The view of Candlestick Park was full, with every one of the 70,000 seats packed tightly with spectators. It was red, and nothing but red. There wasn't a single other color. The pure red connected into a single expanse. Even the cloudless blue sky seemed to reflect a shade of pink, making a fiery sunset look dim in comparison.
Red is the color of the San Francisco 49ers' home jerseys. Gold is the accent color on the home scarves and the color of the home pants. But at this moment, the red was so pure, so vibrant, and so magnificent that even the gold seemed to have completely disappeared, painting the entire Candlestick Park in a unique color.
There wasn't a single other color. The purity was heartbreaking.
This was the real home of the San Francisco 49ers. Not a single Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan could be seen. Their white away jerseys had completely vanished from the stands. There were only the 49ers, just the 49ers. It was simple to the extreme, pure to the extreme, and fanatical to the extreme. Using the stadium as a canvas and the jerseys as a brush, they painted one of the most breathtaking pictures in the world, so beautiful that it made you stop breathing.
Jonathan Baldwin, standing in the crowd, had red eyes and was on the verge of tears.
It had been a long, long time. In 1999, after another Hall of Fame quarterback in 49ers history, Steve Young, announced his retirement, they went through one of the most turbulent periods in the team's history and entered one of its lowest points. It seemed that after that, he never saw this red ocean at Candlestick Park again.
They had fought, they had worked hard, and they had strived, but the team's decline was ultimately impossible to stop. In the 12 years after 1999, they only made the playoffs twice, in 2001 and 2002, and fell into a slump and darkness that seemed endless. As a result, confidence began to fade, hope began to disappear, and fans began to leave.
Until today.
It wasn't because the team had won the Super Bowl again. It was because the team had found hope again. In this young team, in this undrafted rookie quarterback, and in this iron-fisted coach, they saw a glimmer of hope. They grabbed hold of it, came together again, and rediscovered the soul and heartbeat of this city.
Jonathan Baldwin couldn't believe his eyes. In his lifetime, he had finally seen Candlestick Park overflowing with a red ocean again. God, he had missed this place so, so much.
Looking up, Jonathan saw Cliff Hart standing not far away. His small figure was so insignificant in the vast stands, but his straight back and powerful presence were so firm, as if he could support the entire sky and create a world of their own.
Cliff held his flag high. The vibrant flag fluttered and rustled in the wind, and then he waved it with force.
The next moment, a quarter of the crowd on the north side shouted in unison, "We are!"
Immediately after, the remaining three-quarters of the crowd shouted in unison, "Warriors!"
The sound was a little uneven, with some parts rising and falling. The 70,000 fans were trying to find the same rhythm. But one time after another, they gradually found their resonance with each other, and then their power began to climb, like a rolling thunder, and exploded under the clear sky of the Bay Area.
"We are!"
"Warriors!"
Each shout was more powerful, more dominant, and more magnificent than the last. The endless energy filled every cell in their bodies. Everyone shouted with all their might, holding nothing back and without any hesitation. The command of "Warriors" tied the 70,000 fans in the stadium into one rope, unleashing a powerful force that could split clouds and rock, and open the sky and the earth!
In the Fox Sports studio, Kirk and Teddy, who were preparing for the live broadcast, both stopped what they were doing. Even their commentary paused for a moment. They could truly feel the shock from the fans that was shaking the entire world. The powerful momentum was impossible to ignore.
At that moment, the live broadcast signal hadn't switched to the stadium yet; it was still focused on the studio. But the director noticed the anomaly and immediately switched the screen. Kirk and Teddy looked down at the entire stadium through the studio's glass. The vast red ocean created a strong visual impact that rushed toward them, and all their words suddenly became powerless.
Kirk, who had witnessed the fan frenzy at the Rose Bowl, was also stunned. He organized his words intermittently, "Folks, we, uh, we are now watching the live broadcast from Candlestick Park. Hmm... well, I mean, it's clear that the San Francisco 49ers fans are showing their support and belief to the world. A sight like this... I'm not sure, Teddy. I haven't seen this in a very, very long time. What about your memory?"
"Yes. Yes." Teddy repeated the same words twice without any meaning, but he had finally come to his senses. "I think in the entire league, only the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks fans can compare. Honestly, I've never seen a sight like this. It reminds me of the Seahawks' '12th Man.' So, what about the 49ers? The 50th Man?"
