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Shaking her head, Elle looked at the halftime score on the stadium's big screen. 10-21, they were down again against the Chiefs by 11 points at halftime. Eli's block on Hill in the final seconds had even prevented the Chiefs from scoring more.

Actually, it looked partly not bad what the team did, but in the decisive moments, suddenly the last step was missing to get a new 1st down or a touchdown.

Only once had Samaje powered through the defense and scored the touchdown that brought the score to 10 after Evan had already kicked a field goal in the first quarter.

But Mahomes and his boys were well in the game. While Elle felt the Bengals' defense was getting stronger with each drive, they had only been able to stop a couple of Chiefs' plays so far.

"Do you think we can still do it?" Nick nudged Elle questioningly as they ran back onto the field after halftime, which they had spent in the locker room taking care of a few players.

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure" Elle shrugged.

"Why? Because we were down by 11 last time too and still won?" Nick asked.

"And because, like Zac said, we're a second-half team. We always play better there. And because Joe is sure we're going to win and go to the Super Bowl" she added.

"And Joe is always right?" Nick grinned. "No, but when he wants something bad enough, he fights for it tooth and nail. He doesn't give up" Elle replied grinning. "Oh, right. That's how he got you" Nick winked at her with a grin.

The third quarter started well, although the Bengals only scored with a field goal after being just a few yards from the end zone, the defense kept the Chiefs pretty much in check, so they didn't even get into field goal range.

There were 2 minutes left to play in the third quarter when suddenly it happened. Mahomes threw the ball and Elle could just make out the tall, broad figure in white uniform who suddenly shot up and caught the ball. B.J Hill had intercepted it!

"Let's go. Come on, boys. Do something with it!" she clenched her hand into a fist triumphantly, as Nick gave her a quick hug to his side in celebration. Joe had immediately grabbed his helmet and was ready to take over the game with his offense.

They were at the Chiefs' 30 yard line and after the first down brought only 5 yards with one run, on second down Joe's pass to Ja'Marr sat perfectly and got the Bengals to the five yard line.

The first two plays didn't work and Elle was again worried they wouldn't be able to cover the few yards again and end up with just a field goal again. But the Burrow-Chase combination struck.

Ja'Marr was still struggling with his defender when Joe threw the ball in his direction, but just as the pass reached him, he broke free and jumped up. The ball flew into his hand and he grabbed it, clawing it tightly as two arms wrapped around his body, but before his opponent could drag him out of bounds, Ja'Marr landed with both feet on the ground.

"Touchdown!" Elle cried out, wringing her hands in the air before clapping happily and dancing the griddy Ja'Marr had taught her.

They would go for the two-point conversion. If they scored the two points, it would be 21-21. They'd be back in the game, with a chance to win it again, to move on to the Super Bowl.

Elle crossed her fingers as she watched tensely as Joe got the ball. She scanned the end zone, Ja'Marr was covered, but there ran an orange helmet with no cover. Joe seemed to have seen him too, because suddenly the ball flew through the air and landed perfectly in the arms of Trent Taylor, who turned and took the final step into the end zone. The team cheered, this was the tie, this was the second chance to change everything here.

The fourth quarter was once again not for the faint of heart. First the defense sacked Mahomes, then Joe threw an interception, again the defense sacked Mahomes and suddenly Joe played running back and ran two plays himself to new first downs, but more than a field goal was not in it in this drive either, but brought the Bengals 24-21 in the lead.

With four minutes left in regulation time, the ball went back to the Chiefs and Elle felt her fingers were about to die, so tightly did she cross them. If the Chiefs scored a touchdown, they would lose. If they scored a field goal, it would very likely go into over time. If they failed against the defense, the Bengals would have won.

Elle thought she felt her heart skip a few moments each time Mahomes threw the ball. Last time, thirteen seconds had been enough for him to get his team into overtime, and this time he could even take his time.

The whole team on the sidelines was tense. Elle had never seen so many wrinkles on Nick's forehead, Michael looked like he was praying, and Zac looked like he was about to go crazy with tension. Joe was clearly showing that he didn't like not being able to influence whatever was happening on the field.

