Sharpening the Blade
"Clap, fly!"
"Clap, fly!"
Deafening chants and a surging wave of heat—it's as if the world itself is on fire.
Seeing it on TV or in news reports was already stunning enough, but only by standing within it could one truly feel the allure of competitive sports, unable to resist the surging tide of emotion that overwhelms the senses.
Mahomes' breathing grew uneven. A chaotic swirl of excitement, anticipation, anxiety, distraction, elation, and tension spun through his mind like a whirlwind, shaking his entire world. His heart nearly leapt from his throat, and the pounding in his ears matched his racing pulse—
Accelerated tenfold; amplified tenfold.
"Sherlock…"
"Sherlock!"
Catching the sound of his nickname, Mahomes jerked his head around.
It was Lance.
No words, just a glance—but from within his helmet, a full smile bloomed. Confident and composed, a fiery resolve burned behind his eyes—
To face the challenge. To embrace the challenge.
Unconsciously, Mahomes smiled too. He raised his right hand and high-fived Lance. All the inner noise and pressure turned into fuel, igniting in his veins and bursting out in a shout.
Roar!
Let's play some football.
Own 25-yard line. 1st and 10.
Regulating his breath, bending his knees—Mahomes was fully locked into quarterback mode, no trace of the nervous rookie from moments ago.
Truly, fortune favors the bold.
The Pittsburgh Steelers had also finished setting up. Mahomes spotted the eager TJ Watt right away. The buddy he trained with during the offseason now stood across from him, ready to strike.
Their eyes briefly met, and the two exchanged a knowing grin—
Friends off the field, all-out competitors on it.
On the Steelers' defensive front, not much had changed during the offseason. Their "3-4" alignment carried over with all seven players intact from last year. The only tweak: TJ Watt and Bud Dupree had switched sides.
Last season, TJ was on the right, Dupree on the left. Now it's the opposite—TJ on the left, Dupree on the right.
What's the difference?
Sack opportunities.
The right side of the defense faces the quarterback's left—the blind side.
Typically, an offense's blind-side tackle has one job: protect the quarterback's back. That focus means they often use brute strength, minimizing the value of speed or agility.
Last year, TJ faced the blind-side tackle and couldn't fully exploit his burst. Result: "only" seven sacks.
This season, he's been moved to face the QB's right. His moves may be more visible now, but his explosive skills can shine.
It's a subtle change—but one that hints at strategic adjustments by the Steelers.
Mahomes noticed TJ's new position immediately. Instinctively, he glanced at Lance—who looked back at the same moment, confirming the same observation. Mahomes felt a jolt of satisfaction—
Those long days of offseason tactical training were paying off.
Meanwhile, the Chiefs' offense appeared unchanged. Though Mahomes had replaced Smith at quarterback, they were still in their familiar pistol formation. Lance stood to Mahomes' right, ready to switch seamlessly between pass and run.
But that was just the surface.
Compared to the Steelers' minor tweaks, the Chiefs—with a new starting quarterback—had undergone a full tactical makeover.
The Steelers' front line subtly shifted forward—
A blitz?
At that moment, Mahomes called the play.
"Attack!"
Bang, bang bang!
The sounds of bodies colliding filled the air, and just like that, the 2018 season had begun.
The Steelers' defensive line, led by Hayward, clashed hard. Meanwhile, outside linebackers TJ and Dupree sliced in from the edges like twin daggers, piercing toward the pocket with ferocity.
A blitz!
But the moment TJ crossed the line of scrimmage, he saw a smiling face—
Lance.
Bending, crouching, lowering his center of gravity.
Waiting in place, anticipating TJ's approach, conserving energy for a counterstrike. No pause, no breath—Lance struck first.
Push off, leap—like an eagle catching a rabbit.
One lunge.
Lance wrapped his arms around TJ's waist and drove forward with force.
As TJ leaned back from the impact, a red-brown spiral passed overhead. Slightly off-spin but under control—a pair of strong hands plucked it mid-air.
Kelce.
TJ: Damn, a quick short pass.
It meant the Steelers' blitz had been read in advance. Mahomes neutralized it with a quick throw to Kelce.
And Lance, along with blind-side tackle Cameron Erving, formed the twin gates that bought crucial seconds.
Lance had been sharpening his blade all offseason.
A running back secretly working on tackling? What the hell?
TJ had no time to dwell on it. He shook off Lance's less-than-perfect hold, rolled to his feet, and rushed toward Kelce.
As expected!
Lined up against a cornerback, Kelce had the clear advantage.
Corner Artie Burns clung to Kelce like paper, but Kelce bulldozed forward with relentless power.
TJ stumbled in from behind, caught a glimpse of Lance in pursuit—roles reversed: the offense chasing the defense. With no time to tackle properly, TJ dove straight into the scrum.
Crash.
He brought down Kelce and Burns all together, the trio tumbling out of bounds.
Finally, Kelce was stopped.
But—
First down, achieved.
The Steelers had arrived in Kansas City full of ambition; but clearly, the Chiefs weren't backing down, showing off their brilliance from the get-go.
TJ rolled over to find Lance offering a hand.
Smack.
TJ gripped Lance's hand and stood. They exchanged a glance—blazing determination clashing with equal intensity.
Lance knew TJ wouldn't go easy.
Likewise, TJ knew Lance wouldn't hold back.
Hands released. They turned and rejoined their teammates to reassemble.
The first skirmish was short but rich—smoke already in the air. Kansas City broke Pittsburgh's five-man blitz with a quick pass, and the battle between offense and defense tightened immediately.
No pause—Mahomes was already calling the next play.
1st and 10.
No fake, just a handoff to Lance.
This time, a ground assault.
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Powerstones?
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