American Football: King of the Bay Area

Aside from Tactical Awareness, Lu Ke ultimately chose Observation Field of View and Short Pass Accuracy for his remaining ten basic attribute points, using them all up in one go.

The former was easy to understand. Observation Field of View was for making accurate judgments on defensive formations and passing lanes, which was crucial for executing tactics.

As for the latter, Lu Ke hesitated between short, medium, and long passes before finally settling on short passes. When facing a strong pass rush from the Defense Line, short passes were undoubtedly the best option to break through the defense. He needed to expand his arsenal, and besides Absolute Step, Short Pass Accuracy was the next best addition.

It wasn’t hard to execute plays in a game that was going smoothly, but now Lu Ke had the ability to break a deadlock. Of course, this was just his strength on paper. The actual results would depend on his step-by-step execution during a game. Even with a perfect score in tactics, it didn’t mean victory was a sure thing.

And just like that, the eighteen basic attribute points were gone. ’They really don’t last long,’ he thought. However, just as Lu Ke was about to close the System and finish allocating his points, he noticed a new sub-category had appeared on his Attribute Panel.

Tactical Area Accuracy.

Right below Long Pass Accuracy, Lu Ke discovered a brand-new technical sub-category. This was another instance of a hidden, more refined sub-category appearing, just like Willpower had. This was different from Hidden Attributes; it was a normal category, so it didn’t need to be unlocked through a quest.

This time, Lu Ke didn’t make a fuss. Instead, he immediately opened the description for the new technical sub-category and began to read it carefully.

In a quarterback’s tactical options, short, medium, and long passes are differentiated by yardage and are the most direct reflection of their passing ability. Beyond that, passes can also be categorized by area—left, center, and right—but this is only the most general way of dividing the field.

Breaking it down further, for example, in a time-sensitive situation, a quarterback needs to complete a pass to the sideline. After a Wide Receiver or Tight End makes the catch, they can immediately run out of bounds to stop the clock. This demands incredibly precise control from the quarterback. Just like in today’s game, with the two passes that connected with Vernon Davis, the area accuracy wasn’t quite there. The slightest deviation would have sent the ball out of bounds, resulting in an incompletion.

Another example is in the red zone. Within that tight space, the quarterback’s command of the passing area needs to be even more refined and accurate, perhaps measured down to a single footstep. Against a dense defense, the slightest mistake could lead to an incompletion, which is a small matter—an interception is what’s truly devastating.

In short, in specific situations and under specific tactical demands, Tactical Area Accuracy is crucial.

However, this was an advanced skill. For an average quarterback, Tactical Area Accuracy wasn’t even a concept. In a critical moment, they just reared back and threw toward the target. If it connected, it was luck; if it failed, it was fate. Only good quarterbacks, or even elite quarterbacks, would begin to meticulously hone such technical details after their ball control reached a higher level.

Looked at another way, you could play a game just fine without this skill. However, for an average quarterback to take the next step, they had to constantly sharpen their ability to seize control in critical moments. That made Tactical Area Accuracy an essential part of their training.

It had been just over a year since he’d acquired the Football Superstar System, and Lu Ke had already unlocked this skill. ’Is it because the System recognized the speed of my improvement? Or is it because my Tactical Awareness broke ninety for the first time, which in turn unlocked a corresponding refined skill?’ He felt a surge of excitement and anticipation.

But when his eyes fell on the score for Tactical Area Accuracy, Lu Ke couldn’t help but let out a soft sigh. Seventy.

Objectively speaking, a score of seventy wasn’t low at all. When he first got the System, his short and medium passes were only in the low sixties. For Tactical Area Accuracy to have a base score of seventy right after unlocking was truly impressive.

However, Lu Ke knew this score was a composite calculation. His short, medium, and long pass stats were now all above seventy-five, so his overall ability was on a completely different level than before. Naturally, his Tactical Area Accuracy wouldn’t be too shabby.

In the last few games, the accuracy of his passes to specific zones during critical moments hadn’t been quite sharp enough, and the score reflected that. It meant Lu Ke still had plenty of room for growth.

What really made Lu Ke sigh wasn’t the score itself, but the lack of basic attribute points. He had just gotten eighteen points today, and they were gone in the blink of an eye before he could even get used to having them. Now, with the addition of Tactical Area Accuracy, he had another stat crying out to be fed—and a crucial one that could have a decisive impact in critical game moments, no less.

