The pressure spilled out.
Gunpowder thickened the air.
Both the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs were now 100% locked in. The clash between the two was sharp as a blade, the atmosphere tense and ready to snap.
Just moments ago, Kelce left the field with an injury. But after an on-site medical check, it was confirmed to be minor. The Chiefs' star tight end returned—it was a false alarm.
Then, Eagles safety Jenkins was flagged for a violent hit, and Chiefs' third receiver Albert Wilson was forced off the field with a concussion.
The tension was spreading.
Off the field, there was no animosity between the teams. In fact, their players were generally on good terms.
But on the field, the Super Bowl energy was rising. The aggression in their eyes was harder to contain, and the yellow flags began flying more and more frequently.
No one gave an inch. Knives drawn, blood spilt—
The real game had begun.
It was the Chiefs who first struck, turning a minor setback into a major shift. They exploited the rookie kicker's error, held strong in the red zone, and forced through a touchdown.
But Pederson wasn't about to surrender.
Quickly, the Eagles steadied themselves and sent in an unexpected weapon—
Corey Clement.
Wait—who?
If you've never heard of him, that's not surprising. It's not your fault. Clement was like someone who popped out of a crack in the pavement.
A rookie running back from the same class as Lance and the others, he went undrafted and ended up on the Eagles' practice squad.
All season long, Clement barely saw the field. At 5'8", 220 pounds, he was average at best, totally unremarkable.
It was precisely because Clement couldn't carry the load that the Eagles had traded for Ajayi mid-season.
Tactically, Clement occasionally appeared to adjust tempo, but his carries were few—under forty the whole year.
And yet, here was Clement—
The unexpected X-factor.
Running, catching—he exploded onto the scene like a tornado.
A seven-yard short pass. Everyone thought it was just another play. But Clement went full "Beast Mode."
Stiff-arms. Bulldozing.
He went wild, unbelievably barreling downfield for a 55-yard charge. He collapsed just inside the Chiefs' 8-yard line, exhausted but triumphant, having flipped the game on its head all by himself.
A shock? Absolutely.
But Pederson looked unfazed, as if he'd planned it all. If this was truly premeditated, then Pederson's preparation for this game had gone far beyond anyone's imagination.
The drive continued. Though the Chiefs' defense tightened again, forcing the Eagles into a 3rd-and-goal scenario, the Eagles pulled a Reid-like move: Clement as a decoy, misdirection, and boom—passing touchdown. The Eagles took the lead again.
And this time, Elliott didn't miss the extra point.
16:10.
The Eagles regained their momentum. Their offensive surge reignited the defense as well, which erupted into its own moment of brilliance.
The Chiefs answered with another strong drive, making steady progress, eventually breaking into the Eagles' 20-yard line and seeming poised for another touchdown.
But the Eagles said no.
One sack on Smith.
One takedown on Kelce.
One stop on Lance.
Three and out!
Their four-man trap to halt Lance was the defensive highlight of the half. Finally, they'd found an answer to the ultimate riddle that was Lance.
But then—things got worse for the Chiefs.
Attempting a 30-yard field goal, Mahomes—who was holding the ball—mishandled it. The ball tilted, and Butker's kick veered far wide to the right.
A critical mistake from the Chiefs' special team.
Mahomes, devastated, clutched his helmet and couldn't bear to look at his teammates. Butker stood motionless, hands on hips, drowning in frustration.
But—
Smith stepped up. He embraced his captaincy, rallied the team, and pulled them back together:
"Remember the story Lance told? The fat lady hasn't sung yet."
"We need to focus on what's next. Every second matters. What happened has happened—but there's more to come."
"No one wants to miss the fat lady's solo."
Focus. Commitment. Belief.
This side of Smith was new. Calm and composed, he brought the wavering Chiefs back on track.
Then—
Interception.
Foles, under enormous pressure in the pocket, tried to force a short pass—eight yards to Jeffery.
But under duress, the throw didn't spin true. The ball hit Jeffery's arm, slipped free, and opportunistic Revis pounced, snatching the first turnover of the game.
The Chiefs didn't waste it.
A classic play-action. Lance delivered a critical block for Kelce, who connected with Smith for the touchdown.
This time, Mahomes and Butker stayed sharp and executed cleanly.
16:17.
The Chiefs took the lead for the second time in the game and reestablished control.
Following the two-minute warning, the Chiefs' defense backed the Eagles up to the edge.
Still, Clement—again—showed up. With elusive, WR-style running routes, he turned a dire 3rd-and-8 into a red zone breakthrough.
Undeniably, Clement was the breakout star of the first half.
But the Chiefs' defense held firm one last time. Their most crucial and difficult stand of the half—
4th and 1.
Eight seconds left in the half. The Eagles were on the verge of the end zone. And faced with 4th-and-1, Pederson made a gasp-worthy decision.
No field goal.
He went for it.
All or nothing.
Tension peaked.
The Eagles' offense and the Chiefs' defense returned to the field. They lined up, eyes blazing, fury barely contained.
After the three-and-out, the Chiefs needed one last stop.
One down.
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Powerstones?
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