Chapter 413: Feeling Tight

The challenge flag review dragged on for a bit. After about two minutes, the referees finally returned to the field. Players from both sides gradually made their way back on as well, preparing for the next down.

Regardless of whether the challenge was successful, the San Francisco 49ers would still be on offense.

Even if the New York Giants’ challenge had succeeded, it would have only nullified the yards gained after Vernon made the catch. This meant the 49ers would start their next offensive play from the spot where Vernon had secured the ball. Whether that would be second-and-one, second-and-inches, or, with a bit of luck, a first down from the home team’s 42-yard line—it all depended on the referee’s call.

So, while the referee prepared to announce the result, the 49ers offense and the Giants Defense Team took the field again to prepare for the next play.

The head referee switched on his microphone, faced the crowd and the cameras, and announced the final ruling.

“After reviewing the play, the previous ruling is upheld. The advance by Vernon Davis was legal.” At that, the entire stadium erupted in cheers, almost completely drowning out the referee’s voice. “The New York Giants will be charged a timeout. Furthermore, the San Francisco 49ers will start their drive from the opposing team’s 40-yard line. The game clock will be reset to eleven minutes and thirty-three seconds. First-and-ten.”

Tom Coughlin’s discussion with the referee before officially throwing the challenge flag had taken some time. To be fair, the officials reset the game clock, restoring the lost time. It was only a few seconds, but no one could say for sure whether those few seconds might prove crucial in turning the tide of the game.

After the announcement, frustrated groans came from the New York Giants’ sideline, while the San Francisco 49ers’ side erupted in joyous cheers.

The stands of Candlestick Park were a roaring sea of jubilant fans. A dazzling wave of red spread across the entire stadium, a truly spectacular sight.

Back on the field, the players from both teams had to compose themselves, refocus, line up, and throw themselves into the next down.

Lu Ke let out a soft breath. ‘The game has been full of surprises since it started, making the whole pace choppy and uneven. It’s been almost eight minutes since kickoff, but in reality, we’ve only run five offensive plays, and less than four minutes have ticked off the game clock. It’s definitely affecting my rhythm.’

Lu Ke was already short on game experience, and today was throwing one curveball after another; he needed a moment to adapt to the on-field adjustments. ‘I need to calm down, block out all the external factors, and just focus on the game. I can’t forget—this is a must-win game.’

For this game, “Special Mission: The Disdain of Charles Davis” was undoubtedly the top priority of the week. The penalty for failure was a loss Lu Ke could hardly bear. On top of that, this week’s game missions had also changed, with further refinements that increased the difficulty.

“Game Missions: Complete a passing Touchdown in an official game. Requirement: None. Reward: +1 base point per Touchdown. Accumulate passing yards in the first half. Requirement: At least 100 passing yards. Reward: +1 base point. Achieve a high long-pass completion rate in the first half. Requirement: At least 70% completion rate. Reward: +1 base point. Complete a pass from a designated formation in the first half. Requirement: Complete two long passes from the Shotgun Formation. Reward: +1 base point. Win the official game. Requirement: None. Reward: +3 base points.”

The changes to the missions’ content and objectives were so obvious they were impossible to ignore.

First, there were three new first-half missions. This was a first. ‘So, what does that mean?’

‘Maybe it means the system wants me to elevate my performance in the first half and build a lead. Or maybe it means this game is going to be incredibly intense, and I need to get into the zone quickly. Whatever the reason, I need to take it seriously.’

Setting aside the others, just the mission for one hundred passing yards in the first half was incredibly demanding. It not only required Lu Ke to be bold with his throws, but it also depended on his receivers getting open and gaining yards after the catch. He needed both to happen to complete the mission. After all, in the last game, Rex Grossman hadn’t managed to break one hundred passing yards for the entire game.

Second, there were the missions for long-pass completion rate and designated formation passes. These two detail-oriented tasks meant Lu Ke had to be more cautious and more focused. He had to think and plan more before every throw and read the defense more carefully before every snap.

Unlike overall pass completion rate, the frequency of long passes and specific formations is limited in any given game. Lu Ke couldn’t just attempt ten long passes in a row, nor could he run every play out of the Shotgun Formation. Leaving aside Jim Hubble’s game plan, even if Hubble agreed, Lu Ke couldn’t be so one-dimensional, lest the opponent see right through his strategy.

