Dominate the Super Bowl-Chapter 873 - 872 Fourth Down Two Yards
Chapter 873: 872 Fourth Down Two Yards
“Roar, fly! Fly!”
“Defense! Clap-clap! Defense! Clap-clap!”
“Hut!”
Gasps, exclaims, and sharp inhales filled the Mercedes-Benz Dome, the air thick with roaring heat waves surging across the crowd.
Back and forth, neither side giving an inch, the Kansas City Chiefs Offense and the Los Angeles Rams Defense finally hit their stride. The head-on clash sent waves of excitement roaring through the stands, bringing the Super Bowl to an electrifying high.
Still, the Kansas City Chiefs held the upper hand. After Li Wei’s ground offense opened up opportunities, Mahomes began to find his rhythm in passing. With a balanced attack of both passing and rushing, they pressed forward with relentless determination.
Although the Los Angeles Rams forced the Kansas City Chiefs into three different third-and-long situations, the Chiefs leaned on Kelsey and Hill to bail them out. Play after play, they converted their third downs with improbable precision, steadily crossing into enemy territory.
Clearly, the Kansas City Chiefs weren’t content with just a field goal. Their aim was a touchdown, and every component of their offensive unit was firing on all cylinders.
The tension in the air grew taut.
With the Rams’ Offense faltering with no end to their slump in sight, and the Chiefs’ Offense weathering adversity and surging forward as one, momentum was clearly shifting to Kansas. The Los Angeles Rams Defense was furious.
More specifically, Donald was furious.
Donald didn’t lash out at his teammates. Instead, he led through action:
A direct stop on Li Wei. An impactful hit on Mahomes. Blocking for Ndamukong to force a rushed throw. He was like a volcano—
Erupting in full force.
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This explosion of power was oppressive and dominant, once again proving why he was a back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year.
Three-and-out.
The stadium let out a collective sigh, a chorus of groans and lamentation rippling across both shocked Rams fans and despairing Chiefs supporters. Another three-and-out—again and again—it was exasperating, not the game either side hoped to see tonight.
But then, just as players began leaving the field, they came back!
Wait, were they going for it on fourth down?
Just moments earlier, although Ndamukong had succeeded in forcing a rushed throw, Mahomes still managed to connect with Kelsey, who lunged forward in a diving catch. Unfortunately, they fell short of converting the third down.
Fourth and two.
No one saw it coming—Reed deciding to go for it on fourth down in this moment.
An unexpected yet logical decision—
“At this moment, the Kansas City Chiefs are near the Los Angeles 33-yard line with 1:47 left in the first half.”
“If the Kansas City Chiefs punt here, they give the Rams’ Offense another chance to find momentum. Even if Goff suffers another three-and-out, Mahomes likely won’t have enough time to mount another drive.”
“Plus, there’s always the risk of Goff suddenly finding his rhythm.”
“But by going for it on fourth down, the Kansas City Chiefs not only take control of the clock but also have the opportunity to advance closer into field goal range.”
“It’s a calculated risk worth taking.”
“Even if the fourth down attempt fails, the Rams’ starting field position isn’t ideal. Reed can afford to roll the dice.”
Crack-crack! Nantz immediately understood Reed’s tactical reasoning, rattling off a wild explanation—
To casual fans, it’s just entertainment; to insiders, it’s strategy.
Nantz recognized the game’s momentum: the Chiefs steadily building, trying to seize the initiative and break the deadlock, while the Rams kept pace through Donald’s exceptional performance, refusing to back down.
Now, it came down to a battle of momentum, far more significant than a single fourth-down conversion.
If the Rams stopped the Chiefs here, they could reverse the game’s tide. Their Offense would rally and regain their confidence.
If the Chiefs converted, they might capitalize on their momentum and widen the gap.
This was the story of how, in previous high-scoring Super Bowls with both sides surpassing 50 points, the Rams managed to secure victory.
The answer lay in decisive moments like this, where they reversed a losing situation completely.
Though the current circumstance was different, the stakes were just as high.
Unconsciously, Nantz held his breath.
Spectators were suffocating with tension, hearts pounding, veins pulsing, nerves stretched taut, ready to snap. But on the field, it was a different scene altogether.
Laser focus, textbook routines.
Fourth and two—no big deal to them, just another down to execute properly.
No hesitation, no delay. Mahomes called for the snap.
“Attack!”
Pass? Run?
Read Option Offense?
Donald’s concentration spiked. Fourth downs were often decided in an instant. Whatever the Offense decided, they wouldn’t hesitate, meaning the Defense had no second chances—it had to hit the mark in one shot.
Normally, Donald’s first step would be explosive, unleashing his bulldozing charge—
The essence of this move lay in its speed and power, embodying the raw force of a human battering ram, tearing through the opposition mercilessly.
But this time, Donald paused for half a beat. His focus wasn’t on Mahomes or Li Wei, but on the offensive line.
He studied the line’s movements. Were they spreading apart, or closing up?
If they were “closing,” it likely meant the Chiefs aimed to push through for “one yard.”
After all, with only three Rams Defenders on the line, and Donald not being a stereotypical massive lineman, if McVay had anticipated a heavier focus on pass defense, the Rams wouldn’t have the upper hand in straight-line collisions. The probability of successfully pushing for one yard would be higher.
Donald needed to remain extra vigilant for this.
But what if that wasn’t the case?
Spread!
Donald caught the offensive line’s subtle movements and immediately charged forward. If it wasn’t a push for one yard, then all that mattered was applying pressure—whether it was Mahomes or Li Wei.
Donald moved decisively and aggressively, cutting straight between the gaps in the offensive line rather than looping outside.
A charge, a mismatch, a collision.
Shoulder met shoulder. With unrelenting force, Donald treated the white wall before him like it didn’t exist, blasting through and flipping it over without delay. His momentum and energy remained unabated, storming forward as if brushing off dust, his presence thunderous and unstoppable.
Li Wei!
Donald’s focus was razor-sharp. He recognized Mahomes’ feints and was well aware of the chemistry between Mahomes and Li Wei. Locking his gaze firmly on the football, his movements tracked it precisely, undeterred by any blinding techniques—
A fake pass, real run.
The Kansas City Chiefs faked a pass, with Mahomes posturing as though targeting Kelsey downfield. The offensive line’s stance and formation matched the look of a passing play, pulling the linebackers and cornerbacks out of position before handing the ball to Li Wei.
All along, the Chiefs used Li Wei as the bait to set up passing plays. This time, they flipped the script.
Everything was meticulously orchestrated, nearly enough to fool the entire Rams’ Defensive unit.
Except Donald.
