The 2011 season was indeed a very interesting year, with countless records worth a closer look. Among them, the quarterback position was undoubtedly one of the most memorable since the turn of the millennium.
First, rookie quarterbacks. Three quarterbacks served as starters and all completed the feat of starting 16 full games. Two of them also led their teams to the playoffs. It was no exaggeration to say that this was a record-breaking year.
Second, elite quarterbacks. One of the four elite quarterbacks, Peyton Manning, missed the entire season due to injury, which caused the Indianapolis Colts to finish last in the season and become the holders of the first overall pick. After the season, the Colts' management decided to give up on Manning. They didn't think that a recovered Manning could return to a top-tier level, and they didn't think that Manning, who was over 35 and had been tormented by injuries, could maintain a high level of play. So, they gave Manning an ultimatum and gave up on the hero who had single-handedly built the Colts from a bottom-feeder to a dynasty.
This legendary quarterback fell to the lowest point of his career, while the other three elite quarterbacks all set new career highs.
Tom Brady of the New England Patriots became the quarterback with the most 400-yard games in history and the fourth quarterback in history to throw for 5,000 yards in a season. Brady, who was always known for his short passes, was a force to be reckoned with in terms of long passes this season. He was especially helped by tight end Rob Gronkowski, who set the historical record for most receiving yards by a tight end in a single season.
Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints broke Dan Marino's single-season passing yards record with 5,476 yards and defeated Brady's 5,235 yards to claim the title of single-season passing yards leader. In addition, he also became the first quarterback in league history to complete a game with a "completion rate of over 80%, over 400 passing yards, and five touchdowns." Brees also received strong support from tight end Jimmy Graham, who first set the single-season receiving yards record for a tight end, which was later broken by Gronkowski. The two quarterbacks' record-breaking pace for passing yards and their tight ends' record-breaking pace for receiving yards swapped places.
Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers set new historical highs with a quarterback rating of over 100 in 12 consecutive games in a single season, a quarterback rating of over 110 in seven consecutive games in a single season, and a single-season total quarterback rating. His 45 passing touchdowns in a single season also ranked fourth in history. In addition, Rodgers' rushing yards, rushing attempts, and rushing touchdowns this season all decreased compared to the past two seasons, while his interception and fumble numbers also set new career lows. This meant that he had completed a full and mature transformation.
The stars were shining! There was no doubt that the combined brilliance of the three elite quarterbacks, along with the outstanding performances of the three rookie quarterbacks, became the biggest highlight of this season. But the most interesting thing was that a special quarterback, a rookie, mixed in and put up elite-level stats!
His completion rate was second only to Brees. His streak of 10 consecutive games with a quarterback rating over 100 was second only to Rodgers. His passing touchdown number was second only to Brees and Rodgers. His total quarterback rating was second only to Rodgers and Brees. His passing yards were second only to Brees, Brady, Rodgers, and Newton. And his number of interceptions was tied for the least with Rodgers.
It's worth mentioning that only four quarterbacks in a single season have thrown for over 40 touchdowns: Rodgers, Manning, Brady, and Brees. Now, another quarterback has also reached this level: Lu Ke!
As an undrafted rookie quarterback, Lu Ke put up a report card that was comparable to the four elite quarterbacks. This was truly too shocking and too terrifying. All the words in the world seemed to have failed, and even the most beautiful praise seemed pale and weak. This series of stats alone was enough. It was unheard of!
So, when the regular season ended, everyone noticed Lu Ke's stats. How could they not go crazy? How could they not be surprised? It was not just young quarterbacks like Cam Newton and Tim Tebow, but even veteran quarterbacks like Drew Brees and Tom Brady were asked questions about him. No one could understand it.
It was no exaggeration to say that Lu Ke had a phenomenal rookie season, a season that many quarterbacks couldn't even achieve in their entire careers. It would probably be difficult for a rookie to break his records in the future.
From rookie quarterbacks to elite quarterbacks, including the absent Manning, these surprises and fairy tales became the best embellishments of the 2011 season. Even many years from now, it would still be one of the most talked-about seasons, forever etched in history in a unique and brilliant way.
