American Football: Domination

Strike while the iron is hot, waver at the second attempt, and exhaust at the third.

Since halftime, the Kansas City Chiefs had shown a completely new face on both offense and defense, launching a fierce counterattack and relentlessly chasing down the defending champions.

However, amidst the Chiefs' aggressive surge, Bill Belichick and Tom Brady once again demonstrated their experience. Even in the face of adversity, they managed to keep scoring, weathering the storm and biting down on the game. They patiently waited for their opportunity to regain control.

Sure enough—

The Patriots' defense regained their composure, forcing a three-and-out and putting a stop to the Chiefs' second-half momentum, giving Brady another chance to take the field.

"The fourth quarter is already halfway through, and the game is now entering Brady Time."

"This is a situation Belichick and Brady know all too well. They still hold a two-possession lead. Now, Brady needs to start controlling the clock, but ultimately, the goal remains the same—keep scoring."

"As long as the Patriots maintain control, victory is within their grasp."

"At this moment, the Chiefs need more than just passion and determination. They need resilience and a firm belief that they can win. But against Belichick and Brady, that's easier said than done."

"Clearly, the plummeting temperature is not favoring the visiting team. Foxborough remains Belichick's most reliable fortress."

Could this be another one of those all-too-familiar endings?

The "Patriots always win" kind of ending?

The atmosphere inside Old Oak Tavern was suffocating—

The fiery momentum that had surged forward was abruptly halted, as if someone had suddenly slammed on the brakes. The adrenaline that had been boiling in their veins crashed against their insides, twisting stomachs into knots.

Tension filled the air.

The game was on a knife's edge.

You couldn't blame the fans for being on edge—two years ago, this nightmare had played out before.

After shutting out the Houston Texans in the Wild Card game, the Chiefs had traveled to Foxborough to face the Patriots—only to suffer a crushing defeat.

Now, two years later, in the same round, on the same field, against the same opponent, memories of that loss came flooding back. It was almost too painful to watch.

Charles West wanted to shout, to reignite the passion in the bar.

But it wasn't that simple.

On the TV screen, steam visibly rose from players' bodies, sweat drenching them despite the bitter cold. Their boiling blood clashed against the freezing Foxborough air. Even through the screen, the bone-chilling atmosphere was palpable.

The camera zoomed in on Andy Reid, his mustache covered in frost, his pale cheeks drained of warmth.

The weather was offering no favors.

West himself fell into doubt, his mind a tangle of anxious thoughts. A motivational chant or two wouldn't change anything.

Unconsciously, he lifted his chin, locked his eyes on the TV, and said nothing.

He simply watched—

Waiting for a miracle.

And yet—

Brady was ready to take over.

This scene had played out too many times before. For him, this was routine. There was no tension, no panic.

The Chiefs' defense, still riding their second-half momentum, continued to show toughness and grit, repeatedly forcing the Patriots into third-down situations.

But Brady always found a way.

Time and again, he converted third downs, draining the clock and extending drives, maintaining his grip on the game.

The contest had become a stalemate.

Slowly but surely, the Patriots were creeping past midfield.

It had been the same story all second half—their offense looked fragile, even on the verge of collapse. But in the end, they always managed to steal points.

It wasn't exciting.

It wasn't pretty.

But they were inching closer to victory.

"Beautiful play!"

"The Chiefs' defense has not given up. They are still fighting."

"This time, linebacker Justin Houston read the Patriots' ground game perfectly before the snap. He wasn't fooled, shed his blocker, and delivered a crucial tackle in the backfield, stopping the run before it could even develop—a three-yard loss!"

"The Patriots' ground game continues to be a disaster."

"Second-and-thirteen."

"Now, Brady faces another challenge."

"We've seen this situation more than once tonight."

"The Chiefs' defense has been outstanding, seemingly on the verge of crushing the Patriots. But every single time, they've fallen just short."

"Again and again, the Patriots have found ways to convert in tough second-and-long or third-down situations. It's all thanks to their short-passing dominance—Brady's elite defensive reads, precise route combinations, and Rob Gronkowski's individual brilliance have kept them moving."

"The Chiefs must make a stronger stand to break this cycle."

Revis agreed—

His eyes locked onto Danny Amendola, but his peripheral vision tracked the Patriots' movement. Their players were shifting, trying to confuse the Chiefs' coverage and disrupt their reads.

But—

The Chiefs held their ground.

They responded with some minor adjustments to mirror New England's movements, making it appear as though they were shifting into man coverage.

But in reality, their zone coverage was still intact, focusing entirely on shutting down the short passing game.

There was only one player under individual surveillance—Gronkowski.

The Chiefs knew this was a passing play.

And more than that—they knew it was going to be a short or intermediate throw.

Rather than spreading themselves too thin trying to cover everything, they zeroed in on Brady's passing lanes.

Every linebacker, every safety, every cornerback was fixated on the short zones.

Revis shadowed Amendola step-for-step.

In the regular season, Amendola had been underwhelming at best. But in the playoffs? He had come alive.

His route running was sharper, his physicality more aggressive—his impact undeniable.

So far, he had 11 catches for 121 yards.

His ability to find soft spots in coverage and gain extra yards after the catch had made him Brady's go-to target tonight.

At that moment, Amendola was particularly active.

So—

Was he the primary target?

Or was he bait?

Normally, Revis was a patient hunter.

He preferred sitting back, locking down his zone, waiting for the play to develop.

But every once in a while—just once in a while—

He would strike first.

And right now?

He saw an opening.

A split-second gap.

He didn't hesitate.

Didn't think twice.

He broke forward.

A sudden burst of speed.

He sliced through the offense, crossed the line of scrimmage—a blur.

Before anyone could react—

He leapt.

Like snatching a star from the night sky, his hands clutched the football midair.

Interception.

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Powerstones?

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