Chapter 731: Step by Step
After the halftime break, the Green Bay Packers' offense showed clear signs of a comeback. Their first drive resulted in a 34-yard long pass, and they got back into their rhythm, powerfully reminding everyone that as long as they had Rodgers, they were one of the most difficult opponents in the league!
But immediately after, the San Francisco 49ers' defense once again stepped up its intensity, showing an incredible amount of energy. The pent-up, fighting spirit from the offseason was unleashed without reservation. In this head-to-head clash, they delivered a wake-up call to their opponents, pushing the game back into an unpredictable state.
A perfect run defense. They not only prevented any yards from being gained but also forced the running back, Alex Green, to lose yards, tackling him two yards behind the line of scrimmage.
A perfect pass defense. Without any yellow flags for penalties, two defenders worked together to knock down a short pass from Rodgers to tight end Jermichael Finley. They were just shy of an interception but still managed to create an incomplete pass.
In the blink of an eye, without even having time to catch their breath, the San Francisco 49ers forced the Green Bay Packers into a third-and-12 situation.
Then, Rodgers once again showed his amazing energy. While on the move, he couldn't find a better passing route. Both the short and long passes were locked down, but the short-pass area in front of him was wide open. So, he smartly chose to run with the ball himself, rushing for 13 yards and getting another first down for his team.
Compared to Lu Ke's slightly clumsy runs, Rodgers's runs looked graceful and effortless, which was truly a pleasure to watch.
After converting the long third down, Rodgers couldn't help but clench the football in his hand and roar wildly. The continuous broken pockets and stalled drives had put him in a frustrated mood. After this successful 13-yard run, he let out a short burst of his frustration.
The entire Lambeau Field erupted. This was the Rodgers they were familiar with!
But that was all.
The 49ers' defense, which had completely sped up, missed their chance the first time but didn't regret missing it again. One hundred and nine seconds later, the Green Bay Packers were once again forced to a three-and-out and failed to score a touchdown.
This time, the Packers' offensive line was still having a lot of problems, and Rodgers's legs couldn't get them out of trouble.
Facing a defense that was constantly speeding up and applying pressure, there was a drop by a wide receiver, and a running back almost fumbled the ball—he regained control but still couldn't advance. The last time, Rodgers was forced into a dead end, with no room to run or a pass to throw, so he could only throw the ball out of bounds to avoid an interception.
A one-man show.
This was the best phrase to describe the Green Bay Packers. One Rodgers could not face a defense of eleven players who were all performing at a high level.
With no other choice, the Green Bay Packers opted for a field goal attempt.
Facing a 43-yard field goal, kicker Mason Crosby calmly kicked the ball in, bringing the score to 20-21. The difference between the two teams was now only one point. Any single drive could completely change the outcome of the entire game.
For the Green Bay Packers, the offensive initiative was once again in the hands of the San Francisco 49ers. Their last drive in the first half and their first drive in the second half ended with field goals, failing to score a touchdown and missing a great opportunity to catch up. This wasn't the best situation, but it wasn't the worst either.
This battle of momentum was clearly far from over.
Lu Ke could empathize with Rodgers's frustration and anger because they both knew how important the beginning of the second half was. The difference between a field goal and a touchdown was definitely more than just that one point between "20-21." So, when Lu Ke stepped onto the field again, his focus and concentration reached a new level, as if this were the last drive of the entire game.
Lu Ke wasn't in a hurry. He chose to play it safe and steady.
This time, Lu Ke began to focus on a balanced run-pass offense, using a more diverse combination of plays to disrupt the Green Bay Packers' defensive tempo.
With six passes and four runs, the run-pass ratio wasn't a perfect 50/50 split, but it was still close to a balanced state. Four of the passes were completed, and three of the runs were successful—the other run unfortunately resulted in a loss of yards.
It was clear that the Green Bay Packers' defense was trying to keep up with the 49ers' offensive tempo and was consciously increasing their intensity, successfully causing some problems. But overall, the 49ers' drive continued. With the exception of one third-down conversion, the overall smoothness of the offense was still a pleasure to watch.
After a little more than five minutes of drives, and with two yellow flags, the offense had already reached the opponent's 26-yard line!
