In this offensive series, Lu Ke chose the right side four times, breaking through strongly on Patrick Peterson's side. In a head-on clash, he utterly dominated him with unstoppable momentum, again and again, shamelessly venting the anger in his heart. As a quarterback, Lu Ke knew he couldn't let his emotions get the better of him. Once he became hotheaded and lost his composure, the game could spiral out of control, which was a terrifying prospect.
Four times he had pinned Peterson to the ground, grinding him into the dirt. That was enough humiliation. After Jim Harbaugh's reminder, Lu Ke also realized that he had to remain calm and regain control of the game. But clearly, the chaos at the University of Phoenix Stadium hadn't subsided. On the stands near the right side of the field, you could still see three clowns standing in a row at the front of the stands, mimicking monkeys. All the fans around them were laughing, and all kinds of trash talk poured out, doing everything they could to disrupt the game.
That wasn't all. Other fans in the distance were yelling curses and screaming at the top of their lungs. The sharp, piercing noise echoed continuously, never stopping. Wave after wave of sound, they all chanted in unison, "Interception! Interception! Interception!" fiercely and brutally venting all their anger on Lu Ke. They seemed to have placed all their hope in Peterson, expecting him to step up and replicate his highlight performance from the last game, slap Lu Ke in the face again, and bring the team back on track for a win. The third quarter had just passed the halfway point, and the Cardinals still had enough time and opportunities to make a comeback.
Once again, Lu Ke's eyes landed on Peterson. Peterson glared at Lu Ke fiercely, not showing any weakness, and spat on the side with a look of disdain. His sharp eyes focused once again. Lu Ke could almost smell the blood in the air. The emotions that hadn't yet calmed down started to surge again, getting him excited. These moments were always so captivating, especially when he was calm and could use his wits to play the game. That feeling of satisfaction was unparalleled!
"Coach, what do you think of a multi-route offense this time?" Lu Ke looked away and called his teammates over. The play in his mind was already in motion. After a quick conversation with Harbaugh, he looked at his teammates. Logan Newman noticed the determination in Lu Ke's eyes, a subtle killing intent that revealed a powerful, confident aura. His heart skipped a beat, and his blood began to boil. He exchanged a look with Vernon Davis, Michael Crabtree, and Ted Ginn Jr., who were standing next to him. Everyone couldn't help but get ready to play.
"A multi-route offensive formation. The San Francisco 49ers have once again lined up in their most common and powerful multi-route offensive formation." From his high vantage point, the commentator Kirk Morrison had a perfect view of the entire field. He gave a simple summary.
"On the right, the 49ers have once again stacked the right side with players: Vernon Davis, Logan Newman, Ted Ginn Jr.—three receivers, including two tight ends. Wait, that's not right. It should be four receivers, including Marcus Lynch, the running back who isn't running the ball, is in the slot receiver position again. The whole right side is looking a bit bloated now."
"In comparison, on the left side, there's only Michael Crabtree as a wide receiver, carrying the entire load. This is a strange formation. This is definitely a strange formation, even for the 49ers, who have been creating miracles all season."
"Now, the Arizona Cardinals' defense has no choice but to make adjustments. Their formation now... is a man-to-man defense. Bold. This is truly bold. The Cardinals' defense has also made adjustments. My God, they're still sticking to the blitzing strategy!"
Facing the 49ers' unexpected offensive formation, the Cardinals also lined up in a bold defensive formation. Four defensive linemen held the front line, while two linebackers, two cornerbacks, and one safety were lined up against the five receivers. There was also one safety in the backfield, and a linebacker who was standing behind the defensive line, ready to blitz, defend against the run, and assist with short-pass defense.
This formation looked very familiar. It was the same defensive formation the Cardinals used during the 49ers' third-and-16 play in the last offensive series. The problem was that the previous situation was a disadvantage for the 49ers. It was a third-and-long, and they were near their end zone. The Cardinals' defense had the clear advantage, and a defensive play with a front-line press was a good risk to take. But now, it was a first-and-10, and they were only 26 yards away from a touchdown. The Cardinals' defensive strategy seemed too aggressive.
The same formation, when used in different offensive situations, field positions, and times in the game, would have completely different effects. Both teams had a crazy style of play. Even the commentators were getting excited.
