Board 8 > A dumb look into my Madden Franchise

(+) Yeah! (+)

I used to do this years ago and well I just finished Year 5 and thought it'd be fun to share a look into this alternate universe. I think its fun to see how badly the AI manages these teams and what crazy choices they make rostering. That being said I just had my team implode so I suck too!

Also the entire league has gotten so poorly talented as the AI cant develop players. Its hilarious

I'm playing as the Eagles for reference.

First off some superbowl history

Superbowl History
2022: Jaguars defeat the Saints 28-10 (MVP:Blake Bortles QB) (Arizona)
2021: Chargers defeat the 49ers 25-22 (MVP:Jacoby Brissett QB) (Los Angeles)
2020: Eagles defeat the Jaguars 35-14 (MVP:Carson Wentz QB) (Tampa Bay)
2019: Bills defeat the Seahawks 35-30 (MVP:Jay Ajayi HB) (Miami)
2018: Eagles defeat the Bengals 20-10 (MVP:Jalen Mills CB) (Atlanta)

Yeah this is truly a bizarre universe when you look at the winners and that Bortles is a superbowl mvp o_o

HOT OFFSEASON STORIES
Steelers QB Big Ben Roethlisberger retires at Age 41
Redskins QB Alex Smith retires at Age 40
Bengals Coach John Harbaugh retires
Bengals WR AJ Green is out
Eagles C Jason Kelce and G Brandon Books both peace
Lions WR Golden Tates out
Seahawks WR Doug Baldwin out
Steelers WR Antonio Brown retires
Falcons WR Julio Jones retires

Next I'll go break down the teams, and how they have done in half a decade
---

Top Free Agents Signed
Bears sign Safety Tyrann Mathieu 90OVR (Age 31)
Broncos sign HB Devonta Freeman 83OVR (Age 31)
Good riddance here he tore me up with the Falcons year after year

Bears sign DT Grady Jarrett 86OVR (Age 30)
Raiders sign CB Desmond Trufant 86OVR (Age 32)
Redskins sign MLB Morgan Joseph 85OVR (Age 25)
Super salty about this, I offered him more money and bonus but he just hated the Eagles and went here. So salty

Redskins sign CB Ferrell Foster 84OVR (Age 26)
Yeah the skins just locking up young stud FAs ;-;

Broncos sign RE Jurrell Casey 83OVR (Age 33)
Cowboys sign CB Xavier Rhodes 81OVR (Age 33)
The cowboys CBs are kinda bad so I get it but this was a major reach

Colts sign WR London Hayes 81OVR (Age 25)
This guy is a young Alshon Jeffrey type, big chew toy for Andrew Luck

Chiefs sign DE Jon Whitted 81OVR (Age 25)

Notable signings
Bengals sign QB Matthew Stafford
Chargers sign QB Case Keenum
Broncos sign QB Brody Harding (this was one of those AI moves you kinda wonder about as Deshaun Watson gets older hes only 25 and won them games)
Chargers sign QB George Blalock
Ravens sign QB Kirk Cousins (now at 72ovr hes shot)
---

Which Madden is this?
---

SockoressKnight posted...

Which Madden is this?

This is 19, the Madden of broken dreams ;-;
---

Lets talk about Da Bears

==========NFC North=========
@@@Chicago Bears
2018 Record: 7-9
2019 Record: 6-8-2
2020 Record: 9-7
2021 Record: 6-10
2022 Record: 8-8-0
Playoff Record: 0-0
QBs Started:
2018- Mitchell Trubisky
2019- Teddy Bridgewater
2020- Mitchell Trubisky
2021- Mitchell Trubisky
2022- Mitchell Trubisky
2023- Mitchell Trubisky

This is one of those teams that is hellbent on staying mediocre. They were the first team to somehow get 2 ties in a season at least. In 2019 they decided to bench trubisky for Bridgewater and well they paