Chapter 221 219: Tit for Tat
"So, even with such a stunning performance from Atkins, the 49ers still have the lead, and Lu Ke is still playing brilliantly. What does that tell us?" The chemistry between Kirk and Teddy was becoming more and more apparent; their lively back-and-forth was heating up.
Teddy chuckled in response, "It means the game is only getting more exciting, and the outcome is still very much in the air. Now, let's take a look at how Atkins and Lawson pulled off that sack."
On the slow-motion replay, it looked like the San Francisco 49ers' Offense Line had made a misjudgment. At the moment of the snap, Atkins intentionally hesitated for half a beat, avoiding Chilo Rachal's block and creating a mismatch. He let his teammate engage Rachal, while his own bulky frame slipped nimbly through a gap in the Offense Line and successfully broke through.
It was a premeditated tactical mismatch. Apparently, the 49ers' quarterback and Offense Line both missed this subtle tactical shift, or perhaps the Fierce Tiger Team's relentless drilling in practice had paid off, successfully deceiving their opponent.
On the other side, outside linebacker Lawson evaded Mike Lupati's block. Lupati slipped a little underfoot, failing to make a solid tackle. Lawson deftly dodged, made a small loop, and then accelerated to top speed, completely leaving Lupati behind on the second-effort block. He finally broke through the pocket to complete the sack with Atkins.
That's football for you. One small gap, one slip, one mismatch, and the results cascade like dominoes. After delivering an efficient performance over ten consecutive offensive plays, the San Francisco 49ers' Offense Line had been mentally stretched to the limit. The moment they relaxed, even slightly, the dire consequences manifested.
"We were all anticipating the showdown between Andy Dalton and Lu Ke, but now it seems the duel between Geno Atkins and Lu Ke is even more entertaining." Kirk's words were undoubtedly the highest praise.
Teddy shook his head. "That's not entirely accurate. The matchup between Dalton and the 49ers Defense Team has also been brilliant; it's just that Dalton has been a bit unlucky. We should still look forward to seeing what these two rookie quarterbacks can do in the second half."
As he spoke, Teddy noticed the change on the field. "The referee has made a ruling. It's an incomplete pass. The San Francisco 49ers will continue their offense from the twenty-two-yard line. However, this time they're facing a third-and-six. This is the 49ers' first third-down situation of the second half. Now we'll see what play Lu Ke draws up."
"Having been sacked three times, Lu Ke is facing the most difficult challenge of his career tonight." Kirk couldn't help but sigh. "For most rookie quarterbacks, facing such a tough defense, forget three times—they might be afraid to throw the ball after the very first sack. But Lu Ke has once again shown absolute toughness. It reminds me of his nickname: Little Deer Bambi. The irony is just too amusing."
"So what do you think is next, a run or a pass?" Teddy smoothly took over the topic.
Kirk didn't answer immediately, instead observing the formation the San Francisco 49ers had lined up in. "The I-formation. This is really hard to read. It seems to be blatantly telling everyone, 'I'm going to run the ball.' But the intent is so obvious that it's almost like it's saying, 'I'm actually going to pass, how are you going to defend that?' God, this is the first time I've ever found the I-formation even harder to decipher than the Pistol Formation. I don't know. To be honest, I really don't know."
Kirk couldn't help but chuckle, but his attention immediately snapped back to the game. "Snap, and the play begins!"
"Lu Ke turns, a fake handoff—no, it's not a fake handoff, Lu Ke starts running directly to the left, while Marcus Lynch runs to the right! The two are moving back-to-back in opposite directions, catching the Fierce Tiger Team's Defense Team completely off guard! Lu Ke is scrambling out of the pocket! My God, Lu Ke is actually scrambling out of the pocket on purpose—that's the first time he's done that all game!"
Kirk shot bolt upright, his butt lifting slightly from his seat as if standing would help him see better, though deep down, he knew it was a useless illusion. "Is Lu Ke going to run it himself? The Fierce Tiger Team's Defense Team is forced to abandon their blitz strategy! They're splitting their formation, defending each side separately, and now concentrating on pass defense—but it's not a run! It's not a run!"
"A pass! Lu Ke completed the pass!" Kirk's voice became shrill, his eyes wide. "Ted Ginn Jr. and Logan Newman are charging down the left side, shoulder to shoulder! Who is the intended target? It's a Rainbow Pass! After Lu Ke released it, the football carved a high arc. Ginn and Newman are sprinting, the Fierce Tiger Team's cornerback and safety are backpedaling furiously... It's... It's Ginn! It's Ginn again, of all people! Ginn makes the catch!"
Astonished and excited cries echoed through the broadcast booth, bringing the intensity of the game to a fever pitch.
"Ginn! Ted Ginn Jr. makes another catch! And after securing the ball, he's still pushing forward! Ginn and Newman are still running side by side! This time, Newman is acting as a tactical blocker. He runs into the Fierce Tiger Team's cornerback, Adam Jones, allowing Ginn to keep advancing!"
