Chapter 286: A Dramatic Transformation
JuJu became famous.
But not in the way he expected.
Following the Steelers vs. Chiefs game, JuJu Smith-Schuster, who spent most of his time on special teams and as a rotational player, believed he was getting closer to securing a starting role.
He was eager to get on the field.
To face Lance.
To beat Lance.
He hadn't forgotten that humiliating loss USC suffered at the hands of Alabama. That game had been a nightmare, and it affected his entire season.
JuJu believed that Lance's performance in that game was one of the reasons he didn't get more attention in the draft.
Now, he finally had a chance to prove himself in the NFL —
To show the world that he was the better player.
To be a key figure in a game that defeated Lance.
But reality had other plans.
JuJu's grand ambitions crumbled.
Instead of standing out, he was practically invisible on the field.
He was targeted three times, caught the ball once, and gained a measly three yards.
Three. Yards.
For most players, such a performance wouldn't even be worth mentioning.
But JuJu had talked a lot of trash before the game — and now, karma had come knocking.
Amid the media frenzy surrounding Roethlisberger, Brown, Bell, Hayward, Hilton, and Mitchell, it was JuJu's name that the reporters singled out.
Why?
Because of Lance's devastatingly polite response:
"Keep it up, JuJu."
The sincerity of Lance's words only made them more brutal.
It took JuJu right back to that fateful college game against Alabama, where Lance had offered him the exact same words of encouragement.
One year later, history repeated itself.
JuJu felt like he was stuck in an endless loop, forever chasing Lance but never catching up.
And to make matters worse, Lance's words went viral.
Lance's face, paired with the phrase "Keep it up, JuJu," became the meme of the week.
JuJu was mortified.
"Please… just let me die in peace," he thought.
But the nightmare wasn't over.
It was about to get worse.
The fallout from the game didn't just hit JuJu.
It also came crashing down on Bart.
In the episode of Inside the League before the game, Bart had confidently predicted a Steelers victory.
Smiling smugly at the camera, he even clenched his fist and said:
"Keep it up, Lance."
The Steelers lost.
Bart's prediction? Completely cursed.
The internet dubbed it:
"Bart's Jinx."
Fans dug up that clip, edited it alongside Lance's response to JuJu, and turned it into yet another viral sensation.
Forced to face the music, Bart returned to Inside the League and admitted —
Again — that he had been wrong.
The second apology was much easier than the first. Bart seemed to be getting the hang of it.
He even declared:
"The Chiefs are, without a doubt, the best team in the league right now."
He specifically praised their offense —
Highlighting the balance between the Chiefs' passing game and their dynamic running back duo of Lance and Kareem Hunt.
"Andy Reid has finally found the key to unlocking his offense," Bart explained.
"And that key is Lance."
The reaction?
Absolute shock.
Viewers were stunned.
Had Bart been… brainwashed?
Even Lawson, the self-proclaimed biggest "Lance fan" on the show, was caught off guard by Bart's sudden about-face.
Bart, however, was calm and composed.
His pride? Gone.
His dignity? Shattered.
His ego? A thing of the past.
Having already knelt once, he saw no harm in bowing again.
In fact, Bart decided to fully embrace his new role.
He wasn't just apologizing.
He was now a full-fledged member of the "Lance Fan Club."
And he wasn't holding back.
On Inside the League, Bart launched into a detailed analysis comparing the Chiefs' current season to their impressive 2013 campaign.
"Back in 2013," Bart began, "the Chiefs started their season with nine straight wins. They were unstoppable."
"That year, they relied heavily on Jamaal Charles. He was a dominant force on the ground, racking up 1,287 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns. He also added 693 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns."
"Charles was a game-changer. When he dominated the ground game, it opened up Reid's passing offense."
Bart paused dramatically before delivering his next point:
"And this year? It's happening again."
"Reid recognized that Charles' injuries and declining performance would hinder the team, so during the offseason, he made the bold decision to move on. Instead, he drafted two running backs to rebuild the ground game."
"And now — enter Lance."
Bart continued:
"Lance isn't the same type of power back as Jamaal Charles. But his ability to read the field and seize opportunities is even better."
"He's young, yes. He has a lot to learn. But he's already brought his unique talents to Arrowhead Stadium and made an immediate impact."
Bart listed Lance's impressive stats:
"Lance currently leads the league in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns."
"And let's not forget — in a direct showdown with Le'Veon Bell, he came out on top. His fourth-quarter performance against the Steelers was nothing short of dominant."
"Lance follows the playbook perfectly, but he's also capable of making in-the-moment adjustments. His speed, agility, and ability to change direction make him one of the most dangerous players on the field."
Nobody had seen this coming.
Bart, who had once been Lance's harshest critic, was now his most passionate supporter.
Even Lawson — the original "Lance Fanboy" — had to take a step back.
Bart's newfound enthusiasm was unmatched.
"Remember when we used to only care about quarterbacks' Wonderlic scores?" Bart asked rhetorically.
"Well, Lance is proving that running backs can have vision, too. And a smart running back? That's a game-changer."
"He doesn't need to throw to wide receivers to change the game. He can do it all himself."
Bart's tone was feverish.
He sounded like a preacher delivering a sermon.
"Lance is showing us that football is more than just muscle. It's also about brains. And he's proving that running backs can be both powerful and smart."
Bart's transformation was complete.
The internet couldn't believe it.
Fans were left stunned:
"Did Bart just go through a Sailor Moon-style transformation?"
"Who are you, and what have you done with the real Bart?"
"Even Bart's mom wouldn't recognize him right now."
One thing was clear:
The old Bart was gone.
And the new Bart?
He was all-in on Lance.
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Powerstones?
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