Chapter 331 329: A Close Shave

Inside the Fox Television studio, it was as if they had just weathered the Fierce Waves and a sudden squall. The room to breathe had been utterly compressed, and even the air began to boil, its gurgling clearly audible.

"On that last drive, Lu Ke really showed what a strong heart he has, the guts he possesses. Down to the wire, he was unyielding, searching for a passing lane. The way he accelerated the entire offense couldn't help but bring Peyton Manning to mind. In his prime, Manning's offense flowed like water, so seamless and fluid that it was simply unstoppable."

Kirk was certainly the most qualified to comment. He'd witnessed Lu Ke's lightning-fast offensive drive at the Rose Bowl, and over the past four weeks, he had also seen Lu Ke's decision-making and judgment in critical moments. During those last two downs, when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers suddenly picked up the pace, Lu Ke sensed the danger and adjusted right along with them—

It was obvious to everyone that the other players on the 49ers offense were a step slow. But Lu Ke forced the tempo, unleashing the full power of the attack. He completed two consecutive passes under thrilling, high-pressure situations. It was so tense it was nearly suffocating.

"Let's take a look at the replay," Teddy had to interrupt Kirk's awestruck commentary, bringing the focus back to the pending call on the field. "On this catch, Vernon Davis used his physical advantage to forcefully bump the defending cornerback, then adjusted his footing to get ready for the ball.

But it's clear Lu Ke and Vernon's timing isn't quite perfected yet. They aren't completely familiar with each other's passing and running routes, which led to Lu Ke's pass being slightly off-target, heading toward the sideline. At the critical moment, Vernon stretched his body to its absolute limit, snatching the ball out of the air and making a tough catch, but he lost his balance and fell out of bounds.

The question now is whether both of Vernon's feet were still in-bounds when he gained control of the football."

On the field, all the Tampa Bay players were making the "incomplete pass" gesture. They were all convinced that one of Vernon's feet was already out of bounds the moment he caught the ball, which would make it an incomplete pass. But the referees needed to confirm it by video review.

The replay began on the television screen. Teddy and Kirk, just like the viewers at home, widened their eyes and locked onto Vernon's feet.

"One foot lands—the right one first—he makes the catch, then the toe of his left foot drags on the grass as he secures the football. Both feet were even in-bounds for a moment, a slight pause to establish control, and then his whole body flew out. It's good! Absolutely no question about it! That's a textbook catch! Vernon showed off his world-class receiving skills. Beautiful, just beautiful!"

Kirk's commentary declared the outcome. As soon as he finished, Teddy added, "From our camera angle, it looks like an indisputable catch. But we still have to wait for the referee's official ruling…" Before he could even finish his sentence, the referee on the field made the signal for a completed catch. "Alright, after reviewing the play, the referee has ruled the catch valid. It's a successful pass and reception, and the San Francisco 49ers will move the chains again."

"Wow, that is absolutely the mark of a top-tier receiver," Kirk commented. "Making a catch in a desperate situation, and with such outstanding body control. A hair's breadth could have made it an incomplete pass, yet he controlled the entire situation.

Outstanding, that was truly outstanding! On this San Francisco 49ers team, Vernon was originally the only one you could call a top-flight receiver. But now, several of the team's receivers are performing at an elite level, and Vernon's spot was starting to look precarious. But with that single catch, Vernon proved once again why he's a Pro Bowl-caliber player!"

"But the most important factor is still Lu Ke," Teddy smoothly brought the focus back to the game. "He completed two passes under immense pressure. This rookie quarterback's guts and commanding presence in critical moments are truly impressive. Now, the San Francisco 49ers have entered the red zone. This next series of plays should be exciting."

...

After the successful catch was confirmed, Vernon Davis quickly walked over to Lu Ke. Through his helmet, his eyes asked the question, 'Should I come off the field?'

Lu Ke raised his right hand and pressed it down repeatedly, signaling for Vernon to stay. In the short-yardage game, Vernon's physical advantage was a lethal weapon, even more impactful than Logan's. He needed Vernon to be a beacon out there. Even if he wasn't the target, his presence alone in the red zone was a major threat.

Vernon was surprisingly a little nervous, but his years of experience on the field helped him calm down. He returned to his position and lined up for the next play.

The twenty-yard line in Tampa Bay Buccaneers territory. The San Francisco 49ers had entered the red zone.

First and ten. After the snap, Lu Ke handed the ball off to Marcus Lynch. Lynch fought his way through the chaos, gaining four yards on the play.

