In football, after scoring a touchdown for six points, a team has a chance for an extra point. There are two options for the extra point: one point or two points.
The two-point extra point, also known as a two-point conversion, involves the offense lining up at the 2-yard line and attempting another run or pass. If they successfully get the ball into the end zone again, they get two extra points.
Essentially, this is like scoring another touchdown from the 2-yard line, with only one down to do it. Two points is a higher score, but it's also more difficult and comes with more risk. Teams usually only choose this option when it is strategically necessary.
A one-point extra point is much simpler. It also starts with the ball on the 2-yard line, but the kicker attempts to kick the ball through the goalposts, which are 20 yards away.
For a kicker, a 20-yard kick is like a penalty kick in soccer. The difference is that in a penalty kick, the player faces the goalkeeper one-on-one. In a one-point conversion, it's like a field goal or a punt: the special teams units of both sides can block and try to intercept the kick.
Overall, the success rate for a one-point conversion is quite high. The league-wide average last year was 99.3%, which is much higher than the success rate for penalty kicks in soccer. Most teams choose the one-point option over the two-point one.
However, even with a high success rate, there's still a 0.7% chance of a mistake. The more tense and critical the moment, the more likely a mistake is to happen.
This was a game-winning moment!
The score was tied at 20-20, and the San Francisco 49ers had a chance to get the extra point. All eyes in the stadium were on the kicker, David Akers.
He was a veteran, a true old-timer. He entered the league in 1997 but went undrafted. He had a series of tryouts and spent time with the Atlanta Falcons and the Carolina Panthers as a practice squad player. The following year, he officially joined the league with the Washington Redskins. He was cut the year after and went to play in the European Indoor Football League for over half a year. He returned to the league at the end of 1999 and joined the Philadelphia Eagles, where he spent the best years of his career.
Even though he was an undrafted rookie, the position of a kicker is special. Teams rarely pick kickers in the draft. David's skills were showcased with the Eagles. In his 12 years as a professional player, David was selected for the Pro Bowl four times, including in 2010. He also made the All-Pro First Team once and the All-Pro Second Team four times, a brilliant track record. He was still in the prime of his career.
In the offseason, David left the Philadelphia Eagles and was traded to the San Francisco 49ers, becoming the kicker for Candlestick Park.
During the preseason, the San Francisco 49ers' offense was a disaster, but David maintained a consistent performance. He was responsible for extra points and field goals. He even kicked a 59-yard field goal, an amazing feat.
In football, a field goal of 45 yards or more is considered long-distance and comes with high risk and difficulty. A kick of 50 yards or more requires perfect timing, location, and a bit of luck.
David Akers was still a powerful force. A 20-yard extra point was a piece of cake for him.
With nine seconds left on the game clock, the special teams units of both sides were lined up. David stood in front of the end zone, quietly waiting for the moment to kick.
Candlestick Park was incredibly noisy. The 49ers fans all fell silent, keeping their mouths shut, afraid that any noise from them would disrupt David's rhythm. The Cowboys fans were trying their best to create noise, shouting, screaming, roaring, cursing, and using foul language, all in an attempt to push the game into overtime.
"Beep!"
The whistle blew, the ball was snapped, and the play began. The special teams units on both sides collided fiercely. David calmly took his steps, watched the center snap the ball and the holder catch it, and then lifted his right leg high. He kicked and followed through, making contact. The whole process was smooth, without any hesitation or panic.
The football flew high and straight, arcing into the goalposts! It was a perfect kick!
But just as the cheers in Candlestick Park began to erupt, the referees in the middle of the field blew their whistles repeatedly, making a hand motion that indicated the play didn't count. The meaning was simple and clear, and the cheers immediately turned into groans of disappointment.
Chris Wilson wailed and buried his face in his hands, sitting down hard, using every motion of his body to express his disappointment. The extreme tension made his knees go weak, and he couldn't even stand up.
"The Dallas Cowboys have called a timeout! The Cowboys' head coach Jason Garrett has called a timeout!" Kirk Charleston also felt like he was on a roller coaster. His heart, which had been soaring high, plummeted back down into his chest. "The Cowboys are making one last desperate attempt. They're trying to disrupt the rhythm of the 49ers' kicker, David Akers, to force the game into overtime."
It wasn't a foul but a timeout.
