Chapter 838: The King Arrives on the Road
"Hello, everyone, and welcome to ESPN. We are live at University of Phoenix Stadium, broadcasting the Week 8 Monday Night Football game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Arizona Cardinals."
"Undoubtedly, this is one of the most anticipated matchups of the week. Last season, the two teams' two clashes at home and away were filled with sparks and topics. With the rise of the San Francisco 49ers, the divisional showdown in the NFC West is becoming more and more exciting. This game also has different meanings for both teams."
"For the Arizona Cardinals, after a four-game winning streak to start the season, they have suffered three consecutive losses. They are now trying to recover from the turmoil of their quarterback's injury and find their winning rhythm again. This year's NFC West is a tough division, and if the Cardinals want to break out, they must get their act together as soon as possible."
"For the San Francisco 49ers, this is the first time since 1990, twenty-two years ago, that they have achieved a seven-game winning streak to start the season. In that season, they went on to win ten consecutive games, ultimately achieving an excellent record of fourteen wins and two losses, and made it all the way to the NFC Championship Game, where they unfortunately lost to the New York Giants by two points. Now, this young team is working hard to recreate its own glory."
"It's worth mentioning that the starting quarterback of this team, Lu Ke, was born in November 1989 and will turn twenty-three next month. Now, he is leading the team to their first eight-game winning streak in twenty-two years. Is this a full circle?"
"Before the game, the Arizona Cardinals fans issued a challenge on Facebook, 'Tom Brady has fallen, and Lu Ke will be next.' This message was undoubtedly full of provocation, and the San Francisco 49ers fans naturally didn't back down, which also triggered a new round of verbal warfare."
"The Cardinals fans have such strong confidence for a reason. Although they are currently suffering from quarterback injuries and have serious problems on offense, their defense has been outstanding this season. In Week 2 against the New England Patriots, Brady, who was playing at home, only got one passing touchdown in the final moments."
"Furthermore, the Cardinals' average points allowed in the seven games this season is only 19.6, which ranks in the top six in the league. Their pass defense is even more outstanding, which is undoubtedly the biggest source of their confidence, as their opponent's passing offense is facing a period of ups and downs."
"Of course, the San Francisco 49ers' passing offense is still number one in the league, with their average points and yards per game far ahead of the rest. But in the past two games, the team's receiving corps has been facing serious drop problems, with a total of eight drops in two games without any defensive pressure. This stat is also at the top of the league."
"This means that in the middle of the season, the San Francisco 49ers' receiving corps has experienced some performance fluctuations, and their physical and mental strength is facing a severe challenge. Whether this will be the Arizona Cardinals' breakthrough in this game is undoubtedly one of the biggest things to watch."
"In this week's public practice, Jim Harbaugh stated in an interview that they need to make adjustments to the offensive lineup, which also adds some uncertainty to the San Francisco 49ers' upcoming games. In fact, in the offseason, the 49ers' biggest support and biggest reinforcement came at the wide receiver position, but now they are facing a problem with wide receivers, which has to be said is unexpected."
"Hello, everyone, the game is about to start. The San Francisco 49ers' offensive captain, Lu Ke, just won the coin toss, and he chose to receive the ball. So, the San Francisco 49ers' offense is about to start the game. Let's take a look at the offensive lineup."
"Quarterback Lu Ke."
"The offensive line is Jonathan Goodwin at center, Joe Staley and Mike Iupati on the left, and Anthony Davis and Alex Boone on the right. This offensive line has not faced a severe challenge this season, and their overall performance has changed drastically compared to last season, which has become the most important part of the offense's overall upgrade."
"Running back Frank Gore. This is the first time this season that Gore is starting as the running back in place of Marcus Lynch."
"Wide receivers Michael Crabtree, Ted Ginn, and Randy Moss; tight end Logan Newman."
"The San Francisco 49ers have made a change, but it's not the one we expected. On the field, Crabtree and Ginn are still the starting wide receivers, but Moss is starting for the first time this season. Harbaugh has abandoned the two-tight-end formation and adopted the traditional three-wide-receiver formation. It's really intriguing what this means."
"However, we're about to find out."
Crabtree was still the starter.
