Chapter 798: Two-Point Conversion
The air solidified.
To be more precise, the surging, boiling wave of excitement was still gurgling. The shock from the quarterback's receiving touchdown lingered, and it would continue to be discussed long after the game was over. But now, something even more astonishing had happened: the San Francisco 49ers had chosen to go for a two-point conversion.
This meant they had pushed the New York Giants to the edge of a cliff, and at the same time, they had pushed themselves to the edge of a cliff. This was almost a do-or-die offensive decision. Either they win or they lose. There would be no overtime. They resolutely cut off all other possibilities, betting everything on this one play.
Such a choice was so shocking and unconventional that every single spectator was hit with a ten-thousand-point critical strike.
So, the whole stadium forced itself to be quiet. They held their breath in extreme shock, and not a single sound could be heard. But the hearts in their chests were pounding violently, almost breaking out of their chests. The tension and excitement were so great that even the adrenaline rush became silent.
Standing on the field, Lu Ke didn't immediately start reading the defense. Instead, he focused all his attention. The excitement and thrill from the receiving touchdown just now had all subsided. He let out a long breath and then gathered his spirits again, focusing completely on reading the defense from the beginning.
At this moment, this was not a two-point conversion. This was a fourth-and-two-yard do-or-die drive. The team had now reached the edge of a cliff with no way back! For the sake of victory, this fourth-and-two play had to be completed! There was no other choice!
The San Francisco 49ers' offense and the New York Giants' defense lined up in the exact same formation:
The offense was still in a shotgun formation with the trident on the left and the lone receiver on the right. The defense was also still in a neat line across the goal line, and even the cornerbacks and safeties' positions hadn't changed much.
In a daze, it felt like time had gone back, and the two teams were once again in the same position before that last touchdown.
But Lu Ke knew that the opponent wouldn't make the same mistake twice. Even if there was a certain possibility, he couldn't gamble a crucial victory.
He replayed Harbaugh's tactical arrangement in his mind. The three-dimensional image of the entire end zone was clearer than ever in his mind. Then Lu Ke announced the snap.
"Hut!"
As soon as Lu Ke's hands touched the football, he could clearly see that the New York Giants had changed their defensive strategy.
After the snap, Marcus, who was standing on Lu Ke's right side, jogged out from the slot and ran behind Logan. The two of them ran into the end zone one after the other.
Logan was running a post route, cutting into the middle. Marcus was running a corner route, and his feet had already reached the orange pylon on the right side.
Because the starting position was at the front of the end zone, everything happened in a flash. It was very fast. And then the New York Giants' defensive line had already formed a semicircle. They put all their front-line strength on their left flank, which was the 49ers' right flank.
Four defensive players teamed up to pressure Jonathan Goodwin, Anthony Davis, and Alex Boone on the right side. They used their absolute numerical advantage to force the three of them to retreat. On the other hand, Joe Staley and Mike Iupati on the left were suddenly free. They stood there, ready to engage, but there were only two linebackers watching them from about three yards away.
After Marcus ran out, the pocket on the right side collapsed like a city wall, blocking Lu Ke's possibility of moving to the right. Even Marcus and Logan's positions were becoming faint in the surging crowd.
The New York Giants' defensive intention was as clear as day. They wanted to use Lu Ke's own strategy against him. They would take the initiative, cut off the right route, and force Lu Ke to the left, where they could pre-position their defense and kill this two-point conversion in the cradle.
Lu Ke's feet were still dropping back. His peripheral vision could clearly catch the collapse of the entire pocket, like a dam falling apart. He immediately realized the seriousness of the problem and reacted decisively.
Not only did he not retreat, but he also actively ran to the right, aiming to break the situation with a head-on charge. He could guess that the defense on the right side wouldn't be too strong now. A head-on breakthrough was clearly the best way and the best opportunity.
But Lu Ke failed.
Three offensive linemen and four defensive linemen were crowded in front of him, like a small hill, blocking all potential escape routes. Furthermore, the opposing players were also fully utilizing their numerical advantage, trying to tear apart the pocket and sack the quarterback.
Lu Ke's feet only had enough time to move two steps to the right before he had to grit his teeth and give up on the idea of a head-on breakthrough. He was pushed back awkwardly, like a wave, and passively moved laterally to the left.
