Chapter 1448: Chapter 1447: A Rude Awakening
Li Wei stood tall and proud in the end zone, raising his right hand high and extending his index finger—
A touchdown, a beginning.
This was his statement of defending the title, the Kansas City Chiefs were ready to start this game with a new attitude, facing a tough challenge.
Tonight, the pressure was there, the burden was there, like an elephant in the room, they couldn’t pretend not to see it, they had to face it head-on and break through it, to embark on the journey of the 54th Super Bowl in this manner, this was a declaration shouting towards the San Francisco 49ers, but more importantly, it was a roar awakening the Kansas City Chiefs.
He, Li Wei, led by example onto the battlefield, ready for this game.
Then.
Li Wei spotted a figure in the bustling crowd in the stands.
Talia Ryder.
Evidently, Talia had no idea she had entered Li Wei’s sight, she wore a Kansas City Chiefs’ number 100 jersey, her face painted, waving a red scarf, jumping and cheering with abandon, seemingly bonding with all the surrounding Kansas City Chiefs fans, collectively singing loudly under her lead.
She was singing loudly.
“… You’ll never walk alone…”
Because Talia knew, for others, it was the Kansas City Chiefs’ magnificent attempt for a three-peat, but for Li Wei, it was the final chapter of carrying Annie and Phoenix’s dreams to conclude this adventurous journey.
They fought side by side.
Talia saw it, she caught Li Wei’s gaze, but she wasn’t sure if it was just her imagination because around her were perhaps 300 fans all believing Li Wei was exchanging looks with them, she didn’t want to fall into self-indulgent delusion.
Immediately after, Talia saw Li Wei retract his index finger, clenched his fist, gently tapping his chest, a smile blossoming brilliantly on his lips.
Ah!
Talia’s heart clenched, using all her strength to control her urge to scream.
At that moment, she could almost be 100% certain, Li Wei saw her.
The thought surged through her heart like an electric current, making her whole body shiver.
The next moment, an unbelievable scene unfolded.
The whole scene, in worship, kneeling submission—
Kansas City Chiefs fans were paying tribute and expressing adoration for their king through action.
Neutral fans were also going crazy, jumping, and cheering, “He’s here, he’s there, he’s everywhere, he is the Edgerunner, Li Wei Li Wei Li Wei.”
Talia watched as Kansas City Chiefs players surrounded Li Wei in a lively celebration, jumping and cheering madly, she couldn’t hold back any longer, joining in the jumps and shouts, pushing the heat wave of Hard Rock Stadium to the extreme.
The entire place, boiling.
Witnessing this, Buck couldn’t help but feel the blood rushing.
“A mismatch. A gap. That’s all it took, the San Francisco 49ers, reaching the Super Bowl for the first time in a decade, didn’t get a chance to find their footing before Li Wei seized an opportunity, not needing much, just a tiny gap was enough to turn a five-yard run into a 67-yard touchdown.”
“In less than a minute, the score has changed, it feels more like the NBA than the NFL. Stephen Curry and LeBron James would understand what this is.”
“This, is Li Wei, this is the Kansas City Chiefs.”
“Even though during the divisional games, the Kansas City Chiefs’ first-quarter performance was terrible; but this season, the Kansas City Chiefs have been very good at seizing the initiative, applying pressure from the start, continuously building up the pressure until it crushes the opponent.”
“Having reached the Super Bowl stage for the third consecutive year, the Kansas City Chiefs obviously are well-versed, quickly getting into state, continuing the consistent energy of the entire season.”
“The Kansas City Chiefs issued a declaration of defending the title with absolutely dominant performance, this also serves as a warning bell for Shanahan, if the San Francisco 49ers do not want to repeat the downfall of the Los Angeles Rams, they need to calm down, find their footing quickly, and get into the game, otherwise, the situation will become very very difficult.”
Listen, the entire Hard Rock Stadium has plunged into madness, chanting one name, again and again—
Li Wei! Li Wei! Li Wei!
Not only the spectators, but the Kansas City Chiefs players were also all frenzied, the mix of nerves, anticipation, anxiety, excitement, and worry burned away in an instant, with a touchdown to gain the lead in under a minute, enough to temporarily throw all pressure aside.
Even rare to see, Reed also celebrates with a fist pump.
As expected, for everyone within the Kansas City Chiefs, it is all brand new, no exceptions.
But in the end, relying on Li Wei, the team’s spiritual leader, they stood firm.
The pressure, pushed wholly onto the San Francisco 49ers.
An invisible spotlight fell on Shanahan.
Theoretically, the young San Francisco 49ers lacked experience, from the coaching staff to the players it’s all the same, getting caught in a tiny gap not even considered a loophole at the start, immediately falling into passive, even before they could find their footing and enjoy the atmosphere they were already thrown into disarray.
Next, might be a complete collapse.
This is indeed a fact.
But from another perspective, the San Francisco 49ers were already challengers with nothing to lose, barefoot is not afraid to wear shoes, perhaps there was some expectation and burden before the game, too excited to sleep, but now suddenly awaken, truly realizing there is no retreat, nothing to lose.
Aside from fighting with all they have, there’s no other choice.
Misfortune sometimes comes with fortune.
The key is not the situation itself, but how to leverage the situation, adversity could be the last straw on the camel but might also be the turning point for a comeback.
To some extent, Shanahan is relieved to be snapped awake at the start, immediately adjusting.
Despite appearance, the Kansas City Chiefs seized the initiative; but looking beyond appearances, this touchdown relied entirely on Li Wei’s personal ability—
Everything, exactly as Blair Butt’s pre-game analysis, the Kansas City Chiefs often rely more on individual heroism, while the San Francisco 49ers do the opposite.
So, this is an opportunity.
Taking a deep breath, Shanahan immediately began deploying strategy.
According to the plan, Strategy A was to rely on the San Francisco 49ers’ more confident and stronger defensive group to meet the Kansas City Chiefs head-on, demonstrating their resolve.
As a result, Strategy A hit a wall, Shanahan switched to Strategy B without hesitation.
After all, from the divisional games and conference finals, one can see the Kansas City Chiefs have deep foundations, if Shanahan’s mind isn’t working fast enough, a little hesitation might lead the San Francisco 49ers into a quagmire, he can’t afford to take chances.
Hence, less than a minute into the game, Shanahan already switched to Strategy B, showcasing this young coach’s rich tactical knowledge.
Indeed, he’s among the few in the League who can match Reid in tactical depth head-on.
Soon, Reed noticed the San Francisco 49ers’ Strategy B—
Jimmy Garoppolo.