"Hut!"
With Lu Ke's snap count, the entire field exploded like a firework show. The scene was dazzling, and it was hard to know where to look. But one thing was for sure: the focus of the offense was not on the right side, but on the left!
Crabtree, on the left wing, ran a short-pass route, pulling toward the left sideline. In just a few big strides, he had already adjusted his position and was ready to catch the ball. The four receivers on the right wing were moving. Marcus, from the slot position, ran across the field. After a short three-yard straight sprint, he made a 90-degree turn and cut in, moving quickly from the right side to the left. He moved like a snake, unpredictable.
Vernon was running almost side-by-side with Marcus, making a six-yard straight sprint. After a 90-degree sharp turn, he ran straight toward the left side. The two of them, one high and one low, quickly ran into the wide-open space on the left. Marcus stopped first, adjusting his steps and getting ready to catch the ball. Vernon, on the other hand, was looking back and adjusting his small, quick steps as he ran, getting ready to catch the ball.
Next was Logan Newman. He only took a few small steps forward for three or four yards, then he stopped and turned around, seemingly ready to catch the ball. But the next moment, after watching Ted Ginn Jr. sprint past him in a straight line, he also turned and ran toward the left, but he didn't run at his top speed. Instead, he moved toward the middle. Because of a short time difference, Marcus and Vernon had both moved toward the left side, and the wide-open space in the middle was completely exposed. Logan had torn open an incredible passing lane. He quickly glanced at the defenders around him from the corner of his eye. His muscles were tensed up, and he was ready to catch the ball at any moment.
Timing difference, angle difference, route difference. In just two short seconds after the snap, the 49ers' entire offensive formation was like a right-angle waterfall, plunging down a cliff, all of it leaning to the left. The four receiving points were scattered in different layers in the short-pass area from the middle to the left. Even for Logan, who ran the farthest, this was only a pass of about ten yards. The four running routes were like four heavy punches, all focused on the short-pass area and evolving into different layers and variations, instantly disrupting the Cardinals' defense's entire plan.
Adrian Wilson, standing at the front of the end zone as the last line of defense, was like a handyman, trying tirelessly to fix all the holes. Unconsciously, Wilson tried to move to his right to assist in the coverage, but he saw the only figure on his left from the corner of his eye: Ted Ginn Jr. The fastest player on the San Francisco 49ers' offense was like a sharp knife. He was a sharp, pointed knife that could easily cut into the deep part of the end zone and deliver a fatal blow.
After the snap, Ginn, who had moved from the right side of the Cardinals' defense to the left, instantly pushed his speed to the limit. In less than two seconds, he had already entered the red zone. The powerful, lightning-fast breakthrough was intimidating. In a hurry, Wilson didn't have time to make more judgments. He could only choose to trust Peterson. At this moment, Peterson was covering Ginn tightly. This was a one-on-one situation, a cornerback vs. a wide receiver. Peterson should have a slight advantage. In comparison, the heavy punches on the other side were more powerful and more dangerous. It was full of holes. Following his instincts, Wilson ran quickly and dived toward Logan, who was the closest to him. This was the best choice, and it was the correct choice.
The most terrifying part of the entire play was that the 49ers' entire offense had pushed their speed to the limit. It was clean and efficient. In just one or two seconds, before the second second had ended, all the players were in position and ready to catch the ball. This also meant that the defensive line couldn't put enough pressure on the quarterback.
As expected! Although the defensive line's blitz was incredibly fierce, and although the defensive linemen were fully focused on trying to break through, they were compressing, compressing, and compressing, applying incredible pressure. But everything happened too fast. They couldn't keep up. They had just made contact with the offensive line and didn't have time to break through, and they were already too late. Lu Ke, who was standing in the pocket, only took two steps back, quickly creating a distance between himself and the offensive line. He quickly scanned the entire field, took in all the targets, and made a decision in a flash of light. Without any hesitation, he took a step forward:
He raised his arm, drew his bow, and shot the eagle! The left side? No, the right side!
🗒️NOTE:
New chapters drop Three times a day, every Monday through Sunday! Plus, you have the power to unlock more: we'll release Three bonus chapters for every 300 votes! Let's get this story moving together.
Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/MistaQuartz
Explore up to 30 chapters in advance!