Chapter 1382: Chapter 1381: Phantom Maneuver
“Attack!”
The command, akin to the sound of a starting pistol, propelled Watt forward like a bullet from the chamber.
However, this time Watt hit a wall.
Clearly, the Kansas City Chiefs made adjustments, deliberately clearing space on the offensive line to focus on Watt, with two players blocking Watt’s rushing path.
This immediately sounded the alarm for Watt: Something’s not right.
From a strategic standpoint, Hill was positioned to the left of the Kansas City Chiefs, while Watt was on the right. If the Kansas City Chiefs’ “Cheating Motion” concentrated on the left side, why would they weaken Mahomes’ blindside strength and focus on accumulating numbers on the right?
Of course, Watt believed there must be a tactical explanation; but in a flash, Watt’s intuition sounded the alarm.
Wait, who has the football?
Watt hit a wall, but he continued to push forward relentlessly, trying to break through; and the Kansas City Chiefs’ focus on Watt came at the cost of weakening the middle and blind side, allowing other Houston Texans defenders to seize the opportunity.
Angelo Blacksen, another defensive end, was cutting into the pocket.
Amid confusion and confrontation, Watt attempted to locate the football—
Mahomes?
No, Mahomes immediately turned back and handed the football to Li Wei.
Watt: Li Wei???
This is the “Cheating Motion,” is Li Wei about to pass the ball?
One oddity might be a coincidence; two oddities, and things start to seem abnormal.
Without waiting for Watt’s brain to catch up, Li Wei had already turned back again. With his vision obscured, Watt could only see Li Wei brushing past Hill, unable to see anything else clearly.
But that was enough.
Hill and Li Wei crossed paths, Hill stopped, and like a relay race, handed the baton to Li Wei. Li Wei continued to move laterally to the right, taking two or three swift steps, already beyond the slot, showing no signs of slowing down.
The football was clearly in Li Wei’s hands, why did it seem like Hill handed the football to Li Wei?
Watt had no time to think deeply, everything happened too fast. He followed his instincts, subconsciously shedding the entanglement of the offensive line, and moved laterally immediately, step by step after Li Wei.
As Watt’s steps moved, his view opened up again, and he saw the next scene, eyes wide open—
Hill turned back and tossed, the football fell back into Mahomes’ embrace.
Hill? Wait, when did the football end up in Hill’s arms?
But what’s going on with Mahomes? After circling around, the football still returned to Mahomes, so what was the point of all that trickery, like a game of hot potato?
Then, what about Li Wei? Is Li Wei acting as a smoke bomb?
Thoughts, all tangled up, completely knotted.
Watt couldn’t keep up with the Kansas City Chiefs’ tactical shifts, even Blacksen cutting into the pocket was bewildered, totally led around by the Chiefs’ dazzling exchanges, the whole world spinning rapidly, unable to see through the Chiefs’ tactics.
Nevertheless, Watt did not hesitate or regret, he might be wrong, but he couldn’t abandon his instincts halfway. Trusting his intuition all the way.
Amid chaotic thoughts, his gaze grew even more resolute: Li Wei.
Resolutely, Watt accelerated, flying toward Li Wei’s position.
In the chaos, everyone was searching for the football’s location, originally tight man-marking or zonal defense all loosening up because no one understood what was happening, only Watkins, Kelsey, and Damien continued diligently following the plan, spreading out in the Texans’ short pass area.
Silently, rare to see, Li Wei evaded attention, slicing through the entire right wing, cutting in close to the sideline’s outer boundary, making a sharp turn to sprint vertically forward.
His steps, light and agile, gently tapping the ground, effortless yet extraordinarily effective, charging through the line of scrimmage, unstoppable advancing vertically.
Then, Watt appeared—
An unexpected event.
Watt shouldn’t be here.
Li Wei didn’t panic, holding his breath, his peripheral vision capturing Watt’s movements, his alert level pushed to the extreme.
Watt took the initiative, sprinting at Li Wei; but Li Wei knew, he wasn’t in possession now, which meant Watt was restrained, a slight misstep might result in a defensive foul from the referee, this was Li Wei’s opportunity.
Without hesitation, Li Wei didn’t dodge. Instead, he actively approached Watt.
Watt momentarily froze.
Despite being versatile, Watt could perform any position in the defensive group, but being accustomed to the defensive end position, facing off against cornerbacks and safeties required to defend receiving players, he couldn’t help but be constrained.
He wasn’t sure of the boundaries, otherwise Li Wei wasn’t the passing target, handing his defense carelessly to the opponent’s first attack would be disastrous.
It seemed serious when described, but in the game, it was just a fleeting moment of hesitation.
In that slight hesitation, Li Wei had already closed in on Watt.
Watt charged forward, and Li Wei pushed off the ground, sticking to him and completing a 360-degree spin—
Marseille Turn.
Watt held his breath, not at all surprised by Li Wei’s escape, this was Li Wei’s ability, he was prepared, his right hand encircling, clutching Li Wei’s body, relying on arm strength to forcibly block Li Wei’s agile escape.
In the league, so far, no defensive player could single-handedly stop Li Wei’s Marseille Turn, especially in situations where Li Wei had to be wary of defensive fouls without possession, the difficulty multiplied tenfold.
Nonetheless, Watt demonstrated.
Sadly, only Watt could achieve this, after all, there’s only one Hulk.
Right at this moment, everyone thought Watt halted Li Wei’s escape, variables emerged.
Li Wei’s clockwise rotation was intercepted, his back crashing into Watt, then simply reclined back, kicked the ground consecutively, using his back to push Watt backward.
A crash. Two crashes.
Watt’s center of gravity got pulled into the storm; he had to stabilize his core to control his body. However, unexpectedly, Li Wei abandoned after two simple spells of resistance.
Following through, Li Wei leaned forward again, completing a counter-clockwise 360 degree turn.
Light, agile.
Li Wei had broken through from Watt’s left side.
First right then left, Li Wei elevated the elegance of the Marseille Turn to an entirely new height.
Instinctively, Watt hurled his body, attempting to disrupt Li Wei’s steps with a collision; but Li Wei was indeed too airy in his unconfined state, whimsically spinning counter-clockwise again.
720 degrees!
In an eye blink, Li Wei had broken free from Watt, without pausing for even a second, his steps flowed seamlessly, darting outward like an arrow released, transforming into a streak of red figure.
Thirty-five yard line!
Thirty yard line!
Twenty-five yard line!
Everything happened too fast, in the blink of an eye, Li Wei already cut into the twenty-yard line, leaving safety and cornerback drenched behind him, Houston Texans’ defensive group hadn’t yet noticed the ghost near the sideline.
As they realized, Mahomes unleashed a gorgeous rainbow pass pulling everyone’s attention straight towards Li Wei’s position and pouring down—
Unattended!