Knights of Andreas 3.11: January

[SteVo+ 3,702]

Knights of Andreas

Part III

Based on Characters Created by:

badgers

Bangy

Barracuda

Bay

BigBen07

BwareDware94

Chernobyl426

DonovanMcnabb for H.O.F

eightnine

FartWaffles

Favre4Ever

JetsFan4Life

Maverick

monstersofthemidway

OAK

RazorStar

RevisFan81

Sarge

seanbrock

SteVo

Thanatos19

theMileHighGuy

Vin

Zack_of_Steel

 

Chapter Thirty-Seven – January

 

Monday morning, ESPN tapes the day’s show of Around the Horn, with, predictably, most airtime covering the NFL: who made the playoffs, who missed them, which teams are Super Bowl favorites, which coaches should get fired. After two rounds of discussion, they get to a topic titled “AFC West.”

 

Tony Reali, show host: “Some chaos in the AFC for the final wild-card spot. The Kansas City Chiefs, after starting 9-0, are out. The Los Angeles Knights, who were 3-5 at one point, are in. So which is a bigger story, Cowlishaw: the Chiefs’ collapse or the Knights’ hot streak?”

 

Tim Cowlishaw, in Dallas: “It’s gotta be the Chiefs, and you said it, Reali. From 9-0 to 10-6, they lost six of their last seven. That’s the definition of the word ‘collapse.’ Listen, I don’t want to take away from the Knights, because they had to do their part or K.C. still would have gotten in, but when you start a football season 9-0, you gotta make the playoffs. If you don’t end up with the #1 seed, fine. You don’t win your division and have to settle for a wild card, that’s okay. But missing the playoffs entirely? That can’t happen. Chiefs fans have to be sick to their stomachs right now.”

 

Reali: “Israel, agree or disagree?”

 

Israel Gutierrez, in Miami: “Disagree all the way. The Chiefs have been overrated all year. Look at their schedule. Nobody should be surprised they piled some losses on at the end of the season when they started playing tough opponents, and nobody should be surprised to see Andy Reid in a situation like this. The story here is Los Angeles. They went 7-1 the second half of the season, a stretch during which their defense is giving up 13 points per game, Cowlishaw. You know who else did that during the second half of the year? Seattle! That defense we love to hype up so much. So, when you look at the Knights, they’re a team that took some time to come together under the leadership of a new head coach. They’re playing as good football as anyone in the league and should be considered very dangerous in the AFC.”

 

 

 

Chance Phillips walks into the MedComm Center like a king. This time last year, he was weathering the aftermath of Caden Daniel’s firing.

 

In keeping up with the league, Phillips surveys the list of Black Monday casualties this year: Rob Chudzinski in Cleveland, Leslie Frazier in Minnesota, Greg Schiano in Tampa Bay, Jim Schwartz in Detroit, and Mike Shanahan in Washington. Those five franchises now enter a tumultuous and critical period Phillips knows all too well, a period he has finally escaped.

 

In a sport where reputation depends so heavily on concrete achievements—wins, Pro Bowls, division titles, championships—Phillips has gotten the greatest insurance policy of all: his team has made the playoffs in his fourth year.

 

Instead of holding front office meetings to determine possible head coaching candidates, Phillips sits in on coaching staff meetings aimed at designing a game plan to beat the Bengals this Sunday.

 

 

 

Tuesday morning, players pack in the MedComm Center auditorium for an address from their head coach, happily knowing this is not a year-end speech, and they will not be clearing out their lockers when it’s over.

 

“Congratulations, men,” Coach Harden says once the team has assembled, everyone on time. “Twelve out of thirty-two teams in the playoffs, and we’re one of them. In case the shock of that hasn’t gotten out of anyone’s system, please take a moment and get it over with.”

 

Harden pauses, and the auditorium remains silent. A few players look around at each other with puzzled faces.

 

“Good. Then let’s get on with it. Most players on this team, and most coaches, have never been to the playoffs until now. And that doesn’t worry me one damn bit. For those of you who have actually had the privilege of playing football in January, go ahead and think back to those games. Because the rest of the team wants to know what the big secret is, and I want all of us to give them a good answer.”

