During the ninth week of the regular season, the San Francisco 49ers went on the road to challenge the Washington Redskins. This was originally a highly anticipated matchup, hyped by the media as a "revenge game" for Lu Ke, focusing on the unresolved issues between him, Mike Shanahan, and the Redskins. The drama captivated the public, who eagerly awaited the outcome.
However, the result was a huge surprise, a lopsided affair where the two teams were not on the same level. The 49ers easily took the victory with a score of 31 to 9, escaping the road trip unscathed once again. This outcome was a far cry from the high expectations leading up to the game.
The performance of the two quarterbacks, the focal points of the matchup, couldn't have been more different.
Rex Grossman completed 12 of 23 passes for 98 yards, with zero touchdowns, two interceptions, and one fumble. His quarterback rating was 27.08, and his PFF score was -1.7.
Grossman struggled throughout the entire game, delivering a complete disaster. He was virtually invisible on offense, contributing little to his team and leading to three turnovers. While his performance in the previous three games was a slight drop from the beginning of the season, he had maintained an average level. This week, however, the immense pressure from the media hype caused him to completely collapse. His final quarterback rating was even worse than his scoreless performance against the Buffalo Bills.
Lu Ke completed 27 of 33 passes for 267 yards, with three touchdowns and one interception. His quarterback rating was 119.1, and his PFF score was 1.5.
Compared to his stunning performance the previous week, this week's was a slight step back. But this was only in a vertical comparison. Overall, Lu Ke continued his excellent form this season. He not only earned another quarterback rating above 100 but also successfully led his team to another victory. This kind of stable, balanced, and impressive performance, with little fluctuation after half of the season, is undoubtedly remarkable for a rookie quarterback.
After the game, several sports media outlets asked, "Is Lu Ke really going to challenge for the regular season MVP?"
The current favorite for the regular season MVP is undoubtedly Aaron Rodgers. Not only has his team maintained an undefeated record—they beat the San Diego Chargers on the road in Week 9 to continue their winning streak—but his quarterback rating has also reached a new career high. In every weekly highlight reel, Rodgers is an indispensable star.
Now, Lu Ke is chasing Rodgers's footsteps with incredible momentum and acclaim. The only regret is that the 49ers and the Green Bay Packers will not play each other during the regular season, so a potential matchup between Lu Ke and Rodgers would only happen in the playoffs. This also meant the media missed an opportunity to directly compare the two quarterbacks.
However, choosing between Lu Ke and Grossman required no hesitation.
Strictly speaking, a competition between these two quarterbacks was completely unnecessary because the gap between them was so wide, they weren't even on the same level. Even the reporters felt a little pity, believing it was too cruel to compare a veteran like Grossman with Lu Ke. But this tiny bit of sympathy vanished instantly in the face of a potential news headline.
During Lu Ke's post-game press conference, the very first question was about the "revenge game."
The reporters hoped that in the moment of victory and euphoria, Lu Ke would let his guard down and say something explosive, just like Richard Sherman of the Seattle Seahawks, who was like a cannon always ready to fire. Reporters loved players like that because they provided endless headlines.
Unfortunately, their plan was doomed to fail. The usually witty and humorous Lu Ke was channeling Peyton Manning, delivering one official statement after another and leaving the reporters with nothing to work with.
"Before the game, I emphasized that this was not a revenge game. There are no grudges or past issues between me and the Redskins," Lu Ke answered with a smile, showing no signs of panic, just as he had on the field. "In fact, I only recently found out that after I joined the 49ers, our coaches called the Redskins to ask about my performance during the rookie training camp. The Redskins gave a positive and affirmative response, and I want to formally express my gratitude once again."
Instead of a heated rivalry, he was building a friendly relationship? This surprisingly pleasant development caught the reporters off guard. "What happened? The Redskins praised you to Jim Harbaugh?"
"I don't know the specifics of the conversation. If you're curious, you can ask the coach. But as far as I know, the feedback was positive," Lu Ke said, making it a passing comment before changing the subject. "So, I don't think there's any hatred in this game. This was a regular season game, and both teams were competing for a win. That's all. Fortunately, we played better today and took the victory."
