A Slap in the Face

Lamar Jackson held back a slew of profanities, choosing not to fall into the reporters' trap and ignite a direct feud—especially over a running back.

Truthfully, he had no interest in engaging with Lance. He didn't even want to utter his name, let alone comment on his performances.

It felt like an insult.

Everyone knew there was a clear distinction between quarterbacks and running backs—a visible wall, as wide as the East African Rift Valley.

Unless you were blind, how could you miss it?

Though Jackson was on the verge of losing his cool, he managed to keep quiet. He didn't want to tarnish his image, potentially harming his draft stock.

Jackson understood that the NFL didn't like loudmouth quarterbacks.

So, he controlled himself, treating Lance as if he didn't exist, refusing to acknowledge him in any way.

After his brief remarks, Jackson swiftly turned and left, ignoring the reporters.

Meanwhile, Deshaun Watson wasn't spared from the media's questions either.

"Watson, Alabama won again. Lance scored three rushing touchdowns and dominated Tennessee, who are ranked seventh. What are your thoughts?"

Watson and Jackson were in the same boat, but Watson didn't hold back his disdain and dismissal.

"I don't think there's anything special about him. Everyone's calling him the next Derrick Henry. Ha! If you could mass-produce Derrick Henrys, then he wouldn't be Derrick Henry."

"Stats? Sure, they look good. But we all know how players in the NCAA pad their stats to boost their draft rankings. They just use the whole team to boost a player's numbers, but it won't take long before the truth is revealed—maybe not even until rookie training camp."

"Up until now, Alabama hasn't faced a real defensive powerhouse. I don't think their offensive numbers mean anything."

Arrogant, blunt, and firm.

Watson didn't sugarcoat anything. He didn't care about being diplomatic for the sake of his draft position—he openly expressed his disdain.

But the reporter quickly jabbed at his weak spot. "But you lost to Alabama in the preseason."

Watson's veins pulsed with frustration. "That was a preseason game. Preseason! PRESEASON! And I didn't even play the second half! If I had, the result would've been different. Don't forget, we shut Alabama out in the first half and led by three touchdowns—that's their true level."

The reporter: …

If it was just a meaningless preseason game, why did Watson remember the details so clearly? Was this not a blatant case of double standards?

And if Watson remembered so clearly, he shouldn't have forgotten, "Lance didn't play in the first half either. And you came back in the fourth quarter…"

Before the reporter could continue rubbing salt in the wound, Watson cut him off, visibly enraged.

"We lost to Saban's defense. Keep that in mind—it was their defense, not their offense!"

"The defense!"

"And anyway, that was a preseason game. I didn't play the whole game. Winning wasn't our goal—training and testing strategies were. We're not like Alabama, obsessed with winning every game. We have our own plans, our own pace, and everything is on track."

"When we meet in the national championship, I'll prove myself."

"We will."

Crunch. Crunch.

No one could say for sure, but it might have been the sound of Watson grinding his teeth.

"Anyway, we just beat Lamar Jackson's Louisville Cardinals, proving we're still a top contender this season—unlike Alabama, whose real tests are just beginning."

"Tennessee doesn't matter. NCAA rankings are just numbers. The real tests are coming: Texas A&M and LSU, both traditional defensive powerhouses. Let's see how they handle that."

Watson's speech was like a hurricane—exaggerated and dramatic, but some of it held truth. At least one part was undeniable:

Alabama's real test was just beginning.

Texas A&M is another traditional football powerhouse, particularly known for its defense.

In the 2012 season, Texas A&M's quarterback Johnny Manziel won the Heisman Trophy, becoming the first freshman to ever do so. The school's name became even more prominent, but their true legacy remained in their defense.

At the Super Bowl earlier that year, the 50th edition, Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller single-handedly terrorized the Carolina Panthers' offensive line. He made quarterback Cam Newton's life a nightmare throughout the game, earning Super Bowl MVP honors.

Von Miller hailed from Texas A&M.

And over the years, Texas A&M continued to send elite defensive players to the NFL, including this season.

Myles Garrett, a junior, played as a defensive end.

In the 2015 season, Garrett recorded 59 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, and one interception. His dominant performance on the defensive line earned him several awards, and he's widely regarded as the best defensive lineman in the NCAA, drawing attention from several NFL teams.

This season, he's been just as dominant. With incredible talent, a strong work ethic, and a humble demeanor, he's already locked in as a first-round draft pick, with some experts even predicting him as the potential number-one overall pick.

Unfortunately, he suffered an ankle sprain in Week 4, causing him to miss two games. He returned last week and was working his way back into form, but his attitude and effort have been praised by everyone.

Now, in Week 8, the clash between Alabama and Texas A&M was highly anticipated.

Specifically, "Alabama's offense vs. Texas A&M's defense" was the matchup to watch. Even more precisely, Garrett would be the test.

Until now, Alabama's offense—traditionally Saban's weak spot—had been performing exceptionally well. Their passing and rushing game were both top-tier. But the one criticism remained: they hadn't faced a truly elite defense yet.

Finally, finally!

Texas A&M and Garrett were here.

Not just the NCAA, but even the NFL had its eyes on this game. There were too many storylines, and countless fans and analysts were eager to see how things would unfold.

Compared to Tennessee, sixth-ranked Texas A&M was much stronger on both sides of the ball. They were also a legitimate contender for the national championship. Without a doubt, they were the toughest opponent Alabama had faced so far this season.

Everyone expected a clash of titans, a true test of Alabama's offensive prowess. Watson's comments reflected the thoughts of many experts.

However.

Alabama sent a clear message: there was no need to make such a big deal out of it. Really, no need at all.

"14-40."

Final score: Alabama 40, Texas A&M 14.

The game took place at Alabama's own Bryant-Denny Stadium, where the Crimson Tide once again silenced all doubters.

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