"A disaster. For the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, this is an absolute disaster. LaGarrette Blount, the running back, number 27, who has been the most outstanding and stable member of their offense in the past three weeks, was unexpectedly injured during that last run. From what we can see on the field, it seems to be his knee. He is still on the ground and hasn't been able to get back up. The team doctor has already come on the field. If Blount is injured and leaves the game, this would be a devastating blow to the Buccaneers' offense."
The game was interrupted. All the players from the Buccaneers' offense huddled around Blount, concerned about his condition. The 49ers' defensive players were scattered in other corners of the field, waiting for the team doctor's examination results.
In the broadcast booth, they were rewatching the last drive. Blount carried the ball, was tackled, and after falling to the ground, his knee seemed to have folded, but there were no obvious signs of collision or injury. The screen didn't show any further details, and they could only wait for the team doctor's examination results.
After the San Francisco 49ers scored their third touchdown in a very thrilling manner, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' offense, which was back on the field, was still in a slump.
In the last two drives, the third-year quarterback Josh Freeman's poor performance in passing had bogged down the Buccaneers' entire offense. At least two passes were almost intercepted, but the 49ers' defense was a little unlucky, and the ball just went by, which saved Freeman from adding to his interception count. Although there were no interceptions, the control of his release time and the choice of his targets showed no improvement.
In the end, all the heavy lifting fell on the running back, Blount. Blount was like the last straw for the Buccaneers, barely carrying the team forward in the storm of the 49ers' defense, but with minimal success.
There was less than two minutes left in the second quarter, but the score was still 21-0, with the San Francisco 49ers leading at home. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers still hadn't found a way to score, not even a field goal.
After a quick examination by the team doctor, Blount was unable to stand up. He was lying on a stretcher on a cart, slowly leaving the field for further examination. The bad news had finally been confirmed.
"Blount's unexpected injury has completely disrupted the Buccaneers' game plan, and the situation is getting more and more severe. For the young quarterback, Freeman, he must pull himself together. Playing from behind is a demanding test, but it is the only way to win. If the score gap widens again, the second half could very well turn into garbage time."
From the commentary box, whether it was Kirk and Teddy from Fox, or the commentators from other radio and online platforms, everyone immediately shared their opinions. But everyone had one thing in common: the Tampa Bay Buccaneers needed a savior to step up. So, could quarterback Josh Freeman shoulder such a heavy responsibility?
The answer was no.
After moving past midfield, Freeman threw his second interception of the day. At the 41-yard line on the 49ers' side of the field, cornerback Reggie Smith leaped and intercepted Freeman's pass to wide receiver Mike Williams, successfully completing the second turnover of the game.
With one minute and thirty-four seconds left in the first half, the San Francisco 49ers' offense was able to come back on the field. Since all the game situations are reset after halftime, this meant that Lu Ke had ninety-four seconds, including three timeouts he could use, to lead his team to complete this drive, attempt a field goal or a touchdown, and further widen the gap.
As he came back on the field, Lu Ke couldn't help but take a deep breath and actively jumped in place to get himself hyped up.
With a huge lead, the overall momentum on their side, and the first half about to end, it seemed, perhaps, that it wouldn't be a bad choice to take it easy and let these ninety-four seconds run out. Thus, the overall vibe was not very active and seemed to lack the sharpness from before.
Lu Ke knew that this was a taboo in the game. He had to maintain that hunger and urgency at all times, otherwise, a little carelessness could completely reverse the momentum of the game.
He picked up his helmet and then saw his teammates waiting for him on the sideline. Mike Iupati rubbed his hands together. "How about it? Are we ready to go get another touchdown?"
Lu Ke was stunned. Kyle Williams, who was standing next to him, pointed to himself and Ted Ginn Jr., "Hey, isn't it our turn now? It's a home game today. This is the first time the stands are completely full since the season started. Aren't you going to give the two of us a chance to shine? I'm full of energy right now."
Lu Ke was originally worried that his teammates might be thinking of relaxing a bit, but apparently, he was wrong.
"Then we'd better get on the field quickly. Tick-tock, time is running out." Lu Ke put on his helmet and led his offense back onto the field. The cheers and shouts from the fans were deafening. Even though there were only ninety-four seconds left in the first half, they were still full of enthusiasm.
