Chapter 1320: The Perfect Essence
The Tennessee Titans cornerback Sims was fully focused.
He knew he was the secret weapon, the weapon to break the balance, the weapon to overturn the situation. He had to cut into the pocket and disrupt Mahomes' passing rhythm before he connected with Li Wei.
The New England Patriots cornerback Gilmore, the best defensive player in the league this season. But how could Gilmore still lose to the Tennessee Titans?
Now, Sims was ready to prove himself.
He was originally just a substitute until Malcolm Butler was out for the season due to injury, giving him the opportunity—
Yes, the Butler who intercepted Wilson on the one-yard line in the Super Bowl, helping the New England Patriots defeat the Seattle Seahawks.
Destiny is a circle.
Sims believed he could inherit Butler's mantle and shine on the playoff stage, stealing Gilmore's thunder.
He was ready.
Despite Li Wei moving and Kelsey seemingly preparing to block, Sims appeared influenced, but his peripheral vision was always fixed on Mahomes.
He held his breath.
"Attack!"
Mahomes announced the snap.
Sims completely ignored Li Wei and simultaneously Kelsey, stepping sideways to the right in a tiger-like descent, directly shedding Kelsey, cutting into the pocket without hesitation, his steps unstoppable, rushing towards Mahomes, with Mahomes being the sole focus in his mind and eyes.
His momentum was high and unstoppable—
Hero. Hero!
This was the only thought in Sims' mind, a small notion igniting passion and releasing energy, unleashing incredible strength deep within, instantly activating and striking.
At this moment, Sims felt capable of anything.
One step, shedding Kelsey!
Two steps... Wait, why is Hardman appearing?
Sims couldn't think, his unstoppable steps couldn't brake, his high excitement hadn't reached its peak, and he was caught in chaos and turbulence, his eyes wildly shocked and terrified, crashing straight into Hardman, and the two of them rolled together.
Sims: ???
The dream of playing the superhero, rescuing the whole game and writing legends, lasted only... two seconds, bursting like a bubble.
What's worse, rolling with Hardman, Sims discovered Kelsey was also retreating—
Fooled.
This was the only thought in Sims' mind, unable to marvel or observe, as the entire world collapsed.
Actually, Hardman was equally chaotic.
Hardman shot out from behind Kelsey, aiming at the defensive end Casey, only for Sims to appear midway, leaving Hardman confused.
Mispositioned, everything was misaligned.
Kelsey also noticed, as Sims shed him and stepped forward, Kelsey immediately realized the Tennessee Titans had chosen a surprise attack.
He had two choices:
Follow the plan, keep advancing as a decoy. If Mahomes encounters a sack threat, unable to wait for Li Wei to be ready, he can always short pass to Kelsey.
Change the plan, retreat and become part of the offensive line, buying passing time for Mahomes.
This was a first-down with ten yards, allowing room for error. Kelsey realized this point and, without hesitation, turned around, maneuvering around Hardman and Sims, cutting into the pocket.
Speed wasn't Kelsey's strong suit, and in a mere five-yard space, Kelsey's steps hadn't reached position when he saw the defensive end Casey and the outside linebacker Landry.
A sudden tempest!
The Tennessee Titans' raid came unexpectedly and abruptly, perfectly demonstrating the essence of "surprise attack," giving no room for the Kansas City Chiefs to react.
To be fair, Vrabel had a trick up his sleeve.
However, no matter how brilliant Vrabel was, he was slightly inferior—
Choosing a surprise attack after consecutive impacts from the "Cheating Motion"? This... wasn't exactly profound, right? Otherwise, the Kansas City Chiefs wouldn't have anticipated it, using Hardman's retreat as the sixth offensive lineman.
Moreover, not just Hardman alone.
Kelsey couldn't afford to hesitate, his flying dive!
Kelsey threw himself recklessly, like a torpedo, straight into Casey, completing the rush with a self-destructive gesture.
Clumsy but effective.
Kelsey's slow pace just collided with Casey, equally slow, the two awkwardly and clumsily rolled together, stirring waves.
Landry, following closely behind, wasn't affected, leaping overhead over Kelsey and Casey's position, gracefully landing, stepping and kicking without pause, without interference, diving towards Mahomes in the pocket.
Wave after wave, Vrabel's raid was not just numerous but also substantial.
Kelsey was taken aback: Patrick, danger!
Inside the pocket, Mahomes raised his head, scouring defense, eyes scanning ahead, surveying the field, seemingly unaware of the approaching danger.
But was he really unaware?
Landry's entry point was on the right side, not Mahomes' blindside. Mahomes' peripheral vision was alert, how could he not see?
Mahomes intentionally pretended not to see, feigning an opening.
Indeed, Landry was pleased, not waiting for steps to adjust, pressing forward in chaos and turbulence, without regard, charging ahead.
The focus was on the time gap. Landry attempted to impact before Mahomes reacted, even if the sack failed, still able to disrupt balance and interfere with passing.
Pressing ground, stepping up, diving forward—
Got it.
Landry's heart raced wildly, yet hadn't fully celebrated when suddenly the red figure flickered before him, and the next second, it had switched to green.
Green?
Why did the red switch to green?
Landry hadn't figured it out, but his forward momentum and balance were already lost, his peripheral vision only catching a glimpse of a gentle red wafting away before crashing hard onto the ground, swallowed by green only realizing:
The green was the turf.
And Mahomes?
With some foresight, Mahomes paused and retreated, effortlessly shedding Landry. The Tennessee Titans' tempestuous assault was like a storm on an endless sea, wild in appearance, yet ultimately not capable of making much impact amid the vast ocean.
One step back, pause, turn, swing, pass—
Movement, fluid and seamless, instantly powered.
The reddish-brown football released from Mahomes' palm, flying out.
In the game so far this evening, Mahomes' passing performance wasn't terrible but wasn't outstanding either, somewhat wavering, with slight unease in controlling details, causing hesitation before release.
However, not this time.
Decisive, resolute, clear. As the football released from his palm, Mahomes intensely focused on watching the football's arc, and he already knew:
Got it.
The football did not pull up a full arc, just gently rising like a steady bridge, crossing the short passing area entangled with two linemen, flying directly towards the middle passing area beyond fourteen yards following a diagonal forty-five-degree angle, finding its target before other Tennessee Titans defenders could react.
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