Madden 15 Predicts Super Bowl Winner

Jan 30, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; General view of the Vince Lombardi Trophy and helmets for the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots during a press conference for Super Bowl XLIX at the Phoenix Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

In the annual EA Sports Madden 15 Super Bowl prediction the New England Patriots are predicted to defeat the Seattle Seahawks 28-24 in Super Bowl XLIX.

The official EA Sports simulation of Madden before the Super Bowl has been quite accurate in their 11 previous predictions with an 8-3 record against the actual game’s results. I wanted to give it a whirl to see how the matchup would play out for me and the end result was quite similar.

First Quarter

For those placing bets on the coin toss in Las Vegas, the Seahawks won the coin toss and elected to receive the opening kickoff. It was a good thing that Seattle elected to get the ball first as their very first play from the line of scrimmage was an 85-yard touchdown run from Marshawn Lynch. I guess we finally can grasp his “you know why I’m here” phrase.

Jan 29, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (24) at press conference at Arizona Grand in advance of Super Bowl XLIX. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

After two punts for each side, Seattle’s defense made their first big play of the game. Kam Chancellor recovered a fumble at the SEA 46 yard line, but Russell Wilson turned it right back over to the Patriots when Devin McCourty intercepted a pass. New England would drive all the way down to the NE 1, but would settle for a Stephen Gostkowski 17-yard field goal to cut the Seattle lead to 7-3.

Seattle had their longest drive of the game to this point, driving them all the way to the NE 6, but once more Wilson was picked off by McCourty. New England would not score on the drive however.

Steven Hauschka shanked a 58-yard field goal attempt, but once more the Seattle defense shut down Tom Brady and the Patriots offense as they forced a quick three-and-out.

The first quarter came to a conclusion with the Seahawks driving down the field holding a 7-3 lead.

Second Quarter

Seattle would score the first points of the second frame when Wilson found Doug Baldwin on consecutive plays to get into the end zone to take a 14-3 lead.

Another three-and-out for New England’s offense meant that their fatigued defense would have to trot back out onto the field. Seattle had their way with the Patriots’ defense for 95% of the ensuing drive, but the offense stalled at the NE 5 and Hauschka was called on to make the chip shot from 22-yards out.

With the lead extended to 17-3, Seattle’s defense would have none of a New England bounce back drive. The Patriots picked up one first down, but soon after had to punt it back to Wilson and Co.

With Lynch in the locker room getting his ankle checked out, Robert Turbin was called into action to carry the running load. Turbin carried the ball five times on the drive for 20 yards and set up a Hauschka 44-yard field goal to go up 20-3.

New England’s offense finally found the end zone for the first time all game on their next drive which was highlighted by a huge 15-yard personal foul against the Seattle defense on 3rd and 6 from the SEA 17. Two plays after the penalty LeGarrette Blount muscled his way through the Seahawks’ front-seven to reach the end zone and make the score 20-10.

Jan 18, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount (29) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts in the third quarter in the AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

Lynch came back out from the locker room, but was extremely inefficient running the ball as the Patriots’ defense stood tall and forced a Seattle punt. New England would turn the next drive into three points as Gostkowski nailed a 28-yard field goal to make it a one-possession game.

Wilson was picked off for the third time of the first half when Brandon Browner intercepted a pass to set up the Patriots with beautiful field position. Brady and Rob Gronkowski couldn’t hook up in the red zone and the Patriots had to settle for their third field goal of the half, but in doing so cut the lead to 20-16.

On the very next play, Wilson was picked off by Browner again! Three plays later Brady and Danny Amendola connected for a 5-yard touchdown and the Patriots enjoyed their first lead of the game at 23-20.

As if Wilson didn’t have enough going wrong for him, Lynch re-injured his ankle forcing Wilson to throw the rock again. Wilson was picked off for the fifth time in the game with 48 seconds left in the first half by McCourty. Gostkowski missed a 50-yard field goal as Seattle’s defense was finally able to slow the Patriots’ offense.

The Patriots took a lead of 23-20 over the Seahawks into the locker rooms at the half.

Third Quarter

New England received the ball to start the second half, but didn’t move much on offense. The Patriots still gained great field position on their next drive because Wilson was picked off for the SIXTH time of the game.

Brady and Amendola connected for their second touchdown of the game and the Patriots took a 30-20 lead.

The two clubs swapped punts, but the Patriots were able to add a Gostkowkski 31-yard field goal to their score halfway through the third quarter. Seattle countered with a Hauschka 33-yard field goal to bring the score back to a 10-point game at 33-23.

