The 2011 season is nearing its end. Does anyone remember the Week 1 matchup?
For the 49ers and the 12th Man, that game should be unforgettable. The impression it left on both fanbases was so profound that the animosity has lasted the entire season.
The San Francisco 49ers scored a touchdown, then the Seattle Seahawks scored a touchdown. The 49ers scored another touchdown, while the Seahawks settled for a field goal, and then the game stalled until halftime. When the second half began, the 49ers gradually pulled away, ending the game with five touchdowns and a powerful victory to kick off their season.
Now, everyone has the same question in their mind: Is this game going to be a replay?
Because the San Francisco 49ers have scored another touchdown!
"Unbelievable! This is truly unbelievable!"
After exclaiming, Kirk chuckled to himself. "Our director just told me that a viewer on the live message board complained that I use the words 'unbelievable' and 'spectacular' too much, to the point that they've become my trademark. Haha, well, it's true."
"Now, if we look back at that last drive, the audience will understand exactly how I feel."
Kirk began to analyze the entire drive in detail. At the same time, the director played back the game footage, quickly completing the commentary during the gap between the team's celebration and the special teams taking the field.
"The Seahawks' defense clearly increased the intensity of their pass rush, trying to keep Lu Ke from passing in a comfortable pocket. Their pass-rushing style borrowed some lessons from the Ravens and Steelers games, focusing on pressure and supplementing with unexpected blitzes to make the quarterback nervous while surveying the field. They achieved good results."
"But let's look at how Lu Ke handled it."
"Facing a strong pass rush, he stepped up into the pocket and connected with Vernon Davis, who was pulling into the middle. Another time the pocket collapsed, and he threw a parallel pass at the last second to Marcus Lynch. Then, Logan Newmann made a block, helping Marcus gain yards."
"Then there was another strong rush from a pass rusher, who even jumped to try and swat the ball down. Lu Ke responded with two steps back to create distance and threw a high, arching rainbow pass, once again finding Vernon Davis in the short-pass area, who used his size advantage to make the catch."
"We can see that even with all the chaos in the pocket, he never panicked. He was always able to make a passing decision at the crucial moment. Second, those seemingly simple passes show Lu Ke's a mastery of anticipating defender positions and understanding matchups. Every decision he makes gives him a slight advantage, even if it's just gaining an extra two or three yards. The accumulation of these small advantages is what's tiring out the Seahawks."
"We all saw the result of the final pass, a touchdown, but the cumulative advantage leading up to it was crucial. On a third-and-three situation, just as everyone's attention was on Vernon Davis and Logan Newmann, Lu Ke accurately found Ted Ginn in stride. It was a thirty-one-yard long pass that stabbed right into the Seahawks' weakness."
"Ginn used his speed to easily get away from the safety who came to cover him. He then ran into the end zone without any challenges or obstacles, scoring the second touchdown of the game."
After replaying all the key parts of the drive, Kirk summarized.
"Playcalling, reading the defense, and in-game adjustments—these are the areas where Lu Ke has grown most remarkably this season. In Week 1, we were impressed by his deep throws, but now, the deep ball is just one of many weapons in his arsenal. He is controlling the game more intelligently and rationally."
At this point, the special teams had taken the field for the extra-point attempt. Teddy took over the commentary. "So... unbelievable. Right?"
"Yes, unbelievable," Kirk said with a candid laugh. "For a rookie quarterback, this kind of growth is absolutely terrifying. Sometimes, I even wonder if he's an alien."
"'Like E.T., the alien?'" Teddy teased, and the two of them chuckled silently.
The game resumed. But the course of the game was not what CenturyLink Field had hoped for. It seemed they had the wrong script.
The Seattle Seahawks' offense went three-and-out, unfortunately having to settle for a field goal attempt. After the field goal was successful, the 12th Man seemed a bit dazed, looking at the "10-14" score on the big screen. A sense of foreboding spread throughout the home team. Was this game really going to be a complete repeat of Week 1?
The start and the momentum were identical. So what about the ending?
However, this panic and uncertainty only lasted a moment before it was shattered. The course of the game finally changed!
