the quarter out to show Berry again. "Then it's settled."

Just outside the hospital room, Coach Reid had been about to enter but stopped in his tracks. His worried expression softened into a rare smile.

He already knew Lance was different. The future of the Kansas City Chiefs was quietly beginning to rest on his shoulders, and so far, Lance was handling it well.

Reid turned, hands clasped behind his back, and shuffled off with a penguin-like waddle, a picture of quiet satisfaction.

The season-ending injury to star safety Eric Berry cast a shadow over the Chiefs' three-game winning streak, filling the air with unease.

Next, the Chiefs would return to Arrowhead Stadium for Week 4 to face a formidable challenge from the Washington Football Team.

Last season, after parting ways with former first-round pick Robert Griffin III, Washington was widely expected to spiral into disarray. Instead, they unearthed a hidden gem on their bench.

Drafted in 2012 with the 102nd overall pick in the fourth round, Kirk Cousins had spent years warming the bench. But when the team's quarterback situation turned chaotic, Cousins seized the opportunity. His breakout season silenced critics, earning him a Pro Bowl nod despite Washington narrowly missing the playoffs by one game.

This season, Cousins solidified his spot as the starter and began the year in impressive form.

Currently, Washington held a 2-1 record, tied with divisional rivals the Eagles and Cowboys. As an early-season dark horse, they were gaining momentum and eyeing a playoff run.

Facing Kansas City was their next big test.

Likewise, the Chiefs, having clawed their way to a 3-0 record, faced their own trial—starting with the loss of Berry.

The game lived up to its billing—

The two teams engaged in a fierce battle on both sides of the ball, entering the fourth quarter tied at "17-17."

In the final period, Washington struck first with a field goal, gaining a slim lead as the game headed into the home stretch.

But at the crucial moment, Kelce and Lance stepped up yet again, converting key third-down plays to keep the Chiefs alive. Despite struggling in the red zone all game, the Chiefs chipped away with another field goal to keep pace.

In the final moments, veteran linebacker Justin Houston sacked Cousins, forcing a fumble that the Chiefs promptly recovered, quashing Washington's last chance at a comeback.

"20-29."

For the third time this season, the Chiefs staged a fourth-quarter comeback to secure victory, extending their undefeated streak to four games.

And with the Atlanta Falcons losing to the Buffalo Bills this week, the Kansas City Chiefs stood as the league's only remaining unbeaten team.

The lone survivor.

This marked the fourth time in franchise history—after 2003, 2010, and 2013—that the Chiefs held this distinction. It was also the second time under Coach Reid.

Few could have predicted this scenario at the start of the season.

Naturally, the debates raged on.

First, apart from the defending champion New England Patriots, the Chiefs' other opponents so far were all teams that had missed last year's playoffs.

This fact made their schedule seem relatively easy, casting doubts on the credibility of their victories.

Second, of their four wins, three were nail-biters decided in the fourth quarter. Except for their dominant win over the struggling Los Angeles Chargers, the other games were hard-fought battles.

Given their "lackluster competition," the Chiefs' narrow victories appeared less impressive.

Critics like Barrett doubled down, labeling the Chiefs "paper tigers." Even after being repeatedly proven wrong, Barrett stubbornly held his ground, winning over a faction of supporters with his contrarian stance.

To be fair, Barrett's skepticism had some merit. The Chiefs' wins hadn't been convincing enough to silence all doubts, leaving many to believe their true tests lay ahead.

However, controversy aside, a win is still a win—

At 4-0, the Kansas City Chiefs stood atop the NFL, surpassing all expectations.

Unsurprisingly, praise for Lance and the Chiefs continued to dominate the conversation.

Looking at it another way, the Chiefs' gritty victories showcased their resilience.

While blowout wins may be thrilling, true champions are forged through adversity and struggle. Teams that breeze through the regular season often crumble against tough playoff competition. By contrast, those tested early are more likely to endure the grind of postseason football and emerge victorious.

The Kansas City Chiefs seemed to be on the right path.

Meanwhile, amid the applause and cheers, a new storm was brewing around Lance on social media—

"Good luck charm."

Could Lance be the real reason behind the Chiefs' undefeated streak?

This wasn't just about Lance's talent—though his skill was undoubtedly crucial. It was about his apparent streak of incredible fortune.

Since his debut for the Crimson Tide last year, Lance had yet to lose a single official game, racking up 19 consecutive wins and counting.

The true king of luck might just be here.

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Powerstones?

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