Dominate the Super Bowl

Chapter 329 328 Being prepared

On Christmas Day, NFL games continued, and the atmosphere heated up even further as the regular season neared its close. Each game could influence playoff standings, amplifying the sparks of competition and tension.

The Kansas City Chiefs hosted their third consecutive home game in a crucial do-or-die battle; however, this time, the opponent was not their divisional arch-rival—

but the Miami Dolphins from the AFC East.

During the 1980s season, the Miami Dolphins, led by legendary quarterback Dan Marino, was undoubtedly one of the League's top teams. However, since the millennium, due to the strong emergence of divisional arch-rivals, the New England Patriots, the Miami Dolphins had been mired in a prolonged slump, unable to find their direction.

Last season, the Miami Dolphins made their first playoff appearance in eight years since the 2008 season but unfortunately were knocked out in the first round by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Everyone thought the Miami Dolphins might be on the cusp of a complete revival; however, their quarterback, Ryan Tannehill, suffered a season-ending Achilles tear, plunging the team back into difficulties.@@@@

In the end, they had to call out of retirement the former Chicago Bears quarterback, Jay Cutler, to take over, but his performance was disappointing.

So far this season, with six wins and eight losses, they were officially out of the playoffs.

But underestimating the Miami Dolphins could lead to an upset—

The team's head coach is Adam Gase, who from the 2012 to 2014 seasons, served as the Offensive Coordinator for the Denver Broncos, alongside Manning, creating one of the strongest offensive groups in history before being poached to come to the Miami Dolphins as head coach.

Under Gase's coaching, Tannehill, who had never performed well, transformed, leading the Miami Dolphins back to the playoffs last season.

Similarly, two weeks ago, with no hope for playoffs, the Miami Dolphins defeated the defending champions, the New England Patriots, at home, handing their divisional rivals their third loss of the season in a stunning upset.

In this game, facing the Kansas City Chiefs, who were making a final sprint for a playoff spot, the Miami Dolphins were not prepared to easily hand over victory.

After the game started, the two teams were neck and neck, locked in a stalemate until the second quarter. The Kansas City Chiefs opened up the game with a strong push through passing and encountered fierce resistance from the Miami Dolphins in the Red Zone. Ultimately, relying on Li Wei's individual skills, they managed a touchdown and finally broke the deadlock—

Thus, the scene described earlier occurred.

The Christmas gift carefully prepared by the team leader of the Chiefs' Defensive group, although delayed and after some bumps and clashes, was ultimately fulfilled.

This touchdown broke the balance of the standoff and became the turning point of the game.

On one hand, the Miami Dolphins, who had been hanging on, had their morale broken as their Defensive group, despite fighting valiantly until the end, failed to stop the opponents, delivering a heavy blow to their spirits.

In the final week's away game against the Denver Broncos, the team would enter full rotation rest, with backup quarterback Mahomes starting and leading the team, and the starting lineup consisting mainly of second-string players while the main players rested.

This was utterly unexpected.

Who would have thought that three weeks ago, with the shadow of six continuous losses lingering and the team on the brink of an early season exit, they now had locked up a playoff spot early and entered rotation rest, preparing for the single-elimination playoffs?

It was an absolute surprise!

After experiencing the frustrations and setbacks of playoff campaigns season after season, Reed had his considerations—

Everyone thought Reed's rotation was a sharpening for this season's playoffs, including the players and coaching staff of the Kansas City Chiefs.

Only Reed himself knew that this was only a minor reason. The truly important reason was still about strategizing.

Does anyone remember the Kansas City Chiefs' choices at the beginning of the year at the draft?

Third pick, Li Wei.

Tenth pick, Mahomes.

Reed believed that if the Kansas City Chiefs wanted to be more competitive in the future, they should place their hopes on these young players.

This season, Li Wei had already quickly grown, and next, it was the quarterback's turn.

Continue your journey on My Virtual Library Empire

In the locker room, players one by one celebrated Mahomes's career-first start, the young man smiling shyly and awkwardly, unable to hide his happiness.

However, Li Wei looked up at Reed, and the two exchanged glances.

Reed's heart stirred, wait, could this clever spirit have figured it out?

The smile on the corners of Li Wei's mouth lifted, and Reed's eyes also revealed a hint of a smile.