Chapter 720: 719 Must-win belief
“Li Wei continues, absolutely unstoppable, after breaking free from a triple team and single coverage, Li Wei’s speed and strength fully explode.”
“No one can stop Li Wei, no one!”
“Touch… down ahhhhhhhh… (Tooooooooooooouchdooooooooooown…)”
“Incredible! Absolutely spectacular!”
“Wow, unbelievable, even more so after witnessing it with your own eyes! This is art, it should be hung in the Louvre for people to admire.”
“That’s a touchdown! The Kansas City Chiefs strike back with a touchdown, Li Wei charging through, unstoppable, turning a five-yard ground advance into a forty-one-yard dash to the end zone, Li Wei’s patience and dominance pay off, demolishing the Seattle Seahawks’ defense.”
“Once again, Li Wei proves with his actions that he is the best running back in the League!”
“CenturyLink Field has completely fallen silent, they have witnessed Marshawn Lynch unleash Beast Mode on opponents time and time again, making them tremble beneath his claws. Now, to their utter disbelief, they have become the victims of Beast Mode, the Seahawks’ defensive group is simply defenseless!”
“Now, there’s dead silence in the stadium, all the attacks, the disturbances, the noise—completely snuffed out. Li Wei with an incomparably dominant performance has successfully quieted CenturyLink Field.”
All guns blazing, utterly unstoppable.
From the get-go, the Seattle Seahawks and the Kansas City Chiefs together deliver an exciting spectacle.
First, Wilson combines running and passing to score early, achieving a touchdown in less than three minutes of offense, sparking a frenzy at CenturyLink Field.
And then, the scene just now unfolds, as Li Wei seizes the slightest opportunity amidst the storm to launch a desperate counterattack, a sharp blade piercing the enemy’s heart.
Such a start was unexpected by everyone. Is it really a shootout?
Merely five seasons earlier, the Seattle Seahawks became Super Bowl Champions with their epic defense. But in a blink, the Bombing Corps has become history, with the once dynasty-founding heroes scattered to the ends of the earth.
In fact, the decline of the Seahawks’ defensive group began a few seasons ago; but it was Carroll’s moves this offseason that officially declared the end of the Bombing Corps era.
Cornerback Richard Sherman became a free agent, defensive linemen Michael Bennett and Sheldon Richardson were traded away, safety Kam Chancellor retired—leaving and scattering were they all.
Now, the only remaining members of the Bombing Corps are safety Earl Thomas and lineman Bobby Wagner, still on the team; but with Thomas out for the season due to injury, Wagner is the only one still racing across the field.
Competitive sports are cold and cruel; this is no secret. Yet, one cannot help but lament when looking at the current Seahawks, how in just three to five short years, everything has changed so dramatically.
However, competitive sports will continue, the glories of the past are now history, the present and the future are the only things that matter.
This season, the Seattle Seahawks have made a perfect transition to a team that champions offense.
Everything relies on quarterback Russell Wilson.
In the 2012 NFL Draft, Wilson was not selected until the third round, the 75th pick overall, by the Seattle Seahawks. The main reason was his height; standing at 5.9 feet (180 centimeters), it severely limited his field of vision for passing.
Despite being about the same height as elite quarterback Brees, not everyone can be Brees.
After six seasons in the League, Wilson’s running ability had declined significantly due to various injuries, but the main reason he was the last man standing among the new generation of mobile quarterbacks was his beautiful passing.
Parabolas, accuracy, timing, and reading the secondary defense, etc., while not top-notch, he was still upper-tier. His short and medium pass accuracy and completion rate were unmatched by the likes of Cam Newton, Colin Kaepernick, and Robert Griffin III.
So, what about the height disadvantage?
This season, Wilson found a solution by relying on his footwork to leave the Pocket. Although without the protection of the Pocket, it also relieved him from the vision obstruction, completely opening up his passing view.
Then, he looked for opportunities to throw long passes.
In other words, Wilson fully used his strengths as a mobile quarterback without depending solely on his running skills. Instead, he evolved it into assistance for passing, creating a whole new domain.
The data does not lie—
Although Wilson was one of only four quarterbacks in the League to be sacked over fifty times, his passing rating this season was only second to Brees and Mahomes, currently ranking third.
By comparison, Brees was sacked only fifteen times, and Mahomes only twenty-five times.
One can imagine Wilson maintaining a steady passing output in worse pressure and more adverse situations—pass completion rate, passing yards, touchdown passes, etc., all are highly impressive.
What’s more commendable is that he only had seven interceptions, second only to Rodgers’s two and Brees’s five. His judgment, handling, and adaptability under crisis and difficulty were all maximized.
It’s no exaggeration to say that Wilson alone carried the Seattle Seahawks’ offense.
For this reason, Carroll designed a set of tactics entirely around Wilson, which has brought the Seattle Seahawks back to the playoff competition, attempting to re-enter the championship race after a two-year hiatus.
Right now, facing the Kansas City Chiefs, is the Seahawks’ opportunity to test themselves.
From an outsider’s perspective, the Chiefs have performed excellently this season, advancing triumphantly and securing their playoff position early, aiming for a repeat championship, but they encountered consecutive setbacks and hit walls in the sprint phase, exposing their weaknesses.
In such scenarios, the Chiefs should quickly adjust and display the quality of a strong team, achieving a convincing victory to get back on track and prepare for the playoffs.
However, that is the ideal situation.
The reality is different. For the Chiefs to quickly regain their form and momentum, they need to consult the opposition.
Clearly, the Seahawks have a different idea.
They’re fighting not only for a playoff spot but also for the team’s honor and pride. Led by Wilson, the entire team is united from top to bottom, all striving for the same goal.
Starting from the pre-game press conference, Wilson expressed a determination to win, immediately setting a confrontational tone.
“I respect the Kansas City Chiefs, but I believe we are the better team,” he said.
After the starting whistle blew, the Seahawks indeed proved themselves with action, launching an offense that was all cylinders firing, with a touchdown to start—
A strong declaration that this is Seattle, this is their city, their turf, and even the defending champions could come here only to leave defeated.
CenturyLink Field was a frenzy, displaying the Seahawks’ determination for victory. If the Los Angeles Chargers could defeat the Chiefs, they believed they could too.
The Chiefs were also determined to win this game, quickly stabilizing their stance amidst the clash of titans and striking back—
With a touchdown of their own.