Tom Brady had always maintained a gentlemanly image in front of the media—never losing composure, let alone cursing.
But now, he'd had enough of the media's nonsense:
Psychological shadow? Who's got a psychological shadow? You've got a psychological shadow about Lance! Your whole family's got a psychological shadow about Lance!
Even a clay Buddha has fire in his belly.
"Heh, of course not."
"It's just two games. If losing two games creates a psychological shadow, then the entire league should have one about me."
Brady held back every ounce of frustration, barely containing the urge to curse. In a smooth, composed tone, he offered a response laced with confidence and veiled bragging—a true champion's calm.
Just a Super Bowl ring? Please. Don't get cocky too soon.
And with that, Brady turned and walked off, leaving the reporters behind—something rarely seen. But the media wasn't done, their relentless questioning continued like a swarm.
"Tom, do you think you can end your losing streak against Lance this season?"
"Some say Lance is your kryptonite because he doesn't recognize you at all, whereas you seem paralyzed when facing him. Thoughts?"
"Did you watch the season opener? How would you rate Lance's performance?"
Nothing new—just recycled questions, repackaged and reused. Clearly, these journalists hadn't updated their playbook.
Lance, Lance, Lance—always Lance.
It wasn't about the Kansas City Chiefs. The subject was always Lance. The media was once again trying to recreate the energy from last season's opener—staging another Brady vs. Lance spectacle, hoping to spark a rivalry reminiscent of Brady vs. Manning.
But the tone, the choice of words—now that was different.
Every reporter seemed to have majored in "provocation," their skill points maxed out. One line could piss off a saint.
"Are you afraid of Lance?"
Brady: Fists clenched.
Literally. His hand balled into a fist. Brady nearly turned around to punch that smug reporter in the face, right between the eyes. He was this close.
But he swallowed it. Bit down on the blood. Silent, frustrated, he stormed back to the locker room.
The Patriots practiced again. The players, stunned, looked around like confused puppies, wondering what was happening. No one dared ask. One glance at Brady's dark face told them all they needed to know.
Someone even quietly complained to Belichick, worried Brady's extra training might risk injury.
To their horror, Belichick nodded sympathetically… and then added 30 more minutes to practice—not tactical drills, just brutal physical conditioning. Drained every last ounce of energy from the players.
They were stunned: What did we do wrong?
By the end, their minds were blank. Complaining? Breathing was hard enough.
Rumor had it someone dragging themselves past Belichick's office heard the sound of a knife being sharpened. No one dared check. They bolted, too scared to confirm or deny it later.
And then, the rumors exploded.
Someone claimed to have found shredded photos of Lance in a trash can. Another said there was a dartboard in Belichick's office with Coach Reid's face on it. Someone else insisted Brady had a Lance voodoo doll full of pins in his locker.
Like it or not, since Peyton Manning's retirement, no one had stepped up as the Brady-slayer. But now, half the league—and millions of fans—were pinning their hopes on Lance and the Kansas City Chiefs.
At least in the court of public opinion, the tide had turned toward Kansas City.
And the Patriots knew it. The phrase "swept by the Chiefs" loomed heavily, sharpening everyone's focus.
Expectations were soaring.
All eyes were now on the Chiefs. Could this young squad become the team to challenge the mighty Patriots?
It was more than a title defense now. It was about legacy, about building a dynasty.
The pressure was immense. If they couldn't handle it, the Chiefs could collapse under the weight—fall into mediocrity and be forced to rebuild.
But if they held firm, if they rose to the challenge, they could become something more. Something great.
In the past 20 years, every champion had tried—and failed—except the Patriots, who built an empire. Now, it was the Chiefs' turn.
Could they withstand the crucible?
Week 2 of the Regular Season.
The Chiefs traveled to Los Angeles to face division rival, the Chargers.
Against a revamped and dangerous Chargers squad, the defending champs once again proved their mettle. A fluid, dominant offense built an early lead, and a resolute defense sealed the win in the fourth quarter.
Week 3 of the Regular Season.
Back home at Arrowhead, the Chiefs hosted the San Francisco 49ers.
Alex Smith couldn't play this time, missing a chance to face his former team. But this wasn't the Niners he remembered.
San Francisco, still rebuilding, showed promise early on and challenged the Chiefs in the first half. But they lacked the stamina, and the second half became a Chiefs showcase.
Three wins to open the season.
Despite the mounting pressure, the Kansas City Chiefs radiated youthful energy and handled it all with confidence. Their journey had begun.
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