Lance. Lance. Still Lance.
Once again, Lance completely dominated the headlines.
Some might wonder: all he did was skip the Pro Bowl—was it really that big of a deal? Why the overreaction?
The answer is both simple and complex.
In recent years, with the rise of the internet, traditional TV ratings have taken a hit. Even NFL, the long-standing king of North American television, hasn't been immune. With fans now having more ways to watch their favorite sports online, retaining TV audiences has become a serious challenge.
And at the center of that challenge is the Pro Bowl.
The NFL isn't particularly worried about its other games—TV numbers are still strong, and online platforms are helping grow new audiences, giving Commissioner Goodell the confidence to aggressively expand into international markets.
But the Pro Bowl is different.
Lacking intensity and innovation, it's the same show every year. And as a result, public interest has steadily declined.
In contrast, NBA All-Star Weekend keeps reinventing itself—with the three-point contest and dunk contest regularly stealing the show. But football is a sport built on contact and collision.
The Pro Bowl, which actively avoids hard-hitting play to prevent injuries, simply can't offer the same kind of thrill. Even the skills challenges fail to truly highlight the sport's essence.
That's what the league has been desperately trying to fix—and until they do, the Pro Bowl's ratings will keep declining. The "All-Star spectacle" is their final card to play.
And Lance missing the Pro Bowl?
That's a major blow.
Just as the NFL was making its push into the Chinese market...
Just as the Pro Bowl was hitting a viewership wall...
Just as Lance was proving his explosive marketability...
It looked like they finally had a chance to change the game.
Then—boom. Gone.
Because ultimately, it's always about business.
So, the media pounced, hungry for a headline.
Every outlet zeroed in on Lance, blowing up the story. Even Commissioner Goodell didn't see the frenzy coming.
Donald Yu immediately got on the phone with Goodell to clarify.
He trusted Goodell would understand Lance's decision, and he trusted Goodell wanted Lance healthy and ready for the Super Bowl. But trust alone wasn't enough—Yu knew he had to formally communicate.
If the media kept fueling rumors that Lance was snubbing the league, or if headlines painted the Pro Bowl as unable to attract stars, it could get messy—even for someone like Goodell.
Sure enough, when Yu called, Goodell calmly said he hadn't paid the media any mind. Still, he asked about Lance's Super Bowl prep and wished him luck.
Yu felt relieved. Goodell, too, seemed reassured.
And so the Pro Bowl rolled on amid the chatter.
Even with Lance absent, he remained the center of attention.
With all that noise, the annual Pro Bowl concluded smoothly. The AFC narrowly defeated the NFC, 24–23.
Then—
All eyes turned toward the season's final battle atop the mountain:
"Kansas City Chiefs vs. Philadelphia Eagles."
When the Conference Championship games wrapped, and this matchup was set, people noticed a curious coincidence:
Kansas City had played its first two regular season games against the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles. At the time, they were the underdogs, still considered dark horses.
Yet, they opened the season with two straight wins, shocking everyone.
Now, they had just beaten the Patriots in the playoffs.
Next, they were facing the Eagles again—for the Super Bowl.
How poetic.
It showed the Chiefs had truly been tested.
Even though some still called them a "fake strong team," looking back, it was clear: Kansas City was stronger than most realized.
Also, this Chiefs–Eagles showdown wasn't just random—it was deeply rooted in shared history.
As noted back in Week 2:
Andy Reid, now Kansas City's head coach, had once led the Eagles for many years. It was in Philly that he built his quarterback-whisperer legacy. The Eagles' current coach, Doug Pederson, was Reid's protégé.
Though Reid had moved to Kansas City, his connections with the Eagles remained strong.
The NFL might seem vast—but in reality, it's a tightly knit circle. Everyone's connected.
Still, this matchup was rare. The ties between these two teams ran unusually deep.
Both had turbulent seasons, each earning its Super Bowl spot in wildly different ways. Yet both were seen as underdogs—and now here they were, face to face.
Kansas City had survived a brutal midseason six-game losing streak, narrowly making the playoffs.
Then they pulled off back-to-back comeback wins in the postseason, rewriting franchise history and breaking a decades-long curse.
Win once? Lucky.
Win twice? Maybe coincidence.
Win three times in a row? That's something else.
They punched through fifty years of frustration to reach the Super Bowl.
The Eagles?
Second-year QB Carson Wentz had a breakout season—MVP-caliber—leading them to an 11–2 start.
Then tragedy struck: a torn ligament ended his season.
Most thought Philly was done.
But the Eagles refused to die.
They rose from the ashes and stormed their way to the NFC title.
You could call it coincidence. Or fate.
But this Eagles–Chiefs Super Bowl matchup had fairytale written all over it.
And now?
The stage was set.
----------
Powerstones?
For 20 advance chapters: patreon.com/michaeltranslates