"Don't underestimate Lance," JJ Watt had said. "That rookie has real skills. Anyone who underestimates him because of media hype will pay the price."
TJ Watt had taken his brother's words to heart. He'd kept his guard up the entire game.
And now—
Lance as a receiving target?
The thought sent chills down TJ's spine. A shiver ran up his back, leaving his body tingling with tension.
So far, through six games this season, Lance had never lined up as a wide receiver. He was Kansas City's starting running back, the primary force behind their ground game. Kareem Hunt, the Chiefs' second running back, had made several impressive catches, but Lance? Never.
TJ's first instinct was to dismiss the idea.
Impossible.
Why would Andy Reid call such a high-stakes play—on a crucial down, no less—with Lance as the passing target?
If Lance was just a decoy, that would make more sense. But the problem was, Lance hadn't launched downfield with the other receivers. His presence didn't serve much of a distraction.
Then TJ scanned the field.
No one else had noticed Lance.
Or, if they had, they weren't paying him any mind. Every Pittsburgh defender had their eyes locked on the end zone, focused solely on defending against the Hail Mary.
All the key receiving targets—Hunt, Hill, and Kelce—were blanketed with defenders. Even safety Mike Mitchell had shifted toward Kelce, ensuring the tight end wouldn't get a free pass.
But Lance?
He was standing wide open.
There wasn't a single Pittsburgh player within ten yards of him.
TJ Watt had no time to hesitate. It was just him and safety Sean Davis left unoccupied. Davis was already sprinting toward the end zone, expecting a deep pass.
TJ, however, changed course.
In a split second, he pivoted and charged toward Lance.
Even if Lance didn't have the ball yet, TJ wasn't taking any chances.
From the sideline, other Steelers defenders finally noticed what was happening.
Mitchell: "That rookie!"
Hilton: "Rookie mistake."
They both thought the same thing:
TJ was making an error by splitting his focus. His job was to stick to his coverage, especially on key targets like Kelce and Hill. That's where the danger lay.
Tomlin had warned against the possibility of a short pass setting up a game-winning field goal. But the Chiefs had lined up in a shotgun formation and sent their receivers sprinting straight downfield. Clearly, they were aiming for a deep ball.
The Steelers' defense had adjusted accordingly, dropping back and preparing for a Hail Mary.
TJ Watt was too green.
Twelve seconds remained on the clock.
The tension at Arrowhead Stadium was palpable. Time seemed to slow as every eye in the stadium locked onto Alex Smith.
Backpedaling, shuffling, adjusting—Smith kept his feet moving, evading any potential pressure from the defensive line.
Incredibly, Smith held onto the ball for five full seconds.
For a quarterback like Smith, who typically released the ball within two seconds, five seconds was an eternity.
Finally—
Smith let it fly.
Smith's pass wasn't a Hail Mary.
Instead, the ball soared thirty-five yards through the air.
Arrowhead collectively gasped.
Bart's heart followed the ball's arc, pounding faster with every inch of its climb. He could feel it rising in his throat, ready to burst out.
But then—
What?
What the hell?
Bart's mind spun.
The pass wasn't aimed at the end zone. It wasn't a Hail Mary. It was a thirty-five-yard pass to midfield.
The Steelers defenders had all retreated deep, expecting a bomb. Now, they stood at the edge of the red zone, completely out of position.
In the center of the field?
Wide open.
The Steelers' defense scrambled to react.
"Stay calm. Close the net," Tomlin had said. "Don't panic."
But Kansas City's offensive players suddenly shifted gears.
Every one of them pivoted, switching from receivers to blockers. They began throwing picks and setting up screens, cutting off Pittsburgh defenders before they could adjust.
The entire situation flipped in an instant.
Ten seconds left.
Every pair of eyes turned to midfield.
Lance vs. Watt.
Who could have predicted this?
TJ Watt, by sheer instinct, had stumbled into a game-saving opportunity. He'd read the play correctly and found himself in a position to make the stop. Now, the Steelers' hopes rested on him.
Two rookies.
One showdown.
TJ accelerated toward Lance.
Initially, TJ had held back. He'd assumed Smith would throw a deeper pass, and he knew how fast Lance could be. He planned to wait, let Lance catch the ball, and then make a clean tackle to prevent any further gain.
But the shorter pass changed everything.
TJ needed to close the distance now—or risk missing his chance entirely.
The wind shifted.
Lance wasn't quite in his comfort zone.
He could catch a football, sure. But catching a pass in practice was one thing. Catching a game-winning pass under pressure from a pursuing defender? That was something else entirely.
As Lance ran, he twisted his body to track the ball.
Smith's pass wasn't quite where Lance had expected. He'd anticipated a thirty-yard pass to his chest. Instead, it was a thirty-five-yard dart to his shoulder.
The difference?
Just five yards.
But that slight difference threw off Lance's timing. He had to adjust his catch point.
He pivoted mid-stride, rotating to face the ball.
His hands shot up. He snagged the ball, tucking it into his chest.
Then, he began to turn back toward the end zone.
But before he could fully rotate—
BAM!
A shadow loomed.
It was Watt.
The rookie linebacker crashed into Lance like a freight train.
Both players collided with bone-jarring force.
TJ held on.
Tackle secured.
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Powerstones?
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