Bart's back and knees felt like pincushions brimming with arrows. He desperately needed to retreat into hiding for a few days, pull each one out, and patch himself up. Blood still dripped from wounds he hadn't even had time to bandage, and there was Lawson, smirking gleefully at his misfortune—
Even on live TV, Bart barely managed to restrain himself from cursing out loud.
Should he admit defeat?
A man's pride—his reputation, his stance—is his identity.
To admit his errors live on national television? That would be unbearable.
Consider the situation: the entire league is collectively singing Lance's praises. Bart might be the last voice of dissent.
And in his mind, a noble mission arose, igniting his determination:
"If I don't stand up, who will? If I don't dissent, who will keep them grounded?"
Bart saw himself as a martyr. Like Iron Man sacrificing himself to stop Thanos, Bart would take the arrows for the sake of the league's integrity.
With a deep breath, he steeled himself, gazing around the studio. Facing Lawson's triumphant smirk, he braced his ego and spoke:
"Congratulations to the Kansas City Chiefs."
"The season is just beginning. No one wants to see another Robert Griffin III…"
Griffin: Why am I always the one getting dragged into these?
"Or, heaven forbid, a repeat of the 2007 New England Patriots…"
Brady: Haven't we agreed to never speak of this again?
In 2007, the New England Patriots achieved a perfect 16-0 regular season record, only to shockingly lose in the Super Bowl to Eli Manning and the New York Giants. The Giants, who had barely scraped into the playoffs, defied all odds to claim the championship in one of the greatest upsets in NFL history.
Bart's voice shone with conviction as he continued, his chest puffed out like a martyr stepping toward the gallows.
"The season is long. We must remain patient and level-headed. There's no need to lose ourselves over two victories. We should observe, wait, and see. Whether Lance proves to be a diamond or just coal will become clear by season's end, right?"
"Besides, let's not forget that this year's No. 1 and No. 2 overall picks haven't even made their mark yet. Declaring the No. 3 pick as the best rookie of 2017 is far too premature."
Bart's cigarette-stained teeth flashed in a crooked grin.
This was Bart's brand of stubborn pride. The more people demanded he surrender, the more he dug in his heels. Two games weren't enough to force him to concede. His determination was resolute: he wouldn't back down.
As for the Kansas City Chiefs?
Bart wasn't disrespecting Andy Reid, but realistically, he didn't believe Reid had the tools to lead this roster to a Super Bowl title.
A rookie running back? A rookie?!
Even if quarterbacks Jared Goff or Carson Wentz had put up stellar performances in their first two games (a hypothetical, of course), Bart wouldn't be swayed so easily. Football wasn't a sport where a player's level could be judged over a few games—especially not a running back, a disposable position by nature.
Let's wait and see, Bart thought. That rookie's shine will soon fade in the face of the NFL's relentless grind.
While Bart played the "lone truth-teller" role, standing as the voice of reason against the tide, Pasch drowned him out with unrestrained praise for Lance.
"136 rushing yards, two rushing touchdowns."
"And, don't forget, a recovered onside kick in crunch time."
"For the second straight game, Lance has delivered dominant and consistent performances. He's proving not just that he can play in the NFL—but that he can excel."
"This game saw the Eagles' defense play lights out, demonstrating strength in both the running and passing game. For a time, they had the Chiefs locked in a stalemate."
"But Lance's patience and focus shone through. He continued probing, looking for weaknesses. And when the moment came, he seized it, dismantling the Eagles' defense with one decisive strike."
"Comparing this week's challenge to last week's, the difficulty clearly increased. Yet, Lance maintained his elite level of play, silencing any doubts about his stamina or ability to last. He's found his place in the league, without question."
"Right now, Lance is undeniably the frontrunner for Offensive Rookie of the Year. He's the standard all rookies will measure themselves against."
"More than that, he's emerging as the standout star of the 2017 draft class."
"And what's more, Lance's ambitions clearly extend far beyond his rookie peers. Based on his performance through two weeks, he's setting his sights on having the greatest rookie season in NFL history. And he's on track to compete for that title."
The accolades came pouring in as Pasch raved. Arrowhead Stadium erupted in celebration, with Lance standing at its heart.
As the league's attention turned to Lance, the buzz surrounding him exploded to a fever pitch.
Last week, even Tom Brady had been a footnote in the rookie's narrative.
This week? The entire league was abuzz with talk of Lance. His rise in popularity dwarfed Odell Beckham Jr.'s breakout in 2014, which had once set the standard for a rookie's meteoric rise.
NFL stars like J.J. Watt (Houston Texans), Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints), and Von Miller (Denver Broncos) shared their admiration for Lance on social media.
Even NBA players joined in: Stephen Curry, Damian Lillard, and LeBron James all posted praise for Lance's electrifying performance, sharing highlights of his game-changing touchdown runs.
Lance wasn't just making waves within football; he was transcending sports.
For a position like running back—typically known for its grunt work—highlight-reel plays were rare. Yet Lance had done the impossible: play after play, game after game, his brilliance demanded attention.
And if Lance's earlier fame stemmed from his unique "rookie" and "Asian-American" labels, now his skill was the main attraction. Fans didn't need the league to hype him—they were doing it themselves.
Meanwhile, Lance turned to find Wentz standing before him, looking like he wanted to say something but hesitating.
Lance couldn't help but laugh softly.
"Wow," he thought. "This year's Super Bowl matchup—Chiefs vs. 49ers—this parallel universe just collided with reality."
Who's your pick for the title? Kansas City Chiefs or San Francisco 49ers?
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