American Football: Domination

Annie always believed Santa Claus was real, because so far, all her wishes had come true.

First, to watch a game at Arrowhead Stadium. Done.

Second, to witness a touchdown at Arrowhead—ideally one of Lance's signature edge-walker touchdowns. Done, at least the first half of it.

Third, to see the Kansas City Chiefs win live. Done.

Fourth, to follow the Chiefs into the playoffs. About to happen.

Fifth, to enter middle school and worry about exams, love, rebellion, future career choices, and life paths. Still waiting.

See? Even if not one hundred percent, things were happening.

Or maybe she just wanted to believe Santa existed.

Santa must have heard all her wishes, because she was a good kid. Right?

And if Santa was too busy to catch them all, that was fine too. She still had her New Year's wishes.

Today was December 30, the second-to-last day of 2018. Annie would pray sincerely, hoping her New Year's wish could come true.

At least today, most of her wishes had already been realized. The future was still long.

Against the Oakland Raiders, the playoff-seeded Chiefs rotated their lineup. Reid rested his starters, fielding the second team to save energy for the postseason.

The only exception was Mahomes.

For the young second-year quarterback, gaining experience, facing pressure, and continuing steady growth were crucial. At the same time, Reid was deliberately shaping his leadership—when Houston and Lance weren't on the field, the quarterback had to carry the team forward.

Just like last season, the Chiefs were building for the future.

So, Lance didn't play.

But the new team captain didn't just sit idle.

He could've lounged by the sideline, sipping tea like he was on vacation. Instead, he actively joined Burns and Clark, fully involved in the running backs' sideline discussions.

He showed his support with action.

Hunt's departure left a clear tactical gap, beyond the mental and locker-room impact.

A hole that needed filling.

Strategically, Hunt's receiving ability was one of the keys to breaking last year's six-game skid, sparking Lance's own versatility.

Now, without Hunt, the Chiefs' offensive variety was more limited.

Logic said Reid should find a replacement. But "Hunt 2.0" wasn't easy to find. There was no natural substitute on the roster.

For all his off-field troubles, Hunt's on-field talent was undeniable—outstanding even beside Lance's brilliance. That was why Hunt had always been restless.

He'd already proven himself.

Replacing him wouldn't be simple.

Here, Reid showed his depth.

He didn't stubbornly hunt for a clone of Hunt. Instead, he reworked the playbook, digging into the current roster, shuffling combinations, and shifting tactics.

Yes, Reid abandoned the "tried and true" playbook and embraced crisis as opportunity, choosing to adapt.

After all, the Chiefs weren't flawless this season.

In the running back group, Reid bypassed the original third back, Spencer Ware, and instead chose the fourth, Damien Williams.

Damien Williams, undrafted in 2014, had spent four unremarkable seasons in Miami before signing with Kansas City in the offseason.

This year, with Lance and Hunt shining, even Ware's touches were limited, let alone Damien's—he mostly played special teams and practice reps.

But Reid saw something in him—

5'9" (180 cm), 221 lbs (100 kg).

In the middle of towering linemen, Damien moved like a whack-a-mole—or maybe better, like a pangolin.

Small frame, quick feet, slipping through cracks in the wall for frontal breakthroughs.

Strong base, powerful legs, sturdy in head-on collisions. Not a classic power back, but not weak either.

His downside? Low football IQ. He struggled with playbook complexity, wasn't great at elaborate routes, and lacked versatility in passing schemes.

In other words, capable but capped. Limited ceiling, single-dimensional. That's why he went undrafted and faded in Miami.

And in Kansas City, the same story—until now.

Reid flipped the script. He leaned on Damien's strengths, reshaping the ground game, inserting power-back plays to complement Lance's style. Different approaches, but complementary. A new opening for the offense.

Last week against Seattle, Damien had just a small taste. With Lance drawing all the defensive attention, Damien had space to shine. And he did.

This week, against the Raiders, it was his true test. He and Ware carried the load for the run game.

That was why Lance joined in so fully, even from the sidelines—studying the Raiders' defense, giving moral and tactical support to both backs.

Competition?

Lance welcomed it. With both arms wide open. Because healthy competition made everyone better.

And more importantly, he knew: if the running back room was just him alone, it wasn't good for the team. To be a real contender in the playoffs, they needed depth and backup strength.

Supporting them meant helping himself.

He had to think for the team.

So he gave his full heart to working with them.

And once again, Lance proved himself a true captain.

Against the Raiders, Damien briefly lost himself in the tangle of nerves and anticipation. But with Lance's guidance, he found his role, adapted quickly, and rose into place.

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Powerstones?

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