Chapter 1374: Chapter 1373: A Momentary Misjudgment
"0:0".
The score remains unchanged.
Incredible as it is, this is just the first wave of offense and defense for the whole game; but both teams have left nothing behind and gone all out, reaching their peak right from the start, directly entering the state.
From here, it can be seen that both coaches, Reed and O’Brien, have focused their pregame tactical meeting on the opening of the first quarter.
Reed tried to build an advantage through offense, while O’Brien was willing to rely on defense to stabilize, and both sides actually fell right into each other’s hands. The comprehensive tactical layout showed the game and contest of the coaching teams, and the clash of bayonets was bursting with incredible sparks.
Exceeded expectations! Completely!
Indeed, this year’s playoffs are truly exciting and continuously wonderful.
In such a backdrop of tight, tense, and intense circumstances, Hill made an early foul, turning Third Gear Eight Yards into Third Gear Thirteen Yards.
Hill stood with hands on his hips, face full of frustration, choking on a breath he couldn’t swallow nor spit out.
"Hey, number ten."
A call came from not far away, Hill’s back muscles stiffened, both guilty and frustrated, he didn’t dare to turn around.
"We’re waiting for you to kick off, tick tock, tick tock."
Finally, Hill prepared to turn around, and then Li Wei’s voice came again, "Look, there’s a beauty."
Hill happened to turn around and saw all the offensive group players staring at him:
Ha-ha-ha.
A collective burst of laughter.
Hill frowned deeply, glanced at Li Wei with frustration, but couldn’t hold it back, his smile crept up, taking little steps back to his position, muttering repeatedly, "Sorry."
No one said anything, just patted Hill’s shoulder one after another, and soon the Kansas Chiefs had completed their formation—
The tense strings of their hearts suddenly relaxed.
This scene fell into Watt’s eyes, with admiration, just a couple of sentences not only resolved the crisis but also eased the atmosphere. Li Wei’s interpretation of the game’s context was truly precise.
Looking from the start, the Kansas Chiefs were united and determined, not expecting the strong resistance from the Houston Texans, trapped in a stalemate, failing to break through and inevitably getting impatient; the more anxious they were to break through, the more they were likely to confine themselves, tactical execution would be inevitably rough—
In a top-tier team’s peak showdown, what truly decides victory or defeat is often the details.
Hill’s early movement was evidence of this; seeming simple, it was actually a sign of inner anxiety.
Li Wei immediately took advantage of the situation, turning the moment of error into a valve for relieving pressure, instantly altering the team’s mentality, which was truly admirable.
Watt took a deep breath, sorting his thoughts, and now the key is, Third Gear Thirteen Yards, what strategy will the Kansas Chiefs choose?
Generally, passing, it’s undoubtedly passing. From Hill’s early movement, it could be seen; it was an obvious passing tactic.
Now here’s the problem, Hill moved early, exposing Kansas Chiefs’ tactical strategy, so will they continue to adhere to the passing tactic?
Obviously, the closer it gets to the end zone, the stronger the front line’s pass rushing and pressure from the Houston Texans, the defensive net continues to tighten; if the Kansas Chiefs continue to choose passing, the pressure and impact faced by Mahomes will become more overwhelming.
This is not the Kansas Chiefs’ style; in such moments, Reed often dares to hand the football to Li Wei.
Then, ground attack?
In a flash, Watt’s thoughts spun rapidly.
Not only Watt, but Crennel was also the same, thoughts swirling in his mind, fingertips all sweaty.
Only three beats slower, Crennel realized that Li Wei’s action of cracking a joke about Hill not only relieved Kansas Chiefs’ own pressure but also confused Houston Texans, even causing Crennel’s ideas to increase.
However, it was too late when Crennel realized this—
A trap!
Li Wei activated.
"Cheating Motion"!
One link after another, tightly interlocked, after Hill’s early movement foul, without communication, without exchange, but the Kansas Chiefs’ offensive group completely rallied around Li Wei, understanding each other instantaneously, completed cooperation swiftly, gave Houston Texans no breathing time.
Li Wei early activated, amidst chaos and turbulence, firmly grasping the attention of defensive players, moving horizontally to the right, passing by Kelsey’s position, cutting outside, and continuing to approach the sideline.
Watt: Bad.
Mahomes: "Attack"!
Seamlessly, layer after layer, Mahomes announced kick-off.
Watt had no time to hesitate, followed his instinct, subconsciously lunged forward, pushing away the offensive line player, rushing toward Mahomes like a tiger descending.
However, this time, Mahomes had stolen half a step, before Watt pounced, with a light flick of his forearm, the football had already flown out.
Bullet pass!
Watt held his breath, raising his hands high attempting to block, but empty, only catching a fading shadow—
Pass, still passing, and on the basis of Hill’s early foul, further continued; since Hill fouled, they simply capitalized on "Cheating Motion."
Pass? Rush? Truth and falsity, hard to distinguish, Li Wei played the role of the brain on the field, successfully disrupting the Houston Texans’ defensive group’s thoughts, in the ever-changing game occupying the upper hand, creating opportunities for the Kansas Chiefs.
Just a thought away, the Houston Texans had already fallen into passive, accumulated momentum and pressure thus far were dangerously on the verge of failure.
So, Mahomes’ target for the pass?
Quick short pass, slant five yards.
Kelsey?
Watt turned his head to look, and the next second saw Li Wei’s figure cutting back horizontally, Kelsey used his body advantage to complete the tear-off, Li Wei cracked open a two-yard gap area, with his right hand an intercept, intercepted Mahomes’ bullet pass, catching the football into his arms single-handedly—
Catch completed.
Watt quickly responded again, attempting to turn around and chase Li Wei, but this time, his body didn’t keep up, clearly half a beat slow.
Damn!
Fortunately, a white storm immediately surrounded that hint of red flame.
Just like the 2017 season’s Jacksonville Jaguars, although the team didn’t have top superstars or big-name players, relying on a batch of blue-collar players to fully exert the team strength in football, instead allowed the head coach and defensive coordinator’s tactical intentions to be perfectly executed, ultimately breaking into the conference finals.
Houston Texans this season are alike.
In the flash and swift changes of the game, this batch of blue-collar players maintained a highly focused attention, fully alert.
Just right, Li Wei’s running this time, to create confusion effect, first outward then cut inside, a detour action delayed time, giving defensive players a chance.
Front foot, Li Wei just put Mahomes’ bullet pass into his arms.
Back foot, Li Wei realized he had forced the football into basketball, outer line cutting into inner line pass, despite completing the pass, trapped inside a Heavenly Net of defense, surrounded all sides by opponents, quickly closed in like wolves.
For a brief moment, Li Wei almost thought he was about to dribble a bit to avoid traveling.
Luckily, he controlled that impulse, now there was no time to tell the direction, unabashedly followed instinct, falling towards the closest player.
Throwing himself into arms!