This meant that another week was over, and he would have to work even harder from now on. He absolutely couldn’t afford to slack off in his pursuit of victory. Winning—that was still his ultimate goal.

He let out a long breath. ’I’ll worry about next week’s game tomorrow. Starting Monday, I’ll officially dive into preparations. As for today... I’m going to relax and enjoy the team’s biggest victory in seven years. I’ll bask in this happiness and just let go.’

He opened the door to the massage room, and before he could even look up, party poppers went off right in his face. POP POP POP! Caught completely off guard, Lu Ke jumped back, instinctively taking two defensive steps and raising his hands in a boxer’s stance. Then he heard the sound of everyone roaring with laughter and finally realized—

His teammates had gathered in a noisy semi-circle, blocking the doorway to the massage room. They were clearly lying in wait for him.

”Spill it! You were in there alone for so long. Getting into some kind of trouble? Your right arm’s already exhausted from today, don’t go wearing it out any further.” Logan’s mischievous laughter rang out, and everyone else started whooping and jeering, making for a rowdy scene.

Lu Ke deliberately flashed a shark-like grin. ”What, you want to drop the soap?” Before the words even left his mouth, Lu Ke lunged forward without any warning, like a Fierce Tiger descending a mountain. This time, it was their turn to freak out. They scattered, their faces paling comically as a cacophony of shrieks, yells, and roars filled the air.

It seemed the celebration was going to continue for a while longer.

The game was over, and a jubilant atmosphere surrounded the San Francisco 49ers, both inside the organization and out. Candlestick Park remained buzzing for hours before the fans reluctantly left, flooding into nearby bars to celebrate the week’s massive victory. At the same time, the impact of this win began to ripple throughout the entire League.

First and foremost was the show ”Inside the League.” As a professional football program, all of its content revolved around the sport, and each episode covered every nook and cranny of the regular season. As the most lopsided game of Week 5, it naturally received immediate attention from the ESPN production team.

”Player of the Week. Without a doubt. I think there’s no question who the National Conference Offensive Player of the Week is. Not even Aaron Rodgers can compare to this performance.”

”Perfect. I can’t believe I’m using that word, but that’s what it was: perfect. Lu Ke’s performance this week was perfect. God, he really reminds me of Kurt Warner in 1999. I’m not talking about his style of play, but his presence on the field. That refusal to give up in the face of adversity... it’s just outstanding.”

”When I look at Lu Ke’s style of play, the first person who comes to mind is actually Peyton Manning—a true tactical mastermind. His ability to read the game and seize opportunities when he’s on the field is truly a sight to behold. A perfect score on the Fonderick test... now we finally know what that means for a quarterback. While other rookie quarterbacks are still struggling with their playbooks, Lu Ke is already showing the wisdom and composure of a ten-year veteran.”

”I don’t just think he’s the best in the National Conference for the week. I think Lu Ke was absolutely the most outstanding offensive player in the entire League this week, including the American Conference.”

”How long has it been? Really, how long has it been since we’ve seen the San Francisco 49ers deliver such a dominant, satisfying performance? It feels so strange. But I have reason to believe this is about to become the new normal.”

”The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were absolutely atrocious this week. Their defense, their offense, even their special teams were completely dominated. You have to admit, the San Francisco 49ers played with the confidence of a powerhouse team.”

”The conversation we should be having now isn’t about whether Lu Ke is a good quarterback, or if he’s an undrafted rookie that everyone overlooked. I think we can officially start discussing Lu Ke’s eligibility to compete for this season’s MVP. What do you guys think? Any objections?”

”MVP? Whoa, that’s a massive honor. I don’t know... I don’t know. I need a little more time to see. But... I’m not denying it, and I’m not objecting. I just need a bit more time. Aaron Rodgers is also having a perfect season so far, and for a rookie, the challenges ahead will only get tougher. So, let’s wait and see.”

...

The discussions were lively and bustling, with everyone eagerly sharing their opinions. But this time, they were surprisingly unanimous: it was all praise.

As an undrafted rookie, amidst a sea of controversy and doubt, Lu Ke had taken on the heavy burden of being the San Francisco 49ers’ starting quarterback. Whether by luck or by fate, the first Chinese-American quarterback in history had made his spectacular entrance.

After five weeks of games, Lu Ke, with his undeniably brilliant performance, had conquered the picky reporters, won over the proud fans, and convinced the hard-to-please commentators and analysts.