Not only the New York Giants' defense but also the commentators were left scratching their heads. The San Francisco 49ers' offensive strategy was dazzling, pushing the West Coast offense's passing game to its limit and showcasing the best of modern quarterbacking. The game truly highlighted the essence of football, and in a head-to-head battle, the Giants' defense once again came up short, relegated to the role of a backdrop.
In the broadcast booth, Kirk and Teddy watched the replay and, amidst the colorful routes, found the figure of Ted Ginn Jr. After the snap, Ginn, who was lined up alone on the left, ran a simple, direct route, like a sharp knife, maximizing his speed advantage. In reality, there were at least three zone defenders in Ginn's path, but thanks to his teammates' horizontal movements, the entire defensive zone shrank. This allowed Ginn to thrive, using his quick, agile running to his full advantage. Only one cornerback, Blackmon, who was late to the play, came up to defend.
Blackmon was a big cornerback, standing 6 feet tall and weighing 212 pounds. In comparison, Ginn was only 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighed 180 pounds, making him much smaller. In a one-on-one battle, Ginn was at a clear disadvantage in terms of size, but he could easily win in a speed contest. So, Blackmon tried to use his physical advantage to position himself, but Ginn didn't give him a chance. Before the confrontation, Ginn used his quick footwork to evade Blackmon's tight coverage, forcing Blackmon to take a detour, predict the ball's landing spot, and stand his ground in an attempt to make an interception. In this battle of brawn against agility, Ginn came out on top.
If it had just been this, the play would have been considered successful but far from "brilliant." In the actual play, Lu Ke's field of vision remained open. Thanks to the solid pocket protection, Lu Ke calmly took in the entire situation on the field. In fact, on the second throw, Williams was already open and could have made a catch. If Lu Ke had chosen to throw it, it would have been about a 35-yard pass, and then it would have been up to Williams to gain more yards.
But in his peripheral vision, Lu Ke noticed another open spot on the field. Because of Williams' movement, the player defending Marcus Lynch had already started to move, so Marcus also had a catching window between Crabtree and Logan. His position was a little closer, so it would have been about a 20-yard pass. Interestingly, Marcus's final position was parallel to Ginn's. In other words, if Ginn hadn't been able to get open, Lu Ke could have adjusted the power and angle of his pass and thrown it to Marcus to get a first down. But Ginn managed to shake off Blackmon and get open. Although it was a riskier and more uncertain option—Blackmon could have easily made an interception—Lu Ke still chose the bolder pass.
In a single drive, by using the different styles of four receivers and the confusion caused by Marcus Lynch, the seemingly airtight backfield had three passing opportunities. Such a layout and strategy were brilliant enough to make you scream.
"Unbelievable!" Kirk exclaimed again, shouting, "I know, I know, I've used that word countless times, but I have to say it again, unbelievable!" Kirk once again played the replay, showing the entire play to the audience. "You should be able to see that in this drive, from the moment he started reading the defense, Lu Ke already had a grasp of the entire situation. His vision, his defensive anticipation, his play design—even before the snap, he had already gained the upper hand."
"After the snap, he made a calm judgment without the panic of a rookie. He didn't rush his throw; instead, he calmly observed the changes in the game, sniffed out a small opening, and, like a hunter, decisively and boldly made the riskiest but most confident passing choice. In terms of tactical awareness, game rhythm, and crucial timing, this rookie quarterback is already showing the potential of an elite quarterback." For the first time, Kirk's praise reached a new level. Not just a good quarterback, he went beyond Manning's category and gave Lu Ke an even more amazing compliment.
After the words came out, Kirk was a little surprised himself. He then noticed Teddy's shocked expression, which made Kirk burst out laughing. Kirk added, "It's only potential, and it's only for this one play. What I mean is, from the first game of the regular season until now, Lu Ke's ability to control and read the game has really improved a lot. It's truly amazing."
The broadcast booth was buzzing. Everyone was marveling at the brilliance of the play, surprised by the San Francisco 49ers' ever-changing offensive strategies, and even more so by Lu Ke's audacious throws. This was a continuation of Lu Ke's style throughout the season: daring to take risks and making plays at crucial moments. Even when spectators were sweating, Lu Ke remained calm.
Candlestick Park was also buzzing. They couldn't see the intricate details of the strategy, but they could clearly see the result: Lu Ke had thrown an amazing 61-yard deep pass, found his receiver, and scored a touchdown, once again extending the lead. This was the best reward. The fans in the stands began to sing loudly. With two decisive plays from a desperate situation, they had plunged two daggers into the opponent's chest. This highly anticipated matchup was becoming a showcase for the San Francisco 49ers!
Could this week's game be another blowout? Just like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Washington Commanders games, which were filled with expectations but ended up being one-sided. Everyone was expecting a back-and-forth battle between the Giants and the 49ers, but it had become a one-man show for the latter.
The rest of the game proved two things: first, never underestimate Eli Manning's ability to explode; second, the 49ers' Candlestick Park was becoming a powerful force. After David Akers' extra point, the score was 14-0. Then, Manning, who led the offense onto the field, finally found his rhythm. Although after crossing midfield, Manning once again lost a third-and-three conversion opportunity due to a wild throw, and the drive stalled just outside the red zone, the potential seven points turned into a solid 39-yard field goal, finally breaking their zero-score. The score became 14-3.
Then, the 49ers' offense only had one drive before the first quarter ended. After switching sides, they had their first three-and-out of the game, and their offensive momentum slowed a bit. The ball was back in Manning's hands. After crossing midfield, facing a fourth-and-one situation, the Giants took a chance and chose to go for it. Running back Ahmad Bradshaw's tough run converted the fourth down and kept the drive alive. Unfortunately, when they got to the 28-yard line, Manning's touch was gone again. He not only had an incomplete pass but also nearly had an interception, and they went three-and-out.
Facing a 45-yard field goal, kicker Lawrence Tynes wasn't nervous and successfully kicked it in, further closing the score to 14-6. As the game went on, both teams really got into it, and the Giants were slowly catching up. Although the 49ers still had the overall momentum, it was clear that the Giants, led by Manning, were not giving up easily and were not a weak team like the Cleveland Browns.
The game suddenly became tense. Facing this situation, Lu Ke once again stepped up, improving his performance. In the next drive, he raised his game, both passing and running, and successfully found a balance between the two. After methodically crossing midfield, he unexpectedly threw a 23-yard long pass to Crabtree, who, with the distraction and coverage from Ginn, successfully beat the cornerback to make the catch. In less than four minutes, the 49ers were once again in the Giants' red zone.
Then, both teams showed a powerful display of energy, and an incredible spark was created in the back-and-forth action. On first and ten, the Giants batted down Lu Ke's short pass before it could even get past the defensive line. Jason Pierre-Paul batted it down just before it reached Logan Newman, and he almost got an interception, causing a stir among the fans. On second and ten, Lu Ke's pass to Kyle Williams was read early. Williams made the catch but couldn't gain any yards, only getting four yards on the pass. In an instant, the 49ers were once again in a tough third-and-six situation.
Just when everyone thought Lu Ke would continue to pass, or even try to surprise them with a medium pass into the end zone, Lu Ke did the unexpected and handed the ball off to Marcus Lynch, who was having a good day. Marcus successfully found a gap between the offensive and defensive lines. His powerful run broke through into the end zone, and he easily scored a touchdown. Just as the Giants were slowly getting their offense together and closing the gap, the 49ers once again used their powerful offense to widen the lead and expand their advantage.
"21-6"!
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