January 10, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks long snapper

Clint Gresham

(49) and kicker Steven Hauschka (4) celebrate a field goal kicked against the Carolina Panthers during the second half in the 2014 NFC Divisional playoff football game at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Each team continued to punt the ball back-and-forth to one another for the remainder of the third quarter, but as the whistle blew to signal the end of the frame Seattle had the ball on the NE 27 yard line.

Fourth Quarter

Seattle cut the lead back to a one-possession ball game at 33-26 with a 27-yard field goal after their offense was shut down in the red zone.

After three consecutive three-and-outs, Seattle’s offense finally cracked through. Wilson found Turbin out of the backfield for a pair of catches resulting in 33 yards. After gaining nine yards on the next three plays the Seahawks decided to go for it on 4th-and-1 from the SEA 18. The result: a Wilson completed pass to fullback Will Tukuafu for a gain of 11 yards.

Following a Wilson scramble to pick up six yards, Turbin powered it into the end zone from a yard out to knot the score at 33-33 with 10:36 remaining.

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After a punt for each side, the Patriots got the ball across midfield, but Brady and Gronkowski were still unable to connect when it matters most. New England settled for yet another field goal to re-take the lead, 36-33.

Seattle went the conservative route after getting to 4th down in their own territory on the next drive by punting it away. New England had a three-and-out giving the ball right back to Seattle.

Wilson and Kevin Norwood would be partners in crime on the next drive as Norwood corralled three passes for 51 yards and set the Seahawks up deep in New England territory. Seattle was inefficient in finding the end zone and Hauschka was called on once more to kick a game-tying 22-yard field goal.

After punts for both teams, New England was in business with 2:21 left in the game. The Patriots began the drive at the SEA 47 and converted a crucial 3rd-and-1 just before the two-minute warning when Brady completed an eight-yard pass to Gronkowski.

Gostkowski nabbed the lead back for the Patriots, 39-36, as he kicked his sixth field goal of the game with 1:36 remaining. Seattle was stopped on 4th-and-2 when Wilson completed a one-yard pass to Luke Willson, but the Seahawks still had life as they had two of their timeouts remaining and could ensure one more possession.

Gostkowski made his career-high and Super Bowl-record seventh field goal from 39-yards out with 34 seconds left to double the New England lead to 42-36. Seattle only got the ball to their own 39-yard line before time ran out on them on the final drive of the game however.

The New England Patriots won Super Bowl XLIX by a final score of 42-36.

Statistics

Passing:

Russell Wilson (SEA)- 31/48, 263 yards, 1 TD, 6 INT

Tom Brady (NE)- 28/47, 268 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT

Jan 18, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) pumps his fists as he heads to the sideline in the fourth quarter against the Indianapolis Colts the AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Rushing:

Marshawn Lynch (SEA)- 12 carries, 121 yards, 1 TD

Robert Turbin (SEA)- 15 carries, 55 yards, 1 TD

Russell Wilson (SEA)- 8 carries, 41 yards, 0 TD

Shane Vereen (NE)- 22 carries, 77 yards, 0 TD, 1 FUMB

LeGarrette Blount (NE)- 6 carries, 24 yards, 1 TD

Dec 21, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (24) against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Seahawks defeated the Cardinals 35-6. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Receiving:

Doug Baldwin (SEA)- 7 catches, 92 yards, 1 TD

Kevin Norwood (SEA)- 4 catches, 53 yards, 0 TD

Jermaine Kearse (SEA) – 6 catches, 51 yards, 0 TD

Brandon LaFell (NE)- 7 catches, 77 yards, 0 TD

Julian Edelman (NE)- 6 catches, 72 yards, 0 TD

Danny Amendola (NE)- 4 catches, 34 yards, 2 TD

Jan 18, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick hugs wide receiver Danny Amendola (80) after beating the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stew Milne-USA TODAY Sports

Defense:

Bobby Wagner (SEA)- 14 tackles

Kam Chancellor (SEA)- 7 tackles, 1 FR

Cliff Avril (SEA)- 6 tackles, 2.5 sacks

Devin McCourty (NE)- 5 tackles, 3 INT

Brandon Browner (NE)- 6 tackles, 2 INT

Darrelle Revis (NE)- 8 tackles, 1 INT

Dec 14, 2014; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots cornerback Brandon Browner (39) tries to talk with the referee after being called for pass interference against the Miami Dolphins during the first half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

Kicking:

Steven Hauschka (SEA)- 5/7 FG, long: 44

Stephen Gostkowski (NE)- 7/8 FG, long: 46

Aug 22, 2014; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski (3) kicks for the extra point against the Carolina Panthers in the first half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

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