Chapter 718: Starting Over
"Touchdown! Ahh, a touchdown! It's a touchdown!"
"In the midst of the chaos, Aaron Rodgers faked a handoff to deceive the defense and then found Jordy Nelson, who had broken free! Nelson shook off the 49ers' number 38 safety, Dashon Goldson, and ran into the end zone, scoring the Green Bay Packers' first passing touchdown of the season!"
"Go, Packers, go!"
"Nelson! Jordy Nelson! I love you!"
"Nice job! Beautiful, guys!"
The entire Lambeau Field was boiling over like a volcanic eruption. You didn't need to look up at the big screen or listen carefully to the referee's whistle to make an accurate judgment: The Green Bay Packers had scored a touchdown. Aaron Rodgers had successfully maximized the advantage from the interception, effortlessly scoring the first passing touchdown of the season.
Lu Ke still didn't move.
The towel couldn't block the sound, but it created a blind spot, removing as much visual, olfactory, and tactile interference as possible. His attention was gradually becoming completely focused. The performance of the Packers' offense was not an issue he should be worried about or considering right now. The performance of the 49ers' offense was the top priority.
After venting all the negative emotions, Lu Ke finally calmed down.
In fact, before the game officially started, the system had already given him a heads-up through the game missions.
"Game Missions:
Complete a passing touchdown in an official game. Mission requirement: none. Mission reward: base points +1 for each touchdown.Complete a specific play in the first half. Mission requirement: short pass usage must be 30% or more. Mission reward: base points +1.Effectively control turnovers in the first half. Mission requirement: interceptions less than or equal to one. Mission reward: base points +1.Complete a defensive read in the first half. Mission requirement: successfully identify the opponent's intention to sack the quarterback at least once and make the correct pass/run choice. Mission reward: base points +1.Complete a pass in a specific formation in the first half. Mission requirement: advance at least 30 yards in the shotgun formation. Mission reward: base points +1.Win the official game. Mission requirement: none. Mission reward: base points +3."
Overall, compared to last season, the various sub-items of the game missions had not changed drastically. They still continued the mode of local adjustments and guidance, giving him instructions.
As the opening game of the 2012 season, the game missions had already given him clear instructions:
The state of the first half was crucial. This would be the foundation for setting the tone for the entire game. The four missions about game control were all the same, reminding Lu Ke over and over again that he had to be fully focused, with a focus on short passes, using the run to keep the defense honest, and paying attention to turnovers.
But Lu Ke started his season with an interception.
Serves him right!
This was the only thought in Lu Ke's mind right now.
The first quarter had just started, and he already had an interception. If he had another minor mistake in the first half, one of the missions would definitely be unachievable. He didn't know the results of the other missions, but he could be sure that if he continued to be distracted and think aimlessly, then the victory would slip away. This was a certainty.
He had to forget about all the outside factors. Just as he said after the preseason, he had to forget the successes and failures of the last season and the goals and expectations of this season. He had to take it one step at a time, one game at a time, one play at a time. He couldn't look back or get carried away. He had to move forward with determination toward the goal of victory.
This was the only key.
"Ding."
With a sound, the system once again presented a special mission.
"Special Mission: Proving Yourself at Lambeau Field!
Mission Description: The 2012 season has officially begun. The host is on the stage of Lambeau Field for the first time in his career. Driven by excitement and anticipation, his performance will inevitably be inaccurate. At the same time, facing the suppression of two top defensive players, Clay Matthews and Charles Woodson, the difficulty of the quarterback's game will increase. This is definitely not an easy game!
Mission Requirements: Beat Clay Matthews to complete two or more passes. Beat Charles Woodson to complete two or more passes. Score two or more passing touchdowns.
Mission Rewards: Unlock the hidden attribute 'State'; specified special skill +1; special points +3."
It was clear that the system had also detected the significant fluctuations in Lu Ke's competitive state. So, a special mission appeared, further highlighting that Matthews and Woodson were the top priorities of the Green Bay Packers' entire defense.
Moreover, Lu Ke had to break through head-on, tearing apart Matthews and Woodson's defensive line instead of avoiding them. Only by gaining the upper hand in a head-to-head battle could he avoid being at a disadvantage in the fight for momentum in the first half.
After all, this was Lambeau Field, one of the most difficult home fields in the entire league to conquer. A home field that had only lost one game in the past two seasons.
