Chapter 610: Starting From Scratch
Lu Zhengze could barely breathe. The tension and excitement of this game even surpassed the zero-second comeback against the New York Giants in the regular season. That zero-second comeback was a back-and-forth grind that was a severe test for every viewer, but it lacked a bit of variation. In this game, however, the ups and downs and the reversals of hope and advantage followed one another, showcasing the true essence of an offensive battle.
Drew Brees was indeed Drew Brees. His powerful explosive ability in the final minutes of the game was incredible. Following the previous wild-card game, he once again took control of the rhythm in the fourth quarter, holding the advantage firmly in his hands. Matthew Stafford, however, was unable to rise to the occasion, fizzling out and losing the game.
So, what about Lu Ke?
Lu Zhengze looked up at the sea of red in front of him. After so many years of living as an immigrant, he had lived, worked, and built his own world here, but he had never truly integrated into the local society. He had always felt like an outsider. But now, standing in Candlestick Park, he was a part of this red ocean.
They put aside their race, age, gender, class, life, and conflicts. They all had the same name: 49ers. They all chased the same goal: victory. They all longed for the same glory: the Super Bowl. Here, they were all one, fighting side by side!
Then, Lu Zhengze raised his hands and began to call out. He called out the name he had never doubted, the name that had grown up to create a world for himself with his own two feet, the name that led his team out of desperate situations time and time again with unwavering determination: Bambi!
In an instant, his memories became hazy. From the Rose Bowl to the divisional game, similar situations had occurred more than once this season, and this strong man had never disappointed them. Just as the New Orleans Saints had placed all their hopes on Drew Brees, all the San Francisco 49ers' beliefs were placed on this undrafted rookie. This time was no exception.
At this moment, Jiang Youning's throat was so sore that she could barely speak. The result of shouting with all her might was a terrible sore throat. But she heard the shouts around her and the belief in her heart, so she also raised her hands. Even with a faint whisper, she became a part of this red ocean.
"Bambi! Bambi! Bambi!"
The commentators in the broadcast booth were stunned. They couldn't believe their eyes, or that this stadium was placing its last hope on the shoulders of an undrafted rookie. But... a Chinese-American quarterback had already made history in the divisional round of the playoffs, so what else was impossible?
"Ladies and gentlemen, the scene from the Rose Bowl on January 1st of last year is being recreated here at Candlestick Park. In the most critical moment of the game, the fans are shouting their firmest beliefs and passion, hoping that their hero will step up and lead the team to another comeback and glory!"
Kirk Charleston's eyes reddened slightly. Only those who had truly witnessed the miracles that Bambi had created, and who had accompanied him all the way, could feel how precious and rare this passion and belief were.
"Lu Ke, this 22-year-old rookie quarterback, went undrafted. Despite not being favored, he came on as an emergency backup quarterback and started the San Francisco 49ers' 2011 season. With his complex play calls and precise long-passing skills, he led this young team to thirteen regular-season wins and brought them back to the playoffs after a half-year absence."
"For the average person, he's just an undrafted Chinese-American rookie. But for Candlestick Park and San Francisco, he's a spiritual leader who creates miracles and never gives up. This young player carries the hope of an entire city on his shoulders, but he has never backed down, proving their trust again and again."
"Now, this young undrafted rookie is about to face the most important drive of his career in his first-ever playoff game. No matter the outcome, he has already won over this stadium and this city. In this moment, we can feel the heart of Candlestick Park beating fiercely."
"This is football!"
After the commentary ended, the broadcast booth was unusually quiet. Then, they listened. The shouts, like a mountain tsunami, surged in, penetrating all obstacles and hitting their souls like a heavy hammer, leaving them too stunned to react.
"Bambi!"
"Bambi!"
"Bambi!"
The unified chanting was like a thousand horses marching forward together. Even standing still, the shock from the ground still passed through every cell, and the excitement, the grandeur, the surge, and the power instantly made their souls feel so small, forcing them to look up and receive this baptism.
