"Andy Dalton vs. Lu Ke." Who will ultimately emerge victorious?
Based on the current analysis and predictions from the media and experts, "Ginger" Dalton has the upper hand.
First, looking at their past records, Dalton has more experience. He started every game for four years in college and was selected for the first-team All-America team twice in a row. At the same time, Dalton is physically stronger, and as the game progresses, his ability to withstand contact is more prominent.
Second, in the first two games, Dalton's route selection, passing accuracy, and tactical arrangements were both rough and refined, steady and aggressive. In comparison, Lu Ke's playing style was more aggressive and radical. His games were full of big plays and big mistakes, and he lacked stability.
Third, and most importantly, in the first two weeks of the regular season, the Cincinnati Bengals played on the road, while the San Francisco 49ers played at home. This week, the Bengals are at home, and the 49ers are on the road.
It is well known that in competitive sports, the difference between playing at home and on the road is very obvious and extremely important. Many players' performances at home and on the road are often worlds apart. The NFL playoffs also use regular season records to determine home-field advantage. For example, the regular season champion, as the number one seed, gets to play all their playoff games at home.
The concept of a "home-field advantage" exists in soccer and basketball, and it also exists in football.
The most famous home-field advantage in the NFL is the Seattle Seahawks' CenturyLink Field. In that stadium, they hold multiple league noise records and even a Guinness World Record for noise. The cheering and shouting of the home fans during a home game have caused a small earthquake, which was a sensation around the world. Their fans call themselves the "12s," which means they are the 12th player on the field, and every home game can give visiting teams a hard time.
The gap between home and away games will affect even veterans who have been in the league for many years, and the four elite quarterbacks are no exception. As for rookie players, the lack of experience and the unexpectedness of the game can lead to panic and fear.
Both of Lu Ke's two wins came from Candlestick Park.
Although the home fans of the San Francisco 49ers didn't give Lu Ke much support, at least the opposition wasn't serious, which gave the quarterback more room to perform. Now, Lu Ke has to face the taunts and challenges of an away game, and the atmosphere, pace, and situation of the game will be completely different.
Home and away are two different stories.
This is Lu Ke's first away game of his professional career. It is imaginable that the Cincinnati Bengals' fans would be more than happy to give Lu Ke an unforgettable road trip.
In conclusion, the media and experts are generally more optimistic about Dalton. Or rather, they are more pessimistic about Lu Ke.
Industry experts believe that Dalton, who has been quietly accumulating experience, should show an upward curve as the season progresses. Lu Ke, who lacks a strong foundation, has many variables in his future development curve.
In the overwhelming news reports, one can vaguely sense the media's attitude. It may be because of his Chinese-American identity or it may not be, but it is undeniable that an undrafted rookie will definitely have to face more challenges and pressure.
Just like what Tony Romo said to Lu Ke after the game, as an undrafted rookie, entering the league will inevitably come with a lot of pressure, and they have more to prove.
Not to mention his rookie year, Romo still faces countless doubts today. If his performance is a little bad or his form drops a little, fans and the media will inevitably question Romo's ability again. "Undrafted rookie" is like the Golden Headband on Sun Wukong's head, and he can't break free from it. It is for this reason that every time, team owner Jerry Jones has to come out and defend Romo, which is why the joke about him being an "illegitimate son" was born.
Now, Lu Ke is retracing Romo's path.
Even if the media is biased toward Dalton and doubts Lu Ke, all eyes are still focused on the rookie quarterback showdown between Dalton and Lu Ke. Especially when both sides have shown a strong desire to win, the sparks are flying even more.
Amidst the lively discussions, ESPN's "Inside the League" once again made its predictions for this week's game as usual. Out of ten experts, seven chose the Cincinnati Bengals, and three chose the San Francisco 49ers.
Charles Davis was still on the side that was pessimistic about the San Francisco 49ers.
After his "eating the microphone" performance last week, Charles still didn't hold back and made a grand statement that "I don't think the 49ers have a chance to win this game."
However, Charles had his reasons and analyzed the pros and cons of playing at home and away, the performance of the two quarterbacks, the performance of the two teams' defenses, and the matchups of the other players. He came to his conclusion through objective analysis, continuing his consistent viewpoint.