 

Malik Rose thinks of the Super Bowl XLIII ring locked in a safe at home, a ring he did almost nothing to earn during his rookie season with the Steelers. Two years later, he got a little more action in nickel and dime situations but still played a minor role as the Steelers reached the Super Bowl and lost.

 

Marlon Martin also thinks about a ring he won with Pittsburgh, from Super Bowl XL. His services were limited, as they were for too long, to special teams. In the eight years and four teams that have followed, he’s only seen the playoffs once, going one-and-done his last year with the Falcons.

 

Logan Bishop has been to a Super Bowl, part of the infamous 18-1 Patriots team that lost to the Giants, but as a rookie buried on the depth chart, he hardly saw the field. The Patriots played one playoff game each of his final two years in New England, but as the team’s third tight end, playing time was still hard to come by.

 

Da’Jamiroquai Jefferspin-Wilkes purses his lips, preferring not to relive his second year in the league. The Seahawks, despite a 7-9 record, won the NFC West and beat the Saints in dramatic fashion before being eliminated in the Divisional Round. But Wilkes never experienced any of it. After week 16, his eight-game suspension was over and the Seahawks promptly released him.

 

Many players look to Brian Penner when the topic of experience is brought up, but Penner, the oldest veteran starter on the team, never reached the postseason during his time with the Vikings and Bills.

 

“The answer is: there is no answer,” Harden says. “I’ve been to the playoffs three times, one Super Bowl included. You want to know how playoff football is different? It’s more intense. Big surprise. Intense. In the same way the fourth quarter is more intense than the first. There’s no secret formula to winning in the playoffs except winning. It’s another football game. I know you’ve all heard that before, but you really have to believe it. It’s a battle between two teams that only one will win. And if we do too much damn thinking, that’s not gonna be us. Remember that as you prepare this week. We played these guys a few months ago and beat ‘em good. We’re gonna beat ‘em again.”

 

Players nod, confident and ready for the game plan.

 

“Oh, one more thing before you all break off into positional groups. Tonight, as we all know, is New Year’s Eve, and I don’t want any partying. You want to celebrate a new year? Let’s have a good week of practice and be ready for Sunday. Anyone comes in tomorrow morning too tired, and we’ll really see some balls drop.”

 

 

 

Game tape of the Cincinnati Bengals defense shows in one of the larger meeting rooms in the MedComm Center as Coach Everett guides his entire offense through an introductory presentation.

 

“We’ve caught something of a break,” Everett says. “As you all remember from playing these guys last time, Geno Atkins is a monster. Well, you may not remember because Penner handled him pretty good. This Sunday, he’ll be nursing a torn ACL, so they have a big weakness at defensive tackle. Grodd? Penner? Zeitler?”

 

The team’s two guards and center smile.

 

“We’ll take care of it, coach,” Chase Grodd says.

 

“Our pleasure,” Penner says.

 

“Good,” Everett says. “I know we came out firing last time and it worked, but this time we’re gonna be a bit more balanced. We’ve had a lot of success lately by using the run to set up the pass, and this week will be no different.”

 

 

 

A small group of linebackers sits in a tiny room with game tape projected onto one of the walls. The four starters sit in the front row, with Coach Harden running the projector in the back. Knights linebackers are the position group that sees the most of their head coach throughout the week; Harden simultaneously holds titles of head coach, defensive coordinator, and linebackers coach.

 

“I want us, as a team, to keep an eye on this Bernard fucker,” Harden says, showing tape of running back Giovani Bernard, catching passes out of the backfield. “As a runner he’s nothing special but in space, on the outside—well, just think of him as Jaxson. In fact, we’re gonna use Jaxson as our Bernard clone this week. Whoever’s on him in coverage, make sure you don’t cheat in looking for a sack, bite on play-action, or anything stupid. If you’re supposed to cover Bernard, you cover Bernard. No bullshit. Everyone clear?”

 

“Yes, sir,” the linebackers murmur. Harden looks at the small crowd and notices one in the front row slumped over in his chair.

 

“Sean! Are you paying attention?”

 

“Yeah,” Brock says, sitting up suddenly.