As for whether Lu Ke can continue this performance in his second season, his starting point in his rookie season was so high that it was hard to imagine, so will he begin a decline and be unable to continue climbing? These were all questions that needed to be considered in the future. At the very least, they could wait until after the Super Bowl to slowly reflect on them.
And now? The playoffs were about to begin!
When it came to the playoffs, every game, every matchup, and every team was a topic of discussion. But unexpectedly, yet understandably, the San Francisco 49ers had become one of the most anticipated teams in the league. Because under the leadership of Jim Harbaugh, this young team had become a powerhouse with the ability to defeat any opponent. Also because of Lu Ke's brilliant stats, which were comparable to Super Bowl favorite Aaron Rodgers. And because the team's defense showed a potential that was far beyond imagination in the second half of the season. All of this made this team the biggest unknown factor in the playoffs.
After 17 weeks of the regular season, the 12 playoff teams were announced.
AFC.
AFC East champions, New England Patriots, 13-3, No. 1 seed.
AFC North champions, Baltimore Ravens, 12-4, No. 2 seed.
AFC South champions, Houston Texans, 10-6, No. 3 seed.
AFC West champions, Denver Broncos, 8-8, No. 4 seed.
Two wild-card teams.
AFC North second place, Pittsburgh Steelers, 12-4, No. 5 seed.
AFC North third place, Cincinnati Bengals, 9-7, No. 6 seed.
The situation was clear. The most competitive division this year was undoubtedly the North, with three teams all making it to the playoffs. What's more, the Steelers' record was much better than the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds, which made the playoff matchups full of uncertainty. It's worth mentioning that the Cincinnati Bengals and the Tennessee Titans both had a final record of 9-7. In the end, after a complex and tedious calculation, the Bengals defeated the Titans and returned to the playoffs after a year.
NFC.
NFC North champions, Green Bay Packers, 15-1, No. 1 seed.
NFC West champions, San Francisco 49ers, 13-3, No. 2 seed.
NFC South champions, New Orleans Saints, 13-3, No. 3 seed.
NFC East champions, New York Giants, 9-7, No. 4 seed.
Two wild-card teams.
NFC South second place, Atlanta Falcons, 10-6, No. 5 seed.
NFC North second place, Detroit Lions, 10-6, No. 6 seed.
In comparison, the NFC playoff picture was relatively clearer because the strong teams were more distinct, which made the playoff matchups even more intense. The biggest surprise came from the NFC East. With two weeks left in the regular season, the Dallas Cowboys were in first place in the division, the Philadelphia Eagles were in second, and the New York Giants were in third. All three teams still had a chance to make the playoffs, but in the end, the New York Giants finished with two straight wins and completed a dramatic comeback, barely making it to the playoffs.
Now, all 12 playoff teams had been decided. There was no rest time. The wild-card round would begin in the first week of January. The wild-card round, simply put, was when the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds of each conference got a bye, and then the No. 3 seed played against the No. 6 seed, and the No. 4 seed played against the No. 5 seed. In addition, the higher-seeded teams had home-field advantage, meaning the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds hosted the games.
This was also the main focus of the last week of the regular season. The San Francisco 49ers won the game and earned the No. 2 seed, so they got a bye. The New Orleans Saints had the same record but had to settle for the No. 3 seed and play in the wild-card round. After a fierce season, a week-long bye was incredibly sweet and wonderful for any team.
On Saturday, January 7th, the Houston Texans will host the Cincinnati Bengals, and the New Orleans Saints will host the Detroit Lions. On Sunday, January 8th, the Denver Broncos will host the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the New York Giants will host the Atlanta Falcons.
After the regular season ended, the game days suddenly became a little quiet, with only two games each day. Although both games would be broadcast live, the number was still too small. However, the reason why the playoffs are called the playoffs is because the quality is different. One game decides everything. All the hard work of an entire season can turn into nothing in an instant, which is truly exciting and nerve-wracking.
Among all the teams, the Houston Texans, who were just founded in 2002, made the playoffs for the first time in their history this year. In addition, the Detroit Lions returned to the playoffs after 13 years, and the San Francisco 49ers returned to the playoffs after eight years. They were the freshest faces. Because of this, after the game against the St. Louis Rams, every 49ers player became the center of attention. Lu Ke was not the only one. The entire player tunnel was a lively scene.
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