Despite a thrilling and resounding victory in the first game, the doubts against Lu Ke didn't lessen; they grew even stronger.
Before the first game, people were just curious, mentioning Lu Ke in passing as a topic of conversation. But this week, his spectacular performance put him right in the middle of a storm. He was like a powerful spotlight raised high in a pitch-black night, instantly becoming a target for everyone.
His quarterback rating and PFF grade were so unbelievably good that they felt fabricated, too perfect to be real. And then, the league's official announcement of the Player of the Week added fuel to the fire!
Every week, based on a player's performance, the league selects the best offensive, defensive, and special teams players for both the AFC and NFC conferences.
In the first week of the regular season, Lu Ke, with his flawless performance, won the title of NFC Offensive Player of the Week!
Based purely on his on-field performance and statistics, this selection was undeniable and a no-brainer. But he was a rookie, and an Asian rookie at that. A rookie who was making history and climbing to the top with every step. Now, his first step was so brilliant, so grand, and so magnificent that it was absolutely earth-shattering.
Suddenly, "Lu Ke" was pushed to the pinnacle, as if he were being cooked in oil and adorned with flowers. All the praise seemed to come rushing in.
This immediately sparked a psychological rebellion in people. It was as if they saw something perfect and either wanted to own it or destroy it. So, they started to nitpick, looking for flaws. Even if Lu Ke were a flawless quarterback, people would probably find a lot of faults, and Lu Ke was not flawless.
The title "undrafted rookie" alone was enough to crush Lu Ke.
Why was he undrafted? Because of his shortcomings, his flaws, his mediocrity.
On one hand, his excellent passing accuracy? People saw it as nothing more than Duan Yu's Six Meridians Divine Sword—sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't—not even as good as Eli Manning's "wild card" throws. A perfect Wonderlic Test score? People saw that as nothing more than proof that Asian students are smart, something that might work in an Ivy League school but is worthless on a football field. His big-hearted performance in a crucial moment of the game? That was just a flash like a comet across the sky, a momentary burst with no real value.
On the other hand, his poor height-to-weight ratio, poor pocket footwork, poor explosiveness, poor ability to withstand a hit, poor running ability, poor ability to protect the ball, poor game experience, poor teamwork experience... The list of these shortcomings could go on and on, endlessly.
These shortcomings were not only present in his college career but also subtly exposed in the first game of the regular season. It was just that the Seattle Seahawks hadn't figured out Lu Ke's ability and didn't have the right tactics to deal with him, which led to their defeat.
And "undrafted rookie" wasn't the whole story.
Kim James, a commentator for the "Seattle Post," provided a very important piece of evidence: Just one year ago, to be exact, before September 2010, this player was still a practice player.
In the league, there have been undrafted rookies who have created miracles. Besides Kurt Warner, the current starting quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys, Tony Romo, was also an undrafted rookie.
In 2003, Tony Romo, who played in a small, lower-level college league, was an unheard-of name before the draft. He had a poor performance at the rookie training camp, and even though he scored a high thirty-seven on the Wonderlic Test, his physical test numbers were a mess—for context, Tony's physical test numbers were even worse than Lu Ke's. As a result, he went undrafted.
During the offseason, Romo tried out for various teams and eventually joined the Dallas Cowboys. He stayed on the bench for three years and became the starter in 2006, after which he became the undisputed franchise quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys for the next five seasons.
But even Warner and Romo had long and solid college careers, a strong foundation, and a lot of experience. At the same time, they both worked hard for a long time before becoming starting quarterbacks, laying the groundwork for their transformation from ugly ducklings.
So, what about Lu Ke?
He was just a practice player, and he had only been a practice player for one year.
Kim James's point was very convincing. From a practice player to a league starter in just one year? From an unknown to the best player in the first week of the regular season in just two years? Lu Ke lacked experience, a solid foundation, and true internal strength.
So, the "Seattle Post" commentator said, "The Seahawks lost this game at Candlestick Park. Next time, when we go back to CenturyLink Field, we won't let victory slip away again!"
It was clear that for the Seattle Seahawks, this game was a disgrace!