Second and six. From the Shotgun Formation, Lu Ke took a large step forward and released the ball with incredible speed—a lightning-quick pass. Vernon made the catch again, and although he was tackled immediately, the seven-yard gain was enough for a first down. It brought them to the nine-yard line, giving the San Francisco 49ers a prime opportunity: first and goal.

As they started the next play, a yellow flag flew before the pass could even happen. Lu Ke hadn't even raised his arm to throw before the referee's flag stopped the play. It was a false start on the offense—Vernon had moved before the snap. This resulted in a five-yard penalty for the San Francisco 49ers, moving them back to the fourteen-yard line.

The members of the offense didn't know whether to laugh or cry, and the tense atmosphere eased slightly. Vernon, now the center of attention, looked like he wanted to say something but couldn't get the words out. Instead, he just straightened his back, pretended nothing had happened, and returned to the line of scrimmage.

"Focus up! Everybody, focus up!" Lu Ke's shout successfully took the heat off Vernon, and the San Francisco 49ers got ready for the next play.

Because of the penalty, the San Francisco 49ers would repeat the first down.

First and fifteen. Lu Ke found Kyle Williams for a five-yard pass. After the catch, Williams pushed forward for another two yards, an eight-yard gain in total.

Second and goal—meaning, if they could score on this down, it would be an immediate touchdown. Now, they were seven yards from the end zone, so it was naturally second and goal.

Marcus Lynch, who had been running exceptionally well all day, got the ball again. This seemed to take the Pirate Team by surprise once more. Facing the end zone so close, Lu Ke opted against one of his precise short passes and chose to trust his running back again. The intensity from the Defense Line seemed to lessen slightly.

As a result, Lynch pulled off a respectable run, successfully gaining five yards. In such a tight, congested space, with the whole defense compressed, there was very little room for a running back to build up speed and sprint. Gaining five yards there was truly impressive.

Third and goal. They were now just two measly yards from the End Zone. But those two yards were as tough as any goal-line stand. The San Francisco 49ers really only had one more chance at it. If they failed, they would have to settle for a field goal. Turning a potential seven points into three was not a good trade.

All the players on the offense gathered around Lu Ke. After entering the red zone, the intensity and density of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' defense had gone up a notch. The difficulty of scoring a Touchdown had multiplied, and they could all feel the pressure now.

Lu Ke looked up at his teammates. Without any extra words, he said, "I think we can do this. What do you guys think?"

"Duh!" "Of course!" "Definitely!" The replies came one after another, but Lu Ke shook his head, showing he wasn't satisfied. He clenched his fist tightly. "What is our goal?"

"Touchdown!"

"What is our goal?"

"Touchdown!"

All the chaos and agitation settled down. Their gazes refocused, and a raging will to fight erupted. Their wills united as one. Lu Ke nodded heavily and slammed his fist into his left palm. "Good. Then let's go get a Touchdown!"

After quickly laying out the play, the San Francisco 49ers' offense lined up in formation.

Amid the surrounding chaos, Lu Ke let out a long, slow breath. He stared intently at Bennett on the other side of the line, but only for a moment before his gaze shifted. The entire world slowed down in his vision, ten times slower. It wasn't Bullet Time, nor was it one of his Special Skills. It was the calm that comes in a critical moment. Everything became clearer than ever, as if he could perceive every subtle change on the field.

"Hike!"

In that instant, Lu Ke held his breath as he took the snap. Without a moment's hesitation, he began to roll out to the right. It wasn't just him; the entire Offense Line shifted collectively to the right as well. The two groups of offensive and defensive Forward Players were completely out of sync. Their collisions couldn't land squarely. Instead, they moved laterally at completely different tempos, their vertical push-and-pull completely nullified.

At the same time, all the receivers and defensive backs in the End Zone were also clustering in the same direction. Countless players packed into the small area, seeming to fill every inch of space.

Vernon Davis sprinted straight ahead, then made a sharp cut inward to his left, moving quickly toward the back of the End Zone near the middle. He then spun around abruptly, raised his hands high to signal for the ball, and at almost the exact same moment, Lu Ke raised his right arm and threw the football without any hesitation.

The football shot out like a cannonball, flying in a powerful, straight line. You could even see the spiraling wake of air it left behind. It soared menacingly over the heads of the other players and arrived right where Vernon was—

Vernon leaped high into the air, grabbing the football securely with both hands. His ten fingers tightened around it. Then, answering gravity's call, he came crashing down. A split second later came the sound of a vicious collision from behind—THUD!