In a critical moment, Lu Ke instinctively used the special ability “Iron Skin, Steel Bones.” Although he only had one use of “Iron Skin, Steel Bones” left, it proved to be the right decision. Ray Lewis’s tackle was too vicious, and the point of contact was very sensitive. A single mistake could have led to knee or ankle injuries, which Lu Ke couldn’t afford. Fortunately, in that flash of lightning, he chose to use the special ability and avoided the risk of injury.

After getting back on his feet, Lu Ke jumped a few times and moved his joints to make sure he was okay, which put the team doctor at ease. Lu Ke then went over and pulled his offensive teammates back, signaling for everyone to calm down. Unlike last week’s game against the Arizona Cardinals, in this game against the Baltimore Ravens, they had no reason to be arrogant and had to give it their all. Any oversight could lead to a complete collapse of this game.

Now, after two sacks, Lu Ke had calmed down and truly shaken off the disappointment of the last unexpected loss. He was fully focused on this game, regaining his usual sharp and composed demeanor and getting back into the rhythm. Now, he needed his teammates to also calm down and truly get into the game. This was not an easy task. But competitive sports are like a boat going against the current; you either move forward or you fall behind. Only by moving against the current and pushing forward can you make breakthroughs one step at a time and reach the peak!

After the game started today, the Baltimore Ravens showed excellent defensive form. Their tactic of putting strong pressure on the front was executed very thoroughly and flawlessly. On one hand, their powerful blitzes were successful one after another. In addition to the two sacks, they also caused a hurried pass, putting immense pressure on Lu Ke. It was like a raging storm, making it impossible for him to carefully observe his passing targets.

On the other hand, their run defense was excellent. The two running backs, Marcus Lynch and Anthony Dixon, took turns, running the ball a total of four times, but only gaining two yards. This included being tackled behind the line of scrimmage, which resulted in a loss of yards. This severely limited the 49ers’ offensive playbook, forcing Lu Ke to pass the ball. Without the cover of the run game, Lu Ke’s passing pressure increased, and the pocket protection was in a state of chaos. It was not easy to find an open spot for a long, short, or even a medium pass. This caused the San Francisco 49ers’ entire offense to slam into a brick wall.

In the past few weeks, the young San Francisco 49ers’ offensive line has been inconsistent, with good and bad performances, but overall, it was on an upward trend. After a disastrous start to the season, it reached a peak in the game against the Philadelphia Eagles, allowing four sacks. However, since then, it had been on the right track and performing better and better. In this game, against the Baltimore Ravens’ aggressive defense, the 49ers’ offensive line’s weaknesses were completely exposed. Their individual abilities were still too weak, and their coordination and changes were also lacking in experience. They allowed two sacks in the first quarter alone, and they were almost useless in the run-blocking tactics. In an instant, they were exposed. This undoubtedly further magnified the problems with the San Francisco 49ers’ offense, and the game began to tilt in favor of the Baltimore Ravens.

In the first quarter, the Ravens taught Lu Ke and the offense a lesson in what an ironclad defense is!

…

After that last sack and the ensuing chaos, the referees deliberated and made a final ruling, penalizing the Ravens for 15 yards. The 49ers automatically got a first down, which allowed the team’s offense to continue. This was the 49ers’ second first down since the game started today.

The game continued. Back in the game, under the stimulation of tension and urgency and the excitement of a high-stakes collision, adrenaline started to surge. Lu Ke gradually found his rhythm again. His defensive reads, tactical plays, and pass selections—all of his technical and tactical skills were improving. After a period of chaos, the offense’s leader finally found his footing.

Unfortunately, Lu Ke alone couldn’t move the ball forward. On his last pass, Michael Crabtree successfully caught the ball, but before he could fully control it, he was pushed out of bounds. The referee ruled it an incomplete pass. This meant that the San Francisco 49ers, who had just crossed midfield, were forced to stop and punt the ball.

“They were so close, just a little bit more, and Crabtree would have had control of the ball. The 49ers’ offense finally found some of their footing, but the Ravens’ defense made a timely play and once again successfully stopped their opponents. Next, Joe Flacco will once again lead the offense onto the field.”

