Standing up, Lu Ke was breathing heavily, his right shoulder and arm streaked with black grass stains. A burning pain spread throughout the entire right side of his body.
The New York Giants' defense had clearly stepped up their speed and intensity. They had suddenly exploded with immense energy, adopting a "damage the enemy 1000, harm yourself 800" mentality. They completely abandoned the secondary and midfield defense, sending their full force to the front line. They cut off all short passing routes and, in a flash of lightning, broke through the offensive line to get a sack.
The rhythm and momentum of the game had been completely taken over by the Giants' defense. Lu Ke, lacking experience, was caught off guard by the sudden increase in speed. His momentary hesitation cost him the best opportunity, and he didn't have time to use his special ability. He was hit hard from the right side and sacked.
In the previous drive, Lu Ke had faked out the Giants' defense at least twice, leading to a touchdown. Now, in this drive, the situation was reversed. It was a stark reminder to Lu Ke not to get carried away and that the Giants were a formidable opponent.
As a result, the San Francisco 49ers were not only pushed back to their own 41-yard line but were also facing a tough third-and-seventeen situation. The smooth-sailing game had hit a major roadblock. They had gained a great starting position due to the opponent's poor punt and Marcus's excellent return, but now they were on the verge of losing that advantage and "welcoming" Manning back onto the field. The shift in momentum seemed to happen in an instant.
"Bambi, are you okay?" Jonathan Goodwin walked over and patted Lu Ke's shoulder, asking with concern.
"I'm fine," Lu Ke said, letting out a heavy sigh and pushing Goodwin's hand away. He stared intently at Jason Pierre-Paul, who had just made the sack. A dangerous glint returned to Lu Ke's eyes. Instead of being discouraged, his momentum surged again. Fierce competition? A strong opponent? He was never one to back down. If the opponent had stepped up their game, he would do the same. "When two swordsmen meet on a narrow path, the brave one wins." What about when two strong opponents meet? The stronger one wins!
Lu Ke pulled his gaze back, noticing Goodwin's expression. He patted his center's shoulder to reassure him, then gathered all the offensive players. "The drive isn't over yet." Lu Ke spoke simply, sensing the slight tension in his teammates. Third and seventeen was not an easy play. The difficulty was comparable to a 55-yard field goal kick. The options for a play call were extremely limited. The reason third and long is so difficult is that a pass is usually the only option to get a first down, and a medium or long pass is the most likely choice. Even if they try a surprise run, the defense can quickly collapse and get a sack, eliminating any chance of getting a first down. The focus of the defense becomes very clear. Normally, third and seven or more can be considered a long down. In this case, the 49ers were facing third and seventeen, making it even more difficult and narrowing Lu Ke's options even further.
Lu Ke clenched his fist. "I said, the drive is not over yet!" He spoke with simple, impactful words. In college, the first time Lu Ke took the field as a quarterback, he faced a third and long. No one believed he could convert it. Not even the coaching staff had any hope, they just wanted him to make a small gain to get a better punting position. But what happened? Lu Ke not only converted the third down but also scored a touchdown and led his team to a comeback victory. People say that Manning has a big heart, and playing calmly in crucial moments is one of Lu Ke's few natural talents.
"Don't think about how many yards we need. Advancing, that's our only goal," Lu Ke said loudly. He could feel that Logan and Marcus were confident, and the other teammates had calmed down, but they were still a bit lacking in confidence. "Feel the energy of the crowd. This is our turf. No one can mess around in our backyard!"
"Ah! Ah! Ah!"
The synchronized and noisy cheers and shouts poured down. The momentum of Candlestick Park wasn't shaken at all. It was as if the team wasn't facing third and seventeen but third and one. The confidence in their shouts was so loud, like a drum, beating over and over, boosting the home team's morale again. Lu Ke noticed the subtle change in his teammates' eyes. He didn't say anything else and quickly started to call the play.
