Chapter 652: An Abrupt End
"It's suffocating! The game has entered a suffocating phase now!"
"It's a shame, a real shame. From a solid pocket, Manning boldly chose a long pass, trying to use his signature move to win the game. He gave up on Cruz and Ballard, who were heavily covered, and unexpectedly chose Thomas as his target. This was undoubtedly a very clever tactical choice."
"However, the 49ers' defense was not distracted. The two safeties teamed up to make the stop, cleanly and without any suspicious fouls. They once again showed the toughness of the league's third-ranked defense in the regular season, cutting off the New York Giants' plan to win the game quickly. In overtime, the intensity of the game has been increasing on both sides. This game is getting more and more exciting!"
"Right now, the San Francisco 49ers' defense seems to have a slight advantage. They have shut down all of the opponent's plays multiple times in a row. But Eli Manning still hasn't given up. He's still desperately looking for an opportunity to open up the game. This battle between offense and defense has become incredibly intense since it entered overtime!"
"Wait, there's an unexpected situation on the field. Justin Smith, oh, my God, Justin Smith seems to be injured at such a crucial moment!"
Justin Smith, a defensive tackle, was a Pro Bowl player for two consecutive years. This season, he had forty-five solo tackles, thirteen effective deflections, and seven and a half sacks, as well as two interceptions. He was expected to be a Pro Bowl player for the third consecutive year. He was one of the most core members of the San Francisco 49ers' defense, and his ability to pressure the front line led the entire defensive line.
In the last defensive play, Justin accidentally fell and didn't get back up.
Everyone on the sideline held their breath. The team doctor, Walter, quickly came onto the field. After an examination, the injury wasn't too serious; it was just a muscle strain. After a little massage, he should be able to get back on the field, but for this play, Justin had to come off for a rest and a massage.
Justin stood up, refusing to come off the field. This veteran, who was a first-round pick in 2001 but found a career-high after joining the San Francisco 49ers in 2008, was on the stage of the NFC Championship for the first time. He gritted his teeth, unwilling to miss a single offensive play, but Walter, for Justin's sake, forced him to come off the field.
"It's just one play. You can get back on the field right after. You'll only miss one, maybe two, plays at most. Don't worry, it's not a big deal. We have to believe in our teammates on the field." The defensive coordinator, Vic Fangio, patted Justin on the shoulder and comforted him.
Justin looked up and saw Lu Ke in the crowd. He clenched his fist tightly, cheering on Justin. He didn't need words, or even a look. One gesture clearly expressed his determination. Then, Lu Ke turned to look at the field and started to clap, signaling the defense to stay alert and not relax.
Unconsciously, Justin's gaze followed Lu Ke's. He saw Willis and his teammates. He shouted, "Focus! Focus!" Even on the sideline, he was with his defensive teammates.
On the sideline, Justin was getting a massage. On the field, the game was still going on.
Second and ten.
Even though Justin was off the field, the San Francisco 49ers' defense still had the upper hand. The entire game seemed to be like this. The New York Giants were constantly retreating in the face of monstrous waves, often getting into long-yardage situations on second and third downs. Then, they relied on Eli Manning's big heart to turn the situation around. After entering overtime, the situation didn't seem to have changed dramatically.
More accurately, the entire season of the New York Giants seemed to be like this.
Even though the home team's defensive star was off the field, the cheers and shouts in Candlestick Park reached an unprecedented new height, expressing their faith with their actions.
Just when everyone thought that the cheers had used up all their energy and their hoarse throats couldn't make a sound, the moment the war was reignited and the drums of war thundered in overtime, they naturally burst out with energy again!
"Defense! Clap, clap! Defense! Clap, clap! Defense! Clap, clap!"
One shout, two claps. The entire rhythm was perfectly synchronized. Seventy thousand fans in Candlestick Park cheered in unison. The thunderous shouts, in a thin golden sunlight, sliced through the sky with a divine light that was enough to illuminate the entire world. It was brilliant and breathtaking!
It wasn't just Candlestick Park. At this moment, every 49ers fan in front of their TV stood up, holding their breath, watching every move on the field. They also joined the cheering. "Defense! Clap, clap!" This was their slogan, which awakened the resonance deep in their souls.
