Chapter 1038: The Running Game

Although the defense and offense are two relatively independent parts of the game, the connection between their morale and form cannot be ignored. They are, after all, part of the same team. With the addition of the special teams, the team of football players is complete. The Seattle Seahawks’ defense gradually began to show signs of recovery, and then their offense also awakened.

In the passing game, Russell Wilson still hadn’t found his rhythm. His second pass after coming on the field was almost intercepted by the San Francisco 49ers’ second-year outside linebacker, Aldon Smith.

If it weren’t for tight end Zach Miller and wide receiver Sidney Rice reacting quickly, one grabbing and one blocking, they would have disrupted Aldon’s rhythm and prevented the interception.

Although they were penalized ten yards for the two receivers’ holding fouls, which put the offense in a tough spot, they at least didn’t turn the ball over with another interception.

Indeed, this bloody showdown, which avoided the worst-case scenario in a dangerous situation, finally allowed the Seahawks’ offense to erupt in morale. Russell’s read-option plays clearly began to warm up.

In the first offensive drive, Russell’s timing and rhythm for running the ball were always off. He would get caught in the 49ers’ defense’s circle before he could even sprint. Whether he ran with the ball or the two running backs ran, the results were not satisfactory.

But this time, Russell finally found a familiar rhythm.

Marshawn Lynch, Michael Robinson, and Leon Washington, the three running backs, took turns on the field. With Russell’s own opportunistic runs, they finally achieved success. Their powerful and fierce running game broke through the defensive line with brute force, gradually moving forward. Marshawn then finished it off with a two-yard rushing touchdown, finally breaking the shutout crisis in this game.

Everyone knew that the Seattle Seahawks would most likely choose to run the ball. Russell Wilson’s passing felt awful this game. The running game was their only way out. Even when facing the San Francisco 49ers’ defense, which had been ranked in the top three in run defense for two consecutive seasons, their running back group showed no fear at all.

Marshawn Lynch and Leon Washington both put on Pro Bowl-level performances this season, and their good form continued into the playoffs. The other fullback, Michael Robinson, was no pushover, either—he was a Pro Bowl player last year. The three running backs with different styles constantly challenged the 49ers’ defensive rhythm.

Then there was Russell Wilson.

The reason the read-option offense was only popular in college and not in the professional world was, on one hand, because of the huge difference in defensive intensity. Veteran defenses could often anticipate the quarterback’s intentions, which made the original purpose of the offensive play useless.

On the other hand, a quarterback running with the ball is too dangerous. Using a quarterback, who is paid more than ten times what a running back is, as a blue-collar running back is a waste. Not to mention the dangerous professional defenses, which could easily cause the quarterback to get injured, which would be even more costly.

Just look at Robert Griffin III, who got injured in the Wild Card game. It was only his rookie season, and his rate of wear and tear was already alarming.

But when Russell was in his best form, his footwork was excellent, no less than that of a real running back.

When running with the ball, Russell’s height became his advantage. He was smaller and more agile, and the speed of the linebackers’ and cornerbacks’ defense was often unable to keep up with him, which created more opportunities for the Seahawks’ running game. That was exactly what happened on the offensive drive that just resulted in a touchdown!

"Wow! It’s been a long time since we’ve seen such a classic and tough running game."

"In the entire league, the only team that can break through the San Francisco 49ers’ solid run-defense Great Wall with a head-on running game is probably the Seattle Seahawks. Before this, even Adrian Peterson’s running efficiency was far from its best when he faced this run-defense in the regular season. But today, the Seattle Seahawks have succeeded.

That’s because they have four excellent running backs: two halfbacks, one fullback, and one quarterback. This is a capital that no other team has!"

"In this offensive drive, the two teams completed a total of 16 plays. Russell chose to pass six times, and only three of them were successful. The other 10 times were all running plays, with Russell himself running with the ball three times and the running backs completing the other seven. The running game was the absolute star."

"The Seattle Seahawks’ defense has a retro style from the 1980s. Now, their offense also has a traditional style from the 1970s. They steadily used their running game to open things up. The four players constantly switched their running rhythm and routes, showcasing the characteristics of a running game, which was completely unstoppable."

