Chapter 1371: Chapter 1370: Courage Well-Deserved
The Kansas City Chiefs opened the game with the "Cheating Motion" formation, attempting to suppress their opponents with a boom, layer upon layer exerting psychological pressure on the Houston Texans.
However, the Houston Texans did not show any weakness, choosing a blitz right from the first round of defense, and it was not an ordinary blitz. They opted for a five-man misaligned blitz, relying on the lineman’s supplementary positions to create opportunities for Watt to breakthrough lethally, seizing the initiative to declare their determination ——
Standing on the stage of the American League finals, they are not here to be spectators.
If the Kansas City Chiefs think they are satisfied with just checking in and then happily going home, they will make the Chiefs pay the price, completing the feat that the Tennessee Titans failed to achieve in the last game, and wish the Chiefs an early vacation then.
Look, how considerate they are, knowing that the Chiefs have maintained an unbeaten season, experiencing fatigue both mentally and physically, so they provide the Chiefs with a legitimate reason to enter the offseason two weeks early.
No need to thank!
From the start, the Kansas City Chiefs are in a gamble, and the Houston Texans are also gambling; and both teams are attempting to psychologically pressure the opponent.
Calculating and strategizing, balancing and striking, the pre-game battle between the two head coaches explodes fully in the first play of offensive and defensive warfare.
Watt showcases personal ability, with a step, an inward cut, just two simple moves, Watt shakes off the entanglement of the offensive line and enters the pocket:
Mahomes is right in front.
But wait, is Li Wei here too?
Li Wei moves in advance, cutting horizontally past the slot, but instead of making a ninety-degree turn for a vertical sprint, he continues to move horizontally into the pocket.
What’s going on?
Watt is processing information, seeing Mahomes raising his hand to throw in his sight, he immediately cuts off distractions, decisively stepping forward with full force.
At this moment, Mahomes and Li Wei have already combined, Mahomes retracts his right hand, turns and directly hands the football to Li Wei, downright concise and neat.
At the start, the Kansas City Chiefs’ first offensive tactic is unexpectedly ——
Feign! Pass! Real! Run!
And it’s a feigned pass real run covered by "Cheating Motion"!
Illusory and real, feigned and genuine. Entering the second season of starting collaboration between Li Wei and Mahomes, Reed’s utilization of the two third-year aces can be said to be at a skillful mastery, with a variety of strategies already becoming the nightmare of defensive groups all across the league, and today is no exception.
Watt’s pupils contract, alarm sounds, steps pause, without hesitation shifts focus slightly, pouncing towards Li Wei, ready to intercept before Li Wei starts.
At this moment, Mahomes unhesitatingly steps forward, facing Watt head-on, displaying a stance of mutual destruction, buying time for Li Wei.
This indeed is... courage commendable.
Watt doesn’t even glance at Mahomes, pushing forward with his right shoulder, even taking the initiative to collide with Mahomes ahead.
Mahomes: Humph.
A muffled grunt, utterly powerless to resist, body feels light, as gravity takes hold, heart continues to sink.
But Watt, unaffected, to Watt, it was akin to brushing off dust from the shoulder.
Facing the top opponent on the most crucial stage, Watt presents his best state right from the start; a momentary display reveals the unstoppable and feared killing machine of his prime.
A step forward, a collision, Watt lunges towards Li Wei without pause or hindrance, even the force exerted in pushing through Mahomes’ obstruction strengthens Watt’s determination and commitment, with fierce momentum blasting towards Li Wei.
Force, released instantly! Complete focus!
Not only Mahomes, Li Wei, too —
Courage commendable.
After all, Li Wei is not Derrick Henry, yet adopts a frontal breakthrough posture in the first wave of attack, indeed catching Crennel by surprise, the Texan’s defensive strategy completely misaligned, all eyes on pass defense, and if Li Wei breaks through the first line of defense...
Consequences, unimaginable.
The only salvation is to intercept Li Wei behind the line of scrimmage!
Watt’s energy fully erupts, just opening the game, in the literal sense of the first offensive play, although the body has not fully warmed up, Watt wholly experiences his body and controls it completely, feeling like a return to the peak in bursts of adrenaline and dopamine.
Invincible, unbeatable.
Reaction, movement, force, posture, all in optimal state.
Watching Li Wei right in front, so close, with nowhere to escape, Watt does not relax; he even unfolds his left hand to form a wrap, guarding against Li Wei’s signature Marseille Turn from escaping, tightly sealing off Li Wei’s breakthrough route, surrounding him like a wall.
Step, advance!
Grapple!
Then, Li Wei, disappears.
In the nick of time, at the moment of impending eruption, Li Wei, disappears.
Literally, Li Wei vanishes from Watt’s sight, startling Watt, heart contracting sharply.
But Watt remains undistracted.
Not only that, at this moment heightened tension and alertness, Watt knows Li Wei hasn’t truly vanished like Houdini into thin air, aware of Li Wei’s capabilities, never underestimating or belittling him, without tackling him off the ground to completely end the attack, anything is possible.
Not right in front, not to the left or the right, Watt reacts swiftly, glances downward, and immediately spots the figure ——
An difficult leaning-back waist-bending motion, upper body leaning nearly parallel to the ground, forcibly finding a gap under Watt’s left arm.
Just as Watt follows inertia forward; Li Wei uses waist and abdominal muscles to control his body, brushing past shoulder to shoulder, the positions have shifted.
Watt: I’ve seen this scene!
In the 2017 season, during the first confrontation between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Houston Texans, when Watt and Li Wei briefly collided, Li Wei showcased this move; unfortunately, Watt quickly suffered an injury and couldn’t finish the entire game, missing the chance to witness Li Wei’s excellence.
Three years later, both Li Wei and Watt are no longer who they were back then; but upon meeting again, Li Wei revisits the move, waking Watt’s body memory.
Everything happened too fast, just a brief moment.
Li Wei maintains an incredible body posture, incredibly takes two small steps forward, further separating positions, forcibly shaking off Watt’s positioning.
Escape to heaven!
Huh!
Amidst the sound of gasps and shock from the entire audience, Li Wei has gained space to advance.
Then, Li Wei uses waist and abdominal muscles to quickly stand upright, not even a breath moment before striding, launching like an arrow off the string.
One step, two steps, crossing the line of scrimmage!
Three steps, four steps, speed gradually unleashed.
Danger! Danger, danger, danger!
Houston Texans fans feel Li Wei’s impact comprehensively, hearts caught in throats, followed by a white storm chasing up.
That’s... JJ-Watt!