Chapter 208 206: The Rallying Call
Andy Dalton versus Lu Ke. Who would ultimately emerge victorious?
Based on current analyses and predictions from the media and experts, the red-headed Dalton had the upper hand.
First, looking at their track records, Dalton had more game experience. He had perfect attendance throughout his four years of college and was selected to the All-American First Team twice. Dalton was also physically stronger, and his ability to handle contact was more outstanding as a game wore on.
Second, in the first two games, Dalton's route selection, passing accuracy, and tactical execution were meticulous beneath a rugged exterior and ruthless under a steady hand. In comparison, Lu Ke's style of play was more aggressive and radical. His games were wide open, full of dramatic highs and lows, and ultimately lacked stability.
Third, and most importantly, for the first two weeks of the regular season, the Cincinnati Bengals played away games while the San Francisco 49ers played at home. This week, the Bengals were at home, and the 49ers were on the road.
As everyone knows, the difference between home and away games is incredibly significant in competitive sports. Many players' performances can be night and day depending on the venue. The NFL playoffs even assign home-field advantage based on regular-season records. For example, the team with the best record earns the number one seed and gets to play all their subsequent playoff games at home.
The concept of a "devil's home court" exists in soccer and basketball, and it certainly exists in football as well.
The most notoriously intimidating home field in the NFL is the Seattle Seahawks' CenturyLink Field. The stadium holds multiple Alliance noise records and even a Guinness World Record. The fans' cheers and roars during home games once caused a minor earthquake, making headlines around the world. Their fans call themselves the "12s," signifying that they are the twelfth man on the field, and they make every visiting team suffer.
The disparity between home and away games inevitably affects even veterans who have been in the Alliance for years; the four elite quarterbacks are no exception. As for rookies, a lack of experience and exposure, combined with unexpected on-field situations, can easily lead to them becoming flustered and terrified.
Both of Lu Ke's victories had come at Candlestick Park.
Although the San Francisco 49ers' home crowd hadn't given Lu Ke much support, at least the opposition wasn't severe, which gave the quarterback more room to perform. Now, Lu Ke had to face the taunts and challenges of an away game. The atmosphere, rhythm, and conditions of the game would be completely different.
Home and away—they were two different stories.
This was the first away game of Lu Ke's professional career. One could imagine that the Cincinnati Bengals fans would be more than happy to give Lu Ke an unforgettable road trip experience.
In summary, the media and experts generally favored Dalton. Or rather, they were generally against Lu Ke.
Industry experts believed that Dalton, who was steadily building on a solid foundation, should show an upward trajectory as the season progressed. Meanwhile, Lu Ke, who lacked a deep foundation, had a future development curve full of variables.
Amidst the flood of media coverage, one could faintly sense the media's attitude. Perhaps it was because of his Chinese descent, perhaps not, but it was undeniable that undrafted players inevitably faced more challenges and pressure.
It was just as Tony Romo had told Lu Ke after their game: as undrafted players, they were bound to carry immense pressure upon entering the Alliance, and they had much more to prove.
Forget his rookie days; even now, Romo still faced endless doubt. The moment his performance slipped, the instant his form dipped, fans and the media would inevitably question his ability all over again. The "undrafted" label was like the golden headband on Sun Wukong, impossible to shake off. Because of this, team owner Jerry Jones had to step in and shield Romo from criticism every time, which led to the joke about him being Jones's "illegitimate son."
Now, Lu Ke was walking the same path Romo once did.
Even though the media favored Dalton and doubted Lu Ke, all eyes were still drawn to the rookie quarterback matchup. The sparks flew even more intensely, especially after both players showed a strong desire for victory.
Amid the bustling discussions, ESPN's "Inside the Alliance" once again made its weekly predictions as usual. Of the ten experts, seven chose the Cincinnati Bengals, and three chose the San Francisco 49ers.
Charles Davis was still among those who didn't favor the San Francisco 49ers.
After last week's "mic-eating" performance, Charles still hadn't toned it down, boasting, "I don't think the 49ers have any chance of winning this game."
However, Charles backed up his claim with reasoning. He eloquently analyzed the advantages and disadvantages of home versus away games, the performances of the two quarterbacks, the performance of both teams' defenses, and the matchups of players in other positions. He reached his conclusion through objective analysis, staying consistent with his previous views.
Of course, beyond all the data, Charles added, "Lu Ke won the last two weeks with luck. But you can get lucky once, maybe twice, but not a third time. This is football. You reap victories not with Lady Luck, but with the goddess of victory. In just two weeks, Lu Ke's form and ability have already shown a downward curve. This week's game will prove my point."
