Just as everyone was focused on the pass defense, just as everyone was watching the backfield, just as everyone was considering the possibility of a deep pass, Lu Ke chose to run the ball.
It was an unexpected choice, but it wasn't a rushed, blind decision. It was the result of a calculated play.
Marcus's run was powerful and explosive. It was as if he were on fire, thundering past with simple, high efficiency. He not only gained 10 yards and got a first down, but he also effectively managed the clock, without wasting any time on the run.
At any other time, this would have been an outstanding run, let alone during the final drive of the entire game!
From passing to running, the San Francisco 49ers had now completely opened their minds. The gloom of the first half was gone, and the restraints of the fourth quarter were completely released. In just two plays, two drives, they unleashed an unstoppable momentum.
The entire Candlestick Park went wild. Voices finally broke free from their throats, emotions burst out of their chests, and the low, muffled buzzing erupted. Everyone was passionately and desperately venting their excitement. Who would have thought that at such a crucial moment, it would be a run that kept the team's drive going?
The roars and screams were deafening, and they echoed in their ears, making them ring. The sheer power of it made every player on the field feel so small, like a speck of dust that could be swallowed by the waves at any moment. But at the same time, they felt so huge, able to stand tall and summon the wind and rain with every move.
On the opposing team's 48-yard line; 56 seconds left.
"Unbelievable, absolutely unbelievable! Number 14 Lu Ke boldly chose to run the ball. Number 27 Marcus Lynch carried the ball and completed a 10-yard run, once again leading the San Francisco 49ers forward!"
Troy's signature machine-gun commentary was back, leading every listener in front of their radios into the final 56 seconds of today's game with a high-pitched, excited voice!
"The 49ers snap the ball, Lu Ke drops back, chooses the right side, an intermediate pass for 13 yards. The target is... Kyle Williams! Williams runs a straight line along the open space on the right, makes a hard stop around the 40-yard line, a sharp turn, and then cuts diagonally inside, trying to shake off Jenkins' one-on-one coverage!"
In just a second, Troy was rambling on, explaining every single move on the field in such detail, his eyes fixed on the Cowboys' cornerback, Mike Jenkins.
"Jenkins' concentration is high, no slacking off at all. His defense is clean and crisp, sticking tightly to Williams. No foul. He uses his physical advantage to make Williams lose his position. On the other side, Cowboys' safety Abram Elam provides timely support, further compressing Williams' receiving space. Oh, incomplete pass!"
"Let's watch the replay: The Cowboys' defense was excellent. Jenkins and Elam's reactions were timely enough, and the entire coverage didn't give Williams much room to work with. Also, Lu Ke's pass was a little weak. The arc dropped too quickly, deviating from Williams' catching position by a step. Compared to his short and deep passes today, Lu Ke's success rate on intermediate passes is a little lower."
Troy didn't hide his regret, sighing with a sense of disappointment. The San Francisco 49ers' offensive rhythm couldn't be sustained. They consumed time without making a single gain, and the situation was becoming more and more unfavorable.
"Second and ten, pistol formation. Lu Ke voluntarily leads the offensive line to the right, throws the ball, right side, to number 88, Logan Newman. It's a 3-yard short pass. Lu Ke is trying to rely on Newman's ability to drive and break through to get some yards for the team. Newman catches the ball, but... Sean Lee! The Cowboys' number 50, Sean Lee!"
"Lee's coverage awareness is incredibly quick. He immediately gets in front and sticks tightly to Newman. Although Newman made the catch, there's no room to advance! Newman presses his back against Lee, trying to get away and push forward, but Jenkins is there to assist. The two of them have Newman in a tight grip! Newman tries to fall down to stop the drive and pause the clock, but Lee and Jenkins hold him tightly, refusing to let Newman 'fall.' The clock is ticking, the clock is still ticking!"
"A stalemate. The referee blows the whistle, ending the play. Newman only managed to gain four yards, and it consumed game time... Lu Ke calls a timeout. The San Francisco 49ers used their first timeout of the second half. The previous drive didn't go as planned, disrupting the team's offensive rhythm again. Calling a timeout now is wise and timely. The 49ers' time management hasn't completely fallen apart yet."
After two brilliant plays, the San Francisco 49ers suffered two consecutive setbacks.
