Capítulo 1455: Chapter 1454: Tearing Open a Gap
Li Wei?
Kewan was not expecting such a scene, and for a brief moment, his thoughts scattered.
But his footsteps didn’t pause. Kewan continued to charge forward, not forgetting his task: the surprise attack.
No matter what happened with Li Wei, he had to complete his task, he had to execute Coach Shanahan’s strategy to complete the entire puzzle.
Holding his breath, Kewan’s steps became more determined and resolute.
Kewan diagonally slashed straight in from outside the pocket, without encountering any obstruction from the offensive line, and even Li Wei did not notice his presence, allowing Kewan to enter the pocket immediately, seeing Mahomes exposed in his field of vision.
Joy!
Kewan advanced with full force, ready to snipe and tackle Mahomes.
However, Mahomes was already mentally prepared, deliberately pausing his steps to lure Kewan, then stepping back to offset his position, evading Kewan.
A stop, a swipe.
What seemed like a simple action efficiently fulfilled its task, and Mahomes avoided the crisis.
Unyieldingly, Kewan prepared to crash into Mahomes again, but unexpectedly, with just a stop of his steps, Mahomes had already completed the pass with his right hand.
The football, gracefully arced through the air.
Even while retreating, Mahomes’ passing was decisive and confident, without hesitation or fear, seizing the fleeting gap to complete the pass before Kewan could crash for the second time, turning the passive situation around in the blink of an eye, cutting off Kewan’s breath.
Kewan’s mind was blank: Li Wei!
When Kewan slipped into the pocket without obstruction, Li Wei also rushed out beyond the line of scrimmage unimpeded.
Moreover, Kewan’s absence meant a missing piece in the short pass area coverage defense.
Got duped!
Kewan’s heart constricted violently.
Not only Kewan, but also Warner and Greenlaw, their attention acutely heightened, immediately noticed Li Wei’s unstoppable steps.
If it were other areas, the zone coverage’s response speed could be slightly slower; no need to hurriedly catch the position. But in the end zone, it’s different. If the opponent completes the catch, it’s game over, so Warner and Greenlaw rushed forward, trying to stick close to Li Wei.
At this moment, Warner noticed the receiver Watkins, who had been lurking quietly in the short pass area without warning, showing up behind Li Wei.
Oh no!
This was a dual run, with Li Wei as a smoke bomb to shield Watkins’ movement.
This meant that, despite the San Francisco 49 being in “Cover 3”, with three against two in the short pass area, the zone advantage was lost.
With a brake, Warner immediately switched to marking Watkins, transforming the zone defense into man coverage.
But!
In a jumbled, tangled mess, a red and white figure suddenly appeared from behind Watkins. Warner didn’t even have time to decipher who it was before that red figure had knocked away the white one, immediately crossing with Watkins, who secured his position tightly against the white figure, and the red figure completely occupied Warner’s field of vision.
It was unmistakably Kelsey!
Wait, Kelsey? Why was Kelsey here?
Everything was happening too fast, way too fast.
From Li Wei’s breakthrough to Watkins’ shadow double, and then Kelsey’s crossover, in a flash, the three players completed an incredible run collaboration, causing a temporary processing fault in the airtight zone defense of the San Francisco 49, unable to keep up with the rhythm changes.
Sherman, who was originally marking Watkins, got tangled up with Kelsey and was then bumped by Watkins during the crossover, losing his defensive position.
Warner and Greenlaw, who were initially collaborating in the short pass area, had their full attention on Li Wei. Although Warner noticed the shadow and promptly shifted his focus, his response speed lagged, watching helplessly as a small gap appeared behind Li Wei, and Kelsey brazenly squeezed in.
With a gentle leap, raising his hands high, Kelsey caught the football from mid-air—
Effortlessly, as if strolling in a leisurely garden.
The catch, completed.
A five-yard short pass, plucking chestnuts from the fire, Mahomes aimed at the densely packed area, not avoiding it, but bravely and boldly confronting it.
Although Shanahan had pre-planned, shifting focus, trying to start from Mahomes; yet Li Wei, relying on his powerful personal ability and accurate running, precise foresight, firmly attracted the defensive players’ attention, creating an opening for Kelsey.
Time-space froze momentarily.
Warner instinctively charged towards Kelsey, this set of offense and defense wasn’t over yet; they needed to pin Kelsey down.
But unexpectedly, he ran into a wall as soon as he started.
His helmet shook violently, not even having time to react; that wall had already pushed him away, leaving only a number 23 back figure when he turned again.
Warner: Number 23? Who’s number 23?
Li Wei was actually exhausted, mostly due to the confined area, with no leverage available, let alone accumulating force; in a narrow space, continuous exertion often requires more energy; and Li Wei was still going one-on-two, a slight lapse could cause a distraction, leading to completely losing his position.
However, just like how the San Francisco 49’s defensive group was highly focused, Li Wei was also holding his breath, igniting all the energy in his body.
Shaking off Greenlaw, bypassing Warner, then turning 180 degrees, completing a crossover with Kelsey.
Greenlaw: ???
Originally, Greenlaw was confronting Li Wei, but Li Wei abandoned him, bypassing Warner, leaving Greenlaw wide open—is he being ignored?
The next second, Kelsey filled the gap left by Li Wei, Kelsey and Li Wei completing a revolving door exchange, with Kelsey appearing in front of Greenlaw.
Greenlaw didn’t have time to react, instinctively stepping up, crashing hard into Kelsey—
Tackle!
Greenlaw was prepared to end Kelsey’s advance here. Although the Kansas City Chiefs excel at a light, agile offense, head-on clashes are their weakness.
Moreover, Greenlaw knew that behind him, two safeties were ready; they were preparing to forge the Great Wall on the edge of the end zone!
One collision, one grab.
Only a step away; Greenlaw had no reason to miss, crashing accurately into Kelsey.
“Ah!”
In the broadcast room, Aikman held his breath, and when Buck exclaimed “tackle,” Aikman, relying on his quarterback’s intuition, sharply noticed the anomaly.
“Li Wei.”
Everyone was stunned in the broadcast room, but there was no time to look at Aikman; they were fixated on the field.
Only to see that Kelsey, encountering the tackle smash, did not forcefully break through as usual but instead turned to look back in Greenlaw’s tackle.
Then, the football was tossed backward.
Just in time, completing the handoff, Li Wei grabbed the football, his steps uninterrupted, crossing Kelsey, cutting into the gap near the sideline and charging out.
Stunned!
The unexpected, sudden change in front of them startled the entire broadcast room, everyone’s eyes bulged, unable to believe what they saw.
What, can it even be played like this?
But Li Wei was not merciful, like a sword unsheathed, tearing a gash open, then mercilessly ripping open the entire defensive line!
Straight, forward.