"Brilliant!"
"Undeniably brilliant—perhaps the most exciting, most electrifying Super Bowl halftime since the turn of the century. Usually, the final game is the most boring part of the playoffs. But tonight, the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs shattered that cliché and delivered a true championship clash."
"The first half—although it's a bit unfair to say this—the Eagles played like the Patriots. Not just calm and composed like five-time champions, but they flawlessly emulated the Patriots' technical style and tactical brilliance."
"Versatile, sharp with time management, bold yet meticulous, decisive and fearless—seizing mismatches, exploiting details—and a bit of help from Lady Luck."
"Before the game, many feared that Nick Foles might be Philly's weak link. But Pederson proved that wrong with actions, not words."
"Coach Pederson didn't shelter Foles like a fragile flower, didn't strip away the QB's right to lead and control. Quite the opposite—Pederson threw open his playbook and told this former backup, who nearly retired last season:"
"'Try every play. I'll take the blame. Protect me with your excellence.' Pederson gave Foles all his trust—and Foles responded with a half worthy of an MVP."
"While the Eagles were already favorites as the NFC's No.1 seed, their spectacular first half still caught everyone by surprise. Pederson and his team are clearly ready to win it all."
"Now, the pressure on Kansas City's shoulders is mounting."
Relentless commentary flowed in waves.
From the NBC broadcast booth above U.S. Bank Stadium, Collinsworth and Michaels dissected everything in-depth after Justin Timberlake's halftime show. Analysis. Forecasts. Hype.
Back at the Old Oak Tavern, tension hung in the air—
Crisis loomed.
It wasn't that the Chiefs had played badly. It's just that the Eagles had played that well. The tension and pressure were suffocating.
When your opponent enters Super Saiyan mode and goes berserk…
When your team gives its best and is still trailing…
What do you do?
In sports, underdog victories happen. But more often, the cold truth of a talent gap is the immovable mountain. Whether it's an underdog clash or a final showdown, the better-performing team usually wins.
And right now, the Eagles were that team.
Simple as that.
So what now?
Just keep cheering? The helplessness, the awe, the impact of facing a mountain—it crushed them like a wave.
West wanted to light a cigarette.
Behind the bar, Anderson opened his mouth to say something—anything—to rally the fans. But what could he say? Words were hollow. Everything felt flimsy, even disingenuous. Right now, only actions could reignite their passion.
Maybe a touchdown.
Or an interception. A sack.
Anything.
Something to show them their team was still burning. Still shining. Still alive.
Then—Anderson looked up at the TV screen.
And saw—was that Lance?
Cough cough.
West choked on his own spit. But he didn't dare look away. He stared at the screen.
Live footage showed both teams returning to the field.
On one side, the Eagles—focused, locked in, eyes forward. 100% ready for the second half.
On the other side, the Chiefs—casual, laughing, joking. It looked like a picnic.
And Lance… Lance was doing the moonwalk.
Next to him, Kelce and Houston covered their eyes in disbelief. Mahomes and the others, however, tried mimicking him. The clumsy, stiff movements were straight out of a silent film—pure physical comedy. It was obvious—they'd watched Justin Timberlake at halftime.
Technically, players should've been like the Eagles—focused, serious.
But the Chiefs? They looked dangerously relaxed.
And yet—something flipped.
The contrast made the Eagles look too tight, almost rigid. They were leading, yes—but perhaps overthinking it now. Too careful. Too tense.
Meanwhile, the Chiefs—though trailing—seemed completely free. Confident. Calm.
Yes, they'd played well. Yes, they were still behind.
But so what?
The Chiefs were ready to embrace the chaos, to meet the storm with open arms. Confidence radiated from within.
In sports, nothing beats someone who truly enjoys the moment—because their belief is already beyond winning or losing.
Just like that—
A smile tugged at the corner of West's lips.
The tension began to ease.
Lance was still Lance.
The Chiefs were still the Chiefs.
Even if they were behind—even if things looked grim—they never backed down. They faced every challenge head held high.
"Fly."
West found his voice again.
One shout. Then another.
A chant building.
And soon, the energy returned—spreading from fans in the bar, through the TV, soaring across the country to the rafters of U.S. Bank Stadium.
Alan turned and saw Sue and Donna Kelce standing tall, arms raised high, shouting with everything they had.
It stirred something inside him—and he joined in, shouting too.
In a flash, a sea of red surged through the stands. Not just Chiefs fans—but even the neutral crowd—drawn in by the intensity and spirit.
And in that moment, the Super Bowl overflowed with electric energy.
Under the eyes of the world, the second half began.
First half—Philadelphia struck first.
Second half—Kansas City answered.
Smith led Lance, Kelce, and the offense onto the field with heads held high. First kickoff—the Eagles launched it clean out the back of the end zone. The Chiefs would start at their own 25-yard line.
Smith bent forward, eyes scanning the Eagles' defensive formation. Calm. Focused.
And as expected—everything matched his mental script.
He kept a neutral face, steady and cool, then cut through the tension with a single shout:
"Attack!"
His call tore through the air.
The game—was on again.
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Powerstones?
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