A long pass! They didn't have many options, and a long pass was the best choice, as it was what Lu Ke was best at. The Giants were definitely prepared and would not take it lightly. Lu Ke also wouldn't make a rash throw; he hadn't forgotten the game goals for the first half. So, this long pass was a head-to-head battle.
Standing in the pocket, Lu Ke quickly scanned the field and then slowly scanned it again, taking in the entire defensive formation. The Giants' defense had completely changed their formation: on the front line, only three defensive linemen were rushing the quarterback. Even those three defenders had a slightly upright stance. This meant that the rush was a fake, and their real job was to cover any potential running plays. On the second line, behind the three defensive linemen, there was only one linebacker, roaming about four or five yards back, serving as the second line of defense against any short passes or running plays that got through. The remaining seven players were all scattered in the backfield, completely covering the medium and deep passing areas. There were four players in the medium passing area, completely covering the passing zone around the seventeen-yard mark. There were three players in the deep passing area, positioned in a V-shape, with two players slightly ahead, in the area where the medium and deep passes connect, and one player further back, waiting for his moment.
This was the defensive situation for a third and long. The defense could make all the arrangements beforehand, cutting off all possibilities. Stepping up their defense just a little bit could eliminate a quarterback's options and put him in a difficult position. After observing it twice, Lu Ke took in the entire backfield defense and quickly calculated in his mind. It was a zone defense. He filtered through and considered the abilities and qualities of the defenders in each zone. The extensive film study he had done before the game often paid off in unexpected ways during crucial moments.
Lu Ke calmly thought it over again and, without any hesitation, walked forward and began to call the play again. A series of dazzling play calls started to come out, echoing in the tense atmosphere of Candlestick Park. Along with Lu Ke's calls, the receivers began to change positions.
Michael Crabtree and Marcus Lynch, who were originally on the left side, all moved to the right, joining Logan Newman and Kyle Williams. In an instant, the right side became incredibly crowded, with three receivers and one running back. In the slot position on the outside of the offensive line, Logan's tall figure looked out of place. This was a position for smaller, faster slot receivers. Logan looked heavy there, more like another offensive lineman than a receiver. However, two yards behind Logan, Marcus Lynch was also there, looking for an opening.
Williams, who was originally lined up parallel to Logan, about four yards away, now moved a few big steps further outside, almost to the sideline. This reminded people of the fourth week of the regular season, when Williams ran along the sideline like a member of the X-Men. Finally, Crabtree stood between Logan and Williams, but he was a few steps back, forming a concave shape. He kept looking left and right, and his body swayed from side to side, as if he were dancing to a mysterious rhythm. No one should forget that it was Crabtree who made "that catch" in the second week of the regular season against the Dallas Cowboys.
Now, the left side had become very thin, with only Ted Ginn Jr., a speedy player, as a stark contrast to the heavy and crowded right side. As for Lu Ke himself, he was in the shotgun formation, about seven yards away from the center, maximizing his space to read the defense.
Without a doubt, this was an unusual, unpredictable formation. So, the New York Giants had no choice but to wait and see. They still didn't change their defensive lineup, but the players in the midfield and backfield all shifted their weight slightly to the right, compressing the tightness of their zone coverage.
Lu Ke bent down again, scrutinizing the Giants' defense. He glanced at the countdown clock. Ten seconds left. Then he stood up for the second time and shouted two play calls, seemingly changing the play again. But this time, the 49ers' players didn't move. They ignored it. He bent down again, got ready to snap, and the countdown entered the five-second mark. "Four, three, two..."
"Hut!"
Lu Ke's voice barely made it before the play clock ran out. He snapped the ball from the shotgun formation and began to adjust his footwork to the right. One step, two steps... one second, two seconds... The Giants had only sent three players to rush the offensive line, so they couldn't pose any threat to the 49ers' offensive line. The pocket was as solid as a rock.
Time was running out. Lu Ke tried to raise his right hand to throw the ball twice, but they were both fake throws. The third time, just when everyone thought it was another fake, Lu Ke threw the ball.
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