All Articles: Madden NFL 18

EA Sports’s Super Bowl LII simulation promised a back-and-forth game, and that part was (mostly) right on the money. But the rest of the developer’s prediction (using last year’s Madden NFL 18) was WRONG, WRONG, WRONG.

The New England Patriots weren’t leading in the fourth quarter… so the Philadelphia Eagles didn’t have to hope for some last-minute heroics. And the “Golden Boy” definitely didn’t get to hoist the MVP trophy.

Instead, backup quarterback Nick Foles kept the Eagles ahead nearly the entire game. Foles nailed Alshon Jeffery, Corey Clement, and Zach Ertz for a trio of touchdowns, and even caught one himself (thrown by Clement) in the closing seconds of the first half. Naturally, he was also the game’s MVP.

EA Sports has used the Madden franchise to simulate the winner of the Super Bowl every year since 2004. This loss drops the company’s predictive skills to 10-5 overall, but they’re just 2-3 during the last five years. I guess, better luck next year.

Super Bowl LII is less than a week away, and EA Sports is back with its latest prediction for the “Big Game.”

According to the publisher’s Madden NFL 18 simulation, the New England Patriots and the Philadelphia will battle back-and-forth for control of the game. After a trio of touchdown passes from Tom Brady to Rob Gronkowski, Brandin Cooks, and Danny Amendola, the Patriots will head into the final minutes with a 24-20 lead. It looks like the “Golden Boy” will easily collect his sixth Super Bowl ring (and yet another MVP award), but not before a last-minute challenge from the Eagles:

This being the 4th quarter of the NFL’s biggest game, of course it’s Tom Brady’s time to shine. The soon-to-be MVP threw yet another touchdown pass to Danny Amendola, to put the Patriots back on top. After forcing an Eagles punt, the Pats were on their way to a grind-out-the-clock win when the fates intervened, and Eagles safety Malcom Jennings forced a strip fumble of New England running back Dion Lewis.

Capitalizing on the momentum the Eagles marched upfield, using masterful clock management to put themselves in position to dethrone the Patriots in dramatic fashion. As time expired Foles lofted a desperate pass to Jeffery, hoping the veteran could use his size and physicality to come down with the ball and send the city of Philadelphia into euphoria. However, Patriots defensive back Stefon Gilmore had other plans, and rose as the hero of the moment, knocking the ball away and sealing the Patriots sixth championship.

If this result seems familiar, it should. EA Sports’s Super Bowl LI simulation predicted similar heroics from Tom Brady last year, along with a Patriots victory, and an MVP award. In real life, the quarterback did not disappoint, securing the win for his team and the MVP award for himself.

Will this year’s Super Bowl prediction be as accurate? We’ll have to wait and see, so be sure to tune in to Super Bowl LII this Sunday, February 4, at 6:30 PM (Eastern Time).