In Union Square, people stopped in their tracks and looked up at the big screen on the outside wall of Macy's, which was broadcasting the game live. On the streets, people also stopped and watched the small screens in the coffee shops on the side of the street, not saying a word, listening carefully to every move inside. Even in the bus stations, people stood still, watching the radio in a homeless man's hand. The familiar voice of Troy Bauer was reporting on the progress of the game in real time.
The world seemed to be frozen in this moment. All they could hear was one voice, "Defense! Clap, clap!" This was a shout from Candlestick Park, a shout from the depths of their souls. Then, they couldn't hold back and made the same sound with their lips. "Defense! Defense! Defense!"
At this moment, it was as if everyone's heartbeats were perfectly synchronized.
Then, the commentator's voice came through. "Second and ten! Snap! Eli Manning has snapped the ball again!"
After the snap, Eli Manning chose to move laterally to the left. After successfully attracting a lot of firepower, just before the pocket was about to collapse, he threw a short slant pass to Ahmad Bradshaw, who had run an outside slot route.
A screen pass!
Facing second and ten, Eli Manning chose a screen pass and the target was Bradshaw. This number forty-four player was a running back, but just like Marcus Lynch, he had a powerful catching ability and ball-carrying ability.
In a relatively open area, before the defensive players could get into position, Bradshaw, with the advantage of a running back's position for an outside slot catch, successfully completed the seven-yard catch. Because of the screen pass, Bradshaw also had a brief space to get started.
He accelerated, and then accelerated again.
"Bradshaw! The New York Giants' passing offense has once again found Bradshaw. This running back catch tactic, which was popularized by the New England Patriots, is now widely used throughout the league. The 49ers use it, and so do the Giants. Bradshaw is trying to break through using his ball-carrying ability."
"Aldon Smith! Parys Haralson!"
"The two San Francisco 49ers' linebackers have gotten back in position and held their ground, forming a circle! Smith and Haralson are trying to make the tackle, trying to stop this drive! Bradshaw! Bradshaw! Smith has missed the tackle! The rookie player Aldon Smith actually missed the tackle!"
"A misstep in his balance, and Smith has missed a sure-fire tackle! Bradshaw is still advancing! My God! Haralson! Haralson is trying to get back in position! Bradshaw has pushed Haralson away! Haralson couldn't complete the tackle. Bradshaw has broken away from Haralson's tackle!"
"Haralson rushed in too quickly and recklessly. After losing his position, he couldn't hold his ground. Bradshaw lowered his shoulder and broke through the tackle. My God, a mistake! Haralson actually made a mistake too! This is unbelievable!"
"Bradshaw! Bradshaw! He's still advancing! Bradshaw, my God! Forty yards! Midfield! Forty yards! Thirty yards! Bradshaw, facing the help defense of two safeties, suddenly accelerates, accelerates! Bradshaw! Before the safeties could close in, Bradshaw successfully broke through the defense! Unbelievable! Unbelievable! This is absolutely unexpected!"
"Bradshaw! Bradshaw! Spillman and Whitner are trying to catch up, but Bradshaw's running is incredibly powerful. He's pushed Whitner away! Whitner couldn't complete the tackle! Bradshaw is still advancing, twenty yards! Fifteen yards! Ten yards! Spillman is still chasing, but it's too late, it's too late!"
"Touchdown!"
"Bradshaw! End zone! Touchdown! Bradshaw has run into the end zone. A screen pass, a running back catch, an unexpected missed tackle. It just happened! Ahmad Bradshaw has completed a fifty-eight-yard run! This is a touchdown! The New York Giants have scored a touchdown! They have won the game!"
"Jesus Christ! Jesus Christ! This is truly unexpected! A sudden death win! The New York Giants have won the game!"
"In overtime, the New York Giants, who got the first possession, scored a touchdown on a drive that took less than three minutes, thanks to Bradshaw's powerful run! An unbelievable touchdown! Sudden death! The game is over! The New York Giants have won the game! My God! Oh, my God!"
"Just under three minutes ago, the San Francisco 49ers, in a desperate situation, completed a sixty-five-yard Hail Mary and tied the score at the last moment, forcing the game into overtime! Just when everyone thought this game would continue to go back and forth, Eli Manning and Bradshaw, with a screen pass, created the second sudden death moment of this game!"
"My God! A sudden death win and a counter sudden death win! The New York Giants have delivered a fatal blow in overtime. After defeating the number one seed, the Green Bay Packers, they have once again defeated the number two seed, the San Francisco 49ers, and advanced to the Super Bowl! Unbelievable! This is simply unbelievable!"
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