American Football: Domination

"Touchdown!"

"Lance scores a touchdown!"

"The Chiefs reclaim the lead! Oh my God, oh my God!"

On the sideline, Deshaun Watson, brimming with the fiery resolve for revenge, felt as though ice water had been poured all over him. Staring at Lance strolling nonchalantly in the end zone, Watson's expression was one of disbelief.

What... just happened?

The atmosphere froze.

It wasn't just Watson. The home crowd in Houston fell into collective shock. Their celebration of retaking the lead had lasted less than 30 seconds before being crushed. Frustration and disbelief simmered like a volcano about to erupt.

A 103-yard kickoff return for a touchdown?

How was that even possible?

The underdog redemption story and revenge script they had envisioned turned into a nightmare in a mere 23 seconds.

Watson's painstaking effort to rally the Texans and build momentum over the course of the game fell apart almost instantly.

Lance's return not only reignited the Kansas City Chiefs but also planted seeds of doubt in the Texans' confidence. Suddenly, their surging self-belief started to crack.

The aftermath unfolded rapidly.

Watson, overwhelmed by his vengeful emotions, lost sight of the bigger picture. His composure faltered, leading to poor decision-making on passing plays and running opportunities. For the first time since the 28th minute of the first half, the Texans' offense was forced into a three-and-out.

Meanwhile, the Chiefs' offense was relentless. Lance's mere presence on the field had Houston's defense on edge. Believing Smith would hand the ball to Lance, the defense fell for a fake handoff.

Smith executed a play-action pass to tight end Travis Kelce, with Lance serving as Kelce's blocker.

Kelce, with Lance clearing the way, turned a five-yard short pass into a 74-yard surge downfield, completely dismantling the Texans' defense.

Moments later, Lance capped off the drive with a two-yard rushing touchdown.

Two straight blows.

In under four minutes, the Chiefs turned the game around in a storm of offensive dominance. The Texans were left reeling, unable to catch their breath.

Watson: …

Who am I? Where am I? What am I even doing here?

Even expletives failed him as he stood frozen, utterly disoriented.

Meanwhile—

"Heh."

At Nike's West Coast headquarters, a chuckle echoed in the conference room.

The television screen displayed the live broadcast of the Chiefs vs. Texans Sunday Night Football game.

Not just on the West Coast—Nike's East Coast office was also tuned in, with a conference room full of executives watching the live action. Despite it being after hours, both offices were connected via a conference call, ensuring seamless communication.

The chuckle wasn't directed at Watson but rather at the Chiefs' masterful turnaround.

After the Chiefs shattered the Texans' confidence in four minutes, Coach Reid made an audacious decision.

Instead of opting for a safer one-point extra kick to make it an eight-point lead, Reid chose to go for a two-point conversion.

With the score at 36-29, converting the two-pointer would create a nine-point gap, effectively making it a two-possession game and significantly increasing the pressure on Houston.

Reid's bold move reflected his confidence in the team.

Even through the screen, Nike's executives could sense the strategy's significance.

Edwardes, seated in the West Coast conference room, exhaled a small laugh and turned to address his colleagues. His voice was loud enough to ensure the East Coast office could hear him over the call.

"Reid's decision is a calculated risk, a push to keep the pressure on Houston. But that's not the key takeaway here."

He paused for effect.

"This game's outcome isn't as important anymore. It's not that I doubt the Chiefs' ability to win, but because we've already gotten what we need."

"Lance."

At last, Edwardes had reached his conclusion. Standing at a crossroads in history, he prepared to take the leap.

"What matters is that, when the team needs him most, Lance always rises to the occasion. Just like in the NCAA Championship earlier this year, he demonstrates intelligence, skill, composure, and presence. He has the ability to lead a team to victory."

"Even as a running back."

"Tonight is no exception. Once again, Lance has proven he's not a fleeting star."

Edwardes' gaze sharpened.

"Do you know what impressed me the most tonight? Not the kickoff return touchdown, but the way Lance blocked for Kelce on that long gain."

"What does that tell us?"

"It tells us that, unlike Jordan, Lance understands that football is a team sport. It's not like basketball. To win championships, he knows he needs his teammates. He's not just chasing individual glory."

"Don't get me wrong—I'm not throwing shade at Odell Beckham Jr."

Laughter rippled lightly through the two conference rooms.

"He's willing to help his teammates. He's already fully integrated into the team. Smith and Kelce trust him."

"And what does that show us?"

Edwardes leaned forward.

"It shows us leadership."

"It shows us star power."

"We've been searching for a transformative figure for the football market, someone like Jordan or Federer. And I think we've found him."

Each word landed heavily, resonating with everyone in the room.

Edwardes scanned the room, letting the gravity of his statement sink in. He knew what this decision meant—for himself and for Nike as a whole.

They all understood the weight of the contract and the risks involved.

On the television, the game pressed on.

Unfortunately for the Chiefs, the two-point conversion failed, leaving the score at 36-29. Houston's defense narrowly avoided total collapse, clinging to a glimmer of hope.

Perhaps the game still had some suspense left?

In the conference room, the murmurs of Houston fans cheering their team echoed faintly through the broadcast. Nike's executives, however, remained silent, deeply focused on both the game and their thoughts.

Each passing second caused their considerations to shift with the flow of the game. Would the Chiefs' missed conversion influence Nike's final decision?

After a brief pause, Edwardes spoke again.

"It's time to decide. We've dragged this out long enough. If we're going to pass, we need to step aside now and let Adidas and Under Armour tear each other apart. But if we're in, we need to act quickly."

"Donald is a formidable negotiator," Edwardes admitted.

Then, with a slight pause, he raised his voice.

"Let's vote."

"Yes," Edwardes declared firmly, leading by example.

One by one, the responses came without hesitation:

"Yes."

"Yes."

And so it continued, the decision gaining unstoppable momentum.

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Powerstones?

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