In the first matchup between Pete Carroll and Jim Harbaugh, the latter was the clear winner. In the first encounter between Lu Ke and Richard Sherman, the former was the clear winner. In the first clash between Pete Carroll and Lu Ke, the latter was the winner.
Especially Lu Ke's "Who?" during the post-game interview, which became the main topic of conversation. It not only insulted Sherman but also the entire Seattle Seahawks' defense.
Rumor has it that after hearing the news, Richard Sherman smashed his locker in the locker room, and the other defensive players were also filled with righteous indignation, their faces turning green. A simple "Who?" had unimaginable power; it wasn't a curse word, but it was more effective than one.
This direct rivalry between two teams in the NFC West began in the first week of the 2011 regular season, truly becoming bitter enemies. Although the history was not long and the foundation was not deep, now, history and a foundation were being built. The first major conflict was almost a knot, and both sides' fans started yelling at each other.
The rage was overwhelming!
It was foreseeable that the next time they played at the Seattle Seahawks' home stadium, the game would be full of fireworks. Kim James's article was just the beginning.
However, the rivalry between the Seahawks and the 49ers was just a small part of the week's hot topic. At the end of the day, people's attention was still on the Asian rookie who had a near-perfect quarterback rating this week and also scored a perfect Wonderlic Test score at the rookie training camp.
From Charles of ESPN to Steven of the "New York Times" to Kim of the "Seattle Post," they all held the same view:
The first game was a mystery, luck, and a coincidence. Such a situation is not common in NFL history, but it's not rare either. The second game will be the real test. You'll only know the real ability of a person when you put them to the test.
This wasn't just one person's opinion; it was a common one. Almost the entire league held similar views. There were doubts, provocations, teasing, jokes, and even some anticipation. Whether the league wanted it or not, and whether the San Francisco 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys wanted it or not, the matchup between these two teams in the second week of the regular season was already the center of attention, attracting countless eyes.
It was in this context that Charles Davis's provocation and bet on the "Inside the League" show became the focus of everyone's discussion. Everyone was watching with a good-show attitude, teasing, and mocking. But the most interesting part was that no one asked for the opinion of the other person involved—Lu Ke.
It seemed that everyone was so sure of the outcome that they all agreed with Charles.
In 2011, the NFL regular season had just begun, but the discussion had already reached a historical high. Just as people were worried that this year's regular season would lack a topic as compelling as "Peyton Manning vs. Tom Brady," an undrafted Asian quarterback who had come out of nowhere filled the void and ignited the passion for the new football season.
Some praised him, some were amazed, some celebrated, some were curious, and some cheered... And the overwhelming doubts and discussions were endless. After starting just one game, Lu Ke seemed to have become a "public enemy," as if he had maxed out his talent for attracting fire. That in itself is a kind of ability.
However, amidst all the noise, Lu Ke also had supporters. The local San Francisco media, led by the "San Francisco Chronicle" and "World Journal," became Lu Ke's strongest and most powerful backers.
"Is Lu Ke perfect? Of course not. Can Lu Ke be compared to an elite quarterback? Of course not. Is one game enough to prove everything? Of course not.
But Lu Ke is a rookie, a first-year player who isn't even twenty-two yet, a rookie with endless possibilities and potential.
He is growing, from a practice player to a backup, from a temporary fix to a starting quarterback. His growth rate is so astonishing. No one noticed that in just six months, he gained twenty-three pounds. No one noticed that in the nine months from his first college game to now, his ability to withstand a hit and his specific quarterback skills have fundamentally improved.
This is a quarterback with a future and potential. He won the first regular season game, and that's a starting point. In the next game and the game after that, he might win, and he might lose. No one is always a winner, but we have hope! Not Alex Smith, not Colin Kaepernick, but Lu Ke!"
This article was published in the "San Francisco Chronicle" and was written by Brian Westbrook.
Not only did he have support from the official media, but he also had support from local residents. Fans are always so simple; their hatred is deep, but their love is also deep. Just one game's victory was enough to win their hearts. Before the second week of the regular season arrived, they would become Lu Ke's most loyal supporters!
NOTE:
New chapters drop five times a day, every Monday through Saturday! Plus, you have the power to unlock more: we'll release five bonus chapters for every 100 votes! Let's get this story moving together.
Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/MistaQuartz
Explore up to 20 chapters in advance!