Chapter 364 361: Deadlock

Taking the field again, Matthew Stafford wasn't nervous or hesitant. In fact, he seemed even steadier and bolder, showing a do-or-die attitude in the face of adversity. He was proving to every single spectator that the Detroit Lions' five-game winning streak was no fluke, but something earned through sheer, absolute power.

Their aggressive offensive posture was on full display.

After the first pass was called back on a penalty, Stafford reset the offense. He started by handing the ball off to running back Jahvid Best. The second-year running back, who had rushed for 115 yards in the previous game, was met with layers of resistance from the 49ers Defense Team. But after several collisions, Best miraculously stayed on his feet, stumbling and staggering his way up the left side to eventually secure the first down.

After that, Stafford unleashed his full arsenal, effectively maintaining a balanced run-pass offense.

Best and the other running back, Kevin Smith, took turns on the field, and their ground game proved remarkably effective. The two wide receivers other than Calvin Johnson also performed consistently, making three catches to steadily move the chains. Add to that two untimely penalties on the San Francisco 49ers that automatically awarded first downs... and the Lions' entire offense had completely opened up.

Although the 49ers Defense Team was focused and had increased their intensity—making consecutive stops, preventing big gains, and repeatedly forcing the Lions into second and third-down situations—they just couldn't seem to make a stop on third-and-long. The one time they did succeed, a yellow flag wiped out their effort, automatically granting a first down.

And so, in a stumbling but effective drive that took less than four minutes, Stafford successfully advanced into the San Francisco 49ers' red zone.

Then, facing a second-and-five, Stafford threw a short screen pass to Calvin Johnson in the left corner. Triple-teamed by three defensive players, Johnson used his physical advantage to forcefully snatch the ball out of the air. He then broke a tackle and, dragging a defender with him, powerfully drove into the End Zone to score his second Touchdown of the day.

Helpless. It was complete and utter helplessness.

The Detroit Lions' play was obvious: Matthew Stafford connecting with Calvin Johnson. There was no need for guesswork. The San Francisco 49ers executed their defense successfully; three defenders formed a pocket around Johnson, maintaining their positions without leaving any routes open. They had him trapped like a turtle in a jar.

But Johnson, relying on his individual talent and ability, managed to carve a path through anyway. The 49ers' safety, Colin Jones, even committed a penalty—pulling his jersey and helmet—but still couldn't stop Johnson's bulldozer-like advance. He was dragged right into the End Zone, joining his opponent in completing the Touchdown.

The foul was useless; the touchdown was good.

It was an unsolvable problem. Just like Marshawn Lynch of the Seattle Seahawks, once he got into peak form, he was simply unstoppable.

Even when his tactic was exposed, his target was known, and the defense collaborated to stop him, he just couldn't be stopped. What's even more terrifying is that if the Defense Team focuses all its efforts on him, the offense's quarterback can use such a talented player as a decoy, target a weak spot in the defense, and land a fatal blow in an instant. The defense would be caught trying to cover one thing only to lose another.

Aside from sighing in resignation, the Defense Team could only be thankful that talented players aren't omnipotent; they can't dominate on every single down. How to defend Calvin Johnson was a question every team in the Alliance had to study.

Another Touchdown. Another one for Calvin Johnson. The Detroit Lions once again showcased their aggressive offense, keeping pace and tying the score for the second time.

San Francisco scores a touchdown, Detroit scores a touchdown. Then, San Francisco scores another touchdown, and Detroit answers with another of their own. The score on the field followed an interesting pattern, and just like that, it was 14-14. The intensely close game was electric, leaving every spectator shouting with excitement!

If this game were being broadcast during primetime, Lu Ke and Stafford would undoubtedly gain a huge number of fans. Unfortunately, it wasn't a night game.

Regardless, the online stream was still buzzing with countless discussions. Netizens were getting fired up. Both Lu Ke and Stafford were considered part of the younger generation in the Alliance, and their sudden, explosive emergence was truly an eye-opener for everyone.

The game continued in the same vein, entering a true deadlock!

The San Francisco 49ers got the ball back, but this time, the Detroit Lions' kickoff coverage was incredibly effective. The 49ers sent out Kyle Williams to handle the return. After catching the ball, Williams couldn't find any open space but still tried to make a return. As he twisted and turned, the Lions' special teams unit quickly tackled him, even causing a loss of yardage.

In the end, the San Francisco 49ers started their drive from their own seven-yard line.