During a critical extra-point kick, if a timeout is called while the kicker is taking his steps, the kick doesn't count and must be re-kicked. This is a common trick used in the league to create a surprising effect, disrupt the kicker's rhythm, and mess with their mind under heavy pressure and tension.
In a normal situation, after the 49ers scored the extra point, the Cowboys would get the ball to kick off. After the kickoff, the Cowboys' offense could still take the field and attempt another drive, using their timeouts to pull off a last-second play. At the very least, they could try a deep pass. But the problem was, with only nine seconds left in the game, there was no time for a kickoff and a drive. Their hopes were too slim.
So, the Cowboys' head coach chose to waste his timeout, hoping the kicker would make a mistake under pressure.
Sitting in the stands, Chris clasped his hands tightly and prayed sincerely, murmuring to himself, "God, Jesus, Allah, Buddha... whoever is listening, please hear my prayer. Please, please, please! He has to make it, he has to make it! Oh my god, please make it!"
In the middle of the field, both teams were lined up again, ready for the second extra-point kick. Chris felt like he was going to suffocate from the tension. He was almost too afraid to watch, but he couldn't look away. He forced himself to keep his eyes wide open, watching every movement on the field. Then, the whole world seemed to go into slow motion. Every movement was slow and clear, filled with a graceful power.
Snap, hold, step, kick, fly, hit.
With a crisp whoosh, it was a clean kick. There was no deviation, no tension, no doubt. The extra point was a success. David Akers, a seasoned, experienced, and composed veteran, passed the test and made the game-winning kick!
"Aaaah!" Chris jumped up again. His mouth was wide open, his eyes were wide, his arms were spread, and he was just screaming, screaming continuously, "Aaaah!" He ran around his seat, the narrow space unable to restrain his excitement. He passionately hugged everyone around him, then jumped onto his chair, raising his hands high, screaming again and again, "Aaaah!"
His heart exploded with joy, as if he owned the whole world!
"Game winner! The San Francisco 49ers have made the game-winning play!" Troy Bauer's hoarse voice broadcasted over the airwaves. "There are only six seconds left in the game, and the Dallas Cowboys don't have time for a comeback! This means the San Francisco 49ers have made an incredible game-winning play and won the game!"
Troy was jumping up and down with excitement, shouting continuously, "After being shut out in the first half and enduring the ups and downs of the fourth quarter, the young players of the San Francisco 49ers, led by rookie quarterback Lu Ke, overcame the challenges and made an incredible comeback! We witnessed 'The Catch' reappear, we witnessed David Akers' game-winning kick, and we witnessed the first fourth-quarter comeback of this freshman quarterback's career!"
"Madness! The entire Candlestick Park has gone crazy! They defeated their archrival, they replicated a moment from 1981, and they proved once again that Candlestick Park is still an unbreakable fortress for the Dallas Cowboys in the regular season! Madness! This is truly madness! After this battle, the rookie Chinese-American quarterback has once again passed the test, once again proven himself, and impossibly won the game! God! God! It's brilliant, truly brilliant!"
Troy's passionate commentary ignited cheers throughout the entire San Francisco area and the Bay Area.
Some people leaned on their car horns, honking in a chorus like fireworks, celebrating the team's victory. Others ran out of convenience stores at gas stations, running around like madmen in an empty lot, cheering continuously. Some people in bars smashed their beer glasses, roaring and yelling wildly, beating their chests and celebrating the victory.
In this moment, they celebrated to their heart's content. They stood on the bodies of their archrivals, celebrating their second victory in the regular season!
The commentators had gone crazy, and the fans had gone crazy, but the players on the field still couldn't lose their minds. There were six seconds left in the game. They still had to follow the rules and do the kickoff, continuing to play until the game clock ran out.
The special teams were lined up again and made the kickoff. The San Francisco 49ers' kick was high and long, landing in the end zone. The Dallas Cowboys' returner caught the ball but chose not to do a touchback. Instead, he started running with the ball, hoping to break through the obstacles and score a touchdown to change the score and win the game again.
But the San Francisco 49ers' special teams didn't get carried away by the victory. They tackled the returner at the Cowboys' 12-yard line. Then, the game clock officially ran out, and the referee blew the final whistle, declaring a winning streak for the San Francisco 49ers!
"Aaaah!" At this moment, the San Francisco 49ers players began to cheer. Lu Ke raised his hands high, pumping his fists, but before he could celebrate, all the players swarmed him, yelling madly, "Bambi! Bambi! Bambi!"
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