Chapter 852: Hand of God 851 Chapter 852: Hand of God 851 A “what if,” or rather, a conspiracy, a fantasy, a master plan—
“Los Angeles Rams VS New England Patriots,” packed with topics, ranging from geography to culture, from politics to economics. From a broader perspective, this is a grand chessboard.
Although it doesn’t quite match the enduring hype of “Los Angeles VS New York,” the heavyweight clash of “Los Angeles VS Boston” is more than enough to drive fans mad. Just imagine the half-century of entangled grudges between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics in the NBA, and then consider this NFL showdown—you can feel the atmosphere already.
Once the matchup is set, there’s no doubt—this will become a battle of the century, perhaps even a landmark in the half-century history of the Super Bowl.
The Kansas City Chiefs suddenly burst out of nowhere, throwing a wrench into the mix, making a declaration with their sudden rise to prominence—they’re not ready to surrender their reigning champion title without a fight.
Kansas City? A Midwestern city? A small-town entity that emerged from some desolate backwater? A place with less than 500,000 residents, a city whose national GDP ranking doesn’t even crack the top 25? A barren wasteland devoid of culture, economy, and history?
And it’s become the spoiler?
If we assume, hypothetically, that all of this is indeed a conspiracy, that everything has been meticulously planned behind the scenes, then the League’s refusal to formally address the critical miscalls during both conference championship games, continuing to play deaf and dumb, shouldn’t come as a surprise.
In that case, Kansas City’s disruption of a potential celebratory extravaganza likely thrilled some while resulting in incalculable economic losses.
After all, those big shots accustomed to calling the shots don’t like things going off-script.
But this time, it’s a little different.
Once things veered off course, they inexplicably collided to create fresh sparks, sweeping away the “stale, tacky, boring matchups only uncles and grandpas find interesting” vibe. Instead, the era’s progress is being fully embraced, welcoming a new dawn for the League as younger fans collectively jump into the excitement.
Sure, “Los Angeles VS Boston” might be classic. But for the millennial generation, they neither understand nor care about the grudges buried in history; what they care about is what they see, what they experience—
Like the mid-season Super Bowl.
That game happened not too long ago—they saw it with their own eyes, a truly spectacular showdown. They can endlessly recount every detail of it and have every reason to look forward to the continuation of that matchup.
Things, in truth, are just that simple.
Indeed, the birth of history often accompanies certain serendipities.
An invisible hand, the hand of God, makes a gentle push at just the right moment, and then—behold history unfolding.
The Los Angeles Rams and Kansas City Chiefs—two teams that are strong, exceptional, and… young. This is precisely what the sluggish League desperately needs.
At the same time, the two teams create matchups on multiple levels and at various positions. Reed and McVay have built championship-contending teams in ways that are similar yet slightly different. That was the reason the mid-season Super Bowl was so breathtaking; naturally, it’s also why the actual Super Bowl deserves the spotlight.
First, quarterbacks: “Goff VS Mahomes.”
A third-year versus a second-year. Both players represent the League’s future, carrying immense expectations and attention. The former endured hardship and finally proved his worth as a first overall pick. The latter burst forth from obscurity, shattering all stereotypes and prejudices, and both delivered top-tier performances this season.
For Goff especially, he’s eager to prove himself.
Last season, Wentz, selected one pick after Goff, was the first to break out, delivering two-thirds of an outstanding season and even entering the MVP conversation. But this season, in McVay’s ingenious tactical system, Goff also showcased his potential, yet he hasn’t received corresponding recognition.
Now, facing Mahomes, who, in his inaugural starting season, posted a legendary performance and legitimately became an MVP finalist, Goff has a battle of his own still to fight.
Second, running backs: “Li Wei VS Gurley.”
Last offseason, Gurley and Bell, two elite running backs, took drastically different paths:
Gurley signed an extension, becoming the League’s highest-paid running back; meanwhile, Bell entered a prolonged standoff, sitting out an entire season without playing a single game.
Of course, some condemned Bell as selfish, while others criticized Gurley for his four-year, $60 million contract as an equally selfish act—
Because running backs are in dire straits. Gurley didn’t join Bell’s protest, choosing instead to “bend the knee for a handful of grain,” thus squandering an opportunity to change history for his position.
These disputes weighed heavily on Gurley as he entered the new season.
As it turned out, Gurley still delivered an outstanding season—1,251 yards, once again surpassing the thousand-yard mark. Yet, there was no joy or satisfaction for him.
On the rushing leaderboard, Li Wei, Elliott, and Barkley all outranked Gurley. Meanwhile, McCaffrey dazzled with his multifunctional prowess, drawing the spotlight and making Gurley’s all-around performance seem far less remarkable.
Previously, rushing touchdowns were Gurley’s pride, but this year, he trailed behind Li Wei again, finishing second.
Completely overshadowed. Despite performing well, there seemed to be nothing about Gurley worth praising.
“Li Wei. Li Wei. Li Wei.”
The constant chatter about Li Wei nearly gave Gurley PTSD.
Worse yet, Li Wei not only delivered elite performances on the field but also took a proactive stance in advocating for social responsibility—speaking up for running backs, defending Bell, and persistently addressing the challenges facing their position.
As a result, Gurley, titled the “highest-paid running back in the League,” constantly found himself a target of criticism. On and off the field, he was comprehensively overshadowed by Li Wei.
Relentlessly badgered by reporters, Gurley could no longer hold back and finally snapped during the regular season’s closing stretch.
“Wait until he gets his extension; let’s see how principled he really is.”
Later, when the media turned the question to Li Wei, Li Wei responded with nonchalance.
“I’ll fight with everything I’ve got. What choice do I have? All I see is money.”
Self-deprecating, his remark not only triggered uproarious laughter but even earned applause.
At the same time, this made Gurley dislike Li Wei even more—utterly intolerable.
The Super Bowl duel isn’t just about Gurley sharpening his blade to teach Li Wei a hard lesson; if they can defeat the Kansas City Chiefs and claim the title, all controversies will evaporate. Both inside and outside the League, everyone is anticipating the roles these two running backs will play—who can prove their worth?
Third, defensive line: “Donald VS Jones.”
This season, Chris Jones underwent a transformative breakout, becoming the Kansas City Chiefs Defense’s only standout highlight.
But let’s be honest—no matter how phenomenal Jones is, he’s still not in the same league as Donald. After all, Jones made the All-American Second Team, while Donald claimed consecutive Defensive Player of the Year honors. The difference in skill and consistency is stark.
To be accurate, it should be phrased as “Donald VS the entire defensive group.”
How the Kansas City Chiefs Defense handles Goff’s offensive group and how Donald counters Mahomes and Li Wei’s dazzling collaboration—these were the focal points of the mid-season Super Bowl, and they will undoubtedly remain the focal points of the Super Bowl itself.
Perhaps, yet another offensive shootout is brewing?