Dominate the Super Bowl

Chapter 425: Refuse to Look Back Chapter 425: Refuse to Look Back Although the NFL league had no objections to the situation in the American League finals, the two commentators still had to diligently do their jobs.

Nantz, “Now, the window for the Jacksonville Jaguars is slowly closing; if they want to keep their hopes alive, what should they do next?”

Romo, “Believe in their passing offense.”

In Romo’s view, even though the season was rife with controversies surrounding Bortles, and it was clear that not just outside the team, but his teammates also obviously lacked trust in Bortles, finding him in a difficult spot; the Jacksonville Jaguars’ passing offense wasn’t absolutely terrible, ranked seventeenth in the league, they were at least still in the middle tier, possessing some capability.

In contrast, the Kansas City Chiefs’ pass defense wasn’t that impressive either; if not for Revis displaying his experience at critical moments of the playoffs to save the day, they might already have been eliminated by the New England Patriots in the last divisional match.

Therefore.

This was the breakthrough, even if the Jacksonville Jaguars lacked confidence in their passing offense, Marrone should still try to trust Bortles, to revitalize the ground offense through the passing game, this was their only lifeline for the moment.

At least, that’s how Romo saw it.@@novelbin@@

“The bottom line is, they need to open up their minds and can’t continue being conservative.

The Jacksonville Jaguars don’t have much time left to turn the situation around.”

So, what would Marrone choose?

When the Jacksonville Jaguars’ offensive group took the field again, a heroic air filled the entire Perpetual Bank Center, with cheers reaching their peak.

Whether it was Bortles or Fournette, they both carried their own missions, they needed to prove themselves, they had their own battles, now standing on the edge of the cliff, with no path of retreat, their eyes shone with unwavering determination.

However.

Romo noticed something off immediately and couldn’t help but shake his head.

“Bortles and Fournette are not communicating at all, fighting their own battles.”

“This isn’t a positive sign.”

“Right now, they are combatants fighting side by side; they need to support each other, they need to face the challenges together.

The problems that just popped up in the defensive group can’t be repeated by the offense.”

Otherwise…

The subsequent words, Romo ultimately did not continue to say.

Unfortunately, Romo’s concerns were realized, further solidifying his status as a “prophet in the commentator’s circle” and earning the support of netizens.

In fact, the start of the Jacksonville Jaguars’ first offensive in the second half was positive.

Bortles’ passing offense finally made tactical combinations work, completing connections repeatedly in the short and medium passing zones, opening up the game from the air, which also bought breathing space for the ground attack, and Fournette’s running plays began to improve, no longer being stopped time and again like before.

Even though the Kansas City Chiefs Defense performed well, the Jacksonville Jaguars, after completing two third-gear conversions, managed to push past midfield, securing three first-downs in that offensive drive, showing a strong resurgence.

However!

A seven-yard short pass by Bortles was tipped by Houston, altering its trajectory and nearly intercepted by Revis, this close shave left the Jacksonville Jaguars in a cold sweat, and they reverted back to a more conservative strategy in the subsequent offense, falling back into the hell of running plays—

First gear running, second gear running or passing, third gear passing.

If someone objected, Marrone would confidently assert that he made adjustments; first gear running to test the waters and open up the field, second gear used to disrupt the opponent’s judgment with either a run or a pass, and third gear to pass for the conversion.

Marrone: Look, how logical, how systematic.

But in competitive sports, patterns mean predictability, making it easy to fall into a rut and expose one’s tactics and weaknesses to the opponent—

The Kansas City Chiefs Defense found their rhythm again.

After losing the third down conversion on that offensive drive, the Kansas City Chiefs didn’t make another mistake.

Facing a third and four situation, they successfully tackled Bortles and struck him out, ending the Jacksonville Jaguars’ last comeback attempt.

In fact, during that offensive drive, the Jaguars played well, achieving third down conversions three times and even getting into field goal range.

They finally put points on the board and saw a glimmer of hope in the abyss, as Romo and Nantz did their utmost to turn the situation around.

But…

As Romo said, the game had already ended prematurely.

The score difference, the game time, and so on weren’t the points of focus.

The crux was that the Jacksonville Jaguars had lost their spirit.

The moment Bortles narrowly avoided another interception and the Jaguars immediately recoiled tentatively to ground offense, the outcome was decided.

In the first half, when the teams were evenly matched, the Jaguars played conservatively as if they were in the lead.

In the second half, trailing by a large margin, the Jaguars were cautious, afraid of letting the gap widen further.

This was not right.

More than just incorrect, it was outrageously wrong.

From mentality to strategic planning and down to tactical execution, the Jaguars made mistakes over and over again, ending up utterly defeated without a chance.

No matter how Romo and Nantz tried to salvage dignity, one could tell from the atmosphere on the field—

Fournette seemed bewildered: Is it, over?

So, is this how the game ends?

Clearly, this was not the scenario Fournette had hoped for.

No fierce struggle, no back and forth, and certainly no triumphant victory.

The Jacksonville Jaguars, who had performed so well from the regular season to the playoffs, collapsed in the most crucial game of the entire season.

How did this happen?

Fournette’s mind was a mess, unable to find the answer.

Could it have been because of that rookie running back?

Fournette lifted his head, trying to locate Li Wei in the crowd, but he just couldn’t focus his vision, seeing nothing but a sea of confusion.

What was worse, a small portion of the crowd at the Perpetual Bank Center had started to leave.

Though not many—just a few hundred—in the vast stadium they were hardly noticeable.

But this was the Conference Championships, and the Jaguars had just scored a field goal.

Die-hard fans should be reigniting hope instead of giving up so easily.

Yet, some fans were leaving the stadium.

Even they didn’t believe the Jaguars could turn the game around.

Such a blow to morale was ultimately fatal; the home-field advantage no longer existed.

The Kansas City Chiefs refused to repeat past mistakes.

Even with a comfortable lead, they stayed vigilant, widening the gap further in an advance and retreat.

Thus, the completely one-sided fourth quarter was no surprise.

“30:6”.

The 2017 season American League Championship came to a close in a somewhat dull manner—a lopsided victory, a complete win, a rampant triumph.

The entire game only briefly erupted and burned for a short time during the second quarter and early in the third, like fireworks that blaze for a moment before fading away, leaving only a faint, elusive trail of smoke.

The Kansas City Chiefs effortlessly swept the Super Bowl favorite Jaguars, proudly securing the 2017 American League Championship and becoming the season’s dark horse that overturned the League’s dynamic.

And.

After a span of forty-eight years since the 1969 season, the Chiefs were finally returning to the Super Bowl stage, their nearly half a century of waiting culminating in this long-awaited moment.