In the league, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Drew Brees, and Aaron Rodgers are widely recognized as elite quarterbacks. After them, Ben Roethlisberger, Eli Manning, Philip Rivers, Tony Romo, and Joe Flacco are considered top-tier quarterbacks. Some people mock them, saying that Big Ben's Super Bowl was won by his defense and Eli's was a lucky break, while Rivers and Romo have yet to make a breakthrough in the playoffs and are still a distance from being elite.
But it's undeniable that these quarterbacks' regular-season performances have been central to their teams, and they've truly fulfilled the responsibilities of a quarterback. They are indeed excellent top-tier quarterbacks, and nobody knows when they might break through and become elite.
Among the several outstanding mid-career quarterbacks, Eli Manning is considered a "wild card." No one can predict when he might falter in a crucial moment or when he might single-handedly turn a game around. This unpredictable nature led to Eli's first Super Bowl win and earned the New York Giants the nickname "the wild card." They might give up three touchdowns in the first half and then pull off a comeback in the final quarter. They might also beat a strong team like the New England Patriots or the Green Bay Packers one week, only to inexplicably lose to a weak team like the Washington Redskins the next.
This season is a prime example. The Giants' current record is 6-2, tied with the Baltimore Ravens and Detroit Lions, and they are temporarily behind the Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers. But the issue isn't their record; it's the opponents they've beaten and lost to.
The Giants have defeated formidable opponents like the New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles, who are in good form. However, their two losses were to the Washington Redskins and the Seattle Seahawks. The Redskins just suffered a crushing defeat to the 49ers, and the Seahawks have a 2-6 record, with one of those losses being a devastating season-opening defeat to the 49ers. The "wild card" name is certainly well-deserved. Of course, it could also be said that they rise to the occasion against strong opponents and struggle against weaker ones.
Still, it's undeniable that among the top-tier mid-career quarterbacks, Tony Romo, who leads the Dallas Cowboys, has had an inconsistent season and currently has a 4-4 record. Eli Manning, on the other hand, has shown better form with the Giants. This week, they faced the New England Patriots on the road and played with great ferocity, securing a 24-20 victory and leaving unscathed.
Following the tough matchup between the 49ers and the Lions in Week 6, Week 10 brings another high-stakes clash, this time between the 49ers and the New York Giants! The 49ers' seemingly calm schedule this season has been filled with one challenge after another. Now, having successfully completed a four-game winning streak, the 49ers will host the Giants, aiming for a five-game streak and looking to maintain control in the race for the playoffs.
For the media, this is another huge celebration. The matchup between the second-ranked team and the teams tied for third place doesn't need to be hyped up—it's exciting on its own.
For the teams, they must give their all and not take anything for granted. They'll proceed methodically, step by step, towards victory and the playoffs.
For Lu Ke, he's so excited he wants to scream, his body is trembling, and his fingertips are shaking.
Someone once said that the most important, glorious, and unforgettable moment in sports is defeating your idol. In a head-to-head clash, you compete with absolute skill against absolute skill, fighting with everything you have. It's like a final exam, and you emerge victorious. An idol is the goal you run toward, like a finish line or an insurmountable standard. They are a lighthouse that guides your continuous effort and struggle. The moment you defeat your idol, it's as if you've broken through a barrier. It's not just a tribute to your idol or a matter of surpassing them; it's a summary of your own dreams and persistence. It's like the Olympic motto, "Faster, Higher, Stronger." You surpass your idol and continue to move forward, reaching a higher level.
Lu Ke deeply believes this.
Lu Ke has never hidden the fact that Peyton Manning is his idol. From the first day he watched football, this grounded and diligent quarterback guided Lu Ke forward. People often criticize Peyton for his inconsistency in the playoffs. He has only won one Super Bowl, which seems out of place with his skill. In the regular season, he has won the MVP award four times, surpassing Brett Favre to become the first and only player in league history to achieve this honor. In comparison, one Super Bowl ring seems far too few.
