Chapter 1064: Eager for Battle
The sun was just right. The breeze was just right. The temperature was just right. Everything was just right.
It was a rare nice day in San Francisco since winter began. The temperature had risen slightly, which was perfect for an outdoor stadium like Candlestick Park. It seemed as if everything was ready for this NFC Championship, welcoming the Atlanta Falcons.
"Folks, if you've just turned on your TV, then welcome to today's football feast. You're watching the 2012 NFL NFC Championship, with the San Francisco 49ers hosting the Atlanta Falcons at Candlestick Park. This will be a showdown between the number one seed in the league and the number two seed in the league."
"Yes, you heard me right. I said the entire league. Although these two teams are the top two seeds in the NFC, they are also the two best teams in the entire league this season. After waiting an entire season, they are finally about to face each other."
"Without a doubt, this game is the focus of all of North America. We just saw many familiar faces in the VIP boxes. Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was in the 49ers' box, along with a number of Hollywood stars like Emma Watson, Leonardo DiCaprio, Emma Stone, and Andrew Garfield."
"In the Atlanta Falcons' box, we can see NBA team owner Tony Ressler, as well as singers Usher and Ludacris, and... the main cast of the TV series 'The Walking Dead.' Wow, this game is definitely a star-studded event."
"Personally, this NFC Championship is more exciting than the AFC Championship that will start in three and a half hours."
"This is because the two teams are more evenly matched, and they are both at their peak this season. The overall level of their offense and defense is more balanced. Every offensive and defensive matchup will undoubtedly be more intense and full of variables. As a preview, the main points of interest in this game are as follows:"
"First, the 49ers' second-year quarterback Lu Ke will challenge the Falcons' Pro Bowl-level safety duo, Thomas DeCoud and William Moore. Their overall strength is arguably higher than the Seahawks' Legion of Boom, which means Lu Ke's deep passes will face a tough challenge."
"It's worth mentioning that the Falcons' secondary defense had a total of 22 interceptions throughout the season, second only to the Chicago Bears' 24 and even more than the Legion of Boom's 18."
"Second, the Falcons' top-tier wide receiver corps will face the 49ers' relatively weak cornerback group. Wide receiver Julio Jones and tight end Tony Gonzalez are the main targets for the defense. Also, it's worth noting that Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan is absolutely one of Lu Ke's biggest opponents for the regular season MVP. The head-to-head matchup between Matt Ryan and the cornerbacks will determine the direction of the game's score."
"Finally, the 49ers have a dominant defensive front, while the Falcons have a relatively weak offensive line. Matt Ryan was sacked 28 times this season and had five fumbles, which is not the worst in the league, but for a team with the sixth most efficient offense in the league, their performance is not satisfactory. In contrast, the 49ers' defensive front had a total of 50 sacks, second only to the Denver Broncos and tied with the St. Louis Rams."
"It's safe to say that this game will definitely not be easy for either team! And for us, the audience, this is a great thing."
In the broadcast booth, commentators from TV, radio, and online platforms were all intensely analyzing the final outcome of the game. On the field, players from both teams were doing their final warm-ups, making sure their bodies and minds were ready for this intense game.
"Hey, handsome, throw me one! Throw me one!"
On the wide and empty field, a voice was carried by the breeze. Lu Ke instinctively looked in the direction of the voice and saw the number 11 wide receiver Julio Jones, dressed in all-white away jerseys.
Julio and Lu Ke were both rookies from the 2011 draft class. They met at the rookie training camp and were good friends. Lu Ke's first special task was completed, and Julio was one of the targets in that task. There's still a photo of them on the wall.
However, their draft prospects were completely different. At that time, Julio was one of the top rookie wide receivers. His strong body, soft hands, and ability to break tackles after a catch were all impressive. He was eventually selected by the Atlanta Falcons with the sixth overall pick in the first round, and the scouts and the Falcons were proven right.
In his rookie season last year, Julio only played in 13 games and had an excellent receiving record of 959 yards, just shy of breaking a thousand. He averaged an incredible 17.8 yards per reception.