Then, Lu Ke took the field. The New Orleans Saints had just punted, and the 49ers had chosen to return the ball. With the two tight end formation, Kyle Williams, who was becoming more and more of a fringe player, was on as the returner. Unfortunately, the Saints' special teams were also highly focused and didn't let up at all. The return only advanced to the 15-yard line before it was stopped. The return took five seconds, so there were ninety-two seconds, or one minute and thirty-two seconds, left in the game.
Standing in the pocket, Lu Ke was doing his best to clear his mind. He couldn't think about the score, the threat of elimination, or the situation on the field. He had to be completely focused on the game. Everything had to start from scratch. He had to treat this as the first and last play of the game, and he had to start with a defensive read.
He remembered Harbaugh's play call from earlier. "No huddle, Bambi. We have to go with a no-huddle offense."
The 49ers had one timeout left, but it wasn't one they could use lightly, because they had to save it for a field goal kick to prepare for any unexpected events. So Harbaugh told Lu Ke that they had no timeouts left.
At the same time, the Saints knew the key to their defense. The 49ers had to pass to the sidelines to stop the clock, which made it easier for the defense to anticipate the plays. The 49ers would be restricted, and Lu Ke's advantage in tactics would be weakened. So, Harbaugh chose a no-huddle offense.
He gave up the complex play calls and handed over the on-field command to Lu Ke. With Lu Ke as the commander, the offense would be sped up, not by stopping the clock by going out of bounds, but by using tactical instinct to get a jump on the clock. This was a very bold move. Currently, the no-huddle offense was still a popular tactic in college. It was sometimes seen in the league, but it wasn't widely used. The on-field play calls were still firmly controlled by the coaching staff. Only a very small number of quarterbacks had this kind of trust from their coaches.
But even if the coaches trusted their quarterbacks, they didn't really trust the no-huddle offense, because it was too simple and crude, a classic college tactic. It had no technical complexity and wasn't very effective in the professional league.
More importantly, a no-huddle offense meant that all the success and failure rested squarely on Lu Ke's shoulders. This was too much for a young rookie quarterback to handle; it was enough to completely crush a rookie. In the most important game and the most important drive of the long 2011 season, all the pressure and weight were being placed on an undrafted rookie?
It was simply insane!
But Harbaugh's mindset was different. He firmly believed that this was a team of young players, a team that could afford to lose. He needed to give his players room to grow, and he also needed to take risks and make breakthroughs. You can't force growth, but you also can't keep them protected in a greenhouse forever. This was their first season together, and he could afford to lose.
Besides, in Week 15 of the regular season, Lu Ke defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers with a clever central-field passing play. And in the playoffs, Tim Tebow of the Denver Broncos defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers with a Wildcat formation. College tactics were indeed crude, but who said that college tactics couldn't win?
Harbaugh was willing to take a chance. After making up his mind, Harbaugh wasn't nervous at all. Instead, he looked at Lu Ke with fiery eyes. "Do you dare?" Harbaugh knew how crazy this play call was; he knew it better than anyone. But just a year ago, he had just finished his job as the head coach at Stanford University, and he also knew how crazy college tactics could be. The question now was, did this rookie quarterback have the guts to do it?
Lu Ke didn't answer. Instead, he met Harbaugh's gaze with a calm look, determined and decisive. There was no hesitation, no fear, not even a hint of wavering.
Then, Harbaugh patted Lu Ke on the shoulder, signaling for the offense to take the field.
Lu Ke, however, had a different idea about the no-huddle offense. In college, the no-huddle offense was simple and crude because the tactical system was relatively thin, and it mainly relied on the receivers' routes to create open space. But in the league, the tactical combinations were constantly changing. By arranging them in a relatively simple way and relying on the chemistry from practice, they could still execute complex and varied plays.
The most important thing was how the quarterback used it. For some, a stick was just a useless piece of bamboo, but for others, it could be a divine weapon.
Now, it was time to test Lu Ke: was his perfect tactical awareness useful?
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