The air burned hot, and in that fleeting moment, Lance was transported back to Bryant-Denny Stadium. The sweltering heat at Arrowhead ignited a Crimson Tide within him.
Then, Lance sprang into action.
With a forward step, he moved toward Mahomes. The two rookies—fresh faces in the league—executed their first play together as Mahomes handed the ball to Lance.
From the corner of his eye, Lance spotted the oncoming pressure—
Pass rush.
The San Francisco 49ers deployed their "4-3" defensive scheme, which featured four linemen frequently executing blitzes. However, their head coach, Kyle Shanahan, known more for his offensive prowess than his defensive expertise, relied heavily on his defensive coordinator, Robert Saleh, to lead this effort.
Saleh, who had served as the defensive quality control coach for the feared "Legion of Boom" Seattle Seahawks from 2011 to 2013, was taking on his first role as a defensive coordinator this season. Whether his tactical genius on paper could translate to on-field strategy was still a question mark. Preseason games would serve as a testing ground.
Saleh, a former linebackers coach, had a penchant for using his linebackers to cover short-passing zones. True to form, he sent one of his linebackers forward to join the pass rush, breaking through the Chiefs' pocket protection.
Moreover, the 49ers had assigned a player specifically to shadow the running back—not because of Lance, but to prevent the Chiefs from executing a fake handoff run-pass option, using the quarterback as bait while the running back carried the play.
The precision of the 49ers' pass rush was evident. NFL tactics were far more intricate and calculated than in college, with each zone meticulously mapped out like a sand table. The seamless synchronization of these zones tested the players' ability to make split-second decisions and execute their team's strategy.
Lance remained focused, reading the movements of the defensive line, linebackers, and cornerbacks before the snap. Amid the chaos, he zeroed in on one key detail—
#94.
The 49ers' #94, Solomon Thomas, had bloodlust in his eyes. Fixated on both Lance and Mahomes, his expression promised destruction.
Lance noticed the handoff between Mahomes and himself catching Thomas's attention, prompting a slight grin on the defensive lineman's face:
Perfect timing.
Thomas accelerated, spreading his arms wide like a predator, ready to pounce and wreak havoc.
Wait—a fake handoff, a real pass?
The Chiefs had chosen a fake handoff and true pass play instead of a fake pass run-option, playing straight into the 49ers' hands—or so it seemed.
Locked in on the quarterback, Thomas put aside any personal vendettas against Lance. His mission was clear: sack the quarterback. Doing so in front of Lance would be just as satisfying.
Planting his foot and swiveling his body, Thomas changed course toward Mahomes with terrifying precision.
It was moments like these that showcased why Thomas was once projected as a top-three draft pick. At 256 pounds (118 kilograms), Thomas was deceptively agile and relentless, embodying his standout performances at Stanford. If not for the Chiefs' drafting tactics, he might never have fallen to the third round.
Now, his abilities were on full display.
He lunged toward Mahomes, leveraging his mass and momentum, his arms extending wide to interfere with the quarterback's vision and timing.
Mahomes backpedaled.
One step. Another. The space between them shrank rapidly.
Then, out of nowhere, a figure cut in from the left—outside Thomas's field of vision. With the force of a wrecking ball, the figure intercepted Thomas's charge, throwing the defensive lineman off balance and completely disrupting the play.
Thomas froze: What the hell?
BAM!
Before Thomas could regain his footing, a jarring impact struck his midsection. The blow knocked the air from his lungs, leaving his vision swimming.
#23.
It was Lance.
While the 49ers had a player shadowing him, the Chiefs had also accounted for the 49ers' blitz. Lance had pivoted from a fake handoff to become the sixth member of the offensive line, stepping in as a blocker to protect Mahomes.
When the 49ers sent five rushers, the Chiefs countered with six blockers.
Lance's block bought Mahomes precious seconds. The rookie quarterback seized the moment, scanned the field, and unleashed a pass.
Meanwhile, Lance bent his knees, lowered his center of gravity, and tackled Thomas's legs in a textbook block. A single surge, a deft lift—and Thomas was airborne.
WHAM!
Thomas flipped through the air like a sandbag, his back slamming into the turf in a bone-rattling thud. Every muscle in his body screamed in protest. Dazed and stunned, he lay on the ground, struggling to process what had just happened. His mind blanked as cartoon birds circled above his head.
On the sidelines, Allen Bailey had a front-row seat. "Déjà vu. I've seen this episode before!"
Standing over Thomas, Lance nonchalantly dusted off his jersey. Unbothered, he glanced at the fallen lineman, shook his head, and muttered:
"I told you—you're not ready."
"Lance! Lance!"
Mahomes shouted gleefully, rushing over to high-five his teammate.
It wasn't until Lance turned to Mahomes that he noticed the rookie quarterback had launched a daring long pass, the ball traveling 35 yards to connect with a wide receiver.
One throw. One decisive blow.
The Chiefs demonstrated a level of explosiveness rarely seen during Alex Smith's tenure as starting quarterback. In the broadcast booth, the commentators were buzzing with excitement, shifting their focus to Mahomes.
"…But the real surprise tonight is Lance."
"The key here isn't just his blocking—it's the physicality. Since rookie camp, questions about Lance's ability to handle NFL-level contact have lingered. Based on tonight's performance, he's not only unafraid of it, but he's also more than capable of dishing it out."
"Who would've guessed the Chiefs' third-overall pick would first make his mark as a blocker? Lance's debut has left us eager for more."
Back on the field, Thomas slowly got to his feet. His expression had changed—his previous confidence replaced with a mix of frustration and grudging respect.
Had he underestimated Lance?
The Mahomes-Lance tandem had just orchestrated a 35-yard advance, crossing midfield and reaching the 49ers' 40-yard line.
The Arrowhead crowd erupted, their cheers crashing like waves against the stadium walls.
Unfazed, the Chiefs quickly lined up for the next play.
This time, Mahomes opted for a quick short pass, capitalizing on the 49ers' scrambled defense to hit a backup tight end for a five-yard gain.
Second-and-five.
The Chiefs' blend of long and short passes was proving effective, keeping the 49ers' defense on their heels. On the next snap, Mahomes handed the ball directly to—
Lance.
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Powerstones?
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