Of course, besides all the data, Charles also added, "For two consecutive weeks, Lu Ke won games relying on luck. But there can't be a third time. This is football. It's not the goddess of luck who brings victories, but the goddess of victory. In just two weeks, Lu Ke's form and skill have shown a downward curve. This week's game will prove my point."
Furthermore, Charles spoke highly of Dalton, believing he had shown potential beyond a second-round pick. As for Lu Ke, he remained reserved and said frankly, "The season has just begun." He then added, "I still don't think Lu Ke has the potential to become a good quarterback."
There was no hysteria or indiscriminate attacks like in the previous two games, but Charles's sharp and incisive words were still there, just presented in a different way. For the third consecutive week, he unswervingly expressed his pessimism about Lu Ke.
The discussion and debate on "Inside the League" were heated. After the San Francisco 49ers got two consecutive wins, the opinions of professional commentators were slowly changing. It wasn't a huge change, but it was still precious. It wasn't just the change from two supporters to three, but the analysis of the opponents also became more objective and cautious.
Despite this, the 49ers were still not a popular team, and their strength had not been recognized. The Cincinnati Bengals, led by Andy Dalton, were generally seen as the favorites to win.
This view seemed to be agreed upon by the fans as well. Even if they didn't agree, at least they didn't show any strong opposition.
"Let's go! Let's go to Cincinnati together to watch the game!"
Chris Wilson's shout echoed lonely and emptily in "Joe's Bar." You could even hear a slight echo, but he didn't get any response, as if… he was the only one in the entire bar.
But in fact, there were two or three dozen people in the bar, all of whom were fans. On days without games, they also loved to come to the bar, see old friends, have a beer, and pass the time. However, people were engrossed in their own chatter and daydreaming and were not interested in Chris's suggestion at all.
Chris felt disheartened, but he still shouted again, "Guys! Doesn't anyone want to go to Cincinnati to watch the game?" His urgent shout still didn't get any response.
Jonathan Baldwin, who was sitting at the bar, picked up his beer, took a big gulp, and showed a look of satisfaction. "Chris, that's Cincinnati. Do you know what you're asking for? I advise you to stop trying and just stay in San Francisco."
Cincinnati is located in Ohio, next to Pennsylvania, and close to the East Coast.
It's over 3,500 kilometers from San Francisco to Cincinnati. Driving non-stop would take at least 31 hours, and driving back and forth was not practical, because the game was on Sunday morning, and Chris had to go to work the next day.
This meant that flying was the only option. Although domestic tickets were not expensive, you also had to factor in food and lodging for a round trip, so the cost was not cheap. Traveling all the way to Cincinnati just to watch a game was an unrealistic idea.
Jonathan's words caused a low laugh in the bar. It was gentle and friendly, but in Chris's ears, it was incredibly sharp and harsh. "What's wrong with you guys? Our team is winning games, our quarterback is rising, and you refuse to give them more support. I don't understand. What are you guys waiting for? Isn't it victory? Now the team is winning, and this is your reaction? God, I don't know you guys!"
"Yee-haw!" a fan in the bar cheered. "We love winning, no doubt. But, Chris, don't get your hopes up too high. The more you hope, the more you'll be disappointed. Isn't it nice to stay in San Francisco and watch the game here at 'Joe's Bar'?"
Chris's resentment and anger were struggling to breathe in the harmonious laughter. That powerful feeling of helplessness was like seaweed, wrapping around his ankles. "The team needs our support! Lu Ke needs our encouragement! Haven't you noticed? The team will get better and better, and we need to have more hope. If even we give up, why should the team continue to work hard?"
"We're not giving 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 echoed loudly, "That's right."
Chris opened his mouth, but all the words were stuck in his throat, and he was powerless. His passion and excitement had no supporters or people who shared his feelings. The loneliness and desolation were truly indescribable.
"Can I join?" a cheerful voice suddenly came from behind him. Chris's eyes lit up, and he turned around abruptly, and he saw familiar faces. One, two, three. "What are the requirements to go to Cincinnati? I hope they're not too strict. I'd be more than happy to join!"
Jeff Locke, Nate Chandler, and Danny Reese. New friends he had just met, but they were more proactive and enthusiastic than his veteran fan friends. Chris reignited the flame of hope. "The only requirement is to be a San Francisco 49ers supporter! That's all!"
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