Dominate the Super Bowl

Cool-headed.

This was the only thought in Li Wei's mind.

Li Wei recalled a discussion with Allen, the Crimson Tide Storm Defense Team Captain, where everyone agreed that football was a physically confrontational sport—this was true. However, if it were merely physical confrontation, the sport wouldn't be so captivating.

Like boxing, it seemed to be about strength, about the physical, about confrontation, but in reality, the brain played an important role both in the boxing ring and on the football field.

Observe. Capture. Judge. React.

This was the core.

If one could have a strong body like Derrick Henry or Marshawn Lynch, sweeping through the opponents effortlessly, that would naturally be ideal. However, neither Henry nor Lynch could reach the height of Adrian Peterson, and it all boiled down to the use of the brain.

Of course, it wasn't that Henry and Lynch did not know how to use their brains. In fact, reaching such heights in the professional arena among a group of freaks also depended on brain usage; it was just that their talents were more physical, and comparatively, their observational skills on the field were somewhat weaker.

The running back, much like the quarterback, because both their starting positions were in the pocket, needed to observe, to watch the defensive formation, to see the defenders' movements, or else the running back's fate would just be to hit walls repeatedly, foolishly using their bodies to meet the Defensive group head-on.

At the NCAA, Li Wei had developed the habit of observing, which was a critical factor in his success, but that was predicated on having the time and space to observe.

What if there wasn't?

Like now, the situation where Li Wei faced off against Bailey.

"Then you must learn to read body language,"

Those were Allen's exact words.

"In a fraction of a second, you observe, read, judge, solve, and then respond,"

"Occasionally you will succeed, but most of the time you will fail,"

"That's okay, the point is to keep trying, to gradually turn it into an instinct, and through countless games, accumulate it into a kind of experience, a kind of intuition, which ultimately becomes the key to turning the tide in crucial games, crucial moments. Perhaps it is that one in ten thousand second, yet it becomes the moment that determines fate,"

"Just like a beast."

As a top Defensive End in the NCAA, Allen had shared some tricks with Li Wei—

the tricks to reading a Defensive End.

Now, Li Wei was reading.

After running into a wall for the first time, Li Wei was not discouraged, knowing well that this was the professional league. All players who start in the professional league have significant skills; never underestimate anyone, this was also one of his reasons for choosing to enter the professional league through the draft, to continue pushing his limits.

Running into walls, it did not matter, as long as he did not foolishly continue to the end.

The second time, Li Wei immediately learned.

If there was no way to use speed and agility to their advantage, and they were at a disadvantage in terms of strength and size, then the correct way to confront was—

Misalignment.

Keeping calm, staying focused, Li Wei was reading Bailey's body language.

The emphasis was on the knuckles.

Like the start of a hundred-meter race, they often support the ground with one hand or both hands, providing support for the forward-leaning motion of the upper body at the moment of starting.

The Defensive End's responsibilities in a game are many, but they can be divided into two parts, one is to disrupt, and the other is to assault.

Disrupting, which is staying in place, facing the offensive line's impact, holding against the shockwave.

Assaulting, on the other hand, involves stepping forward, whether against the offensive line or the quarterback and running back, with the goal of applying pressure themselves.

One can naturally discern the intention through the force exerted by the knuckles:

If assaulting, the body would lean obviously forward, the knuckles would start exerting force, as they start supporting the upper body's weight, creasing even to the point of turning white; if disrupting, the body weight would lean backward, the pressure on the knuckles wouldn't be that great, and the knuckles' wrinkles would relatively stretch out.

Detail.

In a game, it is often such inadvertent details that expose intentions.

Excellent running backs and excellent quarterbacks alike needed to be able to capture these details amid chaos and make calm judgments.

Huff.

Huffing.

Li Wei was breathing heavily, his body could feel the lactic acid secretion, but curiously, his focus intensified as if his blood was burning. He stared relentlessly at Bailey, slipping into a trance, once again embracing the training module pattern from the system.

The overlap of simulated experience and real-life events unfolded before him, displaying scenes observed through the likes of Peterson, Lynch, and McCoy:

in meticulous detail.

"Beep!"

Li Wei glanced up at the sound of Childres's whistle.

Knuckles powered up.

Just as expected!

Bailey sprung into action with the fierceness of a tiger pouncing downhill, lunging forward without hesitation, his eyes revealing a savage ferocity as he bared his claws, ready to sever the throat of his prey before slowly savoring the spoils of victory, his fierce, bloodthirsty aura pervading the air.

So, what about Li Wei?

Step. Step.

His right leg pumped against the ground, methodically gathering strength, his muscles taut as he remained focused amid the raucous shouts of combat around him.

Then, a push.

Li Wei also charged forward, just one step, merely one step, closing a one-yard gap in the blink of an eye. He feigned a head-on collision, but as helmet clashed with helmet, his body shifted aside.

A deft shift of weight, his body angling to the right, his hands pushing against Bailey's shoulders, executing a maneuver light as air, yet forceful.

Graceful and skillful, akin to Tai Chi.

Bang!

The collision occurred in the blink of an eye.

"Get up, rookie!"

"Bailey! Bailey!"

Amidst the roars and bellows, the two figures collided head-on, watching as Bailey's entire strength and weight bore down, the face inside the helmet contorting viciously from effort, his eyes flashing murderously.

But in an instant, that murderous intent turned to panic.

Li Wei simply went with the flow, using the opposing force to his advantage, requiring no effort of his own. Bailey, having exerted all his strength, could no longer control himself; missing the frontal tackle, he spiraled into a weightless state and then flew out like autumn leaves swept by the wind.

Boom!

Nearly three hundred pounds of body smashed against the black iron griddle, giving off a dull... thud of flesh.

Ah!
Enjoy new chapters from empire

The bystanders hadn't even had time to gasp as they grimaced, shouting in pain for Bailey; the force of the collision likely dislodged a jaw or two.

Like an ant moving a tree, who would have thought, the ant would triumph. Bailey, like an elephant crashing down, stirred up dust and ripples, sending the crowd into turmoil.

Roar!

A gasp, unanimous.

In an instant, seeing Bailey crumpled in a heap and Li Wei casually standing, they couldn't believe their eyes.

The other defensive players burst forth in fury, shouting angrily at Bailey.

"Damn it!"

"Are you freaking dancing?"

And Mahomes was the first to initiate applause, his voice resonating from deep within his core, "Well done, rookie! Well done!"

Turning around, Mahomes high-fived Kelsey, celebrated with a fist bump as other members of the offensive group also cheered exuberantly.

The atmosphere was subtly heating up.