After the fourth quarter began, Lu Ke's entire style became reserved and steady, primarily focusing on short passes and running plays. If people thought Lu Ke was becoming conservative and his monotonous plays would give the Cardinals an opportunity to gain an advantage, they were destined to be disappointed.
At crucial moments, Lu Ke could always elevate his game and surprise the defense with a mid-range pass—not a deep pass—that perfectly combined strategy and physicality, often creating a miraculous effect. In two consecutive third-down conversions, he used surprise mid-range passes to create a miraculous effect. The two cornerbacks, Patrick Peterson and Kevin Marshall, were completely exhausted and ineffective, unable to provide any meaningful defense.
The Cardinals' defense immediately became more cautious. They still didn't dare to completely give up the backfield, allowing Lu Ke to attack freely, and instead focused their efforts on the front line. Their strategy returned to a full-field formation, and they didn't dare to be careless with their coverage in the middle and backfield. But this tactic, which had not been successful in the first three quarters, was still unable to break through in the fourth.
With their edge dulled, Lu Ke gradually showed his control of the game. Without the sharp, fluid, and unstoppable feel of the previous plays, the steady and solid offense became more effective and reliable. He reduced mistakes, increased his success rate, and firmly kept the momentum in his hands. He advanced into field goal range twice. Although he didn't score a touchdown, he ran a lot of time off the clock. In the end, David Akers delivered the final blow, kicking in a field goal, once again earning six points and maintaining the lead.
In addition, the special teams' returns were also a constant threat. In one return, Marcus Lynch took the ball past midfield and almost scored a kickoff return touchdown, which gave the Cardinals a huge scare. With a clear advantage, all parts of the San Francisco 49ers showed great confidence and a positive attitude, effortlessly controlling the entire field. After showing his edge, head coach Jim Harbaugh also showed his mature coaching philosophy—he didn't relentlessly pursue a bigger lead but instead chose to secure the victory in the most effective and simple way.
The Cardinals on the other side of the field were gradually falling apart. The defense was never able to play with conviction, and their performance was lackluster. After missing three consecutive third-down defenses, they gave up two more field goals, and they could not see the end of their descent into the abyss. The offense also started to show signs of fatigue. Fitzgerald couldn't carry the team alone. Without the support of his teammates, his physical and mental state gradually declined, which caused the entire offense's efficiency to plummet. It seemed that every time they crossed midfield or got close, their offense became more and more dangerous. In the fourth quarter, they only got close to the field goal area once, but the 49ers' defense immediately stepped up the intensity. On second-and-eight, John Skelton threw his third interception of the game. The interception was made by the 49ers' number 22 cornerback, Carlos Rogers. After a great effort, the Cardinals still couldn't score in the second half. The slump that started after the first quarter continued until the end of the game.
In the end, the referee blew the final whistle. The final score was 10-41. The visiting San Francisco 49ers walked away with a perfect and satisfying victory! Perfect revenge! Just three weeks ago, the Cardinals defeated the 49ers, who were in great form this season, with a final score of 10-13. A field goal advantage made the 49ers taste their second loss of the season and indirectly led to their first losing streak of the season. They were on top of the world. But now, the Cardinals were soundly defeated at home by the same opponent. The final score was 10-41, a 31-point deficit. They not only ended their five-game winning streak but also completely exposed the weakness of their offense.
Compared to these two games, the Cardinals' offense has always struggled. They scored 13 points in one game and 10 in the other. They were basically the same and could never effectively get going. However, the Cardinals' defense had a completely different performance in the two games. Instead of saying the Cardinals had an off day, it's better to say that the key to victory was always in the 49ers' hands. In their first matchup at home, the 49ers' offense was in a slump, and the mistakes at the end of the game ruined any chance of a comeback, and they lost the game. In their second matchup, the 49ers had regained their fire and rhythm and gave their opponent no chance, winning the game in one fell swoop.
As a league insider said, for the San Francisco 49ers, the offense is the key to their victory, while the defense and special teams are indispensable support. The offense that Harbaugh and Lu Ke built is showing an attacking power that is no less than the Green Bay Packers. For every team, this is a major problem. Now, their one-win and one-loss record against the Arizona Cardinals once again proves this point. This was a perfect revenge, and it was also a sweet revenge. Not long ago, the Cardinals ended the 49ers' five-game winning streak. Now, the tables have turned. The 49ers have given the five-game winning streak Cardinals a wake-up call and have firmly taken control of their playoff hopes.
Using their own tactics against them, the San Francisco 49ers' victory was truly satisfying! For the San Francisco 49ers, it was a sweet revenge. For the Arizona Cardinals, it was a bitter defeat. This was because the playoff picture had reached a turning point. The two teams were division rivals, and the Cardinals had to witness their opponent's huge victory on their home turf. What's more, the Twitter feud gave this game a more personal feel, and the emotions of victory and defeat were magnified tenfold. This was true for every fan.
When the fourth quarter was about one-third over, fans at the University of Phoenix Stadium started to leave. The home fans could no longer stand this humiliation. They seemed to have foreseen the outcome of the game and couldn't bear to watch, so they left the stadium early. This emotion and attitude were contagious. When the first person started to leave, the entire momentum couldn't be stopped. By the time the game ended, there were fewer than 20,000 people in the sea of dark red. Almost two-thirds of the fans had left, and the huge stadium started to feel empty. The 3,500 visiting fans, on the other hand, were cheering and celebrating wildly. They waved their flags, sang songs, and expressed their joy and madness in various ways. The powerful momentum spread throughout the stadium, further suppressing the decline of the 20,000 fans. The remaining home fans didn't even have the energy to fight back. They just tucked their tails between their legs and quickly left the stadium, making the stadium the stage for the white wave to perform.
Even so, a conflict broke out outside the stadium. The Cardinals' fans who left the stadium were ultimately unable to control their emotions. A small group of radical fans met with a group of celebrating 49ers fans. The verbal conflict quickly escalated into a physical one and spread quickly. Fortunately, the stadium security and police had already anticipated this and rushed to the scene immediately, taking control of the situation. The other Cardinals' fans didn't join in, which prevented the situation from escalating. Before it could get out of hand, the scene was effectively calmed down. In the end, three people suffered minor injuries, but none of them were serious enough to require a trip to the hospital. It was truly a miracle that this game, which was full of tension and especially after the racist attacks during the game, could end peacefully without turning into a full-blown brawl.
But it was clear that the aftermath of this game was far from over. After the final whistle blew, Lu Ke immediately ran to the middle of the field to shake hands with John Skelton. However, Skelton had no intention of making small talk, and Lu Ke had no intention of showing off. The two of them just politely shook hands without any conversation or even eye contact. After a brief encounter, both of them turned and walked away.
As Lu Ke turned to leave, he noticed Patrick Peterson not far away. Peterson had taken off his helmet and was looking at the sparse stadium with a confused and lost expression. His dejected posture was a stark contrast to his earlier confidence. Then, he turned and looked at Lu Ke. The relaxed and drooping lines of his shoulders immediately straightened, and he gave him a determined look. As division rivals, as a quarterback and a cornerback, and as rookies from the same class, Lu Ke knew that their rivalry had just begun. The two games every year would definitely become a stage for them to compete against each other. This was true for the fans and for them.
Lu Ke straightened his back, raised his chin, and responded with the posture of a winner. Then, without paying any attention to Peterson's anger and provocation, he calmly turned and walked off the field, leaving Peterson alone. The outcome of this matchup was clear. From the score to the performance, everything was in plain sight. There was no need for Lu Ke to get into another confrontation with Peterson. A defeated general was not worth mentioning!
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