"Bambi!"
The call came. Lu Ke let out a long breath, pulled off the towel on his head, and quickly stood up. He saw the ball boy, Thomas Robinson, holding his number 14 helmet and handing it to him, looking at Lu Ke with bright eyes and shouting excitedly and enthusiastically, "Bambi, go! Go!"
"Thank you," Lu Ke nodded heavily. After taking the helmet, he jogged back onto the field.
One after another, the offensive players all followed Lu Ke onto the field, ready to start this drive.
Lu Ke stood there, waiting for his teammates to all arrive and form a circle. Then he knelt on one knee. Before he officially set up the play, he took a deep breath and apologized again, "I'm sorry. I was a little distracted just now and made a mistake, and I also blamed Randy. It was my fault. But that's all in the past. We need to focus and start over."
Lu Ke once again solemnly expressed his apology. Rather than being because of his mistake, it was because he didn't fulfill his responsibility as a leader. He had to stand up bravely, admit his mistake, and then lead his teammates back on the right track.
After speaking, Lu Ke didn't wait for his teammates to respond and immediately got into the play.
The noise in the entire Lambeau Field was truly exaggerated. The Packers' fans were doing their best to disrupt Lu Ke's play. All kinds of strange noises and roars were endless, and his eardrums were constantly buzzing.
"We have to break through from Clay Matthews's position." Lu Ke's first sentence was shocking. All the offensive players blinked, strongly suspecting that they had heard him wrong due to the noise. But Lu Ke didn't hesitate. He quickly and concisely analyzed the Packers' defensive formation and then specifically set up the play.
The players turned and went back to their positions. Randy Moss was confused. He subconsciously grabbed Vernon Davis. "Wait, are you guys sure? Is this the coaching staff's play?"
From the looks of the play just now, it seemed to be completely Lu Ke's idea. This didn't seem right.
Vernon smiled at Moss and nodded. "Trust me, choosing to trust Bambi is the most effective and simplest way to win." With that, Vernon didn't wait for Moss's response and turned to run to his position.
Moss was stunned for a moment, shook his head, and then ran to his position as well.
At the 20-yard line, Lu Ke once again stood in the pocket. His long-lost focus had finally returned. He was fully focused on scanning the defensive formation and confirmed the idea he had in his mind. After a brief communication with Harbaugh through his headset, Lu Ke took a step forward and changed the play.
Moss looked back at Lu Ke in disbelief. The second-year quarterback was so bold as to change the play before the snap. Was this a little too arrogant?
But the thought just flashed through his mind. He was in the middle of a game now, and Moss didn't have time to think. He could only obey the quarterback's play. He left his position and, according to the play, moved from the inside of the left wing to the outside of the right wing, forming a trident with Vernon Davis on the inside of the right wing and Logan Newman in the middle of the right wing.
This was a typical multi-route offensive formation, but it became heavy and clumsy because it used a two-tight-end formation. The right wing was heavily stacked with players. Vernon and Logan were both good at catching short passes, and Moss was the best option for breaking the zone defense. This immediately forced the Green Bay Packers' defense to make an adjustment.
The outside linebacker on the Packers' left wing, Erik Walden, slightly moved his feet, taking a half-step back and a half-step to the left, forming a protective position with the cornerback on the left wing.
And the two safeties in the Packers' secondary defense, who were originally standing 15 yards away, now had Morgan Burnett move up, shortening the distance to within 10 yards and standing directly on the left wing of their team. Charles Woodson still stayed back to cover but still slightly shifted his center of gravity.
As a result, the San Francisco 49ers' left wing became thin in comparison to the Green Bay Packers' right wing. The big wide receiver, Michael Crabtree, was now matched up with the small cornerback, Sam Shields. Of course, there was also the outside linebacker Clay Matthews glaring on that side.
"Hut!"
After all the players were in position, Lu Ke immediately announced the snap. Standing in the standard shotgun formation, after receiving the football with both hands, Lu Ke turned and tried to hand off the ball to Marcus Lynch. He and Gore had rotated again, and then they saw Marcus fake a step, pass Lu Ke, and lower his head to charge toward the gap in the center of the offensive line.
But the defensive linemen immediately made a judgment: This was a play-action fake!
So, where was the quarterback?
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