"Yes, I still firmly believe that the Pittsburgh Steelers will win the game; at the same time, I will also win this wager."
With all eyes on him, Charles Davis remained calm and collected, without any fear or hesitation. His upright posture and firm shoulders showed that he was still full of confidence and even at ease, which was truly impressive.
This was a series of wagers. Lu Ke had to defeat the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers in a row to win. Before this, Charles had expected the San Francisco 49ers to defeat the Arizona Cardinals on the road, not because he had a new understanding of the 49ers' strength, but because the Cardinals' overall performance this season was still not very stable. Even after their five-game winning streak, they were still walking on eggshells, only avoiding defeat again and again with the brilliant performances of some individual players.
Although the 49ers' decisive victory over the Cardinals was a bit of a surprise, it showed the 49ers' excellent competitive state, which brought some uneasiness and uncertainty. But in the past few days of commotion, Charles's impatient and anxious mood had settled down, and he became firm again.
Monday Night Football, a strong vs. strong matchup, all of America watching, a heavy burden—and it was also the expectations and concerns of the entire Chinese community and the entire Asian community. When the matter was elevated to a racial issue, it also meant that things had gone off the rails. If Lu Ke lost the game, he wouldn't need to wait for others. The spit of the Asian community alone could completely drown him. In other words, to put it more seriously, this kind of game carried a national mission and was even more exciting than the Super Bowl. For the rookie Lu Ke and the young and vibrant San Francisco 49ers, this was definitely the ultimate test. What's more, the Pittsburgh Steelers were a team that had seen countless big stages, and they would have more advantages.
Even though he had been worried, uneasy, tossing and turning, and sleepless, the fear of being dominated by humiliation and despair swept over him again. But now, Charles once again had an unwavering belief: The 49ers were in for a tough time in this week's game against the Steelers. No one should forget the San Francisco 49ers' last Thursday Night Football game. So, at this moment, Charles once again had an unwavering belief, and his eyes were full of strong confidence. "Now, I'm more curious about what kind of punishment Lu Ke should accept if he loses the wager. We only talked about my wager before, but Lu Ke didn't mention his."
Charles showed a big smile, seeming a little carried away. "At the beginning, I gave the decision-making power to Lu Ke; so similarly, shouldn't I have the decision-making power for Lu Ke's wager?" "I'm a kind person, and I don't want to ruin Lu Ke's career, but if he loses this game, maybe Lu Ke should voluntarily give up his starting position and let Alex Smith play. With a comparison, there will naturally be a winner and a loser, which will be good for the 49ers' long-term development." After saying that, Charles couldn't help but laugh again.
He was a genius. He was definitely a genius. If Lu Ke lost the game, this wager would make Lu Ke completely unable to recover. Just imagining it, Charles could wake up from a dream with a smile. Although Charles shouldn't be too proud during the show's recording, he just couldn't help it. He liked to see Lu Ke in a tough spot.
Edward Bowen's eyes swept across the faces of the many analysts and commentators, expecting someone to respond, but this time he was disappointed. Everyone was silent—not out of fear, but out of deep thought. Spencer Larson was watching Charles, but his eyes were like watching a clown show. He didn't even bother to argue. Edward took a deep breath and immediately understood. He took back the focus of the show. "Charles believes that the Pittsburgh Steelers will win this week's game. What about the rest of you? What are your opinions?"
This was a difficult game to decide. No one could easily make a judgment. If the San Francisco 49ers vs. the Detroit Lions was an even match, and the San Francisco 49ers vs. the New York Giants was a 50/50 chance, then the San Francisco 49ers vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers was evenly matched, but the latter still had a slight advantage because "offense wins games, defense wins championships." This was a championship-level game that was even more tense than the Super Bowl. The toughness of "The Steel Curtain" and the stability and composure of the Steelers would be the key factors that would determine the game.
Objectively speaking, the San Francisco 49ers had a 45% chance of winning, while the Pittsburgh Steelers had a 55% chance. Furthermore, if you take into account the San Francisco 49ers' performance in the Thursday Night Football game against the Baltimore Ravens, this data could be further divided into "four to six." So, the commentators couldn't easily make a decision. So, Charles's confidence couldn't be easily refuted. So, the debate didn't break out. Everyone had their own judgment and choice, and this kind of decision was irrefutable.