Clearly, the 49ers were not just satisfied with getting into field goal range. They were once again aiming for a touchdown in the end zone. Although they lacked the excitement of a long pass, they were steadily advancing and gradually disrupting the opponent's defensive tempo. Kirk gave the most accurate and precise summary of this—
"Although I don't want to say this, the fact is that Lu Ke is truly starting to control the game."
Last season, the 49ers' offense always made people's hearts race, for better or for worse, like dancing on a tightrope.
This season, the 49ers' offense had a feeling of being naturally perfect. This isn't to say that Lu Ke was taking fewer bold risks but that the balance between passing and running, the combination of short and long passes, and the entire play combination and execution became more reasonable. Even when he took a risk, he aimed at the right moment and made an accurate throw!
Of course, this was only the first game of a long season, and it wasn't even over yet. This observation still needs to be proven and tested. It was still too early to say anything. But in the short break, the 49ers' offense once again started a new wave.
"Hut!"
After the snap, Lu Ke unexpectedly handed the ball to Marcus Lynch.
The reason for saying this was that there was no sign before the snap that this would be a run play.
Facing a second-and-8 situation, after only advancing two yards on a first-and-10 run, the 49ers lined up in a shotgun formation, supplemented by a strong, multi-route passing offense with three receiving options on the left and one on the right. Marcus was in the slot to Lu Ke's right, adding a receiving option on the right side.
The Green Bay Packers, on the other hand, lined up in a strong blitz formation. The defensive line and linebacker group were aggressively pressing forward. On one hand, they were prepared to stop the run defense, and on the other hand, they were ready to blitz the quarterback. At the same time, the secondary defense also spread out, leaving the middle-pass area open, completing their defensive scheme by cutting off the ends.
On the first snap, Lu Ke chose a fake snap but couldn't deceive the opponent. Then he changed the play on the fly. Marcus moved from the right to the left, also in the slot, becoming the fourth receiving option on the left side. Also, the three players on the left moved slightly outward.
All the actions showed that this would be a duel between a blitz and a pass play.
It was in this situation that Lu Ke chose to run, which was bold!
Marcus was highly focused.
This was a common run play that appeared frequently in practice and was suitable for long second-down situations.
The offensive line would choose a direction to move in, shifting the defensive line and linebackers' center of gravity. Then, with the help of the center, guard, and tackle's blocking, they would open up a path within the line, unexpectedly allowing the running back to gain room to run and find a route to advance with the ball.
Of course, there were countless possible variations depending on the actual game situation, and the players would make further judgments based on the current situation.
This was one of those times.
Lu Ke specifically arranged three receiving players on the left side and intentionally changed the play before the snap. After the snap, Crabtree, Vernon, and Ginn all meticulously ran their routes. Two of them ran into the middle-pass area, and one moved to the outside in the short-pass area and quickly stopped and turned.
Furthermore, in the previous series of drives, Lu Ke had already set up the play and was in control.
The precise short passes and play combinations were a huge success in their drives. They constantly changed the tempo to attack the combined coverage of the linebackers and cornerbacks, creating one dangerous situation after another. Although there were two incomplete passes out of six, the other four were three short passes and one medium pass. The unpredictable running routes were truly dazzling.
With these layers of setup, the defensive line and linebackers' center of gravity shifted immediately.
Not only that, but Lu Ke's running direction was also toward the left. He and Marcus passed each other head-on, which further deceived the opponent. Finally, at the moment of the position change, Lu Ke handed the ball to Marcus.
After taking the handoff, Marcus quickly scanned the offensive line and saw that Iupati and Goodwin had successfully torn open a small path.
Without any hesitation, Marcus quickly took a sharp turn, carrying the ball forward. He nimbly passed through the space created by his two teammates. At the same time, he could hear the muffled sound of a strong collision exploding in his ears. The defensive linemen were forcefully pushed back by a half-step, and a path opened up in front of him, like a runway for takeoff.
Marcus would not miss such a great opportunity!
With a forward rush, a crouch, and a collision, Marcus actively charged toward linebacker A.J. Hawk's tackle. He came at him like a train. With a "bang," Hawk was seen stumbling and retreating.
🗒️NOTE:
Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/MistaQuartz
Explore up to 30 chapters in advance!