 

“Zack,” Harden says, “do me a favor.”

 

“Yeah, coach?”

 

“Hit him.”

 

Grantzinger smacks the back of Brock’s head, launching him into an even taller sitting position.

 

 

 

A smaller group of larger men goes through a similar presentation in an adjacent room.

 

“Now look here,” the defensive line coach says. “As you all can see, we’re up against a pretty good O-line this week. Last time, we jumped out to a big lead and forced them to get away from the run a little bit. We may not have that advantage this time.”

 

Sam Luck focuses on Cincinnati’s right tackle, Andre Smith. He got the better of Smith a few months ago and looks forward to doing so again.

 

“If there’s a weak link, it’s at center,” coach says, highlighting Kyle Cook. “Especially weak in pass protection. Anthrax, that’s on you.”

 

Damian “Anthrax” Jones, the team’s solidified starting nose tackle, nods. He hasn’t had a respectable season rushing the passer, but he’s definitely confident about shutting down the run.

 

 

 

“I don’t have to tell any of you about A.J. Green,” the secondary coach says, looking at Malik Rose.

 

“He won’t be a problem,” Rose says.

 

“I’m sure he won’t. For the rest of you, Marvin Jones has turned into a pretty solid receiver. Ten touchdowns this year. He concerns me a lot more than Sanu. Richard, you’ve got whoever’s outside, obviously, but Flash, whenever Jones is in the slot running downfield, he’s yours.”

 

Griswold “Flash” Johnson nods, looking forward to shutting down the 6’2” receiver.

 

 

 

January 1, 2014. A new year, and a new era for the Knights as the media’s NFL focus shifts completely to the twelve teams in the playoffs, Los Angeles among them. As the #6 seed, a win this weekend would mean they travel to New England in the Divisional Round, a fate every AFC team would prefer to avoid.

 

The Knights have gone from irrelevant to dark horse to talk of the league. Many analysts pick them to beat the Bengals, citing their recent hot streak as well as a lack of confidence in Andy Dalton. To those who make projections for the entire postseason, however, very few have them getting past New England.

 

 

 

Saturday, a few hours after the Knights land in Cincinnati, the Colts and Chargers play an exciting, high-scoring game. The Colts end up with the ball last, Andrew Luck leads a fourth quarter touchdown drive, and the Colts win, 35-34, eliminating the Chargers, along with the intriguing possibility of the Knights playing their old coach in January.

 

In primetime, the Saints and Eagles play a close, back-and-forth game culminating in a last-second field goal attempt that Shayne Graham makes, and the Saints win, 26-24.

 

 

 

Sunday afternoon, the Knights and Bengals take the field at Paul Brown Stadium. The weather is cloudy and cool, 42 degrees Fahrenheit at kickoff, the coldest weather the Knights have seen all season by far. Many players and coaches wear long sleeves, a season first.

 

The atmosphere for the players is, just as Coach Harden predicted, intense. A higher sense of gravity surrounds the pre-game rituals, and the national anthem sounds a little more dramatic than usual. Before long, the Bengals win the coin toss, defer to the second half, and the Knights start their first playoff drive.

 

Under center, Jonathan Maverick hands off to Jerome Jaxson. He runs through a hole and jukes a linebacker en route to an eight-yard gain. Jaxson takes another carry, speeding through the middle for an easy first down.

 

On the sidelines, Coach Everett keeps the run plays coming, happy his offense’s game plan is already working. The Knights’ interior offensive line dominates, opening up lanes for Jaxson and Marcus Jameson. Everett mixes in a few quick passing plays, Maverick hits his receivers for short gains, and the Knights cross midfield with ease.

 

The home crowd gets quieter as the Knights’ impressive drive continues, anchored by the run game. A few runs later, including a Jaxson sweep that gets seventeen yards, the Knights enter the red zone.

 

Maverick fakes a handoff to Jameson and looks to Wilkes on a wheel route. Wilkes gets a little separation and sees the pass come his way. He leaps, catches it, and comes down, falling between the end zone and sideline. He raises his arms for a touchdown, but the official signals complete pass, down at the one-yard-line.