The reason was simple: Mario, Chad, Jenkins, and the others were not ready yet. A few days of concentrated learning were not enough to change their tactical awareness completely, nor were they enough to make a breakthrough in their cooperation with Lu Ke. They needed more time.
Perhaps they could come in as rotational players in certain offensive plays to get used to the game atmosphere and rhythm. But as a starter, Crabtree was still a more trustworthy choice.
Harbaugh was indeed a bold coach, but not a reckless one.
In addition, taking out Vernon and putting in Moss was also a small change. On one hand, it was to prepare for tactical changes in the subsequent games. On the other hand, it was to test how long Moss's current physical strength could last and what he could do when he was at his physical limit.
When you are poor, you change. When you change, you will get through. The San Francisco 49ers were now working hard to keep the team on the right offensive track.
As the San Francisco 49ers' offense came onto the field, the University of Phoenix Stadium erupted with thunderous boos, jeers, and laughter. They were doing their best to create noise and disrupt the San Francisco 49ers' play calls.
They were even hitting their foam hands, not to cheer but to constantly disrupt the rhythm and create a chaotic tidal wave, like a giant monster with bared fangs and claws, devouring the eleven players on the offense.
The thunderous drums were like a constant torrent of waves, one after another, crashing down. The contrast between the individuals' smallness and the stadium's grandeur was stark enough to make every player under "attack" feel despair and fear and start to tremble. It was even difficult to stay rational, let alone compete in a fierce game.
Home and away games were as different as night and day.
But, five minutes and twenty-two seconds later, the jeering noise of the entire stadium was like a tsunami hitting a skyscraper, met with a dull blow.
"Touchdown! The San Francisco 49ers have successfully scored a touchdown!"
"Lu Ke found Randy Moss on the front right side of the end zone with an eleven-yard pass from the red zone. In a zone defense, Moss and Newman made a beautiful cross-run. Moss once again showed his route-running ability from his prime. No one expected him to appear near the right post! Lu Ke successfully found an open spot and completed the pass with pinpoint accuracy. Without a doubt, it was a passing touchdown!"
"Beautiful! Since Lu Ke took over the team's starting quarterback position, the San Francisco 49ers have become the team with the highest success rate on the first drive of the game in the entire league. Today, they have once again continued this good form! Although Crabtree made two more route-running mistakes, they still managed to move the ball into the end zone and score a touchdown!"
Staring intently at Moss as he completed the touchdown in the end zone, Lu Ke clenched his right fist and waved it forcefully, showing his absolute toughness to the surging and boiling fans in the stadium. He roared his heart out, releasing all his emotions without reservation.
Against the Arizona Cardinals, Lu Ke would never lack motivation, just as he did against the Seattle Seahawks. Different circumstances, similar reasons, plus the fact that they were divisional rivals, meant that every encounter was a life-or-death, hand-to-hand combat. They wouldn't back down easily, and Lu Ke wouldn't let up either.
Facing the noise and boos, Lu Ke responded in the toughest and most direct way possible. His right hand, with veins bulging, was clenched into a fist. He punched hard and heavily toward the entire crowd of fans, then roared madly, "Ah! Ah! Ah!"
It was as if he was saying, "Do you see that? This is my answer, this is my counterattack, this is my arrival!"
The commanding and powerful aura of a king descending upon his city erupted. All the members of the offense swarmed over, stood shoulder to shoulder with Lu Ke, and roared madly at the home fans, firmly holding the initiative and control of the road game in their hands.
This was their game, even on the opponent's turf.
In the face of such a blatant provocation, all the fans at University of Phoenix Stadium immediately retaliated fiercely. Boos and insults, shouts and cheers, poured down overwhelmingly. There was no compromise or retreat. Instead, they erupted with an even more ferocious and powerful commotion.
The hurricane-like roar echoed throughout the stadium again and again, forcing the San Francisco 49ers' offense to sway like a small boat in a stormy sea, seemingly on the verge of being swallowed at any moment.
This no-holds-barred divisional showdown had just begun!
But, six minutes and eleven seconds later, just before the end of the first quarter, after a three-and-out from the Arizona Cardinals' offense and the San Francisco 49ers' offense coming back onto the field, the noise of the entire stadium was once again choked, and everyone looked on in stunned silence.
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