American Football: Domination

Chapter 381: The Veteran’s Final Stand



Oh, God!

A heavy sigh swept through Gillette Stadium as countless fans clutched their heads in frustration and disbelief, unable to accept what had just unfolded on the field—

Three and out.

Facing a third-and-thirteen, Belichick finally chose not to gamble, instead opting for a standard rushing play to drain the clock.

No surprises. The running back crashed into the defensive line, dragging out the play before going down.

Drive over.

No turnovers—that was good. The plan was followed—that was also good. And yet, Patriots fans couldn't hide their disappointment.

Because now, the Chiefs' offense was coming back onto the field. The defending champions' fate was in the hands of their defense.

Not ideal.

Just look at Brady.

Head hanging, shoulders slumped—he was clearly displeased with how the last two drives ended. He had a chance to end the game himself. Instead, the opponent still had a pulse. This wasn't what he wanted.

And then—there was Lance.

Brady hadn't expected this. His gaze landed on Lance.

A complicated expression.

For a brief moment, Gillette Stadium fell silent. The once-thunderous chants were abruptly cut off. The faces in the crowd were frozen in shock and sorrow, unable to believe what had just happened—

Victory had been within their grasp. The King of Foxborough was ready to defend his throne, repel the reckless challenger, and march forward once more.

And yet, somehow, Brady had let the moment slip away. The opportunity slipped through his fingers, giving his opponent one last glimmer of hope.

Of course, that didn't mean the Patriots had lost. Their defense would fight to the end, protecting the pride of the defending champions and silencing the Chiefs' rebellion.

But—

For a fleeting moment, a very brief moment, they felt insulted.

The song that represented New England's pride had disappeared.

And in its place—

The raw, untamed roar of the Chiefs.

With an unbelievable defensive stand, the Kansas City Chiefs had clawed their way back from the abyss, ripping one last chance from the Patriots' iron grip.

"AHHH!"

Lance threw his head back and howled into the night.

"AHHHHH!"

Fists clenched. Chest pounding. A primal roar unleashed.

This wasn't just about one defensive stop.

Not just about one sack.

Not just about one crucial pass breakup.

This was about him. About proving his experience and ability in the most critical moments—sending a message to the entire league.

The veteran is old—

But can he still fight?

This was his answer.

"AHH!"

Lance's eyes burned with intensity.

Then, he shoved past his celebrating teammates, striding toward the sideline, and tossed the ball to Alex Smith.

Smith fumbled it for a second before securing it.

Lance, however, wasn't looking at him.

His gaze locked onto Lance.

And he spoke.

"One chance."

"Just one."

Not much.

But in sports, that's all it takes.

One fleeting moment—that separates heaven from hell.

Justin Houston caught up, worried that Lance might say something reckless. Helmet off, he exchanged a look with Smith before turning his gaze to Lance.

But Lance wasn't fazed.

He ignored Lance entirely.

Instead, he looked straight at Smith.

A grin crept onto his face.

"Our turn."

With that, Lance raised his right hand—exchanging high-fives with Lance and Houston.

The baton had been passed.

The Chiefs' defense had fought through hell to create this one final chance.

Now, it was up to the offense to seize it.

No words were needed.

As the defenders and offensive players exchanged silent high-fives, a quiet, unspoken resolve filled the air—

A moment of battle-hardened unity.

Not far away, Andy Reid watched, his chest swelling with pride.

Now, the stage belonged to the Chiefs' offense and the Patriots' defense.

What would happen next?

"The defending champions still control their own fate."

"But—this is far from ideal."

"Three and out, and barely any time drained. Only one timeout gone. The Chiefs still have 1:55 left on the clock. Belichick's decision to play it safe might come back to haunt him."

"That said—"

"The Patriots still have the advantage."

"1:55 left. The Chiefs' playbook is limited."

"Alex Smith isn't a 'Hail Mary' quarterback. Even if he wanted to try, he doesn't have Rodgers' arm strength. He can't launch a 40-yard bomb from his own 35. The Chiefs need to cross midfield, preferably into the 40-yard range."

"Back in Week 6 against the Steelers, the Chiefs faced a similar situation. Reid shocked everyone with an unconventional play to win the game."

"Everyone thought Smith would go deep. He didn't. Because both Smith and Reid knew—they couldn't rely on a Hail Mary."

"But now? That trick won't work against the Patriots a second time. A Hail Mary might be their only option."

"That means the Chiefs must move the ball."

"To stop the clock, they have to throw outside, targeting the sidelines."

"That eliminates their league-best running game. And it makes their passing game easier to predict—the Patriots only need to guard the sidelines and end zone."

"And let's not forget—the temperature is still dropping. Passing the ball is getting harder and harder."

"And the Chiefs cannot afford a single mistake."

"Even if they play perfectly—they might still need a little luck."

"This situation is even tougher than their wild-card game against the Titans."

"Once again, the Chiefs are on the edge of a cliff—fighting for their survival."

The air was on fire.

Gillette Stadium erupted in a deafening roar. The noise was monstrous, overwhelming, suffocating—

A tsunami of sound crashed down, swallowing the entire stadium, engulfing Foxborough in an unprecedented wave of pressure.

The vibrations rattled eardrums, forcing Alex Smith to use hand signals just to communicate the play call.

It felt as if the entire world was against them.

The Chiefs stood alone in the freezing wind.

There was no doubt—this was their hardest battle of the season.

Harder than the Steelers.

Smith's heart pounded. His ears rang. The pressure was suffocating, the weight of expectations threatening to crush him.

And then—

He turned.

And saw Lance scanning the stadium.

Smith frowned, confused.

Lance met his gaze.

And grinned.

His lips moved.

"They're afraid."

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