 

Everyone looks up to the replay screen, and it looks like Wilkes may have gotten the ball over before his knee came down out of bounds.

 

“Want to challenge it, coach?” Everett asks.

 

“Not worth risking a timeout,” Harden says. “Punch it in, Tom.”

 

The Knights send in their goal line offense, with Jameson in the backfield. He takes the carry up the middle and powers through easily. 7-0, Knights.

 

 

 

The Knights defense takes the field against Andy Dalton and the Bengals offense. BenJarvus Green-Ellis gets an early workload, attacking the right side of the Knights’ run defense. This manages a first down, and it appears both offenses are employing the same strategy.

 

Anticipating another run on first and ten, the Knights are caught off guard by a quick pass to Jermaine Gresham, who runs through the seam to midfield before being tackled.

 

The Bengals balance run and pass, gaining yards steadily, as the Knights prevent any big plays. This eventually leads to third and three from the Knights’ thirty-one.

 

Dalton takes a snap from shotgun. Bernard runs into the flat and Grantzinger picks him up. Behind a clean pocket, Dalton surveys other options and throws for Tyler Eifert. Briggs Randall dives and swats the ball away, bringing up fourth down.

 

The field goal units take the field, and Mike Nugent knocks the forty-eight yarder through. 7-3, Knights.

 

“Not bad, not bad,” Harden says to his defense on the sideline during the ensuing commercial. “Need more pass rush, though. We start giving Dalton too much time and he will pick us apart. I don’t care how red his hair is.”

 

 

 

The Grodd/Penner tandem continues attacking Cincinnati’s interior defense, with the Jaxson/Jameson duo reaping the rewards. This strategy keeps the clock moving, and players are surprised to look up after a first down to see the first quarter nearly over.

 

After an incompletion and a stuffed running attempt, it’s third and nine. Maverick sees Watson break open on an out route but overthrows him, and the punt team makes its first appearance of the day.

 

The Bengals’ ensuing drive carries over into the second quarter. Their stick to a run-first offense, with Jones doing his best against center Kyle Cook. He wins some battles and loses others, but Randall and Marlon Martin hold their own behind him, preventing big runs.

 

After a first down, Luck gets penetration and brings down Bernard for a two-yard loss. Dalton drops back to pass on second and third down, misfiring for open receivers both times, and the Bengals punt.

 

With good field position, the Knights stick with the run, but Maverick is eager to attack a matchup he has identified: Bishop against Rey Maualuga. Bishop doesn’t have a lot of speed, but Maualuga is liable in coverage, and Maverick likes his chances of exploiting this.

 

After a three-yard carry by Jameson, Maverick drops back and hits Bishop over the middle for a first down, crossing midfield. Eager to keep attacking, Maverick reluctantly hands off on consecutive plays. Jameson gets four yards up the middle, then Jaxson takes a toss play all the way to the sideline for another four yards, and it’s third and two from the Bengals’ forty.

 

“Before I call it, coach,” Everett says to Harden, “are we going on fourth if we don’t get anything?”

 

“Bet your ass we are,” Harden says. “The whole playbook’s open.”

 

Everett radios a play-action call to Maverick as the Cincinnati crowd rises to its feet. Maverick shouts the call in the huddle and the Knights set up in a bunch formation with only one receiver, Wilkes out right. The Bengals stack the box, honing in on Jameson in the backfield.

 

Maverick takes the snap and sells the handoff. Rushers come free, forcing him to roll right. Wilkes is doubled over the top, so Maverick prepares to throw it away—he sees Bishop on the opposite sideline, running free. He fires the ball across his body, sending a bullet pass over the field and hitting Bishop in stride. He runs inside the twenty with a defender closing in, inside the ten, and gets tripped up from behind, his elbow touching out of bounds around the three-yard line.

 

The crowd goes silent, the Knights sideline’s celebration becoming audible. The offense jogs to the red zone for first and goal as the play clock ticks down. By the time the formation is set, Maverick has to snap the ball without studying the defense. He hands off to Jameson, who hits a hole and runs into the end zone for the touchdown.

 

Coach Harden stands a few feet onto the field, high-fiving every player on the offense as they come back to the sideline. It’s celebrations and high fives all around, with the Knights in full control, up 14-3.

