Chapter 1464: Chapter 1463: Pressing Forward Step by Step
Amidst the chaos and frenzy, Kelsey is trying to comfort Mahomes, "...Patrick, this isn’t your fault."
Usually calm and even shy, Mahomes was rarely seen angry, "Not my fault, not my fault, everyone says it’s not my fault, but someone always has to take the blame, right? This is my fault. Damn mistake! I should have seen the sneaky Sherman."
"I should have!"
In an instant, the dark memories surged like a tide.
In last season’s regular match against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium, at the crucial moment of victory or defeat, it was Mahomes’ interception that lost the game.
But that was the regular season, tonight is the Super Bowl.
The frustration and suffocation gripped Mahomes’ heart, leaving him breathless. Self-blame, just self-blame.
Kelsey looked at the frustrated and dejected Mahomes, unable to find any words of comfort, instead, he himself also felt depressed.
Then, from the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Li Wei, and Kelsey breathed a sigh of relief, signaling with his eyes to the despondent and annoyed Mahomes.
Li Wei understood and patted Mahomes on the shoulder, "Hey, yes, it’s your fault."
Kelsey: ???
"But we all make mistakes, and we don’t have time to stand here calculating everyone’s mistakes, this is the meaning of a team, we share each other’s mistakes, we join hands to find solutions to difficulties, we need to look forward, we need to respond, we continue to play, we continue to fight, we continue to move forward."
"Understand?"
After speaking, Li Wei turned and left.
Kelsey: That’s it?
Stood there dumbfounded, but Kelsey saw Mahomes take a long breath and temporarily calm down, he finally understood Li Wei’s intention—
Everyone has their own pressure and difficulties, everyone needs to face their own challenges, only in this way can one achieve their own growth.
They thought that reaching the Super Bowl twice would allow them to face any situation calmly, but the truth was not so, the pressure of an undefeated season and three consecutive championships made this match special, not only Mahomes, but everyone in the Kansas City Chiefs felt their own pressure, no one could escape.
More importantly, no one else could help, only relying on oneself, because everyone has their own battle.
Perhaps, this is the hardest game and the most severe test the Kansas City Chiefs have faced in three seasons.
If they continue to stand there wallowing in self-pity, more and more mistakes might follow; so the best way to remedy and correct mistakes is to calmly acknowledge the mistake, accept it, face it, and then find a solution.
The game is still ongoing, and there are still chances for redemption.
Thinking of this, Kelsey patted Mahomes on the shoulder, saying nothing more, just showing his support and encouragement with this gesture.
Indeed, Li Wei was right—
The challenge was truly in front of them, and merely relying on a few words of encouragement was not enough to turn the tide, they had to be fully immersed in the game, to experience, to conquer, to overcome, was the only way to see results.
Obviously, things were tougher than imagined.
Because soon, the Kansas Chiefs offense faced their first three-and-out of the game.
After the San Francisco 49ers returned an interception for a touchdown to tie the score, "14:14", the ball went back to the Kansas City Chiefs, with Mahomes and Li Wei continuing to play.
At this moment, the San Francisco 49ers, who had been in the trailing position, finally evened the score, morale boosted, and their condition elevated, all of them charged fiercely.
In contrast, Kansas City Chiefs, vastly different from their divisional game against the Tennessee Titans, were now feeling the pressure from Shanahan and the San Francisco 49ers in every aspect, the pressure and fatigue that lasted the entire season and accumulated through the playoffs, finally gripped their throats on this Super Bowl night.
A wave of anxiety and impatience quietly sprouted, the more they tried to stay calm, the more they tried to focus, the more they wanted to strike back quickly, the result...
Backfired.
Again proving that haste makes waste.
From passing to running, their conditions faced comprehensive suppression.
Though Mahomes and Kelsey’s short pass connection completed a third-down conversion to gain the first down, Li Wei’s ground attack was intercepted again and fell into a third-down dilemma, this time facing the suppression of San Francisco 49ers’ heavenly net, and the pressure Shanahan meticulously brewed in the first half finally bore fruit—
Under pressure, Mahomes tried to find Watkins with a pass, but it deviated significantly, and Watkins couldn’t catch the ball despite his best effort.
Incomplete pass, three-and-out.
The San Francisco 49ers defense truly showcased the top-notch energy in the league, patient and poised, always waiting for an opportunity.
Then, Shanahan finally got it, created the opportunity with the team’s overall performance, and successfully realized it.
Even though it wasn’t an interception or fumble this time, completing a three-and-out in a straightforward offensive and defensive confrontation, intercepting before the Kansas Chiefs offense fully entered their rhythm and mode was more valuable than a turnover, because Shanahan understood, it meant they gained breathing space in the offensive and defensive struggle, potentially grasping a bit of initiative in the confrontation—
Not much, just a bit.
But for the San Francisco 49ers, it was enough.
Shanahan straightened his back, a hint of determination in his eyes.
The tide turns!
Score-wise, "14:14", still a stalemate, hard to distinguish, entangling; but from the momentum, the advantage Kansas Chiefs built at the start with a blitz was exhausted, the tug-of-war and entanglement dragged both sides back to the same starting line gradually.
In other words, the Kansas Chiefs’ curve was slowly descending, while the San Francisco 49ers’ was slowly ascending.
Li Wei clearly knew, the most difficult moment of the game had just begun, the only thing they could do now was to grit their teeth and hold on through this wave of impact.
"Sorry, we’ll have to rely on you guys next, let us catch our breath first." Li Wei patted Chris Jones on the shoulder, looking at the defensive group players.
The defensive group players didn’t expect this scene, one by one, they were stunned.
But unexpectedly, Li Wei had a relaxed expression, "I believe in you."
Just a phrase, instantly solidified the unity of the Kansas City Chiefs, they knew this was a tough time, but they equally knew they were not alone in facing it.
Uncertain whether Garoppolo noticed the slight change in Kansas City’s morale, but undoubtedly, Shanahan did.
The Kansas City Chiefs defense indeed showed a murderous intent in their eyes, reflected in the ensuing confrontations.
Shanahan became alert, but without fear or retreat, rather a thought emerged: perhaps, he could utilize the Kansas Chiefs’ mentality, to continue adding fuel to the fire, making their mindset more impatient and anxious, eventually turning it into a weapon for the San Francisco 49ers to reverse the situation?