Chapter 584: 583 widening the gap Chapter 584: 583 widening the gap “Brilliant.”
Michaels regained his composure, not cheering or shouting or even raising his voice, but within his rational mind, he found greater sincerity.
“A long pass from midfield straight to the end zone for a touchdown, a lengthy ground rush for another touchdown, the defending champions displayed a superb competitive form.”
“Perhaps, those who just turned on their TVs might be puzzled by the score, wondering what the commentator is rambling about.
Isn’t this a one-sided match?
Where is the excitement?”
“The progress of the game is far more intense than the score suggests.”
“The Pittsburgh Steelers also demonstrated their belief and determination, with tactical execution on both offense and defense that clearly reflected Tomlin’s thorough preparation; they applied sufficient pressure and impact, and their performance thus far has been nothing short of impressive.”
“To be precise, it’s not just ‘not bad’; it is, indeed, outstanding.”
“Yet, the excellence of the Steelers further proves the superiority of the Kansas City Chiefs.”
“This current Kansas City Chiefs team is familiar, its dazzling tactics still manage to impress, and its steady offensive strategy often hides a cutting edge, ready to strike a fatal blow when least expected.”
“At the same time, this Kansas City Chiefs team is also unfamiliar.
Although last postseason they demonstrated their explosive powers when cornered, which was key to their ultimate victory, now they unleash that power effortlessly, without the need for adversity.”
“This is progress, and it is also transformation.”
“Thus, even though the Steelers are performing well, the Chiefs are still ahead by two touchdowns.”
This is the part that truly impressed Michaels—
“However, this is just the beginning.”
“So far, it’s only a glimpse into what the Chiefs have achieved in their offseason training; it’s too early to draw conclusions now.”
“There are still many mysteries.”
“Is it too soon to be at the peak of their form?
How long can they maintain this state?”
“Revealing their cards at the beginning of the game, is this everything?
When the opponent starts to adapt and counterattack, how will this young team respond?”
“When the intensity of the competition escalates, can they keep up this pace?
If disrupted, how will their subsequent performance unfold?”
“And so on and so forth.
After all, the first quarter has just begun.”
“But there’s no doubt that the defending champions are worth watching.
Their vitality and fighting spirit are refreshing.”
“To be precise, they have the confidence of champions but not the arrogance, still positioning themselves for continuous improvement and growth, not merely awaiting challenges but actively engaging in combat.”
“Last season’s Super Bowl MVP, Li Wei, still shows his desire for victory.
At the start of the game, he has already broken fifty yards both in rushing and receiving, achieving both a rushing and a receiving touchdown – a dominating performance that deserves attention.”
“And the young Mahomes, taking over the main quarterback role from Smith under heavy pressure this season, also displays his youthful energy.
His offseason training results show in his defensive reading and timing of passes, adapting to the professional game quicker than expected.”
“This spirit is different, youthful and exuberant, vibrant and passionate.
Honestly, I am very much looking forward to the Chiefs’ upcoming performances, very much so.”
Michaels temporarily leaves the tactical analysis to take a broader perspective, immediately recognizing how the Kansas City Chiefs have dominated the Steelers, from tactical to spiritual levels.
The situation is indeed challenging for the Steelers.
Being behind in score is bad enough; going all out yet seeing no hope of turning the tide is the real psychological blow.
Michaels had pinpointed the key issue—
Indeed, the Pittsburgh Steelers found themselves in trouble again.
Roethlisberger narrowly avoided an interception, and the passing offense was blocked once more, this time even the struggle seemed trivial as they struck out hastily, handing the opportunity to extend their lead to the Kansas City Chiefs.
The defending champions showed no mercy.
This time, Li Wei took a temporary break to rest and adjust, Hunter came on as a substitute; but Mahomes still managed a brilliant balanced attack between passing and running, not rushing, but steadying his play, further firmly controlling the pace of the game.
In the end, Mahomes threw a 13-yard pass to Kelsey, scoring another touchdown.
The game was blown open.
It was only the first quarter, and the Kansas City Chiefs had already pulled far ahead, not only did the Offensive group perform exceptionally, but the often-criticized Defensive group also shone, successfully shutting out their opponents.
The entire stadium was shocked.
Last regular season, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Pittsburgh Steelers had been neck and neck, and though the Chiefs had emerged victorious, it had cost them greatly, leading to a painful six-game losing streak and a prolonged low, with the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Defensive group teaching Li Wei a serious lesson.
The rematch this new season was highly anticipated, and even before the Bell scandal, the League had already scheduled this game for the season opener, much to everyone’s excitement.
It was not only a complete surprise but also a huge letdown.
Suddenly, a lively debate ensued—
Apparently, without Bell, the Pittsburgh Steelers were like a tiger without teeth, Bell’s strategic importance to Tomlin’s Steelers was greater than imagined; one wonders if the Steelers regret tagging Bell with the franchise tag for two consecutive years.
In front of the LCD screen, friends and family were cheering and toasting in celebration, but Bell was not.
Bell’s hands were folded across his chest, staring gloomily at the screen.
On one hand, he was truly annoyed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, almost wishing they would lose all their games this season.
On the other hand, seeing the Steelers in such dire straits, the competitive spirit deep inside him was stirring, almost making him want to roll up his sleeves and enter the field to confront the Chiefs right away.
Bell thought he had no feelings left for the Pittsburgh Steelers, after last year’s repeated torment and turmoil, any sentiment should have been worn away; but unexpectedly, it still hurt.
He couldn’t even laugh.
However, Bell knew Tomlin.
Tomlin had been able to remain as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers for twelve years without ever being unstable, commonly thought to be due to bringing a Super Bowl Championship to Pittsburgh; but Bell knew that wasn’t it.
Tomlin was tough, smart, and strong; he knew how to manage his relationship with the team’s owner, measure his interactions with the team manager, and on the field, he also maintained his patience to look for opportunities.
In such a challenging situation, Tomlin’s tenacity and calm were definitely unknown factors not to be overlooked, especially since were the Pittsburgh Steelers really that easily defeated?
In the second quarter, Tomlin’s counterattack arrived.