Chapter 1428: Chapter 1427: Never-Ending Voices
Provocation. Impact. Siege.
The bustling noise completely envelops the San Francisco 49ers because people clearly know that the suspense of the Super Bowl’s outcome and its brilliance does not depend on the Kansas City Chiefs, but entirely rests on the shoulders of the San Francisco 49ers. Even without being too professional, one can see this crucial point.
And now?
At least on the surface, from Shanahan to Garoppolo and then to Staley, everyone in the San Francisco 49ers is sharpening their knives, their spirits already ignited, proving with concrete actions that they are ready, not only to challenge the Kansas City Chiefs but also to defeat the Kansas City Chiefs, poised for action.
Of course, whether it is a mule or a horse still needs to come out for a walk to know, and no one can predict exactly how the peak showdown of the Super Bowl will unfold—
But, the San Francisco 49ers need this momentum.
Look at the Tennessee Titans, who managed to shock the Kansas City Chiefs into a cold sweat with their wild and rugged vigor; then look at the Houston Texans, who were overwhelmed by the Kansas City Chiefs’ momentum right from the start and were caught in the Chiefs’ rhythm, struggling throughout the game to keep up.
In hindsight, if the Tennessee Titans could have gritted their teeth and held on until halftime, the situation might have been completely different.
The vastly different performances of the Tennessee Titans and the Houston Texans have already set an example, showing that the Kansas City Chiefs are not invincible. The focus is on the belief in victory, believing that they can stand up to the Kansas City Chiefs, believing that they can topple the Kansas City Chiefs. The San Francisco 49ers need this courage.
Now, judging by Garoppolo’s response, at least the belief has been ignited.
Things have suddenly become interesting.
On the surface, both the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers are already in the zone, united and fighting side by side, with the locker room in complete agreement, no worries, no internal hazards, with faith and determination aligned because of the Super Bowl, all set early to welcome the ultimate showdown.
But what about the actual situation?
Nobody knows.
The locker room doors have completely blocked the probing gazes of the media and fans from outside, only able to capture clues from the atmosphere and situation on the training field.
The Kansas City Chiefs, relaxed and carefree, laughter and joy not only in facial expressions but in body language too, showing a relaxed preparatory atmosphere. They are even substituting games for warm-ups on the field, giggling as if they were back in their school days, like after-class activities—
This, is the confidence of a two-time defending champion.
Unbelievably, just three years ago when the Kansas City Chiefs broke into the Super Bowl, the whole league was exclaiming about the dark horse; but now the situation has completely turned around.
The San Francisco 49ers, fully focused and meticulous, rather than saying it is a heavy atmosphere, it is better to say it maintains concentration. Although players may occasionally joke with each other, the overall atmosphere is surprisingly serious, striving for perfection from warm-ups to basic training to tactical exercises—
In saying all of this, this is the San Francisco 49ers returning to the Super Bowl stage after seven seasons, the era of Harbaugh and Kaepernick seems as distant as the last century, with few players and staff from that San Francisco 49ers team remaining in the current team.
Everything, is brand new.
Especially with Shanahan, who four years ago as an offensive coordinator experienced the Atlanta Falcons being overturned by the New England Patriots in that game, the psychological shadow likely still exists, forcing the "perfect plan type personality" of Shanahan to show 200% attitude to avoid repeating the same error.
Thus, the atmosphere is completely different.
The same situation, but people can have completely different interpretations.
This can be interpreted as the Kansas City Chiefs being arrogant, eyes looking over the top, not even considering the San Francisco 49ers, with pride possibly becoming a stumbling block; while the San Francisco 49ers are enduring hardships, determined to succeed, fully prepared to face any difficulties.
Conversely, it can also be interpreted as the San Francisco 49ers being fully tense and under pressure, overly nervous before the ultimate showdown, possibly underperforming; whereas the Kansas City Chiefs are confident and composed, maintaining a regular mindset and preparing for the match as if it were a normal game.
Of course, this can also be interpreted as smoke bombs and mind games, after all, this is an open training session, and Shanahan and Reed both understand this, what they present is a posture, trying to confuse and deceive the opponent about the actual situation which is unknown.
See, everything is possible.
All kinds of speculation, all kinds of attention keep boiling and surging, deeply making people feel the attention of the fifty-fourth Super Bowl—
Completely off the charts.
Everything, as expected, began with the stride of an eight-game winning streak from the regular season, the bustling focus of the league already looking toward the Super Bowl, just like last season’s "Los Angeles Rams VS Kansas City Chiefs," finally the San Francisco 49ers lived up to expectations, carrying the anticipation into the Super Bowl.
"Garoppolo VS Li Wei," the much-hyped matchup that was hyped and built throughout the season is finally about to take place, perfectly answering Goodell’s expectations.
Brady is gradually aging, temporarily stepping away from the spotlight’s core, not even making it to the Pro Bowl this season, the "Goat VS Rookie" matchup should also slowly fade from the horizon; instead, it is not Donald, not Watt, not Henry or Watson, but Garoppolo—
The successor of Brady.
From "Big Manning VS Brady" to "Brady VS Li Wei" and then to "Li Wei VS Garoppolo," the NFL completes a smooth and perfect succession.
If!
A hypothesis, if this season the San Francisco 49ers defeat the Kansas City Chiefs and claim the Super Bowl, it not only means the traditional powerhouse San Francisco 49ers have regained their position, but also that they defeated the consistent regular season undefeated two-time defending champion. At the same time, Garoppolo defeated Rodgers before defeating Li Wei to claim the title—
It could not be more perfect.
At that time, Garoppolo leading the San Francisco 49ers to the top, the NFL officially enters an era dominated by the new generation, "Garoppolo VS Li Wei" will become the new main theme of the league. "Quarterback VS Running Back" will also become a new footnote in the league’s offense-dominant era, rewriting history.
Perfect, a perfect full score, even a Hollywood screenwriter could not write a more perfect script.
So smooth, so seamless, so natural, that it is almost undetectable as a script.
Just the thought, the imagination, provokes an uncontrollable surge of enthusiasm. Goodell deserves credit, leading the NFL into a new era, now seamlessly transitioning from the "Four Elite Quarterbacks Era" to an era where the new generation fully rises to fame.
It is foreseeable that the NFL will continue to thrive, and the "Battle of the Golden Boy" will certainly explode in the global market, by then, everyone will earn enormously.
So, the ultimate suspense before us now is, can the San Francisco 49ers really prevent the Kansas City Chiefs from making history? Can the Super Bowl story truly unfold and conclude as perfect as scripted?