Facing such terrible starting field position, Lu Ke once again made a calm and collected decision. Using a crossing route, he threw a thirteen-yard pass to Ted Ginn Jr. After making the catch, Ginn broke through two tackle attempts with unstoppable momentum, successfully advancing near midfield before being brought down by a reinforcing tackle from Louis Delmas, which finally halted the advance.

Next, Lu Ke handed the ball off to Marcus Lynch, who successfully executed a powerful run to gain a first down. This was followed by two consecutive short passes to Crabtree on the left, and another short pass connecting with Logan on the right. After another four-yard run by Lynch, the San Francisco 49ers were already within field goal range.

Unfortunately, that was as far as the drive would go. The next three plays failed to yield satisfactory results, and they couldn't secure another first down. Facing an ambiguous fourth-and-two, Jim Hubble didn't risk going for it. Instead, he sent out David Akens, and the veteran calmly kicked a thirty-eight-yard field goal.

After securing the three points, the San Francisco 49ers successfully took the lead again, 17-14, and maintained their advantage.

Matthew Stafford's offensive rhythm seemed to have been affected to some degree. When he took the field again, his first-down pass was incomplete. On second down, a successful connection was negated by a penalty on his own teammate. Not only did the pass not count, but they also lost five yards, forcing them to replay second down with fifteen yards to go.

Then, after a failed run and a long pass that was wildly off-target, they went three-and-out. Clean and simple. There wasn't much of a struggle, nor much controversy. For the first time in the game, the balance was broken. The pattern of the San Francisco 49ers scoring and the Detroit Lions immediately answering to keep the score tight was finally shattered as the second quarter neared its end.

However, the game had just passed the two-minute warning, and there wasn't much time left before the end of the first half.

After taking the field again, Lu Ke completed a twenty-one-yard pass down the right side to Vernon Davis, who immediately ran out of bounds to stop the clock. But the next three offensive attempts were fruitless. Following the Detroit Lions, the San Francisco 49ers also went three-and-out, failing to continue their scoring momentum.

After the punt, the Detroit Lions had sixteen seconds and three timeouts left. Matthew Stafford still tried to lead his team on a drive, but unfortunately, he couldn't make it happen.

First, a sixteen-yard pass attempt was broken up by the San Francisco 49ers. Then, Stafford was sacked by Patrick Willis. The San Francisco 49ers' number 52 veteran also forced a fumble, but fortunately, the Lions' Offense Line recovered it in time, preventing a worse mistake.

The referee blew the whistle to end the first half. The score was temporarily frozen at 14-17, with the visiting San Francisco 49ers holding a slim three-point lead.

After the second half began, the Detroit Lions were the first to go on offense.

On the kickoff return, the Lions showed great form, continuing their ferocious momentum from the first half. A single return brought them all the way to the forty-five-yard line in their own territory, securing an incredibly favorable starting position for their offense.

Taking the field, Stafford did not miss such an opportunity. A twenty-two-yard pass once again found 'Megatron,' Calvin Johnson. Johnson charged into the End Zone in one explosive burst to complete the Touchdown, but the interference penalties on the offense were just too obvious. At least two players committed different fouls, drawing a yellow flag. The Touchdown was nullified.

Left with no choice, the Detroit Lions had to start over.

The highly focused San Francisco 49ers Defense Team, for the first time, successfully and effectively shut down Calvin Johnson, stopping Megatron dead at the 49ers' twenty-three-yard line. They forced the Lions into a desperate fourth-and-four situation. After much hesitation, the Lions didn't dare to go for it on fourth down and opted for a field goal.

After Lions kicker Jason Hanson successfully made the forty-yard field goal, the score was tied for the third time, 17-17!

The brief lull before the end of the first half was over. After halftime, the action started up again, getting back on the exciting track everyone had been hoping for.

It was living up to the hype, truly living up to the hype. The showdown between the second and third-ranked teams on the power rankings was creating incredible fireworks and was only getting more and more interesting. The second half had just begun, and the two sides were already tied for the third time. The offenses of both teams seemed to be on the exact same rhythm—powering up at the same time, cooling down at the same time, stalling at the same time, and exploding at the same time.

Neither side had managed to truly pull away, confirming the pre-game predictions from all the experts: this was going to be a game decided by the offenses. And living up to expectations, both teams' offenses engaged in a magnificent shootout.

The Detroit Lions had adjusted their game during halftime, so would the San Francisco 49ers' red-hot offense carry over into the second half? Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Lu Ke once again led his youthful offense onto the field in spectacular fashion.

But, ninety-nine seconds later, the San Francisco 49ers were three-and-out.