Chapter 1035: Home Field Advantage

"1.23 seconds!"

"Unbelievable! Lu Ke’s release speed is just too fast. He passed the ball almost immediately after the snap. The offensive plan and target were incredibly clear, leaving no time for the defense to react. But who was his target...?"

"It’s Marcus Lynch! It was a short, diagonal horizontal pass! The quick movement and crisscrossing routes of the four receivers completely compressed the defensive formation toward the end zone, and Lu Ke’s quick throwing motion shifted all the attention backward. This also allowed Marcus to easily complete the pass in the short-pass area."

"It was a simple two-yard pass!"

"Marcus Lynch successfully caught the ball. He’s now adjusting his feet, observing the defense’s formation! The Seahawks’ number 50, outside linebacker K.J. Wright, and number 54, middle linebacker Bobby Wagner, are quickly stepping up to defend. Wright! Wright tackles Lynch head-on!"

"Lynch breaks Wright’s tackle!"

"Wow! That was a head-on collision! Lynch used his strong left arm to prop up Wright’s shoulder and used a judo-like move to throw Wright over his back and onto the ground. All of Wright’s momentum was gone, and he was thrown aside like a sandbag. This is an absolute beast mode!"

"Is this the 49ers’ number 27, or the Seahawks’ number 24?"

"Lynch is still running! Wagner’s run was blocked by Wright. He grabs Lynch’s jersey! Foul! That’s a clear holding foul! Yellow flag! But Wagner still couldn’t stop Lynch. Lynch broke free from Wagner’s grip with a quick and fierce run!"

"The Seahawks’ number 25, cornerback Richard Sherman, and number 29, safety Earl Thomas, are trying to help! An absolutely incredible block! Vernon Davis! The 49ers’ number 85, tight end Vernon Davis, appeared on Sherman’s path and, with a beautiful collision, made Sherman miss the opportunity to charge forward! Davis created space for Lynch to move forward!"

"Lynch vs. Thomas!"

"Thomas is now the Seattle Seahawks’ last line of defense! But the 49ers’ number 19, wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr., is constantly using his body to interfere with Thomas’s defensive rhythm!"

"Lynch speeds up! Lynch suddenly speeds up. Thomas grabs Ginn’s face mask! Foul! That’s another yellow flag! Ginn fouls! Ginn grabbed Thomas’s jersey. Wait, who fouled first? Ginn and Thomas are tangled up, and they’re rolling on the ground like a gourd!"

"Lynch! Wow! Lynch makes a hurdle! Marcus Lynch!"

Marcus was running at full speed. The dense crowd in front of him was like a solid fortress, but he didn’t hesitate at all. After one tackle, one pull, and one block, his steps began to stumble, but even so, he didn’t give up his accelerated pace. Speed up! Accelerate with force! His knees were starting to feel weak, but he gritted his teeth and pushed his speed to the limit!

The fierce air current behind him was like a tsunami that could swallow him at any moment!

Then, Marcus saw the obstacle in front of him. Before his mind could even react, he instinctively took a powerful step and leaped into the air, doing a difficult hurdle. He flew over the two tangled figures. All the red and white around him turned into a dazzling light that flowed backward at a speed of ten or a hundred times.

The next second, his right leg landed. The ground’s counterforce hit him like a raging wave. Marcus went with the momentum and rolled on the ground, landing safely with a forward roll.

"BEEP!"

The referee’s whistle cut through the sky.

Despite the multiple fouls, the referee crew discussed it and confirmed that the defense had fouled first. The play was not stopped because it was an advantage for the offense. The subsequent fouls were all cleared, and the offense’s touchdown was valid.

"Touchdown!"

"It’s a touchdown!"

"Without a doubt! This is the first touchdown of the game! Lu Ke connected with Marcus Lynch, using a quick, two-yard short pass to disrupt the entire defense’s plan. Then, with Marcus Lynch’s running ability, he powerfully ran forward, scoring a touchdown!"

"Passing with a running play!"

"The San Francisco 49ers’ first offensive drive was truly spectacular. The constant switching between running and passing kept the tempo in a state of change. The Seattle Seahawks’ defense, which is ranked first in the league this season, had no idea about the opponent’s offensive changes. They were always behind, chasing, and were unable to put up an effective fight."

"Three plays!"