 

 

 

Dalton drops back to pass and the Knights send a four-man rush. Jones goes at it with Cook but can’t get around him. Neither can anyone else, as Dalton enjoys a clean pocket and finds Marvin Jones for a twelve-yard completion.

 

Jones lines up, ready for another crack at Cook, but the Bengals’ offensive line slides to his right. Jones tries to slide with them but gets pushed to the ground, opening a massive hole. Bernard runs with the football through the opening, jukes Martin, and reaches the secondary. He jukes Flash, who manages to get a hand on one of his legs, spinning him around, eventually hitting the ground near midfield.

 

As the stadium comes back to life, Harden screams the next play call into his headset, furious that the Knights’ momentum is being taken away so quickly. They’ve already earned themselves a huge advantage in the second quarter, but are in the process of pissing it away.

 

From the edge, Brock gets ready to cover the flat, hoping no one comes his way so he can go after Dalton. The ball is snapped, and Bernard runs out of the backfield straight toward Brock. Wonderful. He stays with the running back as he runs toward the sideline, then cuts back toward the field. Brock cuts with him, but gets turned around. He almost doesn’t see Bernard cut back toward the sideline, sprinting to catch up as Bernard hauls in a pass. Brock dives and misses, left to watch Bernard turn upfield all the way to the twenty-two.

 

“Jesus Christ,” Harden says. “I’m gonna kill these guys.”

 

With the crowd behind them, the Bengals line up for first and ten with Dalton in shotgun. From the goal line, Flash checks out their receivers, noticing Marvin Jones in the slot. Showtime. Dalton takes the snap and drops back as Flash runs down Jones, leaving enough space for Dalton to throw a potential interception. He does, lofting the ball toward the corner of the end zone. Jones runs for it, appearing wide open, but Flash closes the gap and swats the ball away defiantly.

 

“No sir! No fucking sir!”

 

Jones doesn’t say anything, simply jogging back to the huddle.

 

“That’s right! Run away like a baby. Don’t fucking try me again.”

 

Second and ten. Dalton hands off to Bernard, and the Knights manage to collapse the offensive line, bringing him down after only two yards.

 

Still incensed, Harden calls a blitz for third and eight, desperate to end this drive and escape without surrendering a touchdown. The Bengals line up with four receivers while the Knights stay in their 3-4, Grantzinger and Brock ready to go after Dalton.

 

From shotgun, Dalton takes the snap and rolls left. Grantzinger rushes wide, getting pushed back, but runs within reach of Dalton. He extends his arm, grabbing the quarterback’s jersey. He stops, gets both hands on him, and throws him to the ground for a seven-yard loss.

 

Grantzinger accepts praise from his teammates but sees a scowl from his head coach on the edge of the sideline.

 

“Zack and Flash, nice work. The rest of you are playing like shit. Wake the fuck up.”

 

Mike Nugent’s kick carries right but splits the uprights. 14-6, Knights.

 

 

 

Things calm down a bit as the second quarter ticks away. The Knights get a first down thanks to Alex Johnson’s first catch of the day but fail to convert a few plays later when a Jaxson toss gets swallowed up on third and two.

 

The Bengals mount an impressive drive, challenging Coach Harden as much as he’s been challenged all year. His opponent, offensive coordinator Jay Gruden, mixes formations and keeps the Knights defense on its toes, getting various players involved and creating high-probability throws for Andy Dalton. It’s a fierce battle, but Harden has Malik Rose on his side. And without A.J. Green, the Bengals offense has limited potential, giving the Knights the upper hand in the game.

 

Cincinnati reaches midfield with third and one and the clock nearing the two-minute warning. Dalton drops back to pass, and Randall sniffs out a screen to Bernard. He gets blocked, but other defenders come rushing in, stuffing Bernard for no gain, bringing up fourth and one.

 

Despite goading from the crowd, the Bengals punt, pinning the Knights on their own ten with 1:53 to go in the first half.

 

“No turnovers,” Everett instructs his offense, looking especially at his running backs. “Let’s just tick it down, go into halftime up by eight.”

