"Chiefs! Chiefs! Chiefs!"
The Arrowhead Stadium roared with a thunderous chorus, the fervent chants crashing down like a summer storm, and a surging crimson tide of fans ignited the stands in a fiery blaze.
This iconic stadium, with a capacity of just under 80,000, served as the home of the Kansas City Chiefs. On August 11, it welcomed the first home game of the 2017 season and the very first game of the year.
Despite being a preseason matchup, where the outcome held no bearing, the Arrowhead Stadium was packed to the rafters.
Though smaller in capacity compared to Alabama's Bryant-Denny Stadium, Arrowhead is undoubtedly one of the NFL's most revered, electrifying, and intimidating venues. From 1991 to 2009, the Chiefs sold out 155 consecutive home games—a streak of excellence in fan loyalty.
The streak ended in 2009 during a lackluster 3-10 season when the Chiefs had no chance of making the playoffs, resulting in the team's first non-sellout game in nearly two decades. Yet even then, Kansas City's passion for football remained undiminished—viewership surged so high that a city-wide power outage interrupted the game broadcast.
Such is the devotion of Chiefs fans.
It's no wonder Arrowhead is renowned as one of the most formidable home fields in the league.
Today was no exception.
The stadium thundered with unrelenting energy, as rabid Chiefs fans extended a raucous welcome to the visiting San Francisco 49ers, kicking off the new season in signature style.
The packed stands made it clear: this wasn't just about the game.
Like the NCAA, NFL preseason games hold little tangible significance—they're not even warm-ups but more akin to live practice matches.
Teams experiment with strategies and build chemistry.Coaches evaluate players and finalize rosters.
From spring training to the final roster deadline, NFL teams can have up to 100 players in training. However, only 53 will ultimately make the regular season roster.
Thus, the preseason becomes the final proving ground for players on the cusp, a chance to showcase themselves and secure a coveted roster spot.
It's common for starters to play sparingly—just one or two quarters at most. Instead, fringe players take the stage, battling for a place in the league. The result is often chaotic, and the games can lack polish.
Yet none of that mattered to the Arrowhead faithful.
For fans, this was about celebrating the start of the season and welcoming new arrivals to the team. It was a platform for rookies and new signings to get acclimated to the system and for fans to catch a glimpse of the team's future.
Case in point—
"Chiefs! Chiefs! Chiefs!"
Suddenly, the Arrowhead crowd reached a deafening crescendo, the sheer force of the chants reverberating through the stadium, sending shivers down the spines of everyone present.
In the broadcast booth, the commentators immediately pinpointed the reason.
"Lance."
"The third-overall pick is stepping onto the field."
"The Kansas City Chiefs' riskiest and most debated decision this season. Love it or hate it, Lance is their top rookie, and this home crowd is making their support known. Their message is clear: criticism may come, but only from us—outsiders need to back off."
"And it's not just Chiefs fans watching. The entire league has their eyes on Lance. Can he handle the intensity of the professional stage? Was last season's historic performance a one-off? Can he elevate the running back position and justify Veach's bold decision?"
"Donning the same #23 jersey he wore with the Crimson Tide, Lance will be hoping to carry over his collegiate success. Let's see what he can do."
The commentator's words rang true—Lance wasn't just a Kansas City phenomenon.
Lance felt the pressure.
He could feel the eyes boring into him, a sharp intensity tracing the contours of his back. Turning instinctively, he followed the gaze and locked onto—
Oh. Him.
Wait, what's his name again?
Lance recognized the face—it was the same defensive end who had caused a scene during rookie training camp before being restrained by McCaffrey.
To be fair, it wasn't Lance's fault he didn't know the guy's name. The man had never introduced himself, which could only mean he wasn't important. Unlike Myles Garrett, the first-overall pick, who carried a clear label:
First pick.
It was practically tattooed on Garrett's forehead. But this guy? A nobody.
Solomon Thomas ground his teeth so hard it was a wonder they didn't shatter. What was with Lance's dismissive look?
For Thomas, Lance was the reason his draft stock plummeted. Once projected as a top-three pick, he had fallen into the abyss of the third round.
Now, he had his chance. He'd prove himself on this field, crush Lance in a direct showdown, and silence everyone who doubted him.
Fixing Lance with a steely glare, Thomas pointed two fingers at his own eyes before swiveling them toward Lance—a silent "I'm watching you."
Then, he dragged his thumb menacingly across his throat, his grin spreading into a wicked sneer.
Lance simply shook his head, unimpressed.
Old-fashioned and predictable. Pathetic.
Unbothered by Thomas's bulging, bloodshot eyes, Lance redirected his focus to the sea of crimson roaring around him. He thought of Anderson's words back at the Old Oak Tavern:
"No matter where you go, whether you can see them or not, they'll always have your back—your strongest foundation."
Well then. Let the show begin.
In the Old Oak Tavern, Anderson grinned ear to ear, watching #23 stride confidently onto the field. This was a different Lance—helmet on, transformed, exuding an aura of self-assuredness.
The bar erupted into cheers as Anderson's heart raced in time with the excitement.
"Boom!"
Patrick Mahomes raised his hand high, and Lance stepped forward to meet it, their palms colliding in a seamless high-five. No words needed, the two rookies took their positions like clockwork.
The starting quarterback, Alex Smith, was sitting out tonight, leaving Mahomes in charge of leading the Chiefs' offense. For Kansas City, it was a glimpse into the future: two first-round picks taking the field together.
Lance positioned himself behind Mahomes, slightly offset—a tweak to the traditional shotgun formation that gave Lance a broader view of the field.
This adjustment, introduced during training camp, reflected Reid's belief in Lance's ability to read defenses—a skill as crucial as a quarterback's.
From this vantage point, Lance immediately spotted Thomas, the defensive end standing in opposition.
The battle lines were drawn.
Their eyes locked, and the atmosphere crackled with anticipation.
"Attack!"
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Powerstones?
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