American Football: Domination

Did Blair Butt hate Lance?

Not really.

The two had no personal vendetta. Butt wasn't someone who harbored grudges against a rookie. But there were two key reasons for his antagonism:

He had been wrong. Butt's initial analysis of Lance—his skepticism and criticisms—had been genuine. Yet, after the rookie's explosive debut, Butt's arguments had been spectacularly disproven. The stats, the dominance against the defending champions—Lance's performance had not only debunked Butt's claims but also humiliated him on national television.

He resented the NFL's agenda. From the start, the league's backing of Lance had been blatant. Roger Goodell's ambition to expand the league's global footprint was no secret, and Lance had become its poster child. To Butt, it was clear the league had already decided to promote Lance, no matter what. This favoritism struck Butt as unfair to other rookies who were just as deserving of recognition.

Butt wasn't targeting Lance personally. In his mind, he was standing up for the overlooked players.

Take the current situation, for example:

While analysts and fans showered Lance with praise, Butt sat in the studio, his back straight, his jaw tight, and his stare fixed on Josh Lawson, who had just delivered yet another glowing review of Lance.

Butt scoffed audibly, ready to fire back.

"Hmm." Butt began, leaning forward.

"Doesn't this all seem… familiar?"

"Think back to the preseason's first game. That same No. 23 had a promising outing, didn't he? Everyone raised their expectations sky-high. But then came the second week of preseason, and what happened? A complete drop-off. By the third week, he wasn't even playing anymore."

"Yes, I'll admit, Lance has talent. But does he have stamina?"

Butt paused, then took a deep breath for dramatic effect.

"Remember Robert Griffin III?" he asked, letting the name hang in the air.

"RG3 lit up the league in his rookie year. People called him the next big thing—ready to surpass Manning and Brady. But where is he now?"

"He's bounced around the league, struggling to stay relevant. The Washington Football Team couldn't dump him fast enough, even if it meant admitting they'd made a massive mistake drafting him."

Griffin: What did I do to deserve this?

Butt pressed on, undeterred.

"My point is simple: Let's take the long view here. One game—one good performance—doesn't mean much. We need to see consistency. We need to see durability."

He shifted in his chair, hands clasped together, his tone firm but seemingly impartial.

"Even from the preseason, there have been questions about Lance's ability to withstand the NFL's physical demands over the long haul. And those questions are still valid. The regular season is longer and far more grueling than anything in college football."

"So, can we calm down with the hype?"

Butt chuckled, shaking his head. "Let's see how he holds up in the next game. Better yet, let's see how he holds up through the season. Forget about Pittsburgh down the road—his next test against the Philadelphia Eagles will be telling."

"I'm not biased. Not at all."

Despite his assertions, Butt's words reeked of bias.

But at least on one point, he wasn't wrong:

The Philadelphia Eagles were a test.

One game isn't enough. Lance's debut, though historic, was just that: a single game. Sustaining that level of performance would require grit, adaptability, and consistency.

The Eagles posed a unique challenge.

Last season, the Eagles had suffered through a 7-9 campaign. It was their first back-to-back losing season since 1998-1999, a low point for the franchise.

Yet, amidst the struggle, glimmers of hope had emerged.

Second-year quarterback Carson Wentz had gained valuable experience, and head coach Doug Pederson, entering his sophomore season, had begun to shape the team in his image.

The Eagles' draft picks reinforced Pederson's vision: a focus on defense, with early selections of a defensive end and two cornerbacks.

And in Week 1, Pederson's defense announced itself in a big way.

The Eagles held the Washington Football Team to just 41 total rushing yards.

Yes, you read that correctly—41 yards.

Washington's trio of running backs was completely shut down, forcing quarterback Kirk Cousins to shoulder the offensive load, leading to a sputtering and ineffective attack.

Final score: 30-17, Eagles.

More importantly, the Eagles' defense had allowed only 10 points—a touchdown and a field goal—while another touchdown came from a defensive interception return.

By the end of Week 1, the Eagles boasted the league's top-ranked run defense and the third-best pass defense.

It was only one game, but Pederson's unit seemed to be fulfilling his dream of emulating the legendary Legion of Boom.

Facing this reinvigorated defense, Lance and the Chiefs were in for a battle.

The game didn't disappoint.

Halftime score: 6-3, Kansas City.

Neither team had managed a touchdown. Both offenses struggled against formidable defenses, leading to a series of punts and a pair of field goals for Kansas City.

Back in the ESPN studio, Butt could barely contain himself.

Finally.

Finally, Lance was being humbled.

Butt leaned back in his chair, his expression calm yet smug. Though his professional demeanor kept him from grinning outright, his body language betrayed his delight.

In the halftime analysis segment, Butt wasted no time asserting his narrative.

"Ahem."

"If you look at the numbers, Alex Smith is actually having a good game. He's completed 13 of 18 passes for a 72.2% completion rate. That's excellent."

"Facing a tough Eagles defense, Smith is leaning on his short passing game, showcasing the precision we've seen from him time and again."

"So, why hasn't Kansas City taken control?"

Butt paused for effect, letting the question linger.

Then, with a small smirk, he delivered his verdict.

"The ground game."

----------

Powerstones?

For 20 advance chapters: patreon.com/michaeltranslates