Chapter 333 331: Complete Eruption

"A disaster. For the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, this is an absolute disaster. The most outstanding and consistent member of their offense over the past three weeks, running back No. 27, Lagarette Blount, was accidentally injured on that last run. From the looks of it on the field, it seems to be his knee. He's still down and hasn't been able to get back up. The team's medical staff is already on the field. If Blount is out of the game, it will be a massive blow to the Buccaneers' offense."

The game came to a halt. All the Buccaneers' offensive players gathered around Blount, anxiously checking on his condition, while the 49ers' defense spread out to other corners of the field, awaiting the results of the medical examination.

In the broadcast booth, they were replaying the last down. Blount took the handoff and was tackled. As he went down, his knee seemed to buckle, but there were no clear signs of impact or injury. The footage didn't offer any more detail, so all they could do was wait for the medical report.

After the San Francisco 49ers scored their third touchdown in a nail-biting fashion, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' offense took the field again, still looking sluggish.

Over the course of two offensive drives, the terrible performance of third-year quarterback Josh Freeman mired the Buccaneers' entire offense in a slump. At least two of his passes were nearly intercepted, but the 49ers' defense lacked a bit of luck, letting the opportunities slip by. This saved Freeman from adding to his interception count, but despite avoiding turnovers, his pocket presence and target selection showed no signs of improvement.

Ultimately, the entire burden fell on the shoulders of running back Blount. He was like the Buccaneers' last hope, barely managing to drag the team forward against the furious assault of the 49ers' defense, but to little avail.

With less than two minutes left in the second quarter, the score remained 21-0, with the home team, the San Francisco 49ers, in the lead. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, however, still hadn't found a way to score, not even a single field goal.

After a preliminary on-field examination by the medical staff, Blount couldn't get to his feet. He was placed on a stretcher on the back of a medical cart and slowly driven off the field for further evaluation. The bad news had finally been confirmed.

"Blount's unexpected injury has completely disrupted the Buccaneers' game plan, and the situation is becoming increasingly dire. For the young quarterback Freeman, he has to pull himself together. Playing from behind is a tough test, but it's the only path to victory. If the score gap widens any further, the second half could very well turn into garbage time."

In the commentary booths, whether it was Kirk and Teddy from Fox Television or commentators from other radio and online platforms, everyone immediately shared their thoughts. But they all agreed on one thing: the Tampa Bay Buccaneers needed a savior to step up. Could quarterback Josh Freeman shoulder that responsibility?

The answer was no.

After crossing midfield, Freeman threw his second interception of the day. At the 49ers' 41-yard line, cornerback Reggie Smith made a diving catch, picking off Freeman's pass intended for wide receiver Mike Williams and successfully forcing the game's second turnover.

With one minute and thirty-four seconds left before halftime, the San Francisco 49ers' offense got to take the field once more. This meant Lu Ke had a ninety-four-second opportunity, with all three timeouts still available, to lead his team on a drive, attempt a field goal or score a touchdown, and further widen the gap.

Taking the field again, Lu Ke took a deep breath and started jumping on the spot, actively firing himself up.

They had a big lead, momentum was on their side, and halftime was just around the corner. It seemed, perhaps, maybe, that slacking off a bit and letting these ninety-four seconds run out wouldn't be a bad choice. As a result, his whole demeanor wasn't quite as energetic; it felt like he'd lost some of his earlier edge.

Lu Ke knew this was an absolute taboo in a game. He had to maintain that hunger and sense of urgency at all times. Otherwise, the slightest bit of complacency could completely turn the tide of the game.

He picked up his helmet and saw his offensive teammates waiting for him on the sideline. Mike Lupati rubbed his hands together. "So, how about we go get another touchdown? You ready?"

Lu Ke was taken aback for a moment. Standing beside him, Kyle Williams pointed to himself and Ted Ginn Jr. "Hey, it's our turn now, right? This is a home game, the first sellout since the season started. You're not gonna give us a chance to show what we can do? I'm totally pumped right now."

Lu Ke had been worried his teammates might be thinking of easing up a bit, but clearly, he was wrong.

"Then we'd better get on the field. Tick-tock, time's tight." Lu Ke put on his helmet and led the offensive unit back onto the field. The roar of the crowd was like a tidal wave; even with only ninety-four short seconds left in the half, their enthusiasm was electrifying.