 

Maverick hands off to Jaxson on first and ten. He darts through the line and into a crowd, covers the ball, and goes down for a three-yard gain.

 

Maverick relays a play-action bootleg and gets in formation. He fakes a handoff and rolls right, plenty of space in front of him. He has at least ten yards to run, but he fires a back-shoulder fade to Wilkes instead. Wilkes spots the pass at the last second, spins around to haul it in, and stiff arms the corner, green grass in front of him. Running along the sideline, Wilkes hits full speed and leaves everyone else behind, sprinting into the end zone and dunking the football on the cross bar.

 

Wilkes soaks in praise on the sideline while the rest of the stadium recoils in horror. The Bengals mount a futile two-minute offense that ends in a quick punt, and Maverick takes a few knees to end the first half with the Knights leading, 21-6.

 

 

 

The locker room is confident and relaxed. Players in white jerseys enjoy the comfort of a fifteen-point lead while their coaches try to figure out how to start the second half.

 

Everett and the offensive coaches are thrilled with 21 points but want more consistency from the run game.

 

“If we can establish the run, we can put this game away.”

 

“More bunch formations, maybe.”

 

“We’re not letting up,” Everett says. “Find ways to run the ball more effectively, but we’re not playing to lose. Maverick’s playing well, so he’s still the focal point of the offense. Once we’re up three touchdowns in the fourth, then we’ll run out the clock.”

 

Harden’s subordinates try to ease his frustration, pointing to Cincinnati’s meager six points on the scoreboard.

 

“They’re making us earn it, but what we’re doing is working.”

 

“We keep this up, maybe get a turnover, and we’re in great shape.”

 

“I agree, coach. I really think we’re fine.”

 

“Yep,” Harden says. “As long as we don’t blow it.”

 

 

 

As the Bengals offense takes the field, the game is more relaxed than ever, as many football games are at the start of the third quarter. But for the Bengals, their season is on the line, and Harden expects a sense of urgency.

 

Surprisingly, they start with pedestrian running plays. As they have all day, the Knights bottle things up. Bernard takes a carry up the middle for three yards, then Green-Ellis up the middle for another two. Harden sends a modest blitz on third and five. Dalton takes a snap from shotgun, hurries a pass for Sanu, and it lands incomplete. Faint boos are heard from the crowd as the punt team takes the field.

 

As Maverick drops back to pass on consecutive plays, Everett watches Cincinnati’s secondary closely. As expected, they’re backing off, trying to take away deep passes, just what he wanted. Maverick misses Bishop but connects to Watson for a ten-yard completion and a first down.

 

A handoff to Jameson gets five yards, then Maverick rolls out on play-action and hits Bishop on a corner for twelve yards.

 

Not that Maverick minds, but this is too easy.

 

The Knights cross midfield without facing a third down. Sticking to balanced play-calling, they get another first down before facing third and four from the thirty-five.

 

Maverick drops back as pressure comes over the middle. He hurries a deep throw for Watson that sails out of bounds, and the field goal comes out. Harden watches nervously, knowing a miss would shift the momentum in an unpleasant way. Janikowski lines up for the fifty-two-yarder and kicks it low. It flies left, then hooks right, and goes through the uprights. 24-6, Knights.

 

 

 

The Bengals finally show the urgency Harden expected earlier, and it works. Dalton hits receivers on short routes, including a bubble screen to A.J. Green, his first reception of the day. Though Dalton doesn’t hit Green again, the Bengals continue to move the ball into Knights territory.

 

After a screen to Bernard is bottled up, prompting some positive language from Coach Harden, Dalton miraculously hits Jones for a twenty-yard pass, bringing the crowd back into the game and putting the Bengals in the red zone.

 

The Knights tighten up. Dalton throws two incompletions, one nearly intercepted by Randall, to bring up third and ten. Martin, Brock, and Grantzinger all blitz, and Dalton heaves it up, throwing it out of the back of the end zone. The Bengals are forced to settle for another field goal attempt, which Nugent makes. 24-9, Knights.

 

 

 

Second and two, Knights ball on their own thirty-nine, start of the fourth quarter.