Boring. Such an official response was incredibly dull and made people want to yawn. The reporters collectively expressed that they preferred the eloquent, humorous Lu Ke.
Then, that Lu Ke reappeared. "Of course, we are also rivals competing for a playoff spot. Clearly, in the playoff race, we are now half a step ahead of the Redskins. I think, from that perspective, today's game did produce some chemistry."
The brilliance of this statement wasn't in Lu Ke's light, humorous tone, but in his use of the phrase "rivals competing for a playoff spot." Lu Ke treated the Washington Redskins as direct playoff competitors, subtly praising them and acknowledging that they were still in the playoff hunt. At the same time, he deliberately "showed off" the 49ers' victory, highlighting the youth's vitality and ambition.
This was a truly clever way to respond.
The reporters in the room exchanged glances, with smiles in their eyes. Although not in the way they had hoped, at least the statement was no longer dry and uninteresting.
On the other hand, Mike Shanahan, who was facing a four-game losing streak after this defeat, was in a terrible mood. His team was a shadow of its former self from before the bye week, a situation that left the head coach feeling overwhelmed. His thoughts were a mess, and the onslaught of questions from reporters was mentally and physically exhausting.
"Coach, do you have any regrets now?"
"Coach, if the Redskins had drafted Lu Ke, would things be different?"
"For a team, a rookie who represents the future is clearly more important. Why did the team miss out on Lu Ke?"
"After this game, what do you think of Lu Ke's skill?"
Question after question came without a moment's pause. But Shanahan, a veteran in the field, was not about to lose his composure despite his bad mood. He simply repeated with frustration, "No! No! No!" He directed each "no" at a different question, pushing back firmly and directly.
"Lu Ke delivered an outstanding performance today, but he is a San Francisco 49ers player, and that's all there is to it," Shanahan said gruffly. While his words ultimately acknowledged Lu Ke's game, he immediately changed the subject. "We also have an excellent team that can win games. Right now, we need to identify our team's problems, find solutions, and get back on the winning track."
Despite his fiery temper, a shred of rationality kept Shanahan from completely falling apart.
The reporters pressed on, adding fuel to the fire. "Does that mean Grossman is still the team's starting quarterback for the next game? Have you considered playing backup quarterback John Beck? Have you considered drafting a rookie or signing another quarterback in the offseason?"
"Yes, Grossman is still our starting quarterback. As for the offseason, we'll discuss that after the season ends." With that, Shanahan didn't give the reporters another chance to ask questions. He pushed aside the recorders in his face and walked away.
The post-game headlines read: "Mike Shanahan: Lu Ke is Excellent, But We Have No Choice."
"Lu Ke: The Washington Redskins Had High Praise for Me."
Strictly speaking, neither headline was wrong. Both Shanahan and Lu Ke made similar remarks during their interviews. But through the reporters' clever summaries, subtle shifts in meaning, and strategic out-of-context quotes, they left large blanks for readers to fill in with their own imagination.
The explosive headlines the reporters were hoping for came to fruition.
One title spoke of the regret and helplessness of "having no choice," while the other gave the friendly signal of "high praise." Readers easily followed the reporters' script and let their imaginations run wild. In this "revenge game," Lu Ke was the winner, and the loser was not the Washington Redskins, but Rex Grossman.
Now, the veteran quarterback's life was about to get much harder. Even though the draft process had nothing to do with him, the quarterback position is a constant focal point. The good, the bad, and the collateral damage are unavoidable. In the midst of all the attention, Grossman fell under even greater pressure, and it would likely follow him until the next victory. This is a challenge every quarterback must face.
On the other hand, as another focal point of the week, people's attention also fell on Lu Ke, and they suddenly realized—without anyone noticing, the 49ers had quietly extended their winning streak to four games after their loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 4. With a record of 7-1, they were second only to the Green Bay Packers in the entire league!
Surprise, shock, and astonishment filled everyone's faces. When did the San Francisco 49ers undergo such a transformation?
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