Chapter 1403: Chapter 1402: Burned Out
Football is a quintessential team sport, where every offensive and defensive strategy requires the support of communal power. Winning and losing together isn’t just a slogan; it’s not something achieved by a single person, nor can failure be blamed solely on one individual.
The Houston Texans’ offense is no exception.
O’Brien’s conservative tactics, the chaotic offensive line, the sluggish ground offense, and so forth, are all objective factors contributing to their difficulties.
It’s unfair to simply cast all the blame on Watson; however, from another perspective, Watson indeed is one of the crucial reasons, undoubtedly one of the key reasons.
In the midst of pressure, Watson’s confusion and helplessness were exposed under sunlight through the live broadcast, like a lost child.
Standing in the pocket, facing pressure, Watson’s indecisive weaknesses were completely exposed. Holding the ball too long led to the pocket’s total collapse, or passing choice confusion after secondary read defense, making his agile steps resemble a headless fly hitting the glass bottle walls.
Throughout the second half, the Kansas City Chiefs Defense didn’t register a single sack, yet the relentless pressure led Watson to completely lose himself.
Hesitation. Bewilderment. Confusion. Chaos. Blindness.
As a quarterback, Watson’s performance was unsatisfactory; furthermore, was this not the quarterback who claimed to tackle Mahomes and kick Jackson?
Before the game, all eyes were on Watson, this young quarterback who just defeated Jackson shined brightly, drawing exclamations from across the league as yet another talented quarterback finally transformed on the professional field entering a peak period, absolutely worthy of attention.
Then the result…
After this game, all excitement and passion were doused with a bucket of cold water, extinguishing the fiery enthusiasm instantly, forcing sobriety before getting carried away, with experts stating further observation was still needed.
But social networks didn’t have such rationality and patience; curses flew furiously from all directions, with various kinds of scorn and condemnation relentlessly targeting Watson. Just like during victories the quarterback basks in applause and cheers, during failures, the quarterback is also stormed with attacks.
Once, when the Houston Texans returned disappointed at every season’s end, whether stopped in the playoffs or early elimination, all blame fell on Watt, with ugly and dirty accusations pointing at Watt, criticizing the team’s biggest star unable to lead the team into the conference finals, aside from personal honors ultimately worthless.
Even though Watt’s unreservedly dedicates all his energy to the team, some fans still found it far from enough.
This time, those frantic fans and trolls found a new target as overwhelming attacks once again aimed at Watson.
Looking at Watson, then at Watt, indeed, there’s no harm without comparison.
Watt tirelessly fought with all his might against Mahomes and Li Wei’s full-throttle assault, and the hard-won opportunity was squandered by Watson, recklessly wasting Watt’s life-risking chance for a breakthrough.
This frustration cannot be swallowed!
What’s worse, turning to Kansas City Chiefs, even with a wide lead, they don’t slack off or take things lightly, the defensive group’s layered pressures left Watson in anguish, meanwhile, the offensive group didn’t just sit and idle, the collaboration of Mahomes and Li Wei continued to seek opportunities.
Despite Watt’s full exertion, Kansas City Chiefs advanced twice into the field goal area, once missing a forty-eight-yard field goal, and successfully kicking a forty-two-yard field goal, continuing to impose pressure on the score.
Comparison is aggravating.
Over there, Kansas City Chiefs remained focused, exhibiting fierce determination, aiming at the goal of entering the Super Bowl for three consecutive years, pursuing victory with resolve amidst doubts and provocations.
While the Houston Texans required full effort to strive for a slim chance, yet staggeringly, their offensive group behaved like sleepwalking, showing little interest in victory, deemed a disaster.
Thus, the game smoothly progressed towards a standard ending without any surprises amidst the calm tug of war and contest.
After the two-minute warning pause, Watson finally connected with tight end Philips for a redeeming touchdown, narrowing the score, meaning the Houston Texans completed touchdowns at the start and end of the entire match; As such, netizens joked,
“At least better than Tennessee Titans.”
Tannehill and Henry’s backs were full of arrows.
Nonetheless, it wasn’t over, O’Brien was prepared for one last fight—
Onside kick.
In fact, experts and seasoned fans could tell this “final fight” was pointless, because the gap still remained two scores; even if the Houston Texans succeeded in the onside kick and achieved another touchdown, they didn’t have enough time for a second onside kick attempt.
Couldn’t O’Brien see this?
No, O’Brien knew very well, yet he still needed to maintain a fighting stance till the end, this was the only way to respond to Houston’s fans.
Otherwise, upon returning to Houston, Texas dwellers wouldn’t forgive the coaching staff and players’ performance; they wouldn’t be satisfied if the team didn’t fight till the last moment, they wouldn’t be satisfied if the coaching staff didn’t attempt all possibilities.
Of course, O’Brien knew, even if they tried, fans still wouldn’t be satisfied; but the posture must be shown, it’s highly essential.
Therefore, onside kick.
Even Houston Texans players were shocked, hesitant to believe O’Brien’s choice, why attempt something futile?
Reed was unsurprised, fully alert, and Kansas City Chiefs Special Duty Group unsurprisingly controlled possession, decisively extinguishing all possibilities—
Obtaining what one wishes. After all, O’Brien wasn’t actually preparing to fight to the end, just a last-ditch struggle.
After Kansas City Chiefs seized possession, since the Houston Texans still had a timeout, Mahomes didn’t kneel directly to drain the clock but handed the football to Li Wei.
“Charge!”
Mahomes snapped the ball, Watt charged forward again without care, igniting everything.
Watt breached the pocket, with one look at Li Wei’s bright eyes, he knew his friend wouldn’t go easy. He admired Li Wei for this.
Watt accelerated, Li Wei retreated, the duo engaged in a cat-and-mouse game behind the pocket, staring as the distance from the line of scrimmage grew further, yet neither gave up.
Ultimately, Watt lunged for a tackle, striving to grab Li Wei.
In a split second, Li Wei spun clockwise, then leaped to narrowly avoid the tackle, spontaneously breaking towards a vertical path.
Houston Texans, already entirely relaxed and inattentive in defense, were shocked, only managing to encircle Li Wei after he crossed the line of scrimmage and pushed fifteen yards, forcing him into a slide tackle ending the advance, simultaneously concluding the game time completely.