American Football: Domination

"Oh, if I'm not mistaken, we won that game, right?"

Lance's face was filled with sincere curiosity.

The reporters resisted the urge to roll their eyes. Wasn't that obvious?

To date, Lance's career in competitive football has been flawless. From the NCAA to the NFL, he has maintained an undefeated streak, silencing doubters and critics with decisive victories. So, what's with the whole "if I'm not mistaken"? The reporters could only chuckle internally.

But soon enough, they realized Lance's comment carried an undertone—it wasn't merely a factual statement. It was a subtle jab at JuJu, implying that a defeated opponent wasn't worth mentioning.

This was the work of a master: a perfect example of "insulting without using insults" and casually obliterating someone's confidence in passing. JuJu might want to take notes.

The reporters quickly followed up, asking, "Are you mocking JuJu for just talking big?"

Lance smiled and shook his head gently.

"No, of course not. All he has left is his mouth, so there's no need to take away the last bit of joy in his life."

"Protecting the vulnerable is everyone's responsibility."

And with that, Lance left.

Just like that, he walked off, leaving behind two seemingly harmless sentences that packed a devastating punch. JuJu's remarks instantly seemed juvenile and insignificant, prompting the media to collectively sigh:

"After all, he's still too young."

JuJu: "???"

Just the day before, the media had showered JuJu with praise for his youth and potential. His age was celebrated as an asset, with headlines proclaiming his historic records and boundless promise. Now, in the blink of an eye, "youth" had been weaponized as a soft spot for criticism.

The pregame war of words had barely begun, yet JuJu had already suffered a crushing defeat.

But to be fair, the upcoming matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Pittsburgh Steelers was no ordinary game. ESPN's Inside the League made it a featured topic.

Bart Scott, as usual, delivered his signature dramatic commentary.

"Without a doubt, this is the most important game of Lance's career."

Right out of the gate, Scott raised the stakes, treating this regular-season game as if it were a Super Bowl.

Across the roundtable, Lawson gave Scott a weary look, as if he wanted to say, This is just a regular-season game. Must you overhype it like this?

But Lawson was too polite to confront a colleague outright.

Instead, he chose a more tactful approach.

"Bart, in the past, you've always said we should wait and see, take more time to evaluate Lance's performance. Are you saying that after this game, we can finally make a definitive judgment?"

The underlying message was clear: If Lance delivers again, will you finally admit you were wrong?

Lawson prided himself on being a good person.

Scott scowled, glaring at Lawson as if he had been cornered.

But Scott also knew he couldn't keep dodging forever. From the season opener, he had repeatedly insisted that the Chiefs hadn't faced real competition yet, claiming that the Steelers would expose them as frauds.

And he wasn't entirely wrong.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are one of the NFL's most storied franchises, holding the record for the most Super Bowl titles in league history.

Since the turn of the millennium, the NFL has been dominated by a clear structure: the NFC sees a wide-open race with many contenders, while the AFC has been ruled by three powerhouses.

Over the past 17 seasons, the AFC championship has been claimed 12 times by just three teams: the New England Patriots, Indianapolis Colts, and Pittsburgh Steelers. If Peyton Manning's time with the Denver Broncos is included, that number rises to 14.

Among those seasons, Tom Brady leads with seven AFC titles, followed by Manning with four. Meanwhile, the Steelers have claimed the AFC crown three times (2005, 2008, and 2010), solidifying their status as a perennial contender.

Moreover, the Steelers have long been known for their defensive prowess.

Nicknamed the "Steel Curtain," Pittsburgh's defense has been the backbone of their success for decades. Whenever discussions arise about the most dominant defensive units in NFL history, the Steelers are always near the top of the list.

Even in their recent Super Bowl victories, analysts often credited the defense more than quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

Last season, the Steelers won the AFC North and faced the Chiefs in the divisional round of the playoffs.

Final score: 18–16.

The Steelers triumphed on Kansas City's home turf, Arrowhead Stadium, and advanced to the next round. For the Chiefs, it was another bitter chapter in their playoff struggles, with the Steelers becoming yet another thorn in their side.

Now, in Week 6 of the new season, the Chiefs and Steelers were set to clash again.

Same stadium. Same opponent.

It was a chance for revenge—a hard-fought battle was inevitable.

This season, the Steelers had continued their strong form.

With a 4–1 record, their only blemish was an overtime loss to the Chicago Bears in Week 3. Currently, they were second in the AFC standings, right behind the undefeated Chiefs.

Statistically, the Steelers were formidable:

8th in overall offense.3rd in overall defense.3rd in pass defense.7th in rush defense.

In many ways, the Steelers represented the Chiefs' first true test of the season.

The Patriots, despite being the defending champions, had started the season sluggishly. The Texans had lost J.J. Watt to injury, significantly weakening their defense. But the Steelers? They were at full strength and firing on all cylinders.

Scott, for all his biases, laid out the facts with clarity and conviction.

"I believe this game will reveal the truth about the Kansas City Chiefs and Lance."

Lawson smiled, raising an eyebrow.

"And what if Lance proves you wrong again?"

Scott straightened his back, brushing off the question.

"No ifs. This game will expose their flaws."

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Powerstones?

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