Furthermore, Charles was full of praise for Dalton, believing he had shown potential beyond a second-round pick. As for Lu Ke, he remained reserved, stating bluntly, "The season has just begun." He then added, "I still don't believe Lu Ke has the potential to become an excellent quarterback."
The hysteria and indiscriminate attacks of the previous two weeks were gone, but the sharpness and edge in Charles's criticism hadn't diminished. It was just presented differently, as he steadfastly expressed his disapproval of Lu Ke for the third consecutive week.
The discussions and debates on "Inside the Alliance" were heated. After the San Francisco 49ers' two-game winning streak, the professional commentators' opinions were slowly changing. It wasn't a seismic shift, but it was precious nonetheless. It wasn't just the increase from two supporters to three; even the opponents' analyses had become more objective and cautious.
Despite this, the 49ers were still not the favorites, and their strength had yet to be acknowledged. The Cincinnati Bengals, led by Andy Dalton, were widely considered the likely winners.
The fans seemed to agree with this sentiment. Or if they didn't agree, they at least didn't show any strong opposition.
"Let's go! Let's all go to Cincinnati to watch the game!"
Chris Wilson's rallying cry echoed, lonely and hollow, through Joe's Bar. You could even hear a faint reverberation, but there was no response, as if... he were the only person in the entire bar.
But in reality, twenty or thirty people were gathered in the bar, every single one of them a fan. Even on days without games, they loved coming to the bar to see old friends, have a beer, and pass the time. However, lost in their own conversations and daydreams, they showed no interest in Chris's proposal.
Chris couldn't help but feel discouraged, but he raised his voice once more. "Guys! Doesn't anyone want to go to Cincinnati to see the game?" His urgent cry still went unanswered.
Jonathan Baldwin, sitting at the bar, lifted his glass, took a big gulp of beer, and let out a satisfied expression. "Chris, that's Cincinnati. Do you have any idea what you're asking? I'm telling you, you'd better not bother. Just stay put here in San Francisco."
Cincinnati is in Ohio, adjacent to Pennsylvania, near the East Coast.
The distance from San Francisco to Cincinnati is over 3,500 kilometers. Driving flat out, it would take at least thirty-one hours. A round trip by car was impractical because the game was on a Sunday morning, and Chris had to work the next day.
This meant a plane was the only option. Although domestic flights weren't that expensive, once you added in round-trip airfare, food, and lodging, the costs added up. Making a special trip to Cincinnati just to watch a game was an unrealistic idea.
Jonathan's words sparked a low ripple of laughter through the bar—gentle and friendly, but to Chris's ears, it was incredibly sharp and piercing. "What is wrong with you people? Our team is winning, our quarterback is on the rise, and you refuse to give more support. I don't get it. What are you all waiting for? Isn't it victory? The team is winning right now, and this is your reaction? God, I don't even know you guys anymore!"
"Woo-hoo!" a fan in the bar cheered. "We love winning, no doubt about it. But, Chris, don't get your hopes up too high. The more you hope, the bigger the disappointment. What's wrong with staying here in San Francisco and watching the game at Joe's Bar?"
Chris's resentment and anger struggled, nearly suffocating, amidst the cheerful, harmonious laughter. A powerful sense of helplessness, like seaweed, wrapped around his ankles. "The team needs our support! Lu Ke needs our encouragement! Haven't you noticed? The team is getting better and better; we need to have more hope. If even we give up, what reason does the team have to keep fighting?"
"We haven't given up. We're just choosing to stay in San Francisco. We'll support the team from here." Jonathan raised his beer glass high, and all the other fans in the bar loudly chimed in, "That's right, that's right."
Chris opened his mouth, but all the words got stuck in his throat. He was powerless. His heart was full of passion and excitement, yet he couldn't find a single supporter or kindred spirit. The loneliness and dejection were truly hard to describe.
"Can I join?" Suddenly, a cheerful voice came from behind him. Chris's eyes lit up. He whipped his head around and saw familiar faces. One, two, three. "What are the requirements for going to Cincinnati? I hope they aren't too strict, because I'd love to join!"
Jeff Locke, Nate Chandler, and Danny Rice. They were new friends he had just met not long ago, yet they were more enthusiastic and proactive than all his old, veteran-fan friends. Chris felt the spark of hope reignite. "The only requirement is that you're a San Francisco 49ers supporter! That's more than enough!"