Nine seconds was barely enough time for any offense, as it was only enough for one play. The San Francisco 49ers, on kickoff, would not give the Saints any breathing room, and they would certainly kick the ball deep into the red zone. This would completely eliminate any chance for Drew Brees to try one last desperate Hail Mary. In other words, the New Orleans Saints' chances were slim. Their best bet was a kickoff return.

This was exactly what happened. David Akers kicked the ball deep into the red zone, landing around the 5-yard line on the Saints' side. The Saints' wide receiver, Courtney Roby, caught the ball but chose not to advance vertically. Instead, he made a quick lateral move and lateraled the ball backward to Marques Colston, who had a great game. They were trying to use Colston's speed and vision to find a gap, advance, and create a miracle. According to the official league rules, you can lateral the ball backward an unlimited number of times, but you can only throw it forward once.

But Colston didn't have a chance. Two 49ers players immediately tackled him, pinning him down and not leaving him any room to run. Another two players arrived right after and formed a tight circle, cutting off all possibilities. The rookie player Colin Jones made the tackle.

There were three seconds left in the game, and the Saints' Brees still chose to go back out on the field. The crowd at Candlestick Park roared in unison. After a game with so many ups and downs, they had almost no energy left, and their voices were getting hoarse. But at this moment, no one held back, burning their last bit of energy and shouting:

"Defense! Defense! Defense!"

The endless home-crowd roars burned like a fire cloud, and the whole world was dyed red. Even a volcanic eruption seemed dull in comparison. Drew Brees calmly lined up again and decisively called the snap, but Harbaugh used his last timeout at a crucial moment, interrupting Brees's pass and play call. Brees had to do it all over again, but he was not affected by the minor interruption.

On the next snap, Brees took a step back and passed the ball to Darren Sproles on the right. Sproles gained two yards with his footwork, but the 49ers' defense had completely given up on rushing the pocket. All 11 players were scattered across the field, forming an airtight net, layer by layer. Then, Sproles turned around and lateraled the ball back to Brees.

Brees adjusted his feet slightly and made a lateral pass to wide receiver Robert Meachem, number 17, near the left sideline. He was trying to use a trick play to get the 49ers' defense to pay attention to one side and then advance the ball. But the 49ers' defense had a clear numerical advantage and occupied the entire half of the field. With their full attention, C.J. Spillman immediately tackled Meachem, putting him on the ground and ending any chance the Saints had.

Game over. The final whistle blew. The final score was 50-46. The San Francisco 49ers won this offensive battle and set the record for the highest score of the season.

Harbaugh patted Lu Ke on the shoulder. The two of them raised their hands high, cheering and quickly walking to the middle of the field, where they met Sean Payton and Drew Brees. Harbaugh shook hands with Payton, and Lu Ke met Brees.

Brees hugged Lu Ke tightly. It was not just a handshake, but a hug. He also patted Lu Ke's back. After taking off his helmet, he had a warm and gentle smile on his face. He shook his head slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but after a lot of thought, he still didn't say anything. He just smiled again and said, "What a game!"

A thousand words would not be enough to describe the emotions in that moment. No one expected the outcome of the game, nor the flow of it. The 49ers' defense was not at its best, and the Saints' offensive line was a disaster. But the one thing that was certain was that it was a well-played game. Both sides had used all their tricks, and in the end, the young and bold San Francisco 49ers finally defeated one of the biggest Super Bowl favorites this season and confidently advanced to the NFC Championship Game. As members of this historic game, they couldn't help but feel a sense of mutual respect.

"What a game," Lu Ke also said loudly. Then he held up his helmet and asked, "Drew, can we trade helmets?"

Lu Ke knew his request was bold and that there was no such tradition in football. But he couldn't help but ask. This was not only his first playoff game, but his opponent was Drew Brees. More importantly, they had just finished a high-quality offensive battle, using every last bit of their energy. For Lu Ke, this game was worth remembering forever.

Brees was a little surprised. Then he carefully looked at Lu Ke. He could see genuine excitement and joy in his eyes, and even a hint of admiration and longing. He had the youthful energy of a young man, but he wasn't overly aggressive. This made Brees smile again. "It's my honor." So, the two of them traded helmets.

Brees could see Lu Ke's childlike smile and how he clenched his fists. The look in his eyes when he looked at the helmet was filled with the joy of a fan. Brees couldn't help but shake his head again. He didn't say anything else and turned to leave the field. As he glanced down at the number 14 San Francisco 49ers helmet in his hand, Brees suddenly thought: This rookie quarterback is an interesting guy.

The crowd was celebrating to their heart's content. After enduring a severe test, they could finally enjoy the sweetness and happiness of this victory. They gave their heroes on the field the most passionate shouts and roars, which went on and on.

Faintly, they could see the number 14 organizing his teammates. Finally, a large part of the team gathered together and formed a long line in the middle of the field. They all raised their hands and, led by the number 14, they began to clap together in a rhythm.

"Clap! Clap clap! Clap! Clap clap!"

One after another, the San Francisco 49ers players were showing their gratitude in their own way. They were thanking Candlestick Park for its strong support, the 49ers fans for their loyalty, their full cooperation at a crucial moment, their focus throughout the game, and their company along the way. Without the fans' support, they would never have been able to make it this far. This was the team's gratitude.

In front of 70,000 fans, the clapping of less than 30 players was completely insignificant, but their actions became a powerful call. The 49ers fans began to raise their hands one after another and clapped along with the rhythm. The crisp and loud sound replaced their hoarse and sore voices, creating a drumming sound in a more direct and pure way.

"Clap! Clap clap!"

Once, then again, the clapping at Candlestick Park all came together. The 70,000 fans and the home team were truly one. The sound finally disappeared, leaving only the rhythm, which spread throughout the Bay Area like a thunderclap. It was clearly broadcasted through the Fox TV network.

In the broadcast booth, Kirk and Teddy were inviting commentators to make their final remarks, but the thunderous applause created an incredible sound wave. They couldn't help but switch back to the live feed and witness this historic moment. It wasn't just because the San Francisco 49ers had won a Divisional Playoff game, but because the San Francisco 49ers had truly created a rapport and chemistry between the fans and the team.

They would have more playoff victories in the future. In a long career, this was just the beginning. But the soul and spirit of a team were unique. After years of dormancy, the 49ers had finally woken up and were back on the historical stage, becoming an important force in the league! It wasn't because of their skill, but because of their chemistry. This was a priceless soul. Of the 32 teams in the league, only a handful truly had this kind of soul. Now, the San Francisco 49ers could be included, once again showing the team's long history and deep legacy.

In the VIP box, Leh Steinberg and Roger Goodell were still standing side by side in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows, enjoying this rare and magnificent scene. Although he didn't say anything, Goodell could feel the vibe coming from Leh. He shook his head helplessly. "Don't. Don't say, 'I told you so.' I already know."

Lu Ke had not only won a game, but he had also won an exciting offensive battle, which was enough to prove Lu Ke's market value. Even without Leh, Goodell's attitude and strategy would definitely change. This was a start, and it could very well be the beginning of the NFL's entry into the Chinese and even Asian markets.

Leh took a light puff of his cigar and shrugged nonchalantly. "I wasn't going to say that. I just wanted to say that he's a unique kid, isn't he?"

Goodell didn't answer. The two of them fell silent again, quietly enjoying the magnificent scene in front of them, but they had already reached a mutual understanding without even saying a word. This moment was truly wonderful.

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