"Marshawn Lynch once again showed his ’Beast Mode’!"

"At the beginning of this offensive drive, due to consecutive fouls, they had to face a tough second-and-20 situation. Under the cover of Russell Wilson’s read-option play, Marshawn Lynch broke four tackles and ran for 23 yards, getting a tough first down for his team!"

"And in the final stage, it was Marshawn Lynch who broke through Patrick Willis and Aldon Smith’s containment and fiercely ran into the end zone to score a touchdown!"

"This was a victory of pure strength! Marshawn Lynch once again showed his unstoppable momentum. Even if Satan stood in front of him, he would be run over directly! This performance is truly amazing! This kind of offense once again reminds us of the old days—why the running game can also be so spectacular!"

"It’s hard to imagine that the Seattle Seahawks completed a touchdown in the most classic and... Seahawks way. They found a way out of a desperate situation. The first quarter is about to end, and the confrontation is finally starting to become balanced. The rest of the game is bound to be very exciting!"

If the San Francisco 49ers’ offense was ever-changing and full of tricks, then the Seattle Seahawks’ offense was classic, traditional, and relied on pure strength.

They completely used their running game to open things up. It was a clash of pure strength.

The 49ers’ defense could predict that the opponent would choose to run the ball. But the different running styles and routes of the different running backs made it difficult for their run defense to find a rhythm. And the read-option offense, which was invincible in college, was able to show its power in the professional world after being covered by a quarterback who was not afraid of collisions and confrontations.

Why did the Tim Tebow-led Denver Broncos defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild Card game last season? Why did the Washington Redskins get a new lease on life after getting Robert Griffin III this season? Why did the Seahawks’ offense improve so much after Russell Wilson joined them?

This is the reason.

Even though the 49ers could predict the running game, they still couldn’t stop it.

Especially Marshawn Lynch!

It’s unclear if Marcus Lynch’s excellent form in the first offensive drive motivated Marshawn Lynch’s competitive spirit, but his performance became better and better, and more and more spectacular. At least half of the credit for this touchdown must go to him.

There were no mistakes or bad plays. In short, there were no excuses. This was a head-on clash of pure strength between the running game and the run defense. Although it’s hard to admit, the fact is that the Seattle Seahawks’ running game has the ability to challenge any team. The 49ers’ defense just failed to get the job done.

After the special teams kicked in the extra point, the score was "10-7," and the score on the board was once again changed.

For both the San Francisco 49ers and the Seattle Seahawks, their situation was similar: they were old rivals, having faced each other twice in one season. They were bitter division rivals, and they had studied each other’s game films until they were worn out. So, all their playbooks, game styles, and routines were well known to each other.

To defeat the opponent, they first had to play to their strengths consistently, then reduce mistakes, then perform well, read the game, and adapt on the fly. The last thing was the clash of pure strength. There were no flashy moves or tricks. When two rivals meet, the stronger one wins!

The first quarter was like this, and the second quarter was the same.

The 49ers’ offense was still playing consistently. Facing the Seahawks’ powerful running touchdown, Lu Ke calmly led the offense. He slowly advanced past the midfield and got to the opponent’s 18-yard line, where they were met with a strong hit from the opponent’s defense.

They ran for two yards on one play, a blitzing long pass was slightly off target, and a short pass to Randy Moss couldn’t get the first down. They were now facing a fourth-and-three situation. Three-and-out.

The intensity of both the offense and defense had clearly increased. Any tiny deviation in detail could cause the advance to stop. The confrontation between the two teams was getting more intense. The end zone was so close, but the offense was stopped.

After thinking it over, Jim Harbaugh still chose not to go for it on fourth down. The main reason was that the confrontation and defensive intensity were getting hotter, and their offensive momentum wasn’t at its best. So, Harbaugh chose Akers to come on and kick a field goal, once again widening the score gap to "13-7."

The Seattle Seahawks, who came on afterward, did the same.

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