The Dallas Cowboys' defense once again showed the strength they had in the first half of the day. Their pass defense was airtight. Lu Ke's performance couldn't be called bad; he was still playing at a decent level. But without the flashes of brilliance from the first two drives, two offensive opportunities were wasted just like that.
The game was becoming suffocatingly tense!
Troy grabbed his water bottle, trying to take a sip of water to soothe his throat, but he found his hands were shaking slightly from excitement. He couldn't open the bottle cap immediately, and the game on the field had already started again. So, he had no choice but to put the bottle down and continue his high-speed commentary.
"Third and six. The San Francisco 49ers are now on the edge. There's no turning back. There's no difference between third and fourth down at this point. An aggressive drive is the only option. They have two chances to gain six yards and get another first down. But the last two drives failed, and the game clock is running down again. There are only 38 seconds left now."
Troy took a deep breath. Even after seeing countless big games, the tension and excitement of every crucial moment in a game never went away. This was the charm of sports. Every drive, every game, was completely different.
Thirty-eight seconds, and on third and six. Just thinking about it in his mind, Troy's palms felt sweaty.
At this moment, both teams on the field were in formation again.
The San Francisco 49ers were in a shotgun formation, with Lu Ke in an empty backfield, showing a full-on attack posture. Beyond the five offensive linemen, all their offensive weapons were lined up:
Four receivers were completely spread out, two on the left and two on the right, but their positions were closer to the sidelines. The running back was standing in the gap between the offensive line and the right-side receiver.
This was the slot. Slot receivers who came from this position were often masters of short and intermediate routes, with countless route combinations that were difficult to defend. The New England Patriots were a team that had perfected the use of the slot receiver, and it was one of their key weapons in winning three Super Bowls in four years.
Now, Lu Ke was showing a full-on offensive stance.
On the other side, the Dallas Cowboys had a corresponding lineup. Two cornerbacks and two linebackers were in man-to-man coverage, targeting the four receivers. Two safeties were holding down the backfield, preventing any potential deep passes and assisting the front line if anyone was missed.
In the front, two linebackers and three defensive linemen were standing at the very front, lined up in a row. One of the linebackers was positioned opposite the 49ers' Marcus, seemingly for man-to-man coverage, or perhaps for a blitz. The front line was heavily stacked, and their powerful blitzing intention was completely obvious.
The screams and cheers still wouldn't stop, a continuous and mighty roar. It seemed as if the entire Candlestick Park had been completely ignited. The earth-shattering shock, however, had no effect on the players on the field. Everyone was highly focused and single-minded. The sparks on the field were slowly starting to spread.
"Hut!" Lu Ke's call was calm and powerful, like an eagle gliding across the sky.
Troy's voice also started at the same time. "Snap! The Cowboys choose a powerful blitz, an aggressive blitz formation that completely tore through the 49ers' offensive line. But the offensive linemen are performing exceptionally well, holding off the Cowboys' unexpected blitz one-on-one! However, the entire offensive line is scattered, and the field is becoming incredibly open. DeMarcus Ware! DeMarcus Ware has broken through and is sprinting toward Lu Ke!"
"The Cowboys' man-to-man coverage is excellent, leaving almost no room to pass! Lu Ke is looking, looking! Lu Ke tries to pass to Ted Ginn, but the coverage is immediately in place, cutting off the pass route. Oh no, Ware is rushing in! A sack? Is this a sack?"
Troy felt as if his heart had stopped beating. In this final drive, the back-and-forth action was so stimulating that his heart was numb and on the verge of stopping.
"Lu Ke is moving! Lu Ke has chosen to run with the ball! The entire offensive line and defensive line are paired up one-on-one, scattering like clouds. The pocket is completely shattered! Lu Ke sees an open lane. He chose to run with the ball himself! Jesus Christ! Lu Ke is running with the ball!"
Troy was so surprised his eyes were about to pop out. After his first drive of the second half, Lu Ke was once again showing off his running ability. What... what on earth was going on? He had forgotten, the audience had forgotten, and even the Cowboys had almost forgotten, but at such a crucial and important moment, Lu Ke had abandoned his passing skills and chosen to run with the ball himself!
My God, wasn't Lu Ke a traditional pocket quarterback?
"Lu Ke! Lu Ke! Lu Ke is running with the ball!" Troy felt like he was choking on his own saliva, almost scared out of his mind.
At the last moment, Lu Ke shouted in his mind, "Bullet time!"
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