 

With the Knights still up by fifteen, both sides can feel the game reaching a breaking point. During the commercial, Everett radios the call to Maverick in advance, prompting him to find Watson, his fastest receiver, and say, “Let’s end this right now.”

 

Maverick lines up under center with two tight ends and two receivers, an innocent enough formation, surely for a running play—or so the defense is supposed to think. Maverick takes the snap and sells a handoff to Jameson. He stands idly for a moment as if he’s given the ball away, then runs right, into the flat. Looking deep, Watson is open. Maverick throws it as far as he can. Watson showcases his speed, running away from the defender, hauling in the pass, and sprinting into the end zone.

 

The Knights sideline goes crazy as some Bengals fans head for the exits. After the extra point, it’s Knights 31, Bengals 9, 14:48 to go.

 

 

 

Though every player on the Knights sideline is aware of the wrath their head coach will unleash if they ease up in the game’s final minutes, no one worries. The playoff intensity has hidden the fact that they’ve dominated all day, and that’s not about to change.

 

The Bengals mount more fruitless drives as Harden gladly sends blitz after blitz, racking up multiple hits on Dalton and forcing inaccurate throws. When the Knights get the ball back, they run out the clock as best they can.

 

With the clock under four minutes, the Bengals finally reach the end zone courtesy of a wide-open Jones who Dalton almost overthrows. Harden realizes Flash missed his assignment on the play and scolds him on the sideline for everyone to see.

 

The Knights recover the ensuing onside kick, however, and it’s all over. A few more runs plus some kneeldowns take the clock to zero, and the Knights win, 31-16.

 

 

 

From an executive suite, Phillips applauds his team’s victory, high-fiving front office members around him, Wayne Schneider included. The Knights’ first playoff victory is obviously a big occasion, but even more importantly, today’s win validates the Knights’ improbable playoff run in December. No one can say they’re a team that got lucky and slipped into the playoffs. No one can say they didn’t deserve to be here.

 

The Los Angeles Knights are a playoff team.

 

Phillips does his best to soak up the moment, not thinking of the looming decisions this offseason—or next weekend’s trip to New England.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ATL_Predator+ 1,196]

BasedRozayyyy

[Sarge+ 3,436]

For lolBungles you are, and lolBungles you shall be. Nice work, Steven. You certainly didn't disappoint with this chapter. The Around the Horn part was perfectly done with their mannerisms and such.

[seanbrock 1,684]

Great stuff as always man. I expect us to get hate fucked by the Pats though.

[RazorStar 4,025]

Oh man, we get to battle the Patriots. We're gonna get Tuck Ruled, aren't we?

[Zack_of_Steel+ 3,014]

Since the Chargers are out, I'm now 100% convinced that we're going to lose to the Patriots.

[Vin+ 3,121]

We're gonna get Lucked.

[BwareDWare94 723]

The Knights should show up in Foxborough wearing Uggs lol

[seanbrock 1,684]

The Knights should show up in Foxborough wearing Uggs lol

Ha, that'd be great

[theMileHighGuy 656]

 

D-Jam pissed Jameson stole his first touchdown

 

We gonna roll through these playoffs

 

Great chapter one of my favs.

[BwareDWare94 723]

The only critique I have about the next chapter, regardless of who wins, is to make sure Tom Brady and New England appear to be human.

[Cherry 1,302]

The only critique I have about the next chapter, regardless of who wins, is to make sure Tom Brady and New England appear to be human.

Lose in a blowout please. 45-14 would be suitable.

[BwareDWare94 723]

Lose in a blowout please. 45-14 would be suitable.

 

That's not realistic, though. The Knights are on an 8-1 tear, and key players have made key progressions. They're not going to just revert back to their old selves out of nowhere. The game has to be competitive.

[Cherry 1,302]

 

That's not realistic, though. The Knights are on an 8-1 tear, and key players have made key progressions. They're not going to just revert back to their old selves out of nowhere. The game has to be competitive.

:patriots:

[Bangy 19]

That's ok Ben I'll do all the running you just punch it in from a few yards out.

 

Loved the Around the Horn add in this week, Steven and the fact there is moar knight's. Though I expect this to end next week.