Dominate the Super Bowl

Stalemate, deadlock, tension—

From Vrabel's fourth-quarter strategy of exploiting rule loopholes to delay the game with foul tactics, it was evident that the outcome was difficult to decide. Right until the final moments of the game, both sides still had opportunities.

"13:13."

The New England Patriots once again proved that no matter how dire or unimpressive the situation, Belichick and Brady could still hang on tightly to the game. The Tennessee Titans had given their all, yet it was still just a tie.

This, is ability.

Then, the chance came once again to Brady. He had an opportunity for a game-winning play. Whether it was a field goal or a touchdown, the New England Patriots could end the game, and Brady could once again stage a comeback game-winning moment.

This kind of situation, Brady has experienced countless times in his career, and he always managed to have the last laugh. He always managed to silence the haters, always continued the legend of the "sixth-round 199th pick miracle boy," leaving his brilliant mark in the professional league.

Brady, full of confidence.

Even the entire season's controversies and chaos could end here. Brady's belief and fighting spirit were in full swing at this moment.

However, reality is cruel, time and again bringing people back down to earth.

This time, it was Brady's turn—

Interception.

Brady's desperate pass was intercepted, and not only that, but the opponent also made an unimpeded run across the field, completing a return touchdown.

The New England Patriots didn't make the game-winning play; instead, they suffered a game-ending play by their opponents.

At the end of the game, Gillette Stadium was frozen over in the chilly wind.

"20:13," the Tennessee Titans win.

For the first time in ten years, they were stopped in the Wild Card round, and for the second time in ten years, they missed the American League Championship, while it was the first time in twenty-five years they lost a home game to the Tennessee Titans. Everything came to a sudden halt.

Unexpectedly, without any warning.

Reflecting on the entire season, despite the heavy hits during the offseason, the New England Patriots still demonstrated top-tier competitiveness. Even though Brady consecutively lost to young players like Watson, Jackson, and Li Wei, entering the playoffs, the New England Patriots were still different, a high-spirited Belichick and Brady were still different, and this team was still a championship favorite.

However... just this?

Everything happened so suddenly that it was hard to react right away.

So, where was the miracle of Brady once again? Where was the consecutive takedown of Jackson and Li Wei by Brady? Where was the undying spirit of the veteran? Where was the "you cannot touch me"?

Just like that, it ended.

Now, there's finally a vague sense of reality that the New England Patriots Dynasty, which dominated the league for nearly twenty years... seems to have finally come to an end. Despite the previous setbacks and lulls, the New England Patriots always rebounded strongly, but this time it seems a little different.

Belichick and Brady have ultimately... grown old.

What's even more surreal is that it wasn't the Kansas City Chiefs that ended it all, but the... Tennessee Titans.

This...?

Of course, true professionals would say, "Rome wasn't built in a day," and the collapse of the New England Patriots dynasty didn't happen overnight.

Over the past three years, the rise of the Kansas City Chiefs has repeatedly challenged and impacted Belichick and Brady. The league's landscape had long been overturned, and the eventual collapse and disintegration of the so-called "Foxboro Dynasty" was inevitable—whether it was the Tennessee Titans or any other team.

But... the Tennessee Titans?

The entire North American continent fell silent, struck by shock and awe.

Brady felt the same way.

Standing there dumbfounded, staring helplessly at the Tennessee Titans celebrating with abandon, his body stiff, even his fingers couldn't move.

Yet, Gillette Stadium was not noisy. A small portion of fans were cursing and swearing, a small portion were crying their eyes out, a small portion were in a daze; the majority, however, were silently turning and leaving, only leaving behind indifferent backs, refusing to face Brady.

Looking at those silent backs, Brady felt an unprecedented loneliness and pain.

37 passes completed out of 20 attempts, with a 54.06% pass completion rate; 209 yards, no touchdowns, and one interception.

Without a doubt, this was the worst and most horrific playoff performance of Brady's career. Although he occasionally falters in the regular season, not in the playoffs, this was the most proud and glorious part of the games between Brady and Big Manning, yet it broke the routine tonight.

Moreover, it happened in their own backyard at Gillette Stadium.

Could it be... he has truly been abandoned by the times?

Instinctively, almost subconsciously, Brady looked around the crowd, searching for Belichick's figure.

Indeed, in these past two to three years, their arguments had become more frequent, their differences growing larger, but in such a bitter moment, the first person to pop into Brady's mind was still Belichick—

No matter what, he was his mentor, not only discovering him and tapping into his potential but also personally training him.

Soon, Brady found Belichick.

Belichick still stood tall, with his back straight and a body full of confidence, maintaining a calm and composed expression. He stepped onto the field, ready to congratulate Vrabel and Tannehill.

He didn't offer consolation to the New England Patriots players, nor did he even glance at Brady.

The most ironic and ludicrous point was that Tannehill was once the starting quarterback of the Miami Dolphins, a divisional arch-rival of the New England Patriots. During his time with the Miami Dolphins, Tannehill faced Belichick and Brady in their prime, achieving a record of four wins and seven losses, but today, he secured his fifth win.

Belichick would rather congratulate Tannehill, yet was not willing to comfort them after a regrettable loss they just suffered.

Heh.

Brady wore a sardonic smile at the corners of his mouth, speechless at his own hopes, shifting his gaze away and turning to another direction.

One went left, the other went right, the double kings of the New England Patriots stepping in opposite directions, leaving the innocent players standing there dejected, like a group of abandoned puppies.

Victory or defeat, the reality is as harsh as this.

The New England Patriots, who stood atop the American League for a whole decade, suddenly fell to the ground, wrapping up the first day of playoff games with the biggest upset of the 2019 season.

However, the hype and focus surrounding the New England Patriots didn't last long—all attention vanished instantly—

Unnoticed.

Now the New England Patriots finally genuinely experienced the feeling of being the loser, hitting harder than any game they've lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in the past two seasons.

No one cares about the loser, because the playoffs continue, the Super Bowl champion is still waiting to be contested, and the whole league is eagerly looking forward to the next round of American League matchups.

"Number one seed Kansas City Chiefs VS number six seed Tennessee Titans."

"Number two seed Baltimore Ravens VS number four seed Houston Texans."

Youth storm, fully arriving.