Note: Blogcritics and Breaking Windows writer Tim Weaver assisted with this story.
While the video gamers’ football season never officially comes to a close, we are amidst the final few breaths of the 2005-06 NFL season. With the field narrowed down to four teams, Jan. 22 will be the day that pushes two teams to Super Sunday destiny and sends the other two teams home with their heads held low. Every year, many sources put the Madden games to the test by using it to predict Super Bowl results, and being the curious sort, I got a jump start on the predictions by using the Gamecube version of the game to predict the two teams which will compete for the trophy.
I donated some free time and allowed the CPU to play multiple games of the Steelers versus Broncos and Panthers versus Seahawks and if Madden had its way, we should have been seeing Denver and Seattle going toe-to-toe in the season finale. I got my results in just prior to Sunday, and, obviously, Madden 06 could only pick out one of Sunday's winners.
Pittsburgh Steelers v. Denver Broncos
What Really Happened:
Pittsburgh Steelers 34
Denver Broncos 17
How Madden F'd up this prediction:
Pittsburgh Steelers 14
Denver Broncos 23
After a handful of repeated games, Madden 06 pretty much decided this match-up was a push-over, no-contest game for the Broncos. In five games, the Steelers did manage to snag one three-point victory with a last-minutes field goal, but the other four games showed the Broncos going pretty rough on their opposition. Pittsburgh’s highest scoring game: 20 (20-17 win); Denver’s highest scoring game: 31 (31-9 win). Pittsburgh’s lowest scoring game: 9 (9-31 loss); Denver’s lowest scoring game: 17 (17-20 loss, 17-14 win).
Madden lies. It's down 0-1.
Total Offense Average: Advantage Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Steelers 217
Denver Broncos 212
In the actual outcome, Pittsburgh did edge ahead in yardage and even in the fashion predicted by the video game - Denver outrushed, Pittsburgh outpassed. Pittsburgh’s high/low total rushing: 77 (totaled twice - 1 win, 1 lose)/43 (lose); Denver’s high/low total rushing: 196 (lose)/68 (win). Pittsburgh’s high/low total passing: 180 (lose)/146 (lose); Denver’s high/low total passing: 156 (win)/42 (lose). In reality, Pittsburgh rushed for 90, passed 268 and Denver rushed for 97 and threw for 211. Well played. Madden's up 3-1 now
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