The King of Bay Area

"Focus, I need all of you to focus!"

Because the pass was incomplete, the game clock stopped the moment the ball hit the ground. This is the same principle as when a quarterback intentionally throws the ball to the ground to stop the clock in a critical situation when they have no timeouts left. When a pass is incomplete or the quarterback spikes the ball, the game clock stops, but the time for the next play remains the same: a 25-second countdown. After 25 seconds, not only will the game clock start again, but if the offense doesn't snap the ball, they will be penalized for delay of game.

So, Lu Ke had 25 seconds to have a brief conversation with his offensive teammates.

"They have no answer. They've given up on thinking. They can't keep up with us. They can't make adjustments in time. Did you notice? Man-to-man, all their defensive plays are man-to-man. If we keep speeding up, their defensive plays will only get more predictable. Zone coverage is not working at all. They're scared, scared of our routes! Now all they can do is man-to-man!"

Although the last play was an incomplete pass, Lu Ke's mind was clear again. He had figured out the opponent's defensive strategy, which was simple, crude, and lacked variation. But the 49ers' offensive advantage was that they were full of surprises!

"So, I need you all to get fired up! Let's execute the play perfectly. We'll use crossing routes to completely disrupt their defense. Then, we'll take back what's ours: victory! We only have one goal: victory!"

Lu Ke slammed his right fist into his left palm, decisively declaring his determination. He then quickly started to set up the play. Even without any words, the entire offense exuded a silent, fierce aura. Under Lu Ke's leadership, they believed they were invincible!

Both teams lined up again. The 49ers lined up in a basic "two-by-two" offensive formation. As expected, the Giants didn't change their defensive formation. They were still in man-to-man coverage; they just moved their players a little to match the 49ers' formation, but the defensive matchups remained the same. In just a glance, the 49ers' offense was filled with confidence: the Lu Ke they knew was back!

For the 49ers, Crabtree and Ginn were on the left, and Logan and Williams were on the right. Marcus and Lu Ke were still in the pistol formation, with Marcus standing four yards behind the center. For the Giants, Michael Boley and Prince Amukamara, a linebacker and a cornerback, were on the left, covering the 49ers' right side. On the right, Mathias Kiwanuka and Will Blackmon, also a linebacker and a cornerback, were covering the 49ers' left side.

"Hut!"

As Lu Ke gave the snap count, the 49ers' receivers all started at once, opening up like a kaleidoscope. Crabtree and Williams, on the outside of each side, both sprinted in a straight line, running with brute force and using their speed to the fullest. Logan and Ginn, on the inside of each side, both ran forward and cut inside. They sprinted about ten yards forward and then both cut into the middle. They ran a crossing route, one agile and one powerful, with their different routes meeting in the middle.

And then there was Marcus Lynch. He was a running back, but he was often used as a receiver. Marcus ran through the slot receiver gap, easily crossing the offensive and defensive lines with a quick run. But he didn't continue to speed up. Instead, he stopped in the middle of the short-pass area, adjusted his footwork a little, and got ready to receive the ball. In the blink of an eye, the short and mid-range areas in the middle became crowded!

The Giants' defense immediately reacted. Besides the players in man-to-man coverage, the safeties in the back and the inside linebackers who were covering the running game all swarmed to the middle, making that area very crowded. At that moment, Lu Ke in the pocket took two big steps back, creating some distance between himself and the offensive and defensive lines. He maintained his balance, raised his right arm high, and threw the ball with a cannon-like force. The ball soared through the air, drawing a beautiful rainbow arc.

Undoubtedly, the focus of the entire field was the middle area, not only because there were three receiving options there, but also because they were Lu Ke's favorite three receiving options: Logan Newman, Ted Ginn Jr., and Marcus Lynch. The three players had different styles and were all talented, and their similar running routes had different possibilities. This was Lu Ke's best option. But just as everyone was thinking that, Lu Ke's rainbow pass shot through the air toward the left!