He trusted his defense, Elle knew that, Zac knew that, everyone knew that. But watching his teammates just fight tooth and nail to maybe lead the Bengals to victory and not be able to help him made his whole body tense.

The defense was insane. Although the Chiefs got to the 4 yard line, Mahomes couldn't find a receiving spot and then was chased by B.J until Sam brought him down afterwards. QB sack!

The third down started at the 9 yard line. Again Mahomes had plenty of time, scanned the field, but found none of his players in the end zone to throw to one. Suddenly, Sam sprinted through the gap given by the Chiefs' O-line up the middle and ran at Mahomes completely alone.

He grabbed him and threw him to the ground, the ball slipping out of his hand. The sideline went crazy as one of the Chiefs pounced on the ball to recover it.

Elle clasped her hands together and watched, spellbound, as the Chiefs' kicker prepared for the 44-yard kick. If he missed, it would be over. The Bengals would have won.

But the ball flew through the uprights. It would go into overtime....

The Chiefs were allowed to kick off. They had won the Toin Coss, which the stadium celebrated as if it won the game. Well, last week that had been the case. If they scored, they would go to the Super Bowl.

All around Elle, everyone was silent. None of the ATs said a word as they watched the Chiefs' drive. The tension was high. The pressure was now on the defense to stop the good offense and especially Mahomes. It was possible. They had shown it in the last quarter.

Elle closed her eyes as Mahomes threw the ball across the field to his WR. Hopefully he wouldn't get away from Jesse and Von, or it would have been a short overtime.

"I don't believe it" Elle's eyes snapped open as Nick next to her suddenly yelled out in a cheer and she also heard Michael's triumphant laugh. She looked out to the field where the Defense was cheerfully hugging Vonn in their arms.

"WHAT...?" Elle couldn't believe what had just happened. "Interception, Elle, he caught it. It's our turn. We can win" Nick grabbed her shoulders, beaming, and shook her with joy before embracing her.

The offense struggled forward, motto: don't take unnecessary risks, don't lose the ball. When it came to third down at the 10 yard line, Joe dropped on the 12 yard line. Now it would be up to Evan if they would make it to the Super Bowl.

Elle's heart was beating at a record pace as the special teams lined up on the field. Nick put his arm around her. "It's all about now, kiddo" he hugged her to him as the whole stadium stared spellbound at Evan.

Elle wouldn't trade places with him for anything in the world right now. The tension, the pressure that was on him, she wouldn't stand up to it. Just standing here on the sidelines was enough for her.

The ball flew through the air and Elle's eyes snapped open. The kick was good, it was very good. A shrill scream escaped her mouth as it finally flew between the uprights.

"Oh my God, we're in the Super Bowl!" she yelled against the noise that erupted around her, to Nick, jumping up and down before falling around his neck.

She hugged all her colleagues before heading towards the players, who had already run onto the turf with all the coaching staff. A large bunch of players jumped around Evan, while Elle ran into Ja'Marr, who had just pulled his helmet off his head.

Tears were in his eyes. "Tears of joy?" Elle asked as she happily pulled Ja'Marr into her arms. "fuck yeah. We're in the Super Bowl" Ja'Marr replied laughing as he wrapped his arms around Elle and spun her around laughing.

"Come on, lets find Joe" Elle winked at him before walking with him towards the crowd of players. Everyone they encountered was pulled into a hug, coaches, players, whoever came.

When she finally ran into Joe, he wore a beaming grin on his face. "We're going to the Super Bowl" he yelled to Elle before pulling her into her arms. "I know" Elle replied laughing and wrapping her arms around him. "I'm so happy" Joe lifted her up and spun her in a circle as Elle wrapped her legs around his waist. "And I'm so proud of you" she whispered in his ear as Joe let her slide back to the ground.

Who watched this game back in January? It was so tensive but luckily it ended with a win for the Bengals!!

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WHO-DEY 🧡