"The San Francisco 49ers only needed three plays and 83 seconds to get the first touchdown of the game! They have announced their ability to the entire league! The 49ers are determined to win this Divisional Round game! Wow, even though we expected a fierce showdown between these division rivals before the game, the reality has far exceeded our imagination! It’s so exciting! So exciting!"

"Marcus Lynch was really impressive in this drive. He had a pass and a run, and he put on a spectacular performance! It’s no exaggeration to say that this touchdown was a joint effort between Lu Ke and Lynch!"

"During this run, Marcus Lynch showed a Marshawn Lynch-like beast mode! His powerful run broke three tackles. The way he took down Wright on the first one really reminded me of Marshawn’s run against the New Orleans Saints in the 2010 season! It’s so thrilling!"

"This season, Marcus Lynch started strong and then faded. His form in the second half of the season was clearly in a slump. Even though his offensive line was still performing well and had no problem clearing the way, his running form never got back to its best. In the first game of the playoffs, Marcus has announced his strong return with a high-profile performance!"

"Before the game, Troy mentioned the ’Lynch Bowl.’ Now it seems that the two cousins from the Lynch family are really going to have a showdown. Whew, now let’s see how Marshawn performs. Troy, what do you think about the San Francisco 49ers’ offensive drive? Even though it was only three plays, it’s clear that Lu Ke has once again turned in a brilliant performance in terms of play-calling."

Was it a run or a pass?

Was it a pass or a run?

Indeed, that is the question.

The San Francisco 49ers’ first offensive drive blurred the lines between the two. The switching between running and passing plays was impossible to predict. The coordination between Lu Ke and Marcus completely broke the Seattle Seahawks’ plan. Neither the front nor the secondary defense could find a suitable rhythm. Before they could even recover, they had already given up a touchdown.

Every defender stood in place, their eyes filled with lingering confusion. What exactly happened?

Giving up a touchdown is not scary. Even the Seattle Seahawks can’t completely shut down the San Francisco 49ers’ ability to score. But not knowing how or why they gave up the touchdown, that’s what’s truly terrifying. The defenders all looked toward the coaching staff.

Do you have the answer?

In the studio, Troy Aikman said, "You can’t get bogged down in whether it’s a pass or a run because Lu Ke is trying to disrupt the opponent’s defensive rhythm. If the Seahawks’ defense is still on the field wondering about the difference between a pass and a run, then they will fall into Lu Ke’s trap one step at a time."

"For Lu Ke, this isn’t a run or a pass. It’s a chess-like battle of offense and defense!" Aikman concluded. As expected from a former elite quarterback who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006, he gave a meticulous analysis from an outsider’s perspective, presenting all of Lu Ke’s thoughts and tactics.

But talking is one thing, and a real battle is another. Now, the key moment has arrived for the Seattle Seahawks’ defensive coaches. How should they face Lu Ke?

Compared to the Seahawks’ defense’s confusion and bewilderment, the San Francisco 49ers’ offense looked incredibly calm.

None of the offensive players celebrated. Lu Ke didn’t celebrate, and Marcus didn’t celebrate. Amid the overwhelming cheers from Candlestick Park, they just quickly turned and walked off the field. They high-fived their defensive and special teams players and then switched positions.

It was as if... they were cold-blooded assassins on a mission. After they accomplished their goal, they turned and walked away, showing no emotion, as if it were all a regular thing.

For a moment, it really gave people the illusion that it was still the regular season.

Even the cheers and celebrations in Candlestick Park weren’t too crazy. This was a routine for them. But today was the San Francisco 49ers’ first playoff game, and they scored a quick touchdown at the beginning, showing their excellent offensive form. The 49ers’ fans all started cheering and supporting them.

Candace stood up and watched Lu Ke on the sideline. Even though she could only see a small matchstick-like figure, the smile on her face couldn’t help but widen. She raised her hands high and clapped twice to the rhythm. Then she started chanting the cheer, joining all the 49ers fans in celebrating.

"Touchdown! Clap, clap!"

"Touchdown! Clap, clap!"

"Touchdown! Clap, clap!"

It was simple and clear, yet powerful. They showed their joy in the most straightforward way and put pressure on their opponents, who were playing away from home. The loud roar spread from inside Candlestick Park to the outside, like a raging wave in the ocean, surging forward relentlessly!

Candlestick Park was now showing the true essence of a "House of Horrors"!

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