The left? Lu Ke chose the left!

On the 49ers' left side and the Giants' right side, there were only two players, Michael Crabtree and Will Blackmon. All the other defenders and offensive players were crowded in the middle, and the left side was now wide open, creating a one-on-one situation. It was "Crabtree vs. Blackmon." This was a crossing route. Ginn, who was supposed to be covering Blackmon, changed his position and route, and now Crabtree was in front of Blackmon. Both players were big and strong, and both were gifted African-American players. They were in a head-to-head battle, not giving an inch.

The rainbow pass in the sky drew a breathtaking arc, powerfully breaking through the 35-yard line, the 40-yard line, midfield, the opponent's 40-yard line, the 35-yard line, the 30-yard line... It fearlessly went deep, looking like a pass of about 40 to 43 yards. The ball, spinning evenly, once again showed Lu Ke's accuracy and control.

Crabtree and Blackmon were battling for position, refusing to give in. The ball started to fall quickly. Crabtree used his shoulder to hit Blackmon hard, getting a half-step ahead. He then threw his body forward and made a perfect catching motion. Thump. The ball landed in his hands with a crisp, clear sound. Crabtree had made a solid catch. Although his feet were still a little unsteady, he could still feel Blackmon, who refused to give up, squeezing his space.

Crabtree adjusted, controlled, resisted, and pushed back, not giving an inch in the confrontation. He slowly regained his balance and continued to push forward. At that moment, there were no defenders in front of the left lane. It was a straight shot, and if he sped up, he could break through and get into the end zone to win the game. But... the referee blew his whistle and threw a yellow flag, stopping the game. Blackmon and Crabtree were still tangled up, but they both slowed down, realizing that something had happened.

"Why? Why?" Amidst the fans' groans and boos at Candlestick Park, Crabtree spread his hands, a look of innocence on his face, and walked toward the referee, trying to get an answer. "What happened? Can someone tell me what happened?" He could have been the hero who saved the game, but now the referee had stopped the game. There could only be one reason: a penalty on the offense.

Sure enough, the referee announced the penalty: number 15, offensive pass interference. Crabtree stood there, furious and cursing. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. "A penalty? When did I commit a foul? This is a bunch of..." The rest was a string of curses. He couldn't stop. Faced with Crabtree's complaints, Blackmon started cursing back. The two didn't get physical, and the referee stepped in between them, but they continued to shout at each other, expressing their dissatisfaction. They both knew the deep impact this yellow flag would have on the game's outcome.

The other players on the two teams on the sidelines were a stark contrast. All the Giants' players raised their hands and cheered. This was a crucial defensive play at a critical moment. The 49ers' players, on the other hand, all put their hands on their heads, groaning in disappointment, unable to believe what they were seeing. Jim Harbaugh slammed his playbook on the ground and cursed, his emotions getting the better of him. Crabtree was still emotional, repeatedly insisting that he hadn't committed a foul and trying to prove his innocence.

But the commentators in the booth had a different opinion. "It's a foul. It's definitely offensive pass interference. The move was so obvious that it was impossible for the referee to miss it. This is a correct call." According to the slow-motion replay, before making the catch, Crabtree did pull on Blackmon's jersey collar to get free, and he may have even pulled on his helmet. It was a clear and indisputable penalty. "But for the San Francisco 49ers, this is not good news. They've wasted a lot of time and lost yards. Their situation is getting worse and worse."

Because of Crabtree's penalty, the referee penalized the 49ers ten yards. They had to go back to their own 20-yard line and start their second down, facing a difficult second-and-twenty situation. The situation was bad, and now it was even worse!

"Calm down, all of you, calm the f*ck down." In the emergency, Lu Ke had to raise his voice to stop Crabtree. "Look ahead, we have to look ahead. We'll deal with any problems after the game. For now, all of you calm down. Did you notice? They're still in man-to-man coverage, and they're getting more and more passive! All we need to do is stay calm and seize the opportunity!"

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