"The fifteen, the ten, the five! The End Zone is just ahead! Reggie Nelson, the Fierce Tiger safety who just entered the game in the second half—Nelson makes the critical tackle! Wait, did he get into the End Zone? Ted Ginn Jr.'s body looks like it's in the End Zone... A Touchdown? Could that be a Touchdown?"
The voices in the broadcast booth abruptly stopped. Kirk and Teddy were both stunned, staring without blinking at the referee who was walking over. Their gazes fell on Ginn and Nelson, who had fallen just in front of the End Zone. The key was whether Ginn's knee had touched the ground before the ball crossed the goal line. If it crossed, it was a Touchdown; if not, it was the one-yard line.
After careful deliberation and discussion, the referee made the call. "The ball is down at the one-yard line. First down, San Francisco 49ers."
No Touchdown. Instead, it was a showdown at the one-yard line—the most exciting and intense battle on a football field. Some even call it the essence of the game: getting that one yard can be incredibly easy, or it can be harder than climbing to the heavens.
Although they were still one yard away from a Touchdown, Lu Ke had once again showcased his mettle on that last play.
On the very next play after the sack, Lu Ke had audaciously scrambled out of the pocket. His speed and power weren't exceptional, but the move was so unexpected it caught the Fierce Tiger Team completely off guard. Then, just before the Defense Line could collapse on him, he got the Rainbow Pass away early.
The Fierce Tiger Team had stacked their backfield with defenders, yet a mismatch still occurred in their coverage zones. Moreover, with Ted Ginn Jr. and Logan Newman shielding each other, the second-level defenders were a step slow to react. It was a fourteen-yard pass, and after Ginn made the catch, Newman's block successfully allowed him to keep advancing.
Giving them a taste of their own medicine—it was another surprise, another mismatch, another block. The Fierce Tiger Team's Defense Team was half a beat too slow, and the 49ers advanced to the brink of the End Zone, mere inches from a Touchdown. It was point for point, toughness against toughness. The excitement of the game continued to escalate.
The commentators were exclaiming in amazement, but on the field, there was no room for complacency. A showdown at the one-yard line was filled with infinite possibilities. Before a Touchdown is scored, anything can happen.
Despite the tension and excitement on the field, Lu Ke remained completely unfazed. No nervousness, no excitement, no panic. He methodically gathered his teammates.
'In truth, that last pass deviated from my intended trajectory.'
'The ball was intended for Logan, but the feel and power were slightly off the moment I released it. It deviated from its trajectory by about two yards—a ridiculously wild pass. My accuracy in the intermediate passing range is still not strong enough.'
'Fortunately, the two receivers were running side by side. After it missed Logan, Ginn managed to make a timely catch—it was only half a yard away from Ginn's hands. He stretched out his body and successfully hauled it in. That was definitely luck. If the two players' routes had deviated even slightly, it would have been an incomplete pass.'
So, Lu Ke didn't celebrate or exclaim in wonder. He quickly calmed down and reorganized his thoughts. 'A showdown on the one-yard line is no time to be careless.' Facing the expectant gazes of his teammates, Lu Ke quickly laid out the play call. They lined up again, preparing to ride the momentum and finish the offensive push while the Fierce Tiger Team's Defense Team was still reeling.
Amidst the crush of bodies, he could feel Atkins's sharp and persistent gaze. His fighting spirit hadn't been extinguished; instead, it was burning even more fiercely. 'In a way, he and I are the same kind of person. The more we're thwarted, the more determined we become. We refuse to be beaten easily.' So, in this football game, who would have the last laugh?
Lu Ke didn't deliberately seek out Atkins. His eyes took in the entire defensive formation. 'They're still showing a blitz formation. That shows the Fierce Tiger Team's determination. Is this a standard play, or is it a trap?'
A few assessments flashed through his mind, but without much hesitation, Lu Ke decided to stick with the play the coaching staff had arranged. He wouldn't change it. Then, he loudly called for the snap. No tricks—trying to draw the defense offsides wasn't practical in a one-yard line situation. Even if the opponent jumped early, the penalty would only reduce the distance from a yard to a few inches; it still wouldn't result in an automatic Touchdown.
"Go!"
Lu Ke received the football with both hands, took a quick drop back to create distance between himself and the Offense and Defense Lines, and lifted his chin, searching for a receiver in the coverage area, but—
"God! Atkins! It's Atkins again! Atkins has broken through the Offense Line's pocket! The double-team block from Lupati and Rachal seemed to be out of sync, and he ripped right through it with ease! And just like that, Lu Ke is completely exposed right in front of Atkins. That's Lu Ke's blind side! He has no idea the danger is coming! And the sack is complete."
"That sack was absolutely brutal! Jesus Christ, Lu Ke is down! He isn't getting up! Lu Ke is down! Oh God, oh God! Lu Ke is down! Oh my heavens!"