They lined up for the drive at their own 41-yard line.
On first-and-ten, Lu Ke's short pass to Michael Crabtree was incomplete. Lu Ke's pass was slightly off-target, and Frank Gore, who was standing next to him, started to make fun of him, "You must have overworked your right hand last night, and now you're starting to get shaky." Amidst a burst of laughter, Lu Ke also had a look of helplessness on his face.
On second-and-ten, Gore carried the ball but only gained two yards before being tackled. This time, it was Lu Ke's turn to joke, "You must have overworked your ass last night, and now your knees are getting weak." This time, the laughter was even more exaggerated, and Gore had a look of frustration on his face.
On third-and-eight, in a shotgun formation, Lu Ke only took two steps back before he saw the entire pocket collapse at ten times the speed. In just one second, two seconds... The "tick" of the second second had not even dropped yet, and the Buccaneers' defensive line had already charged up with overwhelming force.
An all-out assault.
All the players on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' defense had been holding their breath. After a series of failed drives, they had been on the back foot on defense, and now their core running back was also injured. Everything was going against them. After Freeman's interception, the players on the defensive line finally exploded.
Not just Bennett, but the other three players and three linebackers all sped up at the same time. The way they charged, like wild bulls, combined with their seven-on-five numerical advantage, left no room for the 49ers' offensive line to breathe. In just the blink of an eye, the pocket was breached, and everyone crowded toward Lu Ke.
The San Francisco 49ers' offensive line had performed exceptionally well today. Each of them had firmly held their position. Even as they retreated, their hands still held back the opponent's charge, creating a wall of flesh between the defensive linemen and Lu Ke to prevent them from directly hitting and sacking Lu Ke.
But at this moment, they were being squeezed by a double-layered wall of flesh.
Lu Ke was standing in the pocket. He hadn't even finished adjusting his feet from stepping back when he saw the opponents closing in on him at the speed of light. His brain's reflexively shouted "Absolute Footwork," but his feet were too heavy to lift. A faint thought flashed through his mind: "No more Absolute Footwork." This special skill had been completely used up.
A moment of hesitation, and he missed his chance to escape again. Moreover, this time, the opponent's breakthrough had an unstoppable momentum. A wave of air rose in the atmosphere, and you could almost see the air being compressed.
The next second, with no time to think or react, Lu Ke could only pull back his right hand that was ready to pass and tightly protect the football against his chest. His mind was trying to recall, "What's the gesture to protect the ball? And what's the gesture to hold the ball when running?" In his panic, the already rusty technical movements started to become distorted.
Then, the shattered wall of flesh closed in on him. From the left, right, and front, layer after layer, they surrounded him. Some collided, some fell, some tried to tackle, and some collapsed with a loud thud, a continuous roar.
In the midst of the chaos, Lu Ke felt as if he was standing on a rock in the middle of the ocean, vividly experiencing the effect of being hit by a huge wave. He was dizzy, and his head was filled with the cawing of crows circling him. But his whole body held on tightly to the football, with only one belief: "Protect the ball." If he fumbled the ball here and turned it over again, it would not be a good thing for the San Francisco 49ers.
To protect the football, Lu Ke's muscles were tensed to the maximum. He stood firm, and incredibly, his feet didn't even move. It was as if he had mastered the ultimate move of an immovable king. "Let the wind blow on the mountain. Let the moon shine on the river." In the face of a wave of impacts, Lu Ke's mind was clear and he became even more determined.
Suddenly, someone began to tackle Lu Ke around the waist.
"Escape." This was Lu Ke's body's reflex. He began to struggle with all his might.
But surprisingly, the opponent also seemed to be off-balance, and their tackling motion wasn't tight. Then, another collision came. It was a collision with the opponent, not with Lu Ke. Lu Ke was just a collateral effect. The escape technique from his training actually came in handy, and Lu Ke successfully broke free from the tackle!
"Run." This was his body's next reaction. He followed his instincts and sprinted forward. He originally thought there would be a thick wall of flesh in front of him, but after he pushed off with his feet, a fresh, cool breeze rushed toward him. He looked up and saw a wide-open space, with no defensive or offensive players, just empty space.
What's going on?
Stumbling, Lu Ke began to move his feet.
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