American Football: Domination

In just one week, Bart had done a complete 180-degree turn. From one of Lance's harshest critics, he transformed into one of his most vocal supporters, proudly waving the "Lance" flag. His sudden change of stance was so drastic that even his colleagues barely recognized him anymore.

Bart could feel the eyes on him—astonished, bewildered, confused—but he didn't care.

In fact, he enjoyed it. Standing under the spotlight, he thrived on the attention.

"The brain," Bart said, tapping his temple, "that's Lance's greatest weapon."

"That means his ceiling is higher than Charles'. He has the ability to change the course of a game, and that gives the Chiefs a chance to go further this season."

Roars of agreement echoed from various corners, including the familiar Old Oak Tavern, where fans gathered to celebrate.

They'd had enough of season after season ending in disappointing playoff exits. Hope would flare up, only to be extinguished time and again. It was torture.

But this season? It felt different.

Anderson glanced at the TV screen. Perhaps this time, things really would be different.

Lance, a running back, had become the centerpiece of Kansas City's hopes—a rare occurrence in the modern NFL.

Of course, Bart's views were polarizing.

While some agreed, others pushed back hard. After all, the NFL was still a quarterback's league, where QBs were considered the key to winning games. Bart's newfound praise for a running back seemed like he'd simply swung from one extreme to the other.

Lawson, who had always been the league's foremost "Lance believer," saw through Bart's act immediately.

From tearing Lance down to propping him up—Bart was setting up a new narrative.

Lawson knew that while Bart's point wasn't entirely wrong, the way he elevated Lance so quickly could backfire. Unrealistic expectations could pile up on Lance's shoulders, creating unnecessary pressure that might disrupt the Chiefs' locker room harmony.

So, Lawson decided to rein things in.

In a bizarre twist, the former Lance skeptic was now singing his praises, while the long-time Lance supporter was urging caution. Anyone tuning in to Inside the League without context would have thought they'd entered a parallel universe.

"We need to stay objective," Lawson said.

"Let's take it one game at a time."

"And let's not forget what happened in 2013."

That season, the Chiefs started with a nine-game winning streak. They were the league's last undefeated team, seemingly unstoppable.

Then, after their Week 10 bye, they fell apart.

Over the next seven games, they went 2-5, losing all momentum. What had once looked like a Super Bowl contender barely scraped into the playoffs, only to suffer a heartbreaking loss in the first round against the Indianapolis Colts.

In that game, the Chiefs had held a 31-10 lead at halftime. But Andrew Luck orchestrated a miraculous comeback, including a 64-yard touchdown pass with just over a minute remaining, to seal a 45-44 victory.

It was a brutal, devastating collapse.

Even more painful was the fact that, despite their hot start, the 2013 Chiefs were now a forgotten footnote.

Most fans remembered Peyton Manning's historic Broncos offense or the Seahawks' legendary "Legion of Boom" defense from that season. The Chiefs, who had once led the league, were barely mentioned.

History, Lawson warned, could repeat itself.

But Bart wasn't having it.

"No, this time it's different," he insisted.

"Yes, the Chiefs need to be mindful of fatigue. The NFL season is a marathon, not a sprint."

"But let's not overlook the key difference."

"In 2013, after their bye, the Chiefs faced the Denver Broncos. Peyton Manning's Broncos. That was one of the greatest offenses in NFL history. The Chiefs' defense couldn't keep up. That wasn't a collapse—that was an unfortunate reality."

"In fact, four of their five losses in the second half of that season came against playoff teams. Two against the Broncos, two against the Chargers, and one against the Colts. All of those teams made it to at least the second round of the playoffs."

"In other words, they didn't choke—they just lost to elite competition."

Bart had completely rewritten his narrative.

A week ago, he'd dismissed the 2023 Chiefs as frauds riding a weak schedule. Now, he was defending the 2013 Chiefs, painting them as victims of an unfairly difficult schedule.

It was quite the pivot.

"A constant criticism of the Chiefs has been that they lack toughness and explosiveness in crucial moments. But this season, it's different."

"They have Lance."

"Yes, Lance."

"In five of their six games so far, the outcome was decided in the fourth quarter. And in those moments, Lance took control. He changed the game's momentum, and today, he delivered the game-winning touchdown against the Steelers."

"This is a new Chiefs team."

"There's every reason to believe they won't suffer the same fate as 2013."

Bart delivered his speech with such conviction that it sounded like he was willing to take on the entire NFL on Lance's behalf.

If you hadn't been watching Inside the League over the past few weeks, you'd be forgiven for thinking Bart was Lance's most loyal fan all along.

"To top it off, the Chiefs' upcoming schedule works in their favor."

"So, let's forget about the playoffs for now and focus on next week. Josh, what do you think? Who's going to win?"

Was that… a trap?

Lawson chuckled.

In Week 7, the Chiefs were set to face the Oakland Raiders.

After a promising 12-4 season last year, the Raiders were struggling at 2-4 this season. The Chiefs were favored to win.

Bart's question was rhetorical, waiting for Lawson to agree.

Lawson nodded, smiling.

"I think the Chiefs should be able to keep their winning streak alive."

Bart grinned.

"Good answer."

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Powerstones?

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