United as One

A profound silence engulfed the stadium—a stillness that seemed to halt breath and heartbeat alike. Beneath this tranquility, a tidal wave of emotion surged, waiting for its breaking point.

It was the calm before the storm.

And then—

When Lance stepped into the end zone and turned to take in the sea of red around him, it was as if a switch had been flipped.

Boom!

Kansas City erupted. The Arrowhead Stadium roared to life, an uncontainable wave of energy sweeping through the stands as the Red Tide surged forward, painting the world in crimson.

For a moment, it felt as though the Chiefs who had started the season 6–0 were back.

Maybe they were. Maybe they weren't. It was too early to tell. But one thing was clear: the Chiefs had come prepared. From the very first play, their strategy and execution radiated the unshakable belief that they would win this game.

Andy Reid's ability to adjust mid-game might not be his strongest suit, but his pre-game preparation and tactical mind were among the league's finest.

The opening drive was a masterpiece. The play wasn't just an evolution of previous concepts but also a trap perfectly tailored to exploit the Raiders' defensive tendencies. It maximized Lance's skills and set the tone with precision.

The scoreboard read 7–0.

The Chiefs had thrown the first punch, and it landed hard.

Jack Del Rio, head coach of the Raiders, wasn't panicking—well, maybe a little.

The Raiders had been caught completely off guard. Allowing a 75-yard touchdown less than 20 seconds into the game was a gut punch, no doubt. But Del Rio had anticipated a high-scoring shootout and knew this was only the beginning. Now, it was up to the Raiders' offensive trio—Carr, Lynch, and Cooper—to respond.

The Raiders' offensive players were already restless. Even before their special teams unit stepped onto the field, they were pacing along the sidelines.

Amari Cooper, their star receiver, was like a coiled spring, hopping in place and itching to take the field.

Even Marshawn Lynch, typically reserved, was visibly hyped. As someone born and raised in Oakland, Lynch carried a lifetime's worth of Raiders-Chiefs rivalry in his heart. The chance to walk into Arrowhead Stadium wearing the silver and black was a dream come true.

On the other side of the field, the Chiefs' defensive unit was readying itself for battle.

As the offensive players returned to the sidelines, Justin Houston, the team's defensive leader, was already standing. Silent but commanding, he extended his right hand for high-fives, rallying his teammates.

When Lance jogged past, Houston smirked.

"Sorry, too quick. Looks like we'll have to carry the load for a while."

A chorus of laughter followed, instantly lightening the mood and stoking their competitive fire.

The last time these two teams met, the Chiefs' defense had been humiliated.

Cooper had caught 11 passes for 210 yards, averaging an eye-popping 19 yards per reception. The Chiefs' secondary had been shredded, leaving the cornerbacks, safeties, and even linebackers bitter and determined to redeem themselves.

Tonight was their chance for payback.

Houston gathered the defense.

"Listen up, guys. You heard the rookie. Things are tough—real tough. But the offense has set the tone. Now it's our turn.

"Remember, we're one team. Let's make sure we don't let them down."

Simple words. But they hit home.

Exchanging nods and fist bumps, the defense stepped onto the field united, their collective resolve burning bright.

The Raiders' offense took the field. Across from them stood the Chiefs' defense, brimming with intensity.

In the commentary booth, Bart Scott sat upright, his nerves taut.

Just moments ago, Lance had delivered another jaw-dropping play, and Scott couldn't shake a creeping sense of déjà vu.

But he wasn't ready to concede. Not yet.

This was Derek Carr's chance to shine.

"Snap!"

The ball was in play, and Lynch charged forward.

"Stop!"

"Brilliant read by Houston! The Chiefs sniff out the fake pass and run play. Before Lynch can even build momentum, Houston cuts through the line and tackles him behind the line of scrimmage."

Second and 11.

"Carr drops back. Scanning the field… looking for Cooper."

"Fantastic coverage by Steven Nelson! Cooper struggles to break free, and Nelson sticks to him like glue."

"Carr forces the throw—15 yards downfield to Cooper. It's incomplete!"

"Nelson made sure there was no room for error. A textbook defensive play."

Third and 11.

"Carr drops back again. He's looking—still looking…"

"Trouble!"

"The Chiefs didn't blitz, but their defensive coverage is airtight. Carr can't find an open man."

"Wait! The pocket collapses!"

"Boom! Tamba Hali breaks through and delivers a crushing hit on Carr just as he attempts to throw!"

"The pass? A wobbly, off-target throw that lands in no-man's land. Incomplete!"

Three-and-out!

The Raiders' offense, which had swaggered onto the field full of confidence, was sent packing in less than two minutes. Carr, Cooper, and Lynch all took hits, their momentum smothered by the Chiefs' defense.

Total yards gained: negative one.

Bart Scott buried his face in his hands.

He could feel the heat rising in his cheeks. The ominous specter of another Lance-fueled embarrassment loomed large.

"Not again…" he muttered.

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