"The game is getting more and more exciting. Both sides are in their groove, and both the offense and defense are delivering excellent performances. Every drive from now on is crucial for both teams. The San Francisco 49ers' offense and the Cincinnati Bengals' defense have both adjusted their strategies. As we can see, Lu Ke is now in a pistol formation. With his firepower today, the Bengals' defense has to be on high alert."
"A surprise! It's a surprise! Lu Ke unexpectedly handed the ball off to running back Marcus Lynch. Lynch found an opening and advanced, continuously advancing. He slightly disrupted the Bengals' defensive rhythm and gained six yards! Wow, under the cover of the passing game's firepower, the 49ers' running game also seems to be gradually opening up. The Bengals' run defense, which has been steady all day, will face a severe test next!"
During his commentary, Kirk was momentarily stunned when he saw the 49ers' offensive formation on the field, and he couldn't help but chuckle. "Teddy, can you tell what formation that is?"
"Hmm..." Teddy didn't answer right away. He pondered for a moment, frowning as he looked closely. "Is it a pistol formation?" Teddy's voice went up at the end, full of uncertainty. "I think it's more like a short shotgun formation."
"Short?" Kirk interjected.
Teddy paused for a moment. Both of them laughed heartily. Then, Teddy continued his commentary. "What I mean is, it's a shotgun formation with more concentrated firepower. The five receiving points are more spread out and more complex, and the crisscrossing running routes can lead to countless possibilities. Wait, Lu Ke changed the play!"
After a short pause, Teddy noticed the change on the field. "My God, is this guy really a rookie? I know, I know, I've said it countless times, but this is the kind of stuff you only see from veterans like Peyton Manning and Drew Brees. And in the past three games, we've witnessed it many times!"
"What I find even more incredible is Jim Harbaugh's decisiveness. He's given Lu Ke enough freedom to play and, with the coaching staff's playbook, he's injected an unimaginable vitality into the San Francisco 49ers' offense," Kirk said, bringing up another key point. "As much as I don't want to say it, the fact is that Jim Harbaugh has applied Andrew Luck's success model to Lu Ke."
"..." Teddy's mouth was wide open. He didn't say anything, and he looked at Kirk with a face full of surprise. Kirk raised his hands in surrender.
Andrew Luck, even though the draft was still more than half a year away, was a well-known top contender for the first-overall pick. He was even more sought after than this year's Cam Newton. Newton was a running quarterback, while Luck was a pocket quarterback, and pocket quarterbacks were still the mainstream in the NFL.
Now, Kirk was comparing Lu Ke to Luck, which was truly bold and even a little arrogant.
However, the two of them didn't dwell on the topic. "The play has started!" Kirk noticed the action on the field and quickly refocused. Both of them looked at the field.
"The Bengals' defensive line is once again showing an unimaginable impact! The pocket is broken! The 49ers' offensive line has been broken through again! Geno Atkins has rushed into the pocket! But..." Kirk choked on his own saliva out of surprise. "It's a run! It's a running play! The entire Bengals' defense has been fooled and made a completely wrong judgment! The gap that Atkins just tore open in the pocket has now become the opening for Lynch to break through!"
It was a change that happened in the blink of an eye. The advantage on the field was completely reversed, and the confident Bengals' defense was suddenly in a mess.
"Atkins is trying to cover, he's forcing his body to turn, but it's too late. Agility and flexibility aren't his strong suits. Lynch is out! He's out! The Bengals' defense has put all their attention on passing defense, and the middle area is relatively empty. They don't have time to cover! My God, this tactical mismatch has left a huge hole!"
At this moment, the broadcast booth was in a frenzy. Neither Kirk nor Teddy had expected the situation on the field to change so quickly, truly embodying the essence of rapid-fire change.
"The Bengals' defense is trying to cover, but Lynch's powerful run is unstoppable! He avoided linebacker Brandon Johnson's tackle and continued to advance! Then he knocked off cornerback Nate Clements. His balance was a little affected, but he's still advancing! The Bengals' defense is in a complete mess!"
"Lynch's powerful run can't be stopped! Linebacker Thomas Howard has a hold of Lynch's waist, but Lynch broke free! Lynch made a strong turn and broke free from the tackle again! My God, his run is still going! The Bengals' defensive players are missing tackles one after another! His momentum is completely unstoppable!"