As mentioned before the game, this was a battle of offense versus defense, with the main characters being the 49ers’ offense and the Ravens’ defense. Although the 49ers’ defense had some impressive performances this season, and the Ravens’ offense had a new look under John Harbaugh, the matchup between the two still lacked a little spark. In a dull game, Flacco ended his drive with an interception, which also signaled the end of the first quarter. The score on the field was “0-0,” and neither team had been able to break the deadlock.

In the studio, Teddy and Kirk immediately began to analyze the first quarter. “The San Francisco 49ers’ offense was slow to start and never really got into the game, while the Baltimore Ravens’ defense was fully prepared. Their targeted defensive tactics really gave the young opponents a hard time, which directly led to the game being tense and full of close calls.”

“On the other hand, the Baltimore Ravens’ offense was also performing poorly, with too many mistakes. The San Francisco 49ers’ defense performed their duties adequately, but they also failed to stop the opponent from scoring, successfully maintaining the balance of the game and preventing a complete collapse in the first quarter. This undoubtedly made the game more exciting.”

“Judging from the final offensive and defensive plays, the offense led by Lu Ke is gradually regaining its feel. The focus now is whether they can execute the kind of fluid, high-frequency, fast-paced offense they had in the previous weeks against the tough defense led by Ray Lewis and completely break through their opponent’s front-line pressure. This will undoubtedly be the focus of the second quarter.”

For both sets of fans, such an intense matchup was a struggle. But for neutral fans, the tough back-and-forth provided an exciting game. This was a Thursday night game, and with the entire nation watching, neutral fans undoubtedly made up the majority. Neutral fans were not very satisfied with the excitement level of the first quarter. The intensity was there, but unfortunately, there were no points. If they had a choice, they would have wanted to see a tough matchup and a scoring shootout. Now, they could only hope that the second quarter would be a high-scoring one.

But that was a luxury.

“God, the Ravens have sacked Lu Ke again. Terrell Suggs and Ray Lewis teamed up to get this sack. The blind side of the 49ers’ offensive line was completely destroyed. In a one-on-one matchup, Mike Iupati was no match for Lewis, and Chilo Rachal was even more helpless. Lu Ke had no chance.”

“Haloti Ngata, the Ravens’ defensive tackle, overpowered Anthony Davis and Joe Staley, relentlessly tearing open a hole and successfully sacking Lu Ke, which resulted in a nine-yard loss for the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers’ offensive line has been completely destroyed. The first half isn’t even over yet, and they have already allowed four sacks! My God!”

“Another powerful blitz, another quick pocket collapse. Danger! Danger! God, Lu Ke is running out of the pocket on his own, dodging one tackle, then a second one! God! God! God! Lu Ke is adjusting his steps and throwing a long pass. It’s a… 48-yard long pass to Ted Ginn! Ginn is still running! Touchdown! The San Francisco 49ers have a touchdown!”

“Jesus Christ, the San Francisco 49ers’ offensive line has been completely shredded. It’s like a broken pocket, with holes everywhere. At least three Ravens defensive players broke through the pocket. Lu Ke had nowhere to run. He purposely threw the ball out of bounds to avoid getting sacked for the fifth time in the first half. What is going on? What is going on?”

“During halftime, the San Francisco 49ers must find the root of the problem: what is wrong with their offensive line? Without effective protection from the offensive line, Lu Ke can’t complete a pass! He can’t even observe his passing targets. The time to pass has been compressed to the extreme. The 49ers must find a solution, or this game will only get worse.”

Even without the commentator’s explanation, everyone clearly understood this, including the players on the field. They all knew that the sack problem was too serious. The entire pocket was full of holes. Not only was Lu Ke in trouble, but even the running back, Anthony Dixon, was forced to leave the game due to an injury from a series of collisions.

To make matters worse, Chilo Rachal suffered a calf muscle strain. The extent of the injury was not yet known, and he had to be checked out, so a substitute player had to be brought in to protect Lu Ke’s blind side.

“What… what is going on? Lu Ke has been sacked again. Lewis has his fourth sack of the game, which is also… uh, the Ravens’ ninth sack. It’s unbelievable, but it’s true. The Ravens have nine sacks in this game, completely pinning the 49ers’ rookie quarterback, Lu Ke, in the pocket, unable to move.”

“The game is over. The Baltimore Ravens have won, and the San Francisco 49ers have their first losing streak of the season.”

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep