"Wow, what a start—slightly beyond expectations."
"It's not that we doubted the Kansas City Chiefs' strength, but based on their offseason adjustments, it seemed they'd need some time to find rhythm, while the Pittsburgh Steelers had already addressed Le'Veon Bell's absence and were ready for the new season."
"The early phase of the season opener is a litmus test for offseason preparation."
"We expected the Steelers to have a slight edge, expecting a tightly contested battle; but as it stands now, Reid has completely outmaneuvered Tomlin."
"In both initial drives, the Chiefs have looked younger—yet more mature."
"Younger in terms of personnel—a core made up of second- and third-year players playing crucial roles with fiery passion and energy, taking the initiative and suppressing the Steelers from the get-go."
"More mature in terms of tactics. After a tactical overhaul during the offseason, the game plan is now clearer and more deliberate. The schemes specifically aimed at dismantling the Steelers gave the Chiefs early control with ease."
"It's unbelievable. The game isn't even five minutes old, yet everything is unfolding under the Chiefs' control. The defending champions have made their statement."
Admiration. Surprise. Respect.
Even Michaels couldn't help but give Kansas City a thumbs-up. Being defending champs means having a target on your back. Add a turbulent offseason, and the first game becomes the toughest—requiring cohesion and clarity.
Just look at the New England Patriots last year. A notoriously slow start. No team has repeated as Super Bowl champions in over a decade. Few ever have—that's no accident.
Yet here the Chiefs were, growing amid turmoil, turning pressure into fuel. Their Super Bowl triumph wasn't a shackle—it became a springboard for metamorphosis.
One series was all it took to see how much effort Kansas City put in this offseason.
You couldn't help but feel the anticipation rise.
"Wow."
"Now we'll see how Pittsburgh adjusts. Will Tomlin stick to the original plan or pivot in response? This storied defensive powerhouse is facing its first real test—sooner than expected."
"But no matter what the Steelers decide, the Chiefs are sticking to their rhythm."
"On the sideline, Kansas City's new running backs coach, Burton Burns, is speaking one-on-one with Lance."
"A quick fun fact for viewers—"
"Coach Burns was the one who first discovered Lance in college. A legendary RB coach at Alabama, he had retired—until he decided he couldn't stay away and joined the Chiefs just to work with Lance again. It makes you wonder what transformation Lance went through this offseason."
Pat-pat.
Burns gave Lance a heavy slap on the shoulder, and Lance headed to the field to rejoin the offense.
Mahomes glanced over, and Lance leaned in to exchange a few quiet words. They made brief eye contact, then both looked across the field.
Burns' message: watch Cameron Heyward closely.
This year, the Chiefs were also dealing with aging and injury—Houston's inconsistency was one sign of the trials ahead.
Likewise, the Steelers were seeing some slippage—Heyward, the defensive anchor, seemed slightly off. Lance hadn't noticed it in the first drive, but Burns had, and he warned Lance to watch the Steelers' D-line closely.
Same goes for Mahomes.
On the surface, Heyward looked normal—focused and fierce, the veteran not easily showing cracks—
Especially so early in the season.
The Chiefs lined up as usual, ready for another attack.
Pittsburgh's punt had been poor, lacking direction, and handed the Chiefs a starting spot at their own 33-yard line. Not an ideal opening for the visitors.
Would Tomlin adjust?
The Chiefs didn't care. They pressed on with their tempo.
The fluidity of the first drive had visibly boosted Mahomes' confidence—he looked more poised, more locked in.
They went back to the pass.
Just like last year's playoff run with Alex Smith, Kansas City relied on diverse short passes to unravel opposing defenses—
Whether the opponent brought pressure or man coverage, they didn't care.
First, they were fast—forcing quick throws, threading needles with rapid short routes.
Second, they were crafty—disguising their passing targets. Beyond Hill and Kelce, Hunt or Lance could become the surprise third option.
But this year, the Chiefs upgraded.
Last season, their wide receiver corps was underwhelming, relying solely on Hill. That's why Lance often stepped in as a receiving option. But now, they had support.
Enter Sammy Watkins.
Former fourth overall pick in 2014, drafted by the Buffalo Bills.
A college phenom who never quite hit his stride in the NFL. Traded to the Rams before his rookie contract even ended, then bounced from team to team.
When he landed in Kansas City, the league barely noticed. Few believed the former first-rounder could find redemption.
But in Kansas City, Watkins found his groove.
Twice in a row, Mahomes bypassed Hill, Kelce, and Lance—opting instead for short passes to Watkins, effortlessly moving the chains and pushing into midfield.
The Steelers' defense looked flustered—
The front couldn't apply pressure in time.
Their coverage schemes weren't ready for new targets.
Caught off guard and out of sync.
At the core of it all—intelligence failure. The Steelers didn't anticipate Kansas City's evolution and couldn't keep up.
Tomlin quickly realized they were being swept up in the Chiefs' rhythm. But the problem now was that Kansas City was clicking on all cylinders—strategically and tactically one step ahead. Even Tomlin couldn't wrest back control. He had to hope the defense could hold, drag things out, and wait for the Chiefs' emotional surge to subside before mounting a response.
But so far, there was no sign of cooling down.
The Steelers gritted their teeth and pushed back—trying to regain their footing—
They were going all in.
And just like that, Mahomes could feel the pressure crashing down on him.
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Powerstones?
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