Chapter 934: Minor Details
"29-37."
Week 12 of the regular season, the game between the San Francisco 49ers and the New Orleans Saints came to an end. The visiting team's score is listed above. The undefeated 49ers once again took home a victory, improving their 2012 record to 11-0 and extending their winning streak.
Looking at the score, an eight-point difference, which is a touchdown with a two-point conversion, seems like a close game, or maybe a clear win. But anyone who watched the game knows that the actual game was much more intense and exciting than what the score shows.
In the entire game, the two teams only punted three times, the Saints twice and the 49ers once. At the same time, both teams scored seven times. The Saints had two touchdowns and five field goals, while the 49ers had four touchdowns and three field goals.
In other words, even though the final score had an eight-point difference, both teams scored the same number of times. The only difference was that the 49ers had a higher red-zone efficiency, with two more touchdowns than the Saints. Brees had to settle for field goals, which is where the eight-point difference came from.
During the game, any slight mistake in the details could have led to a completely different result.
Compared to the 49ers' defense, the Saints' defense was clearly weaker, which allowed Lu Ke to maintain a high-intensity offense. Faced with the absence of Logan Newman and the receivers' poor performance, Lu Ke cleverly activated Randy Moss, allowing the future Hall of Famer to shine again on the field.
In the entire game, Lu Ke attempted to pass to Moss 12 times, and Moss caught 10 of them. He gained 143 yards, averaging 14.3 yards per catch. Both of these numbers were new season highs, completely making up for Newman's absence and making him the top receiver of the game.
Then, Lu Ke built a passing system around Moss, constantly using Moss' unpredictable routes to attract attention and relieve the defensive pressure on other receivers, waiting for the right moment to pass. Crabtree and Vernon Davis getting back into their rhythm was the biggest gain from this game.
A total of eight players were Lu Ke's targets. Except for the rookie wide receiver AJ Jenkins, who unfortunately couldn't make a catch, the other seven players all caught a pass. This widespread offensive approach left the Saints' defense helpless.
The running backs also continued their recovery from the last game against the Chicago Bears.
In the game against the Saints' defense, even though their run defense was one of the worst in the league, neither of the starting running backs was able to get over 100 yards. Marcus and Gore only gained a total of 166 yards. You could see that their performance was still not at the same level as the first half of the season. However, with the cover of the passing game, they still did their job responsibly.
Gore had two rushing touchdowns, one was a three-yard touchdown in the red zone, and the other was a 12-yard touchdown on the edge of the red zone. He accounted for half of the 49ers' four touchdowns in the entire game. So, overall, the running backs still played an essential role and were an effective part of the offense.
"Through this game, we can confirm that Lu Ke is becoming a better and more mature quarterback. In difficult situations, he has shown the style of a top-tier quarterback in his tactical planning and passing decisions. With Logan Newman gone, Lu Ke is trying to break his tactical habits and offensive routine to unleash more of the offense's potential.
Although it sounds shocking, the truth is that this offense is still improving. You have to remember that Drew Brees was on the other side of the field. This is the second time in Lu Ke's career that he has beaten Drew Brees. And looking at his performance in this game, I don't think anyone would disagree, and even Drew Brees himself would have to admit that this second-year quarterback did a great job."
These were the words of the commentator in the studio after the game. In fact, the official post-game stats also supported his view.
Drew Brees: 33/47 completions, 455 yards, one touchdown, no interceptions, 108.3 passer rating, 1.2 PFF rating.
Lu Ke: 31/41 completions, 398 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions, 121.8 passer rating, 1.7 PFF rating.
It can be said that Lu Ke's performance was better than Brees's. Although his passing yards were lower, he was far superior in red-zone efficiency, completion percentage, pass-run balance, and mistake control. In a head-to-head matchup, he had the upper hand, and the nerve-racking moments were much less frequent than in the divisional round at the beginning of the year.
Of course, that was a playoff game, and this is a regular-season game, so there is still a difference.
But a win is a win. No one knows better than the players themselves that the difference between winning and losing is much clearer than what the score shows.
Drew Brees also realized this.
After the game, Brees came over to greet Lu Ke. In fact, this wasn't a night game, and it was at the Saints' home field. No one would have blamed Brees if he had just walked away, but he still came over.
"Great game." Brees shook Lu Ke's right hand, a bitter smile on his face. "God, I thought we could win this one. After all, it's our home field, and your offense and defense weren't at their best. The fatigue from your winning streak was already starting to show. We were so close, just a tiny bit, but... you still gritted your teeth and held on until the end. Congratulations! This is your victory!"
Brees's words were sincere, not sarcastic but a genuine warning.
Anyone with a discerning eye could see that the 49ers' fatigue was slowly starting to show, and the next games would likely be more difficult.
Lu Ke let out a small breath and smiled. "Why are you congratulating me now? I'm looking forward to facing you again in the playoffs this year. You know, beating the strongest opponent is what brings out the best in you. Or are you giving up already?"
The Saints were indeed in a tough spot this season. Although the "Bountygate" scandal led by Sean Payton was hated, Brees's character was beyond doubt. Unfortunately, relying on Brees alone couldn't make the Saints soar like Maradona made the Argentinian national team.
After losing to the 49ers, they have to play two consecutive away games against the Atlanta Falcons and the New York Giants, and then return home to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, whose defense is currently ranked fifth this season. The Saints' chances are now slim, and their hope for the playoffs is slowly fading away.
Brees ran his hand through his wet hair, revealing his "M" shaped hairline, and smiled broadly. "Don't be so arrogant. Be careful not to stumble in the second half of the season. There's a long, long way to go until the Super Bowl. Take it one step at a time. This year, I'm rooting for you and your team."
This was a compliment from a rival, and from Drew Brees himself. Even the composed Lu Ke felt a little excited.
But Brees then changed the subject. "As for us, don't worry. We'll fight until the very end. Any opponent who underestimates us could become a stepping stone for us to make it to the playoffs. This season, we're the underdog, but it's also a year for us to work on our skills. So, you better be careful. If you play like this in the playoffs, the outcome of the game might be completely different."
Lu Ke could feel the sincerity in Brees' advice. This time, he didn't say anything smart but instead said seriously, "Thank you."
Brees didn't say much and accepted the thank you as a given. He held up his helmet. "So, do you want to trade helmets today?" It was very likely that this would be the only chance they had this season.
"Since the great Drew Brees has requested it, I'd be happy to accept." Lu Ke handed over his helmet. The same helmets, but they held different memories.
"My second son, Bowen, really likes your playing style. He thinks Bambi's games are more fun than his dad's." Brees joked with a smile. "I'll give him this helmet when I get home today. Maybe he'll bring it to the next home game."
"Haha, then the home fans might have a problem with that." Lu Ke laughed heartily. "Since it's a gift for Bowen, do you want me to write something on it? You know, I'm trying to gain more fans, as many as possible. I'm desperate for approval from outside of San Francisco."
This joke also made Brees laugh happily. "If you do, Bowen will be very happy."
Later, Lu Ke returned to the locker room with his helmet and Brees' helmet. Before leaving New Orleans, he gave the signed helmet to Brees through a staff member.
Although Lu Ke and Brees' conversation was light and enjoyable, when Lu Ke turned to leave the stadium, his heart was heavy, and he couldn't help but worry.
He looked up at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome stadium. The fans were leaving the stadium with a sense of dejection and low spirits. Last season, they were one of the biggest contenders for the championship, but this season, they were in a difficult situation where they might miss the playoffs. The ups and downs of their emotions were hard to describe.
This is the NFL. The teams' skills are incredibly close, and anything is possible.
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