American Football: Domination

In the season opener, Bart had predicted a New England Patriots victory.

He was wrong.

Now, in the Divisional Round, Bart once again favored the Patriots, but this time, the circumstances were entirely different. After a full season, every team's strength and form had become crystal clear.

As Bart pointed out, the Patriots were now the top Super Bowl contenders. Facing them was bad news for any team—not an opinion, but an objective fact.

So believing the Patriots would defeat the Chiefs and advance wasn't an unpopular stance.

This time, Bart was with the majority.

More importantly, the support for a Patriots victory was overwhelming.

The reason?

Lance.

Lance, the league's biggest headline, was stirring up a storm.

But with great power comes great responsibility.

Yes, Lance had proven himself to be an outstanding running back. But one season wasn't enough to convince everyone. Every year, new stars burst onto the scene, yet only a few sustain their greatness. Forget the next two or three seasons—right now, there were already plenty of players itching to take him down.

Fournette. Kamara. Mark. Roethlisberger.

And that was just the tip of the iceberg.

This was the NFL, the biggest sport in North America. Since when did an Asian player get to dominate? Since when did a rookie become the face of the league? Since when did a running back steal the spotlight from everyone else?

A mere running back should not—and could not—be the key to victory.

Forget Lance. Even when Steelers star Le'Veon Bell fought for a historic contract to elevate running backs' value, the mainstream response was scorn. Even fellow players thought Bell was asking for too much. They simply didn't believe a running back was worth that kind of money.

Bell stood alone, facing immense pressure.

That was the reality for running backs.

And now, Lance was trying to change that.

Naturally, controversy, skepticism, and challenges followed.

A rookie? Getting ahead of himself. Just wait—the real face of the league was about to show up and expose him. Everything would soon be clear.

People wanted the Patriots to stop the Chiefs. They wanted Brady to stop Lance. They wanted football to go back to the way they knew it.

They admired Lance, appreciated him, and even praised him—but they didn't want him to reach the Super Bowl before they did. That was the simple truth.

Goodell's marketing strategy hadn't earned widespread support among the players. In fact, it had backfired, triggering resentment.

So this time, Bart's opinion had widespread backing. Instead of being mocked, he was actually applauded for "finally getting it right."

And beyond all that, there was one critical factor.

"No one should forget—the Chiefs are heading north to Foxborough."

"Gillette Stadium in January is a nightmare for every player in the league."

"Freezing temperatures, brutal winds, and possibly rain or snow. This isn't sunny Miami. The environment is completely different, and unexpected conditions can arise at any time. Coaching adjustments will be crucial."

"Foxborough is called a fortress for a reason—because of its unforgiving winters in December and January."

Like any outdoor sport, football is affected by the weather. Rain or snow can change field conditions and alter the game's flow. But that's not all.

In the cold, the football itself changes—its leather hardens, its density shifts, and its grip, pressure, balance, and rotation all become unpredictable.

For quarterbacks, accuracy and ball trajectory suffer. For receivers and running backs, ball security becomes a nightmare, increasing the risk of fumbles.

And of course, cold temperatures slow the body down, affecting overall performance.

All of these factors make Foxborough the graveyard of many playoff dreams.

September Foxborough and January Foxborough are two different worlds. The Chiefs were about to face their toughest challenge of the season.

"The Chiefs are great—fantastic, even. No doubt, they're the biggest surprise of the season. They've brought excitement to the league."

"But this… this is where the magic ends."

"The yellow brick road ends here. This is their Oz."

Bart declared.

From initial hesitation to absolute conviction, Bart had found his confidence again. He truly believed the Patriots would win.

This time, the numbers backed him up.

9 to 1.

Among the ten experts on "Inside the League," nine picked the Patriots.

Only Lawson stood alone, still defending his "Lance fanboy" reputation. His unwavering loyalty was almost touching—

After all, the Chiefs had barely survived the Titans. Now they were heading into the Foxborough winter. They were supposed to be doomed.

Even Lawson admitted it.

"This will be the Chiefs' toughest challenge of the season—far tougher than any game before. There's no margin for error."

"But I believe in them. They're a young team that keeps growing. Every game is a test. The battle against the Titans was brutal, but they'll be better for it when they walk into Foxborough."

"This isn't the same matchup as the season opener. This will be a completely different game."

"The Patriots aren't the same team they were then. But neither are the Chiefs."

"This game won't play out as people expect. Defense will be the deciding factor. Both teams have strong offenses, but Belichick and Reid know how to use defense to win in the playoffs."

"And that's what it takes to go deep in the postseason."

"Of course, the offense is still a huge focus. Everyone is talking about Lance—I'm excited to see what he does too. But let's not forget: Alex Smith is having the best season of his career. His duel with Brady shouldn't be overlooked."

Lawson still believed in the Chiefs. He still believed in Lance.

His support wasn't blind. It was based on reason and analysis.

Lawson truly believed the Chiefs could beat the Patriots again.

Maybe this game would be their defining moment.

Unfortunately, this time, he was in the minority.

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Powerstones?

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