Chapter 1153 Home Advantage
During the offseason, when the schedule was released, the Kansas City Chiefs' schedule was among the most difficult in the league, and every step was thrilling and dangerous.
This is indeed the case, but slightly different from expectations.
As expected, the Green Bay Packers and Los Angeles Chargers are highly anticipated duels, while the Minnesota Vikings and Tennessee Titans are opponents that can take a breather.
However, now, the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, and Tennessee Titans have become a tough nut to crack, while the Los Angeles Chargers have become the old, weak, and disabled that everyone bullies.
This is something I never expected. You can truly feel the charm of the NFL from the side:
There is no absolute weakling.
Before the regular season officially kicks off, all judgments, predictions, and speculations are all just words and deeds. Only by actually stepping into the arena and competing with real guns can we achieve real results. Moreover, the league pattern continues to change, and no matter how hard it is, Anything is possible by the end of the regular season.
The gap between the so-called strong teams and the so-called weak teams is far from obvious.
In fact, the same is true for the Los Angeles Chargers.
The poor record of four wins and six losses was indeed something the Los Angeles Lightning did not expect before the start of the 2019 season, which completely disrupted their plans.
But, is it true?
Numbers cannot be taken at face value.
Let's look at the Los Angeles Chargers' six losses first. All of them were within one touchdown; and four of the losses were fierce defeats within three points.
Let’s look at the four victories of the Los Angeles Chargers. They defeated the Indianapolis Jr. in overtime, beat the Miami Dolphins by 20 points, narrowly defeated the Chicago Bears by one point, and upset the Green Bay Packers in the following game.
So, what does this prove?
The Los Angeles Lightning still have the strength and ability, but they just lost the energy that they used to cling to the situation and win last season in the stalemate moments of the game; but it does not mean that they have completely disappeared, it is just that their performance is not stable. At present, This has been the case in all ten games so far.
In other words, the Los Angeles Chargers still have the strength to make the playoffs. If someone thinks that the Los Angeles Chargers are easy to bully because of their "four wins and six losses" record, then the end result will be a capsize in the gutter and add fuel to the Los Angeles Chargers' playoff hopes. Increase the heat.
For example, the Green Bay Packers.
The Green Bay Packers, who were on a roll in the first half of the season, never expected to encounter consecutive snipers against teams in the American League. They lost to the Kansas City Chiefs and then the Los Angeles Chargers. Their smooth momentum was suddenly disrupted. .
The Green Bay Packers are a prime example:
Once the winning streak is interrupted, the team may fall into chaos. They need to re-find their rhythm and state, and the subsequent momentum may be different. This is why all coaches and professionals in the league are thinking about the same question - —
Who can beat the Kansas City Chiefs?
If there are two, the situation and trend of the 2019 season may be completely different.
Now, all eyes are on the Los Angeles Chargers.
Indeed, judging from various situation analyses, the Los Angeles Lightning are indeed lagging behind, and Rivers in the 2019 season is no longer what he was in the 2018 season; but the Los Angeles Lightning may not be without hope.
Don’t forget, this is a Partition Civil War.
The Cleveland Browns are a typical expert in civil wars and outsiders in foreign wars. Even with a messy record, they are always able to cause trouble in the divisional civil wars. The Oakland Raiders are no exception. They struggled in the trough, but broke out hundreds of times in the divisional civil wars. Two hundred percent of energy——
Last week, the Oakland Raiders defeated the Los Angeles Chargers.
Of course, this also sets an example for the Los Angeles Lightning:
Look, look at me, it's your turn now, and you should challenge the Kansas Chiefs with the same spirit. Who knows, maybe the victory will belong to you?
The Los Angeles Chargers, who still have the foundation and strength to build up their morale and ignite their fighting spirit, overthrow the leader Kansas Chiefs in the divisional civil war?
Who can refuse!
What's more, the Los Angeles Chargers have one advantage: home court.
In the 2018 season, after the Kansas City Chiefs unfortunately lost to the Los Angeles Chargers on the road, Levi said that famous saying: I hate Los Angeles. The entire league burst into laughter.
At the same time, everyone knows that the Kansas City Chiefs have remained undefeated at home for two seasons. Arrowhead Stadium has become the most terrifying and top home court in the league. The hope of defeating the Kansas City Chiefs lies in the away game, and this game is an away game.
What if the away game is still not enough?
The Los Angeles Chargers also have an "additional advantage", an enhanced version of away games: overseas games——
In the eleventh week of the regular season, the Los Angeles Lightning will be at their "home court" at Wembley Stadium in London to face the two-time defending champions and rivals in the same district, the Kansas City Chiefs.
Wait, why do you say this is an enhanced version of the away game?
Overseas, for the Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs, aren't they back on the same starting line?
The situation is not that simple.
Because this is the first overseas game for the Kansas City Chiefs, and it is also the first overseas game for young people such as Holmes and Levi.
Last season, the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Rams were supposed to play a game in Mexico, but it was canceled due to bad rainstorms. However, the two teams still completed a wonderful half-time Super Bowl in Los Angeles that went down in history. bowl.
Ultimately, two of the Kansas City Chiefs' three losses in the 2018 season occurred in Los Angeles.
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This season, the NFL has made adjustments and arrangements and once again arranged overseas games for the Kansas City Chiefs.
According to the original plan, the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Chargers was supposed to be in Mexico, but Goodell finally chose London after careful consideration.
The reason is very simple. Levi is no longer what he used to be, and the Kansas City Chiefs have also made great strides. If the league hopes to seize the opportunity to open up overseas markets and maximize the positive impact of the Kansas City Chiefs and Levi, then they must go to the NFL's current largest business. The most mature and outstanding market opening situation:
London!
So, there was this scene.
However, it is a severe challenge for young players such as Holmes and Levi.
As mentioned before, due to the different preparation cycles for the Monday Night Games, players may fluctuate or even become abnormal, or even suffer unnecessary injuries.
According to league official statistics, the injury rate in Monday night games is indeed higher than in other games. This is an objective fact.
Overseas games are a step forward on the basis of Monday night games. Forget it if it is Mexico, there is no time difference and a two-hour travel time. It is basically the same as away games in North America; but London is different.
The more than ten hours of travel time across the ocean, the reverse time difference between day and night, and all the adjustments that occurred within a week were all challenges.
Imagine that the team is heading to Denver for a game on a one-mile plateau. They all need to arrive in Denver two or three days in advance to adapt to the plateau environment, let alone London?
Some people may say that it’s just jet lag. Who hasn’t experienced it when traveling?
But the point is, this is not tourism.
This is a competitive sport, and players need to maintain the best competitive condition. From three meals a day to rest, sleep, and training arrangements, everything cannot be taken lightly.
However, NFL players only have one day or less than two days to adjust.
The difficulty can be imagined.
(End of chapter)