The rest of the first half didn't fall into a stalemate. The 49ers, in their third offensive series, scored another touchdown, widening the lead to "10-21."
This time, the one who scored was Marcus Lynch.
Lu Ke, taking the field again, truly activated Vernon Davis in this game, maximizing the versatility of the two-tight-end formation. The complexity and variety of their plays also showcased Jim Harbaugh's coaching level.
Because of the constant threat of the deep ball, which was like a ticking time bomb, one safety had to stay in the backfield. This made the Seahawks' defense short-handed in the first half and unable to provide effective coverage. Lu Ke's precise defensive reads and anticipations gave him the upper hand, repeatedly tearing apart the defense in the short and intermediate passing zones.
The Seattle Seahawks' defense was truly overwhelmed and exhausted.
The 49ers steadily drove down the field. This drive didn't face a single third-down crisis. They only needed a maximum of two downs to get a first down. Time after time, they crossed midfield and methodically pushed into the red zone. At the crucial moment, they handed the ball off to Marcus.
The presence of the two tight ends was a killer in the red zone. The two cornerbacks and two outside linebackers couldn't afford to be complacent, but they were caught off guard and a half-step behind. By the time they realized the 49ers were running the ball, the defense's backup coverage was clearly lacking. In the end, Marcus broke through a backup outside linebacker, dodged a defensive tackle's tackle, and ran into the end zone.
It was a four-yard rushing touchdown.
The game's progression had finally changed. Week 16 was not Week 1, and the looming cloud of "history repeating itself" had finally dissipated. But the problem was that the home fans didn't seem happy about it, and they couldn't celebrate much. The scene became instantly strange.
In the first half, the San Francisco 49ers showed an explosive offense, easily scoring three touchdowns. Every time Lu Ke stepped onto the field, they scored. In the blink of an eye, the score difference between the two teams had widened. Now, the pressure on the Seahawks' offense to catch up was even more terrifying!
After a long sigh, the 12th Man rallied again, sending boos to the away team and welcoming the home team back with applause. Their confidence didn't seem to be too shaken. Even with an eleven-point deficit, they held their heads high, showing their determination to defeat their opponent.
This confidence was definitely not unfounded.
The Seahawks' offense had indeed undergone a massive transformation this season. Before Week 9, their average points per game was only 12.3. In Week 2, they even suffered a humiliating shutout loss on the road against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Their record at that point was only 2-6 (including a bye week).
After Week 10, their average points per game was 27. They had scored over 30 points in their last three consecutive games, achieving a record of 5-1. This included a crucial home victory against the Baltimore Ravens, which brought the team back into the playoff race.
Although it may sound incredible, given that their quarterback is Tarvaris Jackson, it's a fact. What brought the Seahawks back into contention wasn't their defense, but their offense!
Tarvaris has also had the best passing performance of his career. His passing yards have now exceeded 2,700, and it shouldn't be a problem for him to pass 3,000 yards by the end of the season.
So, CenturyLink Field cheered and roared again, doing everything they could to support their home team.
But unfortunately, against the San Francisco 49ers' strong defense, the Seahawks' offense, which had performed exceptionally well in the last three games, couldn't seem to get anything going. Besides Marshawn Lynch, the success rate of the entire offense was inconsistent and choppy, making their entire drive a struggle.
After pushing past midfield again, they went three-and-out once more but did get a chance for a forty-eight-yard field goal. Kicker Steven Hauschka easily made the kick, changing the score to "13-21."
Even though it was just a field goal, the Seahawks were still clinging to the score and not giving up. This alone sent the home fans into a frenzy. Cheers and screams surged like a tidal wave, as if they were roaring at the San Francisco 49ers:
Do you see? We haven't surrendered! We haven't given up easily! The outcome of this game is still unknown! Not only have we not lost yet, but our goal is still victory! Do you see? We are about to sound the charge! Anything is possible!
Once again, CenturyLink Field displayed its unparalleled power, asserting its reputation as the "Devil's Home Field." The home team's morale soared, while the away team felt a sense of dread.
Facing this situation, how did MVP candidate Lu Ke respond?
With a deep pass.
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