American Football: Domination

"Here's a question: just how strong is Lance?"

"Most of the league's rookie running back records were set by the legendary Eric Dickerson in 1984, nearly 33 years ago. Records that have stood the test of time and remain untouched to this day."

"1,808 rushing yards. 18 rushing touchdowns."

"For 33 years, one generation of rookies after another has tried to break these records, but none have succeeded. Not even legends like LaDainian Tomlinson or Adrian Peterson could surpass them."

"Does that mean they weren't good enough?"

"No, of course not. They've both proven their legendary status. The bigger reason is the league's shift from a run-first to a pass-heavy style of play. Running backs have less room to operate, and rookies carrying such heavy responsibilities for an entire season has become increasingly rare."

"That is, until now."

"Lance is just under 200 yards away from breaking Dickerson's rushing record and has already tied his rushing touchdown record."

"And let's not forget, Lance plays for the pass-first Kansas City Chiefs, coached by Andy Reid—a team that ranked only mid-tier in rushing over the past two seasons."

"Lance has not only proven that he isn't some run-of-the-mill system player but has also shown that he can change games and decide outcomes on his own."

"So when we talk about Lance, it's far more than just stats."

"In my opinion, Lance fully deserves to be in the conversation for the regular season MVP."

"Blair, what do you think?"

On ESPN's "Inside the League", the host abruptly tossed the question to Bart, who was still lost in thought. Bart jolted as if struck by lightning, realizing all eyes were now on him.

He sighed deeply, knowing full well he was in yet another tight spot. This time, the Chiefs' decisive victory over the Raiders had left no room for excuses—it was arguably the most shocking game of the season. Bart was left without even a shred of dignity to cling to.

But what choice did he have?

"Do you really need my opinion?" Bart asked, half-jokingly.

The studio erupted in laughter.

Bart's reputation as the "Football Pele"—always predicting wrong—was now cemented. Even fans had turned him into a walking meme, with his face plastered across countless gifs and jokes circulating on social media.

Thinking it over, Bart decided there was no point in resisting. If he was already the butt of the joke, why not lean into it? After all, the attention was there, and attention meant relevance.

Straightening his back slightly, Bart allowed himself a faint smile.

"Yes, I think we should absolutely include Lance in the MVP conversation."

"He's earned it."

Bart: If my reputation as a jinx is sealed, I might as well jinx Lance into failure. Are you ready for this, rookie?

Meanwhile, on the Chiefs' practice field, Lance suddenly sneezed. Why did it feel like someone was talking about him behind his back?

"Inside the League" sparked a frenzy on social media.

At present, the MVP race was primarily focused on a select few names:

Tom Brady (QB, New England Patriots) Todd Gurley (RB, Los Angeles Rams) Aaron Donald (DT, Los Angeles Rams) Russell Wilson (QB, Seattle Seahawks) Aaron Rodgers (QB, Green Bay Packers) Carson Wentz (QB, Philadelphia Eagles)

Each player had delivered elite performances this season while keeping their teams in playoff contention. Among them, Brady and Donald were the frontrunners—Brady for yet another stellar season, and Donald for becoming the standout defensive player of the year.

Now, Lance's name had been thrown into the mix for the first time, causing a stir.

Supporters were numerous, of course. But so were the detractors.

Could a rookie really deserve the MVP?

Just like football's Ballon d'Or, the MVP award is typically reserved for the very best of the best, with each candidate backed by legions of supporters. There are no definitive answers—only passionate debates and personal preferences.

With Lance now in the conversation, the discourse quickly grew into a tidal wave. His candidacy sparked fiery arguments across the league, making waves even beyond the sports world.

It was clear: any rookie who enters such elite discussions will always cause an uproar.

Among the critics was Alvin Kamara, the rookie running back for the New Orleans Saints. He sneered at the idea.

"Ha, that's laughable."

"If he's in the MVP conversation, then I should be too."

"He's had a good season, but I've been better."

"Forget MVP—how about we start with Offensive Rookie of the Year? Because I'm more deserving of that title than he is."

Kamara had never been fond of Lance—not since rookie training camp. He couldn't stand the hype around Lance, didn't think Lance was better than any other rookie running back, and believed Lance's fame was purely due to his Asian heritage.

Kamara had a point. Why else would Lance have been drafted third overall, while Kamara had to wait until the third round, at pick 67?

In fairness, Kamara wasn't just spouting nonsense.

During the draft, the spotlight on running backs focused on a "Big Three": Leonard Fournette, Lance, and Christian McCaffrey. Other running backs were largely ignored.

But once the season started, Fournette and McCaffrey didn't quite live up to expectations. Only Lance stood out, carrying the banner for rookie running backs.

Meanwhile, Kamara emerged as a dark horse.

With the Saints, Kamara backed up former Crimson Tide star Mark Ingram and shone despite limited playing time.

By Week 11, Kamara became the first player since Herschel Walker in 1986 to record 500 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards in a season.

By Week 13, Kamara joined an elite group as only the fourth player in league history to reach 600 rushing and 600 receiving yards, tying Todd Gurley for second in total touchdowns with 11—behind only Lance, who led the league.

If not for Gurley's dominance in the NFC, Kamara might have been the talk of the league himself.

So, when Kamara lashed out at Lance, the media quickly latched onto the story.

When asked about Kamara's comments, Lance responded with his trademark calm demeanor and a hint of humor.

"Who?"

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Powerstones?

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