Chapter 486: 485 His pride Chapter 486: 485 His pride “`
Taking a deep breath, Revis still couldn’t control himself, and once again cursed fiercely.
Fury, frustration, embarrassment—
He had just failed to hold his position again.
To be precise, the Kansas City Chiefs Defense misjudged, nearly everyone thought the Philadelphia Eagles would choose to run the ball to burn the clock, forcing the Kansas City Chiefs to use their timeouts; however, Pederson showed courage and nerve for the third time tonight, opting for a pass play without warning.
Foles connected with Ertz.
The tactic was very simple, leverage the tight end’s advantage over the cornerback, then exploit the loophole in Revis’s fatigue, letting Ertz dominate Revis.
A seven-yard short pass, and after catching the ball, Ertz pushed forward to get the first down.
Then, a two-minute official timeout.
Reed also was caught off guard, even though he had a slight edge in pre-game preparations; but in terms of game-day coaching, Pederson held a slight advantage—
Don’t forget, it was precisely Pederson’s sharp and keen game-day decisions that stood out under Reed’s leadership.
Reed’s brows furrowed:
Should they take Revis out and bring in a backup cornerback?
But the problem was that the overall ability of the Kansas City Chiefs’ cornerbacks was lacking; switching one player would be much of the same, still unable to suppress players like Ertz and Clement; moreover, the Chiefs’ cornerback group was riddled with injuries, which is why they brought in Revis at the end of the season and started him in the Super Bowl.
In a defensive play where the Kansas City Chiefs must stop the Philadelphia Eagles, they faced an early setback.
Reed’s gaze became sharper.
Clearly, Revis also felt the frustration, like an ostrich, he dared not look at the coaches or the offensive group.
He hung his head, his thoughts a jumbled mess, feeling he might tarnish his late career in an ugly way.
His pride, his dignity, his perseverance, all crumbling like a sandcastle.
He was still fighting, but for a moment he couldn’t determine whether this persistence was foolish, even dragging the team down.
Revis reflexively looked up, and immediately saw Li Wei clapping and cheering for him.
Li Wei didn’t say much, just stood firmly and resolutely in place, gazing at him with his head held high and chest out, then once again pounded his chest with his fist.
Revis was startled, then he could see the other Kansas City Chiefs players and the red wave of the crowd in the stands behind them, all without exception—
Raising their heads, standing tall, refusing to back down, to surrender, to give up.
They were showing their support with their actions.
Revis’s eyes welled up.
In his professional career, he had always been fighting, against opponents, teammates, and himself, all for his own sake.
Revis knew that everyone in the league said he was insatiable, demanding higher contract numbers for a renewal before the current contract expired, or else creating conflict with the team, creating a toxic atmosphere in the locker room.
His greed made him friendless in the league.
From the New York Jets to the New England Patriots, it was the same everywhere; he was ready to renew with the teams, persuading them with his outstanding performance.
But in the end, the contract numbers he demanded made the teams balk, leading to failed negotiation talks.
After leaving the Patriots, he returned to the New York Jets, not out of past affection but because the Jets offered the highest salary figure, as simple as that.
Thus, everyone in the league called him a mercenary.
He did not regret his choice; he firmly believed in his own value and that he deserved the salary.
He refused to think for the capitalists.
Last year, after losing his job, no one was willing to give him a second glance, until Bob Sutton, who had coached him in his rookie season and was now the Defensive Coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs, suggested him to Reed; that was how he found a job, like alms.
His abilities were declining, his body and spirit were protesting, and for the first time in his career, it seemed he could not freely exhibit his skills or complete his work.
He felt ashamed of that paycheck, and he felt ashamed of Sutton’s understanding.
Yet, the players and fans of the Kansas City Chiefs still did not turn away, even though he was a mercenary.
This was the first time.
Throughout his entire career, he had bounced around and never imagined that he would find a sense of belonging at his last stop—was this what home felt like?
It all seemed too late.
No, he did not want to.
He wanted to fight one more time, for himself and for the team.
For the first time in his career, it was not for the paycheck, not for himself, but for the team.
Revis took a deep breath, looked at Li Wei again, and felt confidence slowly igniting in his chest.
He lifted his head and, using the official time-out, stepped forward and approached Reed.
“Coach, I can do it,” he said.
Reed was somewhat surprised; the Revis he knew was proud and tough.
He believed in his abilities which were evident without words, capable of persuading coaches and intimidating opponents alike.
He disdained having to use words to emphasize or prove himself, which was why whenever it came to discussing his salary, he was always upright and justified.
But now, Revis had approached him on his own initiative.
Perhaps the Kansas City Chiefs were indeed growing and evolving, slowly acquiring a different temperament, and not just because they had made it to the Super Bowl.
Reed looked into Revis’s eyes.
Then, nodding, Reed gave his answer.
Revis did not linger; he turned and strode back to the field.
The time-out was over, the game resumed.
The Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs lined up once more, as Pederson and Reed once again engaged in a tactical battle.
From the recent connection between Foles and Ertz, it was clear that Pederson knew the game was not over.
If the Philadelphia Eagles obediently used ground attacks to run down the clock without struggling or trying, and were easily struck out, it meant that the Kansas City Chiefs still had time to launch an attack.
Pederson would not forget the bitter defeat of the second week of the regular season, nor the miracle of the Kansas City Chiefs defeating the New England Patriots with a Wanfu Mary in the divisional playoffs.
He refused to give the Kansas City Chiefs even a slight chance, because with the Kansas Chiefs Offense feeling so hot today, there were still uncertainties, and he could not and did not dare to believe that his Defensive Group could miraculously end the game.
This meant that the Philadelphia Eagles still had to score on the first down.
Continue to consume time, continue to waste Reed’s time-outs, and more importantly, keep the Kansas Chiefs Offense pinned to the sidelines.
Pederson refused to be conservative, still displaying courage and boldness at the tactical level.
One more first down, just one more first down was all that was needed for the Philadelphia Eagles to claim their first Super Bowl Championship Trophy, just two more minutes of game time away from history.
Naturally, Reed could not take it lightly; he could not assume that the Philadelphia Eagles would conventionally opt for the run, the offensive and defensive battle continued.
The pressure was still accumulating.
The atmosphere was still heating up.
This was fair for both the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs.