First and ten, effective quarterback hit. Although Mahomes still managed to get the football out, the force of the hit knocked him off balance, affecting his accuracy. Watkins received the pass but couldn't advance further.
Second and seven, effective running back tackle. Mahomes' fake handoff strategy didn't deceive the New England Patriots. Li Wei barely caught the football before being double-teamed. Despite his determined effort to push forward, he could only make it back to the line of scrimmage.
Third and seven.
The tide was quietly shifting.
The New England Patriots defensive group stopped dwelling on past frustrations and refocused on the moment at hand. Slowly but surely, they brought the game back into balance, establishing effective resistance. The field leveled out, and it was a stalemate once again.
Now, the Kansas City Chiefs faced the challenge of a long third down.
