American Football: Domination

"Brilliant!"

"Wow, brilliant!"

"Orakpo makes a fantastic deflection, intercepting Smith's pass mid-air, and nearly comes up with an interception! The suspense remains!"

"In this critical moment, the Tennessee Titans' defense is showing true playoff intensity. Just like in their two wins against the Jacksonville Jaguars this season, their grit and iron-fisted defense define this team's identity."

"Now, the Titans must stop the Kansas City Chiefs at the 40-yard line. If they can hold them there, Chiefs rookie kicker Harrison Butker will still face immense pressure."

"Although Butker has hit a 53-yard field goal this season, the difference between the regular season and the playoffs is massive. The pressure is completely different."

"So, the Titans have no retreat. They must stop their opponents. Now, they are showing the strength of their red-zone defense. This young Titans team is playing with a winning mentality."

On the sideline, Harrison Butker repeatedly practiced his kicks, preparing for the game-winning shot.

In Week 2 of the regular season, the Chiefs faced the Philadelphia Eagles, and rookie kicker Jake Elliott had a chance to win the game with a last-second field goal. He attempted a gutsy long-range kick, but ultimately, it didn't go through.

At the time, the Eagles were plagued with injuries, and they hastily signed Elliott from the Cincinnati Bengals' practice squad after he failed to secure a starting job.

Butker's story is strikingly similar.

In this year's draft, Butker was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the seventh round with the 233rd overall pick. Unfortunately, he lost the starting job in training camp and was relegated to the practice squad. But in Week 3 of the regular season, the Chiefs' starting kicker went down with an injury, and Butker was urgently signed to Kansas City.

So far, Butker had been exceptional—

Extra point accuracy: 100%.

Field goal accuracy: 100%.

And he had already nailed a 53-yard field goal. Without a doubt, Butker was one of the most consistent and reliable kickers this season.

But now, things were different.

This was the playoffs.

This was a game-winning moment.

This was a chance to change the course of the season.

Butker's heart pounded wildly.

Taking a deep breath, he turned to look at the field, and immediately, he spotted that No. 23 jersey—so focused, so determined, and so unyielding, with his fighting spirit burning fiercely.

He wanted to be like him, to leave everything on the field.

40-Yard Line, 3rd & 6

The Chiefs were trapped again—

Smith kept going for short passes, and the Titans, fully abandoning the pass rush, dropped back into a suffocating red-zone defense, shutting down all passing lanes. Smith still managed to connect on quick throws, using a two-man blocking scheme to gain some yardage, but the advantage remained on Tennessee's side.

2 yards, 3 yards, 5 yards.

Most gains were short. The Titans' strategy was simple yet aggressive, treating the midfield area like a red zone—fighting for every inch, refusing to yield. The game had devolved into a brutal stalemate.

Moreover, Smith couldn't rely solely on sideline passes because the Titans were ready for them. They weren't just trying to keep the Chiefs' receivers in bounds—they were aggressively going for interceptions, ramping up the pressure and forcing Smith into pinpoint accuracy.

In this critical moment, Smith's limitations as a quarterback were once again exposed.

The situation had become a war of attrition.

Although the Chiefs were advancing, it wasn't looking great. Time was running out—

27 Seconds Left

This was it.

As the Chiefs huddled during an incomplete pass, all eyes shifted toward Lance.

Orakpo hesitated. Wait… no way. The final game-winning play should still be on the quarterback, right? Lance was just a running back, a rookie no less. Andy Reid couldn't possibly be crazy enough to hand the ball to him now, right?

Running the ball in this situation was a massive time-waster. The Chiefs had practically been using Lance as a receiver this entire drive—surely, they weren't about to change course now?

Then, Orakpo's eyes shifted toward Smith.

Smith was usually stone-faced in clutch moments, but now—Lance had just said something, and suddenly, Smith and the others burst into laughter, chatting and grinning like it was nothing.

Even at this moment of life and death, they were still so relaxed.

Orakpo's gaze drifted back to Lance.

Calm. Collected.

Standing tall.

Smiling brightly.

There was an ease about him, a quiet confidence that seemed untouched by the high-stakes tension gripping the field. It was as if the entire stadium had no effect on him at all.

So, was Lance the key, or was he a decoy?

Orakpo's head throbbed, but there was no time to think—

The Chiefs were lined up and ready to go.

This could be their final offensive play.

The Entire Stadium Held Its Breath

Even Butker, in the middle of his kicking drills, couldn't help but stop and turn to watch.

The wind, which had been blowing steadily all game, suddenly stopped. The world seemed to hit pause. No breaths, no heartbeats, just silence.

"Hut!"

A single command shattered the quiet, followed by the explosive sound of helmets and bodies colliding, echoing like thunder across the field.

Orakpo's first reaction: Stop, scan, drop back—instinctively preparing for another short pass. But a split-second later, he cursed.

Damn it!

It's a run play.

At the most crucial moment of the game, the Chiefs made a shocking decision—not to pass, but to hand the ball off to their running back.

In theory, the logic was simple.

Much like when the Titans handed the ball to Henry on 3rd & 17 earlier, this was a conservative play call—advancing the ball a few yards while burning clock. The difference? The Titans had been looking for a better punting position. The Chiefs? They were looking for a better field goal spot.

The strategy was obvious.

The Chiefs wanted to run down the clock, gain some yards, and put the game-winning kick in Butker's hands.

However!

The Titans' defensive setup hadn't changed. They were still playing their aggressive, disciplined scheme.

It was a calculated gamble on both sides.

Orakpo didn't panic. This was fine. The Titans had stacked the short-yardage area with defenders—whether it was a pass or a run, they were ready to swarm. If Lance thought he could just bulldoze through this wall, he was in for a rude awakening.

The Titans were still in control!

A brief pause—then Orakpo surged forward, closing in on Lance. But just as he made his move, something caught him off guard—

Smith didn't fake.

No trickery.

No deception.

He simply handed the ball to Lance immediately, wasting no time. He wanted to give Lance the best chance to pick up extra yards and secure a cleaner field goal attempt.

Lance took the ball and never broke stride. Without a moment's hesitation, he sprinted straight ahead.

Wait, straight ahead?

Was he really trying to go up the middle?!

That was suicide…

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