Chapter 1286: Undefeated Season
From a deadlock to a breakthrough and then to surpassing, everything happened in less than three minutes, the Kansas City Chiefs instantly upended the situation and reversed the game.
"17:24"—
For the whole game, the Kansas City Chiefs led for the first time.
This season, the Kansas City Chiefs have maintained an undefeated record so far, for various reasons including tactical innovation, the rebuilding of the defensive group, and the harmonious cooperation among the leading figures; but in the NFL, there are countless strong teams. No matter how strong, it's hard to say the Kansas City Chiefs have the absolute strength to widen the gap. The difference between teams under the hard salary cap guarantee is far less exaggerated than imagined.
What truly allows the Kansas City Chiefs to maintain their undefeated halo is precisely their performance at crucial moments.
More steady, more calm, more patient, more confident, and also smarter, not only good at creating opportunities but also at seizing them.
This transformation in temperament is the hallmark of evolving from a chrysalis into a truly strong team.
It is the same now.
On the surface, the Los Angeles Chargers seem vulnerable, but in fact, this team still has the heritage and ability. From last season to this season, there hasn't been an overwhelming change in the team lineup. The root cause of the decline in their performance is not due to a drop in strength but rather the ongoing instability.
It's the season-long stability as well as the stability during a game.
Just like the transformation of a Super Saiyan.
Last season, the Los Angeles Chargers could maintain their transformed state throughout the game; but this season, their transformed state is intermittent.
Therefore, against the Los Angeles Chargers, the emphasis is not on easily overrunning the opponent but rather on withstanding the impact from the opponent, just holding onto the game, patiently waiting for an opportunity, and then seizing it during the gaps when the opponent's Super Saiyan transformed state disappears, bringing the game back under control.
Once again, the Kansas City Chiefs exhibited their maturity this season—
The opportunity arose, and the Kansas City Chiefs firmly grasped it, completely accelerating.
After the offensive group seized the opportunity to convert the ball possession smoothly for a touchdown, the defensive group further increased the pressure on the rush, forcing Rivers into chaos, achieving another beautiful three-strike out, gaining an opportunity for the offensive group to widen the score gap.
The trustworthy offensive group indeed did not disappoint, the Kansas City Chiefs completely altered their tactics, primarily relying on ground offense. When the defensive strategies of the Los Angeles Chargers were disrupted, Mahomes struck with a "Cheating Motion," breaking the opponent's formation with speed unexpectedly.
In the end, Mahomes connected again with Hill with a six-yard short pass, and Hill, carrying the ball, pushed forward, breaking through consecutively with his speed. Under the dismantling of Hardman and Li Wei, unbelievably, he charged another eighteen yards, breaking into the end zone and securing another touchdown.
"17:31".
The score changed again.
Don't blink, don't, because by slightly not paying attention, the game situation may already be completely overturned, the Kansas City Chiefs once again took control of the game.
Everything was truly too fast, like a sudden storm sweeping across, leaving no time to breathe, the situation had already completely changed.
The Los Angeles Chargers were somewhat dazed—
Because of the grudges and grievances between divisional rivals, the concentrated focus and determination painstakingly maintained for a quarter and a half of the game, held tightly with clenched teeth, maintaining equilibrium, maintaining a deadlock, maintaining tension, yet shattered and crumbled in the Kansas City Chiefs' two waves of assaults.
...That's it?
Including Rivers, they stood at the sideline, panting heavily, drenched in sweat, with steaming steam rising from their whole body, yet their eyes were vacant.
Unconsciously, before realizing it themselves, they had already started to look up to the opponent:
Like an insurmountable mountain, not to mention defeating, standing before grandeur and vastness, only noticing their own insignificance and vulnerability.
Their mental state wavered, their condition faltered, the belief they barely held up slowly started to crumble.
Then, it completely collapsed, broke apart.
The match was only exciting for a quarter and a half; after Chris Jones's tackle forced a fumble and completed a turnover, the Los Angeles Chargers never regained strength, even the grudge with their division rival couldn't summon more energy, the match entirely tilted to one side.
To the Kansas City Chiefs' side.
"17:44".
Two minutes before the end of the fourth quarter, the outcome was already decided.
Standing at the crossroads of creating history and writing miracles, the suspense regrettably couldn't extend to the last moment, the game early entering garbage time.
In the final possession, as the Los Angeles Chargers still held timeouts, the Kansas City Chiefs did not kneel to end the game directly; Mahomes turned and handed the football to Li Wei.
Li Wei wasn't ready to advance but maneuvered near the line of scrimmage. However, under the encircling pursuit of the Los Angeles Lightning Defense Group, he had no choice but to break forward, and as he evaded pursuit, the end zone was already within reach. Li Wei stopped and looked back towards the rear.
Slightly hesitating, leisurely, he took a step forward like ascending a throne and entered the end zone.
Beep! Beep beep beep!
The referee blew the whistle signaling the end of the match, marking the conclusion of the Kansas City Chiefs' 2019 regular season journey—
"17:50".
The Kansas City Chiefs, hosting at home, easily defeated the Los Angeles Chargers, concluding the season undefeated.
Since the regular season expanded to sixteen games, following the New England Patriots in 2007, the Kansas City Chiefs became the second team to complete an undefeated regular season, with absolute strength and absolute brilliance writing history, leaving their mark in the NFL's short half-century long river.
This journey was long and arduous, but ultimately, they reached smoothly.
However, in the end zone, Li Wei still didn't celebrate.
Li Wei took off his helmet, slightly raised his chin, looked up and around, quietly gazing at the vast and magnificent red ocean before Arrowhead Stadium.
Then, placed the football on his chest, at the position of the heart, feeling that solid and powerful thumping, thrilled and excited.
Hey, beloved Felix, did you see? This vast ocean, they're all fighting shoulder to shoulder with you along, reaching the finish line together with us.
Once, we were young and arrogant dark horses, we were meteors flashing by; once, we were a team good in regular seasons but always faltering in playoffs, challengers possessing strength but always falling short before truly strong teams.
But now, we've completed our challenge and transformation. Our only enemy is ourselves, this is a tough battle with ourselves, no one can predict the future, maybe we'll win all the way or maybe we'll stop abruptly and lose, anything is possible, the only thing that can be 100% sure is:
This is just the first step, we won't stop, we'll keep fighting, we'll keep moving forward, we'll charge all the way to the Sun.
Felix, did you hear, Arrowhead Stadium is calling your name, once, again, that is the power burning from the depths of the soul.
In the end, it becomes the fighting spirit of this team.