"Another defensive player missed the tackle! My God, Lynch, Lynch, Lynch! Lynch has gone into beast mode! Thirty yards, thirty-five yards, forty yards! Lynch! Lynch! Jesus Christ! Three defensive players teamed up and finally grabbed a hold of Lynch, finally stopping this crazy run. Lynch's run stopped at the forty-one-yard line! That's a twenty-five-yard run! Unbelievable, wow, that's truly unbelievable!"
The entire stadium was in an uproar!
If a passing play was a jab, then a running play was a knockout. It was a head-on collision without any detours, a direct confrontation of toughness against toughness. Sparks were flying. It was a complete and utter dominance. When a defense with absolute dominance stops a bull rush, and when an offense with destructive force runs through a gap, both have the same effect: boosting morale, lifting spirits, and getting the blood pumping!
The away fans' stands completely erupted. They were freed from their shackles, jumping, cheering, shouting, and roaring uncontrollably. The deafening cheers created a shocking momentum that even slightly overpowered the home fans, truly showing their spirit!
Especially when they saw Marcus Lynch in the middle of the field, like a beast, flexing his muscles and roaring wildly. He was waving his large fists at the home fans, and he was completely silencing their annoying cheers and jeers. The hell and high water of Paul Brown Stadium reached a climax at this moment.
The entire broadcast booth was in a frenzy. Kirk and Teddy were both clenching their fists, giving an impassioned commentary. Lynch's run was truly too excellent and too exciting, truly igniting everyone's passion, and the commentators were no exception. To be more precise, as commentators, taking in all the changes on the field made it even more exciting!
"Let's watch the replay," Kirk said, controlling his surging emotions and doing his duty to commentate. "Before the snap, Lu Ke caught the weak point in the Bengals' defensive formation. This kind of keen observation is truly not what you'd expect from a rookie. What's more, in that on-field situation, he made the call for a running play, changed the play, and then, with Lynch's powerful run, he completely wiped the floor with the Bengals' defense!"
"The tactical mismatch put the Bengals at a disadvantage, but what's even more incredible is that in this one run, Lynch broke... uh, four tackles, and finally went down with three players holding him down," Teddy added.
"Such a powerful run is truly eye-opening. What did we just say? Beast mode! Yes, Marcus Lynch, Marshawn Lynch, wait, is he related to the Beast from the Seattle Seahawks?"
Then, Teddy and Kirk looked at each other as if they had just discovered something new. It was imaginable that after the game ended today, Marcus Lynch would become the focus of attention.
Geno Atkins slammed his fist on the ground, his face full of frustration. Whether it was run defense or tactical planning, the Bengals' defense was completely out of sync in the last two drives, and they couldn't keep up with the rhythm. This was truly terrible! But now, what should they do?
Should they strengthen the run defense? Or should they continue to strengthen the pass defense? And what about the blitz mode?
The Cincinnati Bengals' defense was truly outstanding today. They were aggressive in the first three quarters. Even though the San Francisco 49ers had a lead in the score, in the confrontation, both sides were not giving an inch. But after entering the fourth quarter, the defense's speed seemed to be gradually falling behind.
It's like that in any sport. The final moments of a game are the most tense, but they can also create miracles. In the NFL, Eli Manning is known as the quarterback who plays the best in the fourth quarter. He would often dig a hole for himself in the first three quarters, falling behind by three or four touchdowns, and then he would fight back in the final quarter and win.
Now, the San Francisco 49ers were the team in the lead, but after entering the fourth quarter, it seemed that Lu Ke had also started to speed up. What should they do?
Atkins looked back at the team's defensive captain, linebacker Thomas Howard. He was the only defensive player who could communicate directly with the coaches, and he had a corresponding earpiece in his helmet.
After receiving the coaching staff's tactical arrangements, Howard started to signal to his teammates. The defensive formation would remain the same, but the defensive strategy and focus would be slightly changed. The linebackers would lean forward a little to prevent a possible running play. The cornerbacks and safeties would still use a zone defense strategy. In addition, the number of players involved in the blitz would be reduced by one, using a three-man defensive line blitz.
Atkins received the signal and lined up again. His mission was still to blitz and defend against the run. However, his focus now had to be slightly adjusted. He couldn't just focus on Lu Ke. He also had to pay attention to Lynch's movements.
Focus, focus!
NOTE:
New chapters drop Three times a day, every Monday through Sunday! Plus, you have the power to unlock more: we'll release Three bonus chapters for every 300 votes! Let's get this story moving together.
Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/MistaQuartz
Explore up to 20 chapters in advance!