Chapter 159 157: Ominous Premonition
Lu Ke had always firmly believed that professional athletes possessed a sense of professionalism. They would never lose a game on purpose—not just because it violated the spirit of sportsmanship, but because it broke the rules of competition. But now, Lu Ke realized he had been far too naive. While players wouldn't intentionally throw a game, a lack of chemistry, coordination, and team spirit was enough to drag the contest into a quagmire.
Not every player possessed that sense of professionalism.
Suddenly, Lu Ke found himself besieged from all sides:
His opponents: the Dallas Cowboys, their arch-rivals. The opposing fans: they wanted to tear Lu Ke to shreds with their roars. His own team: Alex Smith was about to return, and the battle between internal factions was becoming clear. His own fans: they still refused to believe in his abilities. They demanded victory—more victories—or they would refuse to support him as the team's starting quarterback.
This wasn't just a matter of threats from within and without, nor was it merely being besieged. Caught in an ambush from all sides—only that phrase could accurately describe Lu Ke's current predicament.
In Week 3 of the regular season, barring any surprises, the starting quarterback position for the San Francisco 49ers would be open for competition, pitting Lu Ke and Alex Smith in a head-to-head showdown. In Week 4, if all went smoothly, Colin Kaepernick would join the fray, further muddying the waters.
Lu Ke was the team's third option, and he always had been. But he now had one more chance to turn "third option" into "first option," to hold on to the starting quarterback position instead of being a mere flash in the pan. That chance was this week's game. Victory. It was his only goal, and the only result he would accept.
This wasn't just another regular season game. Lu Ke would be fighting for himself, fighting for the win, and fighting for his career!
It was just like when he was on the practice squad—every game could have been his last. Now that he was in the NFL, that was even more true. There was no room for error in any game; the slightest mistake could wash away all his previous efforts. So, for Lu Ke, this was his Super Bowl.
It didn't matter who was standing on the other side of the field, whether it was Kevin Press or Tony Romo. Lu Ke's goal had not wavered, and it never would.
Lu Ke lifted his chin slightly and gave Parris a confident smile. He didn't shrink back or show any fear, meeting the challenge head-on. "I have no intention of letting victory slip through my fingers." Though his words were casual, Lu Ke radiated an immense confidence, the bright, unwavering light in his eyes carrying a steely resolve.
'Even if it means burning through all my Special Skills, I'm winning this game, no matter what!'
As the team bus slowly rolled into the player tunnel, a notification sound chimed in Lu Ke's mind:
"Game Missions:
Score a Touchdown in an official game; Requirement: None; Reward: +1 base point per Touchdown.
Accumulate passing yards in an official game; Requirement: At least 150 passing yards; Reward: +1 base point.
Win an official game; Requirement: None; Reward: +3 base points."
Just three missions, a reduction in both quantity and quality across the board. Lu Ke was already mentally prepared for this.
Over the past year, Lu Ke had only received game missions three times. Each of those games had been incredibly special, often involving countless "firsts," so naturally, there were more related missions. This week's game, however, was just an ordinary regular season matchup. Over the long season ahead, fourteen more similar games were waiting.
So, not every game could be as special as the ones before, unless another special mission was triggered.
However, judging by the situation today, even though they were facing their league arch-rivals, the Dallas Cowboys, the system still hadn't issued a special mission. He guessed that over the last fifteen years, the rivalry had been too uneventful to generate a big enough spark.
The base points for a victory were only three, as well. 'It looks like this will be the norm from now on.'
But system missions aside, winning this game was still a goal Lu Ke had to achieve. There was no turning back.
A long TWEEEEET of the whistle cut through the air, officially signaling the start of the Week 2 regular season game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys. The 49ers' kicker, David Akers, took his run-up and sent the ball sailing, kicking off the afternoon's contest.
During the earlier coin toss, the Dallas Cowboys had won and elected to receive. Therefore, the San Francisco 49ers kicked off, and the Dallas Cowboys would receive the ball and establish their starting field position. However, the Cowboys weren't in a hurry to start their return and opted for a safe catch.
A "safe catch," as it was called, was when a receiver caught the football, brought it close to his chest, and immediately took a knee. This action signified that the receiver was forfeiting his right to a return, and the offense would begin at the spot of the catch. In such cases, opposing players were prohibited from tackling or hitting the receiver; doing so would result in a penalty.