"No, they are the 49ers. Thousands upon thousands of 49ers, united together, becoming the pillar of the entire stadium and the entire city!" Kirk couldn't help but chuckle. "My God, this is truly spectacular. I'm a little curious now. What would it look like when the 12th Man and the 49ers meet? The NFC West. The future games are worth looking forward to."
The Seattle Seahawks fans are famous throughout the league. Because there are 11 players on the offense and defense on the field, their fans are so powerful and their home-field advantage is so strong that they have been given the title of the "12th Man," which is considered the 12th player on the field.
In every home game, the 12th Man's cheers at CenturyLink Field are so powerful and passionate that the strong vibrations have even caused minor earthquakes, repeatedly breaking Guinness World Records and setting new highs. Furthermore, the 12th Man's cheers are well-disciplined. When the opposing team is on offense, they create noise. When their team is on offense, they are completely silent, truly becoming the 12th man in the game and often affecting the outcome of the game.
Therefore, CenturyLink Field is also known as one of the most famous "Houses of Horrors" in the league.
In addition to that, the Green Bay Packers' Lambeau Field is also another famous "House of Horrors" due to its passionate fans and extreme cold weather.
Now, they were witnessing a fan spectacle at Candlestick Park that was comparable to the sound waves created by the 12th Man at CenturyLink Field. It was magnificent and powerful. Before the game even started, the San Francisco 49ers had once again created a focal point, igniting the intensity and passion of Week 5 of the regular season in a completely different way.
"We are!"
"Warriors!"
Outside the player tunnel, the overwhelming shouts echoed in the air. Inside the player tunnel, all the San Francisco 49ers players stood together at the exit, waiting for their turn to take the field. Their blood was boiling and hot, and adrenaline was pumping through them.
The offensive players all looked at Lu Ke, their eyes filled with smiles and excitement. No one understood this slogan better than they did. The familiar chant awakened their desire for victory, making them eager and ready to explode.
Jonathan Goodwin felt his teammates' gazes and couldn't help but smile. With eager anticipation, he walked forward and patted Lu Ke's shoulder, shouting in his ear, "Bambi, how about you cheer on the team?"
Lu Ke looked away blankly, not understanding. Then, at Goodwin's signal, he turned around and saw a pair of expectant eyes. He couldn't help but laugh happily. Without any excuses or politeness, he waved his hand and gathered his offensive teammates together.
A deep voice erupted from the depths of his abdomen, "What are they waiting for?"
"Victory!"
"What are we yearning for!"
"Victory!"
"Then our goal is the same! So, we're going to walk onto that field right now, with our hands and feet, and fight with all our might for this victory. Because we are..."
"Warriors!"
"We are!"
"Warriors!"
Gradually, not just the offensive players, but all the defensive players and all the special teams players joined the ranks of the fans, shouting the same slogan, moving to the same rhythm, and aiming for the same goal, all in a frenzy! At this moment, the boundary between the players and the fans completely disappeared. They had become one!
"Ding," a notification sound rang in Lu Ke's mind.
"Game Mission:
Complete a touchdown in the official game; Mission requirements: None; Mission reward: Base points +1 for each touchdown.
Complete a pass attempt in the official game; Mission requirements: Attempt at least 35 passes; Mission reward: Base points +1.
Complete a passing yardage in the official game; Mission requirements: Pass for at least 200 yards; Mission reward: Base points +1.
Complete a run attempt in the official game; Mission requirements: Run for at least 5 yards; Mission reward: Base points +1.
Win the official game; Mission requirements: None; Mission reward: Base points +3."
"Ding," after the game missions ended, a second notification sounded in Lu Ke's mind.
"Special Mission: Unify the Heart of Candlestick Park.
Mission description: In the fifth week of the regular season, the San Francisco 49ers have their first sold-out home game since the 2011 season. The 49ers have shown unprecedented passion, hoping that the team will once again show a new look and continue the team's spirit.
Mission requirements: Achieve a resounding and decisive victory.
Mission rewards: Unknown special skill package +1; Unknown quarterback training package +1.
Failure penalty: In the sixth week of the regular season, the team's overall condition will decline by 20%; In the following week, training effectiveness will decrease by 10%."
It seems there's another reason to win this game.
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