Iupati and Staley were free, but they still didn't relax their guard. They constantly moved with small steps, keeping a close eye on the two linebackers in front of them, not daring to relax at all, or they would cross the offensive line and make the tackle.
Lu Ke's lateral movement to the left immediately attracted the attention of New York Giants' outside linebacker, number 57, Jacquian Williams. He followed closely. Staley immediately charged forward, but Staley's body was too big, and Jacquian's movement was a beat early. He moved laterally, and before Staley could close in, he broke free and continued to charge forward.
Jacquian was like a wild horse. His entire center of gravity had shifted, but he had no intention of adjusting. He followed his own momentum, sped up, and then sped up again. He chased Lu Ke at full speed and ran in a small arc. He tried to lunge forward with his hands, like a gibbon, further compressing Lu Ke's space and passing vision.
For Lu Ke, it was a chaotic mess in front of him.
Red and white were completely intertwined. As expected, Vernon, Ginn, and Moss, the three receivers, were surrounded by a full five defensive players. Each defender was covering one receiver closely, and two more players were actively moving forward, roaming at the front of the end zone, constantly waving their hands to obstruct the passing lane.
There was no space to pass. Absolutely no space to pass.
But now, what was more urgent than passing was a potential sack. In a flash, Lu Ke couldn't even activate his "Hawk-Eye" anymore. He could only reflexively activate his "Absolute footwork" again. This game had truly exhausted him to the very last drop, and his belief in victory had reached an unprecedented high.
Lu Ke never thought they had an inner demon, but if they did, he would now use his hands and feet to defeat it!
First second.
Jacquian was quickly closing in. Because Lu Ke was observing the passing routes, his steps seemed a little hesitant, which made Jacquian's chasing speed even more apparent. It seemed like just a breath, and Jacquian was already a step away. The hideous face hidden in the helmet was rapidly getting bigger.
Lu Ke's feet slammed on the brakes, and he stood still.
Jacquian's momentum was getting fiercer and fiercer. He seemed to be on the verge of losing control and passed by Lu Ke uncontrollably, but his hands were still stretched out with all his might, swinging constantly to obstruct Lu Ke's passing vision. But for Lu Ke, this fleeting space was enough.
He saw it!
Vernon and Moss held their positions. Ginn was quickly running back, creating a gap of about two yards between the three players who were covering him closely. For a passing offense, it was a gap as thin as a hair, but Lu Ke keenly caught it. His pupils constricted. He made a perfect adjustment with his feet and then raised his right hand and threw the football.
It was a bullet pass.
It shot out of his hand quickly and fiercely, like a flash of lightning, toward Ginn, who was about four or five yards from the goal line.
Ginn adjusted his feet with a series of small steps and was ready to catch the ball, but at that moment, an unexpected player appeared! A player in a white jersey suddenly appeared in the passing lane between Lu Ke and Ginn with a lateral dive. He stretched out his hands to the maximum, like he was blocking a basketball shot, and forcefully swatted the football away.
That was safety Terrell Frederick.
Cornerback Justin Tryon and Jacquian Williams, who was on the verge of losing control, both adjusted their body's center of gravity at the same time and dived toward where the football was falling, trying to make an interception. At least an interception, which would kill the game immediately!
Second second.
Lu Ke's heart suddenly constricted. He had been careless! He was actually careless!
He had completely forgotten about the two backup players at the front of the end zone. The pass arc was too flat and too straight! Damn it!
But Lu Ke's attention remained highly focused. He didn't lose his concentration at all, because it was a bullet pass. The power of the pass was fierce and straight, and it hit Frederick's palm almost like hitting a wall. And then... then it bounced straight back, only dropping a little faster.
Lu Ke took two quick steps forward, leaned forward, and lowered his hands, making a catching motion. He was like a monkey fishing for the moon, narrowly catching the football firmly in his hands at about the level of his knees. His peripheral vision could still clearly see the figures of Tryon and Jacquian chasing after him relentlessly.
Then, Lu Ke's own feet did something he didn't even expect.
First his left foot, then his right foot. He tiptoed, like a ballerina dancing, moving elegantly. He missed Tryon by a hair and dodged Jacquian. His graceful and fluid steps truly showed a beautiful and moving art form of dancing on a tightrope.
Then, the third second!
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