On their own 41-yard line, they lined up for the play.

First and ten. A short pass from Lu Ke to Crabtree fell incomplete. Lu Ke's throw was slightly off-target. Lynch, standing nearby, made a sarcastic remark, "Must've overused your right hand last night. Look at you, getting the shakes today." Amid a chorus of laughter, Lu Ke could only shake his head with a helpless look.

Second and ten. Lynch ran the ball but only gained two yards before being stopped. This time, it was Lu Ke's turn to joke. "Probably overused your ass last night. Now your knees are giving out." The laughter from the others was even louder this time, while Lynch looked utterly indignant.

Third and eight. Shotgun Formation. Lu Ke had only taken two steps back in his drop when he saw the pocket collapsing at ten times the normal speed. One second, two seconds… before the "tick" of the second second could even register, the Buccaneers' defense line had already burst through with overwhelming force.

A total explosion.

Every player on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' defense had been holding their breath. After consecutive failed drives, falling behind on defense, and even losing their star running back to injury, everything was going against them. Following Freeman's interception, the players on the defense line finally erupted.

It wasn't just Bennett. The other three linemen and all three linebackers instantly accelerated. With their bull-rush style and a seven-on-five numbers advantage, they gave the 49ers' offense line no room to breathe. In the blink of an eye, they had torn through the pocket, and everyone swarmed toward Lu Ke.

The San Francisco 49ers' offense line had actually been performing admirably today. Each one of them held their ground, and even as they were pushed back, their hands held firm against the opponents' charge, forming a wall of flesh between the defense line and Lu Ke to prevent a direct hit or a sack.

But now, it was like being crushed between two walls of flesh.

Lu Ke stood in the pocket, not even having finished his dropback, when he saw the encirclement closing in at the speed of light. His mind reflexively screamed for 'Absolute Step,' but his feet felt too heavy to lift. A faint thought flashed through his brain: 'I'm out of Absolute Step. I've used up all of that Special Skill.'

That momentary hesitation cost him his chance to escape. Moreover, the opponents' breakthrough this time was simply unstoppable. It kicked up a wave of pressure in the air, so intense you could almost see the air itself compressing.

In the next instant, with no time to think or react, Lu Ke could only pull back his throwing arm and tuck the football tightly against his chest. His mind raced, 'How am I supposed to protect the ball? What's the right way to hold it when running?' In his panic, the already unfamiliar technique began to fall apart.

Then, the crumbling wall of flesh closed in on him. From the left, from the right, from the front, layer after layer, they swarmed him. Someone crashed into him, someone fell, someone tried to tackle him, someone collapsed with a thud. It was a continuous, thundering chaos.

In the midst of the chaos, Lu Ke felt as if he were standing on a rock in the ocean, vividly experiencing the sensation of fierce waves crashing over his head. His head spun, and it felt like cartoon crows were circling above him. But he held onto the football for dear life, driven by a single conviction: 'Protect the ball.' Fumbling here and causing another turnover would be disastrous for the San Francisco 49ers.

To protect the football, every muscle in Lu Ke's body tensed to its absolute limit. He stood his ground, unyielding. Incredibly, his feet didn't even move, as if he had mastered the ultimate technique of the Unmoving Bright King: *Let him be strong; the gentle breeze blows over the hill. Let him be wild; the bright moon shines on the great river.* Amid wave after wave of impact, Lu Ke's mind cleared of all distractions, becoming even more resolute.

Suddenly, someone began to wrap him up around the waist.

Break free. It was Lu Ke's physical reflex, and he started to struggle with all his might.

But unexpectedly, the tackler seemed to be off-balance as well, and his grip wasn't secure at all. Then, another impact crashed into them—hitting the other player, not Lu Ke. Lu Ke was just caught in the chain reaction. The escape techniques from training actually came in handy, and Lu Ke successfully broke free from the tackle!

Run. That was his body's next reaction. He followed his instincts and charged forward. He had expected to run straight into a thick wall of bodies, but as he pushed off, a rush of cool, fresh air hit his face. Lifting his gaze, he looked out through his helmet and saw nothing but a wide-open field. No defensive players, no offensive players—just pure, empty space.

'What's going on?'

Stumbling, Lu Ke began to run.