"Spencer?" Edward once again focused on the 49ers' most unwavering supporter. On one hand, it was to create a clash with Charles. On the other hand, it was to balance the game—otherwise, if all the analysts and commentators chose the Pittsburgh Steelers from the beginning, there would be no suspense. As expected, Spencer did not disappoint Edward.
"The 49ers. I still think the 49ers will win this week's game," Spencer said after a long deliberation. "I won't go into the difficulties and hardships of this game." "But I want to say that this is a team full of infinite possibilities. No one expected Logan Newman to get 17 touchdowns, and no one expected Ted Ginn Jr. to get ten touchdowns. Similarly, no one expected Lu Ke to lead this team to such a record. They are good at creating miracles and overcoming tough battles. Their ironclad spirit in critical moments will be the key to winning the game." After speaking, Spencer took a deep breath, as if he had finally made a difficult decision, putting aside his personal feelings and making the best choice from an objective standpoint. But in the end, he couldn't maintain absolute objectivity. "Lu Ke, this quarterback has created countless miracles. I believe that this time at Candlestick Park, he will continue to deliver a magical performance," Spencer concluded.
"The so-called magic depends on the opponent," Charles interjected meaningfully, leaving a lingering look, as if he was refuting Spencer and also mocking Lu Ke. Then he added, "They are not the Pittsburgh Steelers." Seeing that the conflict was about to flare up again, this time, Edward proactively cut off Charles's subsequent words, hinted at Spencer with his eyes, and then looked at the other analysts and commentators. "Melissa, what about you? What do you think?" There was already enough conflict about the two teams on Twitter. There was no need for them to create more chaos. It was correct to go back to professional analysis and not get off track.
Melissa Anderson pondered for a moment. "I've thought a lot about this game. This is not an easy choice. I think both sides have a chance, and the gap is even smaller than you think. The details of the game will determine the outcome. So, I think the more experienced Pittsburgh Steelers will be the final winner of this game."
"What?" Almost everyone gasped. Charles didn't speak. He just started applauding Spencer with a smile on his face. It was the simplest action, but it was the most direct provocation. Melissa was a supporter of the San Francisco 49ers. She had been since the second week of the regular season. She and Spencer had been fighting side by side, firmly supporting the 49ers and witnessing this young team repeatedly create history. But today, she chose the Steelers. Not only Spencer, but all the other analysts and commentators were stunned. Even Edward had to ask, "Melissa, are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure. At the end of the regular season and the upcoming playoffs, experience and history will be crucial. As I said just now, the details of the game will determine the outcome." Melissa maintained her objective attitude and said in a professional manner. Melissa was not the only one. When the recording of "Inside the League" was finished, the final prediction ratio among the ten commentators was "eight to two." The Pittsburgh Steelers received eight votes, while the San Francisco 49ers only received two, as if they had gone back to the beginning of the regular season overnight, when no one was optimistic about the San Francisco 49ers.
Although they had a record of 10 wins and 3 losses this season, the San Francisco 49ers seemed to have become another powerhouse in the league. But in the end, they still lacked the experience. In a strong vs. strong matchup, they still couldn't get enough votes of confidence. This also shows people's attitude toward the 49ers' playoff journey. No one truly believes that they can become a Super Bowl contender. They don't even seem to have the qualifications to be a disruptor.
Charles won, and he ended the show's recording with great swagger. Everything seemed to be going according to Charles's script: they defeated the Cardinals but lost to the Steelers, and just after a glimmer of hope, it was extinguished. In the end, they were disgraced and fled in a panic, becoming a laughingstock. The focus, the focus, the focus; the buzz, the buzz, the buzz. It was in this surging wave of excitement that Week 15 of the regular season gradually came to an end. After all the Sunday games were over, all that was left was Monday Night Football, the last game of the week, and the biggest one that everyone was looking forward to! A spectacular appearance!
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