But people don't see the hard work Peyton puts in during preparation. He is stricter with himself than with others, diligently training every day without ever slacking off. Even rookies in the league are in awe of his work ethic, let alone the veterans. Peyton is always the hardest-working player on the team, to an obsessive degree, leading by example. This professional integrity has earned the respect of every teammate and opponent. For every game, Peyton never takes it easy. No matter who the opponent is, he prepares meticulously, studying the playbook repeatedly to be fully prepared. He has dedicated his entire life to football, constantly chasing victory. For Peyton, even a genius has to put in 100% effort, and he has never considered himself a genius.
When people talk about elite quarterbacks, they marvel at Brady's three championships in four years and his rise from the 199th pick. They are amazed by Brees's passing talent, his high completion rates and passing yards that dominate the league. They are astonished by Rodgers's powerful deep throws and his resilience in crisis situations, which often create miracles. As for Big Manning—Eli is Little Manning and Peyton is Big Manning—people are always in awe of his strategic wisdom and composure, and his accurate grasp of the situation on the field. It's as if he can precisely sense every movement on every inch of the field.
Someone once joked that when Big Manning is on the field, it's like an offensive coach is directly on the field. Nobody doubts that after he retires, Big Manning could become an excellent offensive coordinator, head coach, or even a commentator. His understanding of strategy is unmatched. Behind this is the accumulation of countless hours of hard work.
So, while Big Manning may not be a natural prodigy, and his number of Super Bowl rings can't compare to Brady's, in Lu Ke's heart, Big Manning is his goal and his idol.
This season, Big Manning is completely sidelined with an injury, which means Lu Ke has lost the chance to play against his idol face-to-face. But now, Lu Ke has the opportunity to face another member of the Manning family, Eli Manning. This is Lu Ke's first encounter with the Manning family, and after the Detroit Lions, it's another tough, head-to-head matchup.
So, Lu Ke is excited, with every cell in his body cheering. He yearns for this clash and longs for this victory even more. After a four-game winning streak, facing the New York Giants on the path to a fifth consecutive win is the moment Lu Ke has been most looking forward to this regular season.
However, before fully diving into preparations for the new week, Lu Ke needs to take stock of his gains. Not just the points he's earned from the last two victories but also his daily training over the past two weeks.
It's another four-week cycle. Ever since strength training was added to his routine after Week 1, Lu Ke's training structure has subtly changed. After the first four-week cycle, Lu Ke's physical stats all saw an increase, which made him wonder if strength training could lead to phased improvements in four-week cycles.
Now, the second four-week cycle is over, and it's time to test Lu Ke's theory. Opening his personal stats panel, Lu Ke's eyes immediately fall on his weight: 92 kilograms. In the last cycle, Lu Ke's weight gain was 5 kilograms, but this cycle it's dropped back to 2 kilograms. This means that with the same training intensity, weight gain is beginning to hit a plateau, just like every time he tried to gain weight before. It seems Lu Ke's natural body type makes it difficult to gain weight.
However, this is no longer the most important thing. According to his plan, Lu Ke's target weight is between 95 and 98 kilograms, and he can't get any heavier. This is because Lu Ke needs to maintain a light body to allow for agile footwork in the pocket, which creates more opportunities for passes. This also means Lu Ke is not far from his goal, and slowing down a bit is acceptable.
Beyond that, other stats have not changed as obviously. His physical stats are 71 points, with no change. His mental stats are 83 points, an increase of one point. This is an unexpected gain. He didn't expect that the continuous, grueling, and painful weight gain training could also improve his mental stats. Clearly, this was not an easy task. His willpower is 81 points, with no change.
In the last cycle, a quantitative change led to a qualitative one. Lu Ke's stats saw a massive overall increase, with the total growth across all categories being equivalent to eight base points. But after that qualitative burst, this cycle has returned to the quantitative stage. Physical stats like strength, explosive power, and jumping power have not seen a significant increase.
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