Chapter 1023: 1022 as steady as Mount Tai
Week one of the regular season, Offensive Players of the Week.
American League, Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens quarterback; National Conference, Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys quarterback.
The League was in an uproar—
What!
Li Wei rushed and received over a hundred yards each, such a dominant performance, yet he wasn't the player of the week; what exactly did Jackson do?
Fortunately, the controversy didn't last long.
Week two of the regular season, Offensive Players of the Week.
American League, Li Wei, Kansas City Chiefs Running Back; National Conference, Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks Quarterback.
This week, the Kansas City Chiefs faced arch-rivals Oakland Raiders.
Initially, people anticipated another showdown between Brown and Li Wei, but unexpectedly, the Raiders, who tried to rejuvenate and promote their move to Las Vegas during the off-season, faced a heavy setback, getting caught in Brown's drama, and becoming the league's laughingstock.
Goddess of Fortune clearly still did not favor this ill-fated team.
The Kansas City Chiefs went to Oakland for an away game, this city next to San Francisco emptied out, the local residents created a hellish home game setting with their utmost enthusiasm and passion for the last time facing their half-century-old rivals in Oakland, trying to make Kansas City unforgettable.
Rivalry indeed, just like a derby, no matter the team is in dark moments, the energy and state change as long as it's a derby.
The atmosphere throughout the game was particularly explosive.
No Brown, no problem; another anticipated showdown within the league was about to take place:
Crimson Tide Storm showdown.
The 2017 season, during the wild-card round, "Kansas City Chiefs VS Tennessee Titans," was the most notable showdown within the NFL in recent years, where Li Wei and Henry, two running backs, clashed fiercely and ended with the Kansas City Chiefs narrowly winning.
That game not only marked the starting point for the Kansas City Chiefs' Super Bowl victory but also became a significant turning point for Li Wei's legendary running back career.
Now, another Crimson Tide Storm showdown was about to unfold, "Li Wei VS Josh Jacobs."
It's hard to imagine, two years ago, Li Wei was in the challenger's position, challenging Henry; in the blink of an eye, Li Wei is now standing in the defender's position ready to face challenges.
Since the Rookie Training Camp, Jacobs, bearing the title "Henry, Li Wei's junior" and carrying the Crimson Tide Storm running back tradition, has been the center of attention, finally joining the Oakland Raiders, naturally his expectations soared.
Jacobs hadn't even had the chance to find his footing in Oakland, yet the Raiders fans had already poured all their passion into this young running back, hoping he could, just like Li Wei did two years ago against Henry, overthrow Li Wei from the challenger's position and continue the Crimson Tide Storm tradition.
However!
So was the Kansas City Chiefs.
The team, from top to bottom, knew this was their last game in Oakland, they might face the Raiders again but would not visit Oakland anymore.
From the moment Oakland Raiders became Las Vegas Raiders, the arch-rivals remain arch-rivals, meeting twice a year battling for playoff spots in direct confrontations, and the grudges will continue; but missing the bond between Oakland and Kansas City, some things will ultimately change.
Thus, they were ready to leave a deep impression on Oakland, ensuring that for the next decade, Oakland residents would not escape this nightmare.
"49:10."
A massacre, a crush, a sweep.
The Kansas City Chiefs went into a frenzy, under the leadership of Mahomes and Li Wei, unleashed incredible energy, plunging Oakland into dead silence.
It's imaginable, for a very long time, Oakland residents wouldn't forget Kansas City, even if they never welcome the Kansas City Chiefs again for matches; but undoubtedly, they would continue to loathe the Kansas City Chiefs and cheer for all opponents against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Li Wei, the performance remained outstanding.
In fact, "Li Wei VS Jacobs," everything was as expected, particularly thrilling.
Jacobs showed his focus and determination, remained concentrated throughout the match, unleashed 120% energy, undoubtedly impressed the audience.
12 carries, 99 yards, one touchdown.
Jacobs scored the only touchdown for the Oakland Raiders in the game, which was even arguably the only highlight for the Oakland Raiders.
Most regrettably, the Oakland Raiders coach still insisted on the pass-heavy offense strategy, placing all the offensive weight on quarterback Derek Carr, it's evident from Jacobs' carry count that the rushing attempts were only a third of the passing attempts.
However, Carr was in poor form, throwing only 198 yards and two interceptions.
Post-game, among the professional ratings for Oakland Raiders players, only Jacobs had a positive score, with other players collectively having negative scores, a widespread gloomy outlook.
"Crimson Tide Storm product, indeed lives up to the name."
The League was filled with praises.
A new season, new player, yet another excellent running back was already rising.
However, standing in front of Li Wei, Jacobs was still slightly inadequate.
166 rushing yards, one rushing touchdown.
117 receiving yards, one receiving touchdown.
Comprehensive, strong.
Stable, excellent.
Li Wei once again conquered the field with unparalleled performance, if you consider Mahomes' four hundred passing yards and three passing touchdowns altogether, you can more so perceive the overwhelming power of Kansas City Chiefs Offense, obliterating the opponent both in passing and rushing.
Li Wei, still remains Li Wei, unshakable as a mountain.
After the match, Li Wei and Jacobs joked on the field, Kansas City Chiefs Running Back assistant coach Clark joined them on the field for a reunion—
a brief reunion moment belonging to the University of Alabama Crimson Tide Storm.
Compared to the Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders' condition seemed slightly unstable, which also meant Jacobs's future challenges would be more daunting.
But regardless, Crimson Tide Storm always embrace challenges with courage and calmness; this is their inherent spirit.
After all matches were completed in week two of the regular season, Li Wei stood out once again, completely undisturbed by the external negative noises, delivering strong performances for two consecutive weeks, eventually securing this week's American League Offensive Player of the Week.
Deservedly!
Skeptics retreated—
The only thing they could do was stubbornly mutter, wasn't it just the Jacksonville Jaguars, wasn't it just the Oakland Raiders, all were bottom feeders, the victory wasn't worth such publicity.
As of now, Li Wei's so-called excellent performance was nothing more than splurging stats on weak teams, "just a stat-padder," not worth mentioning, no need to fuss about promoting.
Next is the test, the real test:
Baltimore Ravens.
Not only the skeptics, but the entire league was bustling with excitement.
It's coming, the grand entrance, "Kansas City Chiefs VS Baltimore Ravens," undoubtedly, the highlight showdown of the third week of the regular season.