Chapter 378: Fast as Lightning
Rewind two seconds.
As Brady scanned the defense, Revis was also reading the offense—
More precisely, he was reading Amendola.
Brady had clearly noticed the Chiefs heavily crowding the short-passing zones, yet the Patriots still had multiple offensive options.
They could go deep, run the ball, or stick with a short pass.
It was impossible to tell if the Chiefs were planning a pass rush. Both sides had stacked players along the line of scrimmage, creating a crowded, chaotic battlefield where it was difficult to see any clear signals.
At that moment, an idea flashed through Revis's mind—
A screen pass.
The concept was simple—think of the offensive line as a movable screen.
At the snap, this "screen" initially protects the quarterback, drawing in pass rushers. But after absorbing the first wave of pressure, the linemen shift in a predetermined direction, deliberately exposing the quarterback.
With the defense scrambling, the QB releases a quick short pass before getting hit—sending the ball to a receiver who now has a wall of blockers leading the way.
Traditionally, the target of a screen pass is a running back, since they're already positioned inside the pocket. But in modern offenses, tight ends and receivers are often used to make the play less predictable.
The Patriots didn't run screens often this season. A lack of dominant running backs meant the play wasn't as effective, so Brady usually preferred other short-passing schemes.
But now.
Revis saw something—Amendola's movement, the unusual congestion at the line, and a sudden realization clicked into place.
"Hut!"
The instant Brady called for the snap, Revis didn't hesitate.
Plant. Burst. Attack.
His eyes locked onto Amendola. His peripheral vision tracked Brady.
As soon as Revis crossed the line of scrimmage, he noticed something—
The Patriots' offensive line and running back were shifting left—toward Kansas City's right side.
But Brady turned the other way—and flicked a short pass toward the right.
A fake screen pass.
The "screen" was just a distraction—the real target was Amendola.
Brady was moments away from executing the perfect misdirection play.
Except—
A shadow flashed across the field like a bolt of lightning, cutting between Brady and Amendola, slicing through the connection before it could be made.
Intercepted.
Revis was already gone.
Full speed. Straight ahead.
Amendola: "Wait, where's the ball? Did something just fly past me?"
It all happened too fast. Blink once, and you'd miss it.
"Second-and-thirteen, the Patriots' receivers are looking active—"
"Snap!"
"… Intercepted!"
Nantz struggled to keep up. In the blink of an eye, Brady's pass to Amendola was picked off.
"Oh my God, what just happened?"
Nantz's eyes widened as he clutched his head in disbelief, turning to Romo—who looked just as stunned.
Romo: "Whoa. I did not see that coming."
Before his words even fully landed, Revis was already in the end zone.
Pick-six.
Brady: Stunned.
Amendola: Stunned.
What… just… happened?
They were completely caught off guard. Amendola hadn't even started a second effort—Revis had already broken away untouched.
Even worse—
The rest of the Patriots' offense was still running the fake screen play, completely unaware that their drive had already ended in disaster.
Gillette Stadium: Silent.
All around, people sat frozen, staring in shock. Even witnessing it live, they couldn't process what just happened.
"AHHH!"
Charles West was the first to throw his hands into the air and roar—
They didn't give up.
They refused to surrender.
They were still fighting.
BOOM.
Old Oak Tavern ERUPTED.
Faces twisted in pure hysteria, hearts pounding as if ready to burst.
But at that moment, nothing else mattered—only the unrelenting fire of battle.
From hell to heaven, in the blink of an eye.
The Kansas City Chiefs had found a way.
"AAAHHHH!"
Lance threw his fists into the air, screaming.
On the Chiefs' sideline, players and coaches alike jumped to their feet, fists clenched, shouting in triumph for Revis.
The game had been a war of attrition—a relentless struggle of mind and body.
It felt like the Patriots had finally regained control…
Then, one unexpected play changed everything.
This was football.
Revis stood in the end zone, surveying the silent, lifeless Gillette Stadium like a king overlooking his conquered land.
When he turned, he saw the wild, ecstatic faces of his teammates rushing toward him.
For the first time—he truly felt like part of this team.
Deep within, something stirred.
A fire long thought extinguished… began to burn again.
That feeling—**floating above the world, standing at the pinnacle—**was intoxicating.
How could anyone give this up?
A smirk crept across Revis's face.
Now this…
This game was finally getting fun.
"And just like that, we have a game again."
"The Patriots are still the Patriots—nothing about their game plan was wrong. Their execution was flawless. Their decision-making was sound. I don't believe Belichick or Brady made a single mistake."
"But—"
"The Chiefs are not the Chiefs we knew before. Something is changing within this team. I can't quite explain it, but right now, their defense has made the difference, pulling them right back into this fight."
"As predicted before the game, both offenses have been outstanding, but Belichick and Reid have both been learning how to win with defense."
"And right now, at the most crucial moment, it's the defenses that are deciding the outcome."
"Score update—21-27."
Nantz took a deep breath, refocused, and turned to Romo.
"Tony, what's your take?"
Romo spread his hands.
"We're still talking about the New England Patriots. Believe me, I know exactly how dangerous they are."
"They're still leading."
"They still control the tempo."
"And time is still on their side."
"By all logical reasoning, they should still be the favorites to win."
Nantz: "But—?"
Romo:
"But I have a feeling...
The Chiefs aren't done yet.
Something tells me they still have one more surprise left.
I don't know what it is, but I know one thing—
I can't wait to see what happens next."
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Powerstones?
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