Sports

Madden 10 predicts down-to-the-wire Super Bowl outcome

By Emanuel Johnson GVL Sports Editor
2/3/2010

EA Sports likes to claim its latest NFL installment, Madden NFL 10, is the most realistic football visual simulation to date (and it better be for $60). If this is true, then the game should have no problem giving us a plausible outcome to this year's Super Bowl between the New Orleans Saints and the Indianapolis Colts.

The simulation I ran was set at 15-minute quarters with a 25-second play clock runoff. Instead of the awkwardness of having the game in Dolphins Stadium with the Miami logo on the field, the game gives you a few actual Super Bowl stadium options, including XLIV.

The Saints came hot out of the gate with a touchdown on their opening drive. Drew Brees found Robert Meachem in the middle of the endzone for a 12-yard strike. In the Colts' opening drive, Peyton Manning converted on two straight third downs before scoring on a 4-yard slant to Reggie Wayne.

For much of the time thereafter, the Colts dominated on both sides of the ball. New Orleans had five more possessions in the half - three were stalled drives and two were turnovers (a lost fumble and a Brees interception). Manning, on the other hand, continued to march down the field at will. Joseph Addai scored on a 14-yard toss sweep, and Manning found Wayne for a 72-yard touchdown before orchestrating a drive that led to a field goal at the end of the half.

Though he had thrown an interception on one of his drives, Manning was already up more than 350 yards at halftime. The Colts led 24-7.

The second half didn't begin any more favorably for the Saints. They managed to stall Manning in the Colts' opening drive, but Brees threw his second pick of the game to give the ball right back.

The Saints' defense, as suspect as their performance had been up to the point, got its typical big play before Manning could do much more damage. Malcolm Jenkins picked off a pass in the flats and took it the distance for the score (Colts 24-14). The Colts drove down for a field goal (Colts 27-14), Brees threw his third pick and the Saints' defense managed to hold the Colts to a punt.

Things got really interesting in the fourth quarter. The Saints had already driven down to the four yard line, and, after a few stalled rushing attempts, Brees found Marques Coleston for an 11-yard strike (Colts 27-21). Colts running back Donald Brown carried the ball 54 yards on his first attempt of the game, which led to an Addai rushing touchdown and a failed conversion attempt (Colts 33-21), but the Saints drove down the field quickly and capped their drive with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Devery Henderson (Colts 33-28).

After forcing the Colts to stall, the Saints marched down the field for the third straight touchdown in three possessions. Brees found Meachem in the middle of the endzone to give the Saints their first lead of the game with 1:56 left in play (Saints 34-33 after failed conversion attempt).

And then virtual Manning put on a very realistic show. The Colts only took four plays to drive down field to score, the last of which being an Addai 11-yard run (Colts 41-34). Brees got the ball back with 1:19 left on the clock, but he threw his fourth pick of the game on the third play from scrimmage. The Colts ran the clock out to take the 41-34 victory.

Wayne won Super Bowl MVP honors with eight catches for 185 yards and two touchdowns. Manning finished 27-44 with 494 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions while Brees finished 30-45 with 471 yards, four touchdowns and four picks. Addai had three touchdowns on 59 yards on the ground.

And if this is any indication of how the actual Super Bowl will transpire, then this may end up one of the best Super Bowls in NFL history.

sports@lanthorn.com

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