What’s more, these missions were confined to the first half, which meant even fewer opportunities.

If Lu Ke attempted only three long passes in the first half and completed two, his completion rate would be below seventy percent, and the mission would be a failure. The difficulty was plain to see.

This meant that with every long pass attempt, with every play from the Shotgun Formation, Lu Ke had to be more meticulous, more focused, more deliberate. One miss meant he’d have to work twice as hard to get back on track to complete the mission.

‘Does this mean the system is pushing me to take greater control of the game’s rhythm? To play with my brain, not just my instincts? Judging by these missions, it certainly seems that way.’

Lu Ke knew this week’s game against the New York Giants would be tough—a fifty-fifty toss-up where anything could happen. But after reviewing the special mission and the game missions, that reality felt all the more urgent.

The chaotic start to the game seemed to confirm it. Eli Manning’s offense hadn’t even taken the field yet, and sparks were already flying against the New York Giants’ supposedly weaker Defense Team. Tension and excitement were already starting to fill Candlestick Park.

‘Focus. Focus. Focus.’

Lu Ke clenched his fist, dropped to one knee, and gathered his teammates to quickly call the play. The offense then hurried to the line. Lu Ke positioned himself behind his center, Jonathan Goodwin. He didn’t rush the snap. Instead, he slowed the pace, carefully read the defense, and only then called for the ball.

First-and-ten. Lu Ke barely hesitated. With a slight adjustment of his feet, he fired a quick, short pass toward Ted Ginn Jr. But the defense read his intention. Double-teamed, Ginn barely managed to secure the catch before he was swallowed up, gaining only two yards.

Second-and-eight. After the snap, Lu Ke handed the ball off to Marcus Lynch and watched as he slammed into a wall of bodies, zigging and zagging. Defensive players piled on one after another, and Marcus barely managed to churn out three yards before his progress was halted.

In the blink of an eye, the San Francisco 49ers were facing third-and-five. They were on the opponent’s 35-yard line, which was too far for a field goal attempt. This meant that if they failed to convert on third down, their drive would stall.

Lu Ke let out a long breath. ‘My focus isn’t sharp enough. My pre-snap reads have been off.’

‘On first down, I should have targeted Crabtree. He was in a better position, and Ginn’s strengths aren’t in the short passing game. On second down, I misread the defense. My own movement wasn’t deceptive enough, so I failed to draw defenders away from Marcus.’

Fortunately, Lu Ke’s mind wasn’t a complete fog. He knew what was happening and recognized his mistakes.

After exhaling sharply, he stopped his mind from wandering and gathered his teammates, getting straight to the point as he called the play. Right now, his steady and decisive demeanor was more effective at calming the team’s nerves than any pep talk. After the chaotic start, everyone was gradually settling down and getting into the game—a positive sign.

Lining up again, the San Francisco 49ers came out in a classic “two-by-two” formation: two receivers to the left and two to the right. Nothing new, nothing fancy.

The only difference was that Kyle Williams had come in to replace Vernon Davis, suggesting the play was designed to attack the intermediate and deep parts of the field—a clear challenge to the defense.

The New York Giants, however, stuck to their guns. They once again showed the same formation with eight men crowding the line of scrimmage, lined up almost in a single file with only slight variations in their depth. In the middle, their Defense Line now had four men facing the 49ers’ five-man Offense Line, while on the outside, they were in one-on-one coverage against the 49ers’ four receivers.

Of their remaining three players, two were positioned about five yards back to cover the intermediate routes, while a single safety patrolled more than twelve yards deep, roaming and looking to make a play.

No one could predict the San Francisco 49ers’ routes, and likewise, no one could tell if the New York Giants were planning to blitz or stick to man-to-man coverage.

Just then, Lu Ke barked out an audible and changed his stance, taking two large steps back. Simultaneously, Marcus Lynch shifted to the right, positioning himself behind the two receivers to form an inverted triangle.

The Pistol Formation instantly morphed into a Shotgun Formation, sending an even clearer signal: this was a deep passing play. So, would the New York Giants adjust their defense or not?

But Lu Ke gave them no time to think, decisively calling for the snap. Now, everyone would have to react on the fly.