American Football: Domination

Ronnie Clark, last season's backup to Lance and Jacobs, the Crimson Tide's third-string running back, was no longer on the team—injury.

Clark had suffered a season-ending injury, forcing him to leave the active roster and move to the practice squad.

In truth, Clark had mostly left the team, preparing for graduation and his future career. He stayed with the Crimson Tide's practice squad simply because he couldn't bear to leave yet. It was his farewell—a long goodbye. He wanted to stay with the team until their final game of the season.

Because of his injury, there wasn't much Clark could contribute in practice. But Burns recognized his desire to remain part of the Crimson Tide and assigned him tasks like organizing training logs and helping design practice schedules.

As a result, Clark still carried weight within the running back group—he wasn't just another practice squad player.

So, when Jacobs glanced at Clark, looking for his opinion, Clark didn't hesitate for even a second before answering.

"Rookie."

A younger teammate, who had just joined Alabama this season, immediately started teasing. "Ohhh, Rookie! Ronnie's calling Lance a rookie!"

Clark and Jacobs exchanged a knowing look. No matter how dominant Lance was in the pros, to them, he was still the rookie they had battled alongside.

Then, a hesitant voice chimed in—a young face covered in acne, looking confused and cautious.

"But… I get what you're saying, but isn't it still up to the coach's game plan? No matter how good a running back is, he can't do much without the right scheme."

Hearing this, Jacobs smiled.

Football is a team sport, and a running back's role is limited. They must fit into the coach's strategy. Even Derrick Henry, as dominant as he was in college, couldn't carry a team alone. In the NFL, coaching decisions often left his talents underutilized.

But Lance was different.

As long as Lance was on the field, his team would rally around him and fight to the very end.

Jacobs understood what Clark meant. They had absolute faith in Lance—an almost blind trust and dependence. Maybe the Kansas City Chiefs felt the same way.

"I believe in the rookie too," Jacobs said. And just like that, all doubts and hesitations seemed to vanish.

"No way! I think Henry's going to explode."

"Yeah, Henry has been waiting for this moment. He won't waste it."

"I actually think Henry could decide the game."

Lively debates filled the room.

Two days later, Alabama would be competing for their third consecutive national championship, yet here they were, crowded together, buzzing with excitement over an NFL playoff game—one featuring a showdown between two of their own.

Why the excitement?

Henry had been in the NFL for two seasons, but Titans head coach Mike Mularkey had never given him a true chance. Just like his rookie year, Henry remained a backup, used only in emergency situations.

176 carries, 744 rushing yards, 5 rushing touchdowns.

His stats were barely different from those of rookie backup running backs like Hunt or McCaffrey. When the regular season ended, Henry was hardly a name on anyone's radar.

The Titans had built their offense around quarterback Marcus Mariota, shifting away from the run game. Henry wasn't the only one affected—DeMarco Murray's carries had also decreased. Mularkey's offensive strategy catered to the front office's preference: maximizing the quarterback's role.

In truth, there was a strong possibility that the "Lance vs. Henry" matchup wouldn't even happen. The two players had completely different roles on their teams.

But one major factor changed everything.

In Week 16, Titans starting running back Murray suffered a knee injury, ruling him out for at least two weeks. Mularkey had no choice but to promote Henry to the starting role.

In the Titans' must-win Week 17 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Mularkey still emphasized the passing game, limiting Henry's carries.

Yet Henry seized his moment.

On his only target of the game, he caught a pass, exploded downfield, and scored a stunning 60-yard touchdown—his first receiving touchdown in the NFL.

It was impossible not to compare it to Lance's game-winning catch against the Pittsburgh Steelers earlier in the season.

Previously, Henry's running style—his size, speed, and agility—made him unsuitable for the passing game, a glaring weakness in his skillset. But now, with one electrifying play, he showed growth, proving he had expanded his game just in time for the playoffs.

The opportunity had arrived.

After waiting so long and preparing so thoroughly, Henry wouldn't let this chance slip away. A playoff battle against Lance was the perfect stage.

That's why Alabama was so invested in this game. Some believed Henry was about to explode; others trusted Lance to maintain his dominance. Their NFL showdown had become a major topic in both professional and college football circles.

From the very first snap, the game erupted into a high-intensity battle.

Lance was still Lance.

The playoffs were different. The atmosphere, the pressure—everything was heightened. At the start, both teams played tight, making minor errors in execution. Each side went three-and-out on their opening drives. But then, the Chiefs' rushing attack came alive.

Lance led the charge, proving why Kansas City had the NFL's top rushing offense this season.

"Lance!"

"He breaks a tackle! A second tackle! A third!"

"Three tackles broken!"

"Lance's footwork is dazzling, his cuts are perfect—Tennessee's run defense is crumbling!"

"Lance is still going! Still pushing forward!"

"My God!"

"Five yards! Ten yards! Fifteen!"

"He's accelerating!"

"Unbelievable! He's pulling away!"

"Twenty yards!"

"Inside the red zone!"

"Finally! Tennessee had to send three defenders at him just to bring him down! But Lance gains 24 yards, putting the Chiefs in prime scoring position."

Arrowhead Stadium erupted.

Forty-five seconds later, in front of the TV screen, Jacobs and Clark were the first to leap to their feet, arms raised high.

The entire Crimson Tide crowd watching the game exploded with energy.

"Touchdown!"

"Rookie! Touchdown! One-yard rushing touchdown!"

"Perfect execution! No doubt about it!"

"Ahhhhhh! Rookie! Ahhhhhh!"

----------

Powerstones?

For 20 advance chapters: patreon.com/michaeltranslates