Generally, a receiver would opt for this if he couldn't find a good return lane or needed to save time at a critical moment in the game. He might also do it if he lost his balance during the catch or was at risk of injury. Another common reason was for the opening drive, when everyone was still warming up and trying to avoid getting hurt. In all such cases, a receiver would choose the safe catch.
And so, the Dallas Cowboys' offense, led by Tony Romo, took the field to start their drive from their own 17-yard line.
Romo was of Latino heritage; his father was a second-generation Mexican-American, while his mother was of German and Polish descent.
In the United States, it wasn't just Asian players who were rarely seen on the football field; Latinos almost never played football either. The sport's demanding field requirements meant it was more popular in relatively affluent cities, and it was widely considered a "white man's sport."
In contrast, sports like basketball and baseball, which had virtually no field requirements, were far more widespread in poorer neighborhoods.
But Romo was born in Wisconsin, home of the Green Bay Packers. The football tradition there had deep roots, making it one of the most stable and fervent NFL markets in the Alliance. As a result, Romo was a dual-sport athlete in high school, playing both football and basketball, but he eventually gave up basketball to focus on a career in football.
Romo was a talented, borderline-elite quarterback. He had an accurate arm, agile footwork, a strong build, and decent contact balance; he was also mobile enough to escape the pocket under pressure without looking too clumsy. Under his leadership, the Dallas Cowboys' offense had indeed made impressive strides. However, choking in crucial moments seemed to have become his calling card. His game-time mentality lacked that domineering, decisive edge needed to finish the job.
In a way, Romo and Lu Ke were quite similar: talented, yet held back by their lack of reputation and pedigree, they both went undrafted. They had spent their offseasons scrambling for tryouts before finally landing a job. Tonight's duel between two undrafted quarterbacks was certainly reason enough to generate attention and discussion.
On the Dallas Cowboys' very first offensive drive, Romo showcased his borderline-elite talent. He and running back Felix Jones worked in perfect sync, executing a balanced attack. With a mix of play-action passes and draw plays, the offense moved down the field with a steady, controlled rhythm, looking sharp and effective.
His passing was particularly impressive. Twice faced with a tough third-down conversion, Romo used his arm to keep the drive alive. The first time, he connected with the exceptionally talented second-year wide receiver, Dez Bryant. The second time, he found tight end Jason Witten to move the chains. Both plays successfully resulted in a first down, allowing the team to continue their offensive march.
The drive took a total of six minutes and thirty-three seconds off the clock. It ended with Romo completing a four-yard pass to wide receiver Miles Austin for a Touchdown! After the special teams unit kicked the extra point, the Dallas Cowboys took an early 7-0 lead.
The Dallas Cowboys had scored a Touchdown on their very first drive of the game. More importantly, Romo's performance was outstanding. He went seven for nine for fifty-eight passing yards, showing he had a hot hand and was continuing his excellent performance from Week 1.
Last year, the Dallas Cowboys had finished with a disappointing 6-10 record. But after some offseason adjustments, the entire team looked reinvigorated, showing strong competitiveness. This was the NFL; there were no truly weak teams. Every season was a fresh start, and the power dynamics could shift completely.
In this highly anticipated rivalry game, the Dallas Cowboys displayed excellent form. Carrying the prestige and power of "Team USA," they seized the momentum at Candlestick Park, striking the first blow despite being the away team.
For the Cowboys, it was the best possible start. For a moment, it felt like a repeat of last week's game. The only difference was that this time, it was the Cowboys who had taken the lead, which felt like an ominous sign.
So, how would the San Francisco 49ers respond?
Nearly twenty thousand Cowboys fans had made the trip—a testament to the 49ers fans' lingering lack of confidence in their own team, which allowed away fans to snap up so many tickets. Nevertheless, all seventy thousand seats in Candlestick Park were filled to capacity.
The twenty thousand Cowboys fans erupted in cheers, taunting the home crowd. But the fifty thousand 49ers fans were not to be outdone. Gone was the hesitation and dullness from the previous game; they unleashed a torrent of screams and roars, cheering for their team and hoping their rookie quarterback could deliver another brilliant performance.
The entire Candlestick Park was engulfed in a tsunami of sound. The thunderous roar was like two massive floods colliding, clashing with explosive force and glittering under the bright, golden sunlight.
Lu Ke, leading the San Francisco 49ers' offense, took the field.