In his second season this year, Julio played a full 16 games and successfully achieved his first 1,000-yard season. He also continued his strong efficiency after a catch, averaging 15.2 yards, just like Michael Crabtree, an excellent example of a big wide receiver. Although he only had ten touchdowns, his threat in the red zone was not enough, but his tough ability to advance was a weapon for the Falcons.
Seeing Julio's bright smile, Lu Ke raised his right hand and threw the football. After the ball drew a perfect arc in the air, Lu Ke followed up with a loud shout, "If you want more passes like this in the future, then come and play for us. We'll welcome you with open arms."
Julio stumbled a bit but kept his upper body steady. He caught the football and took a few small steps to adjust. Although the throw and catch themselves were not too difficult, you could still see Julio's body control, which made his catches more stable and created opportunities for continued advancement.
After steadying himself, Julio shook his head helplessly. "That doesn't seem like a good deal. One pass and you're already selling me?"
Lu Ke deliberately showed an exaggerated expression. "Does that mean you're actually considering it? Matt would be very, very, very sad if he heard that."
The adverb "very" was used so many times that it was hard for Julio to ignore. He immediately realized, "Matt is standing behind me right now, isn't he?"
"Yes," Lu Ke said with a smile, giving the correct answer.
Matt Ryan was like a ghost, slowly walking over. He pulled at the corners of his mouth, showing a fake smile. "Too bad Tony isn't here today. Your jokes are still not funny." He was obviously talking about Tony Romo.
Lu Ke didn't say anything and just spread his hands, standing there innocently as if to say, "I tried my best, but you're just not laughing. What else can I do?"
Matt raised his right hand and threw a football without warning. It drew a rainbow-like arc in the air. Lu Ke's gaze followed the arc and saw Logan catch the football reflexively, but he was confused and looked around, searching for the person who threw it.
Matt then said, "Alright, then he's ours," and turned to leave.
A smile appeared in Lu Ke's eyes. "Julio, see? Your own quarterback just sold you." After saying that, he also turned to leave.
Julio and Logan stood face to face, with confusion in their eyes. "What just happened?"
They are friends off the field and rivals on the field. Neither side would go easy on the other because of their friendship. On the contrary, giving their all and fighting for victory is the greatest respect for a friend. Furthermore, neither team has any room to be complacent in this game. Even with all their might, they might not be able to win, because this is a clash between two entire teams.
As the commentator said, on defense, the Falcons' strong secondary defense is a good match for Lu Ke's deep pass advantage. The 49ers' strong defensive front is a good match for the Falcons' weak pocket.
At the same time, on offense, the Falcons' wide receiver corps is their strength, going up against the 49ers' weaker cornerbacks. The 49ers' tactical layout is their strength, going up against the Falcons' less-varied defensive tactics.
It's a "total football" game. The strengths and weaknesses of both teams align perfectly, and the quarterback is just one part of it. The outcome is unpredictable. On-the-fly execution and improvisation will decide the outcome of this victory.
Before the game officially began, ESPN's "Inside the League" poll showed a "6-4" result. The 49ers were the "6," and the Falcons were the "4." Overall, the 49ers, who have carried their good form from the regular season into the playoffs and have home-field advantage, were slightly favored.
After the warm-ups, the captains of both teams walked onto the field again to do the coin toss, organized by the referee. Ryan politely gave Lu Ke the first choice. Lu Ke did not decline. He chose "heads," and Ryan chose "tails." The coin landed on the ground with "tails" facing up.
Matt Ryan, who won the choice, did not hesitate to choose to start on offense. Despite being the away team, they showed great confidence. Facing the 49ers, whose first-drive scoring efficiency has been at the top of the league for two consecutive seasons, the Falcons chose to take the offensive initiative.
Lu Ke and Ryan shook hands, said "good luck" to each other, and then turned their backs to each other and walked off the field, leaving the stage to their special teams.
The NFC Championship has officially begun!
Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/MistaQuartz
On Patreon, you can explore Extra Chapters in advance!