American Football: Domination

For the Los Angeles Chargers, the 2017 season was one of upheaval and unpredictability. After failing to make the playoffs yet again the previous year—despite stellar performances from quarterback Philip Rivers—the team's owner, frustrated beyond measure, cleaned house by firing the entire coaching staff. On top of that, the franchise relocated from San Diego to Los Angeles.

Everything was starting over from scratch.

Anthony Lynn, who had shown promising results as the offensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills, was hired as the Chargers' new head coach. This was Lynn's first time taking the helm as a head coach.

So far, Lynn's 7–6 record was respectable, keeping pace with the Kansas City Chiefs and maintaining playoff hopes.

This situation presented both opportunity and pressure. The playoffs were tantalizingly close but still uncertain. Lynn knew that a postseason berth would not only solidify his authority to shape the team during the offseason but also strengthen the Chargers' footing in the Los Angeles market. More importantly, leading the team to the playoffs in his first year as head coach would make his résumé shine.

Just imagining the possibilities was enough to get Lynn's adrenaline pumping.

So when he saw the media's reports on Lance being swarmed by controversy and the strange tension during the Chiefs' practices, Lynn's first instinct was to clench his fists in celebration.

A rookie—a mere running back, at that—was now at the center of attention. The locker room was bound to crack under the pressure eventually.

On the surface, it seemed like the Chiefs had finally shaken off a six-game losing streak by beating the Oakland Raiders. But while the victory belonged to the team, the media's praise was directed solely at Lance. Add in the buzz surrounding his sponsorships, and it wasn't hard to imagine other players feeling some type of way.

The headlines said it all:

"Cracks in Kansas City's locker room: Teammates have had enough of Lance."

"Warning: Lance could become the next Beckham—a divisive star like Beckham during his Manchester United days."

"History repeats itself: Another 'flying boot' incident in the making?"

"Reid losing control of the locker room: Just as the streak ends, a storm brews."

"Built by Lance, doomed by Lance—Kansas City's season struggles explained."

"Superstar lost in the limelight: Version 2.0!"

The headlines were dramatic and eye-catching, but Lynn didn't take them at face value. He knew to believe only half of what the media reported.

Even so, Lynn suspected that the Chiefs' locker room wasn't entirely harmonious. NFL locker rooms are massive, much larger than those in basketball or soccer. With so many players, it was nearly impossible to avoid friction altogether.

This raised a critical question: Would Lance's performance be affected by all the off-field noise?

As a former running back himself, Lynn had spent most of his coaching career working with running backs before taking on the head coach role. Ironically, despite his background, the Chargers' success this season had come primarily from their stellar pass defense. Still, Lynn believed he had a unique understanding of the running back position.

To him, the Chargers might have found the key to breaking through.

Week 15 of the regular season began.

Sure enough, the Chargers opened the game with a heightened focus on stopping the run.

Lynn adapted his defense to modern NFL trends, incorporating cornerbacks into the run defense alongside the defensive line and linebackers.

Traditionally, cornerbacks are known for their speed and agility, as they're primarily tasked with covering wide receivers. However, in the post-"Legion of Boom" era, larger cornerbacks began to rise. While they might be slightly slower, they compensated with strength, physicality, and technique, making them versatile enough to handle tight ends and even contribute to blitzes.

In this game, the Chargers' starting cornerbacks, Casey Hayward and Trevor Williams, weren't built for this role. Both weighed about 190 pounds (87 kilograms) and excelled in pass coverage, performing at a Pro Bowl level this season. However, neither was particularly adept at blitzing or stopping the run.

Still, Lynn adjusted their positioning, pushing them closer to the line of scrimmage. He didn't expect them to fully neutralize the Chiefs' ground game but hoped that their added presence would disrupt Lance enough to prevent him from breaking free for long runs. This would help compensate for the Chargers' league-worst ranking in run defense.

On the other side of the field, the Chiefs seemed oblivious to any internal tension or the Chargers' defensive adjustments. They stuck to their usual balanced attack, leaning slightly toward the passing game—typical of Reid's coaching philosophy.

By the time Lynn realized it was all a decoy, it was already too late.

Alex Smith connected with top wide receiver Tyreek Hill on a 14-yard pass. Hill exploited the gaps in the Chargers' secondary, created by their overcommitment to stopping the run, and sprinted 64 yards for a touchdown.

As it turned out, Lance had been used as bait once again, with the Chiefs prioritizing their aerial attack in the first half. The stats told the story: Lance had only six carries for 21 yards by halftime.

Lynn: Damn it.

Score at halftime: 6–10.

The Chiefs led by a narrow margin as both teams headed to their locker rooms. Lynn's carefully crafted strategy had failed to make any impact.

Looking back at the focused and united Chiefs, Lynn realized that he, like the media, had been completely duped.

When the second half began, the Chargers reverted to their original game plan, leaning on their strength in pass defense and placing their offensive hopes on Rivers' arm.

Meanwhile, Reid demonstrated his veteran coaching savvy. The Chiefs maintained a balanced attack but subtly shifted toward the ground game. Lance continued his consistent production, while fellow running back Kareem Hunt exploded onto the scene, contributing in both the running and passing games.

It was clear that the Chiefs had found their rhythm after two-thirds of the season. Their offense and defense operated with increasing harmony, their transitions between plays seamless. They no longer relied solely on raw energy to win games, as they had in the first six weeks. Instead, they showcased the strength of a well-rounded team.

Once both teams settled into their natural styles, the Chargers were thoroughly outmatched. On both offense and defense, they found themselves dominated, much like the Raiders had been the previous week. The game quickly fell into the Chiefs' control.

The result was predictable.

Final score: 13–30.

(Visitors' score listed first, home team's score second.)

The game ended decisively, with the Chiefs firmly in command.

----------

Powerstones?

For 20 advance chapters: patreon.com/michaeltranslates