Chapter 1006: Chapter 1006: Approaching the Record

Chapter 1006: Approaching the Record

For the Arizona Cardinals, their bold ambitions were completely extinguished at Candlestick Park. The offense remained ineffective, with multiple costly turnovers that snuffed out any hope of a comeback before it could even ignite. The defense, meanwhile, continued to crumble under the opponent’s relentless attack, seemingly helpless.

In fairness, the San Francisco 49ers’ second-string defense made plenty of mistakes today. This was not only due to a talent gap, but also a lack of cohesion and game-time experience. Facing John Skelton, a quarterback who has been struggling this season, they gave up a touchdown and a field goal.

This doesn’t mean they were bad, or that only a shutout is considered a good performance. Shutouts are rare in football, which is, at its core, a team sport where dips in form and lapses in concentration are inevitable. The main issue was that the 49ers’ defense had a few too many breakdowns, falling short of their stellar performances against Tom Brady and Russell Wilson.

Skelton’s passing touchdown was still caught by Larry Fitzgerald. As one of the league’s top possession receivers, he can use his individual skill to find open space and score a touchdown. Not even the starting defense could completely prevent that kind of play.

But the Cardinals’ overall performance was terrible. Even against a second-string defense and a "second-string" offense, they couldn’t capitalize on their opportunities. And to make matters worse, that so-called second-string offense was still led by their starting quarterback.

With a little more than a quarter left to play, the visiting Arizona Cardinals found themselves in a hopeless situation. The score was 10-31, a 21-point, three-touchdown deficit. With only one quarter remaining, a comeback was practically impossible.

The San Francisco 49ers might have been able to overcome a 27-0 deficit against the New England Patriots, but the Arizona Cardinals were not the 49ers. A miracle is called a miracle because it’s so rare.

What’s more, the Arizona Cardinals were still squandering chances.

In their last possession, the Cardinals took advantage of two defensive mistakes and three penalties by the 49ers, stumbling their way from their own 26-yard line to the opposing 22-yard line. They were now in field goal range, and even a touchdown seemed within reach.

A field goal meant little to the Cardinals at this point. They needed a touchdown to have even a faint glimmer of hope heading into the fourth quarter. Especially since the 49ers’ second-string defense was clearly not as tough as the starters, and the communication between the starters and rotational players was lacking.

This was the Cardinals’ chance, but then—

"Intercepted! John Skelton throws his third interception of the game!"

"The San Francisco 49ers’ cornerback Carlos Rogers, number 22, made a perfect read. He cut diagonally between the Cardinals’ two wide receivers, Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd, and leaped to pull in the pass from the Cardinals’ quarterback!"

"John Skelton’s pass arc was uncontrolled. The high parabola wasn’t high enough, and its downward speed noticeably accelerated before reaching the target. Even Larry Fitzgerald was helpless against a pass like that. At the same time, this year’s 13th overall draft pick and rookie wide receiver Michael Floyd made a fatal blocking error, losing his man, cornerback Carlos Rogers, and giving up the team’s third interception of the game."

"This game is essentially over for the Arizona Cardinals!"

"It’s unbelievable how well the second-string 49ers are playing. Their cornerback group, which has been called a liability all season, has put on a perfect performance this afternoon! Carlos Rogers is once again showing the Pro Bowl form he had last season!"

"And now, the San Francisco 49ers’ offense is about to take the field again!"

"Fans, it’s important to note that Lu Ke has now tied Brady’s record with his 50th passing touchdown of the season. He only needs one more to break the record. The question is, can Lu Ke remain calm at this critical moment of setting a new record? Remember, he’s only 23 years old."

Skelton didn’t even show anger or confusion. He just lowered his head, turned, and walked off the field, yielding the space to his defense, seemingly unfazed by yet another interception.

It wasn’t just Skelton. The other Cardinals’ offensive players silently left the field, surrounded by the cheers and celebration at Candlestick Park. Fitzgerald stood in place with his hands on his hips, looking lost and confused.

Soon after, the Cardinals’ defense and the 49ers’ offense took the field once again.

Standing in the pocket behind his offensive line, Lu Ke clenched his fists, hiding any tremors or jitters. He refused to let the opposing defense see his true emotions. But his fingertips were slippery with sweat, and the tension of approaching the record began to tighten his muscles.

Setting a record and making history shouldn’t have been a big deal.

From the very first day Lu Ke stepped onto the field, every game and every achievement he made was history in the making, given his unique background. Over time, it became a habit. He wasn’t focused on the numbers; he just had to survive in the professional league one step at a time.

But this time, it was different.

For a week now, news about the record had been everywhere, and there was no escape. Even a housewife he randomly ran into at a supermarket parking lot clenched her fist and cheered for him. And that’s not to mention the passionate fans who regularly showed up at practice. Even if Lu Ke wanted to pretend he didn’t know about it, he couldn’t.

It was like a demonic chant, leaving a deep impression on his mind.

When today’s game started, Lu Ke was able to push all of those distractions aside because he still had a ways to go. This allowed him to fully focus on the game, taking it one step at a time.

But now, he only needed one more touchdown pass to break the record and make history. That feeling came back reflexively. It seemed like every pair of eyes and every cheer was focused on his every move. The overwhelming pressure was almost suffocating. Every cell in his body was screaming, "Record, record, record."

When faced with an opportunity to make history, some succeed, some fail, and some give up before they even try. It’s not just about skill and talent; it’s also about a person’s mindset. Not everyone can become a champion, and not everyone can achieve greatness!

Deep breath in, long breath out.

Lu Ke clenched his fists tightly again, cutting off the chaotic thoughts. His attention returned to the game. If he wanted to break the record, he had to focus on the current drive. Otherwise, the record would remain a theoretical possibility, never to be achieved. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

In a flash, Lu Ke’s mind had gone through a sea change.

The San Francisco 49ers’ offense lined up on the 14-yard line. Carlos Rogers had just made the interception, but he was tackled on the 14-yard line, unable to advance the ball further.

It wasn’t a perfect starting position, but at least the offense was on the field.

Lu Ke began to calm his mind and read the defense.

The Arizona Cardinals’ defense was still in their signature 3-4 formation, with three defensive linemen and four linebackers. Although their overall defense wasn’t particularly strong, their blitzes and secondary were their strengths, while their run defense was a weakness. Frank Gore, LaMichael James, and even Marcus Lynch (who made a cameo appearance) had all made good gains on the ground today.

Now, they were once again showing a blitz look.

In addition to the three defensive linemen, the two outside linebackers were positioned wider and slightly forward. They could either blitz the quarterback or quickly drop back to cover the receivers on the sides.

Consequently, the run defense and short-pass defense were weaker, with only two inside linebackers.

Both cornerbacks and both safeties were dropped back. The cornerbacks were six yards off the line of scrimmage, even further back than the inside linebackers. The safeties were pulled back more than 15 yards, essentially giving up the short pass areas to strictly cover the deep pass.

The Arizona Cardinals had no choice but to adopt this strategy. They were truly wary of Lu Ke’s ability to throw deep.

Now, the San Francisco 49ers’ offense was once again in a deceptive formation.

On the left side, there was only one receiver, Logan Newman. He had just rotated in for Vernon Davis, who needed to rest after taking on so many catches today. At the same time, Logan needed to stay sharp for the playoffs.

On the right side, there were three players. Michael Crabtree and Ted Ginn were on opposite ends. Crabtree was lined up next to the rightmost offensive lineman, Alex Boone, looking like a sixth offensive lineman. Ginn was right on the sideline. Chad Hall was in the middle.

A multiple-route offensive formation. This was a classic 49ers’ weapon, yet it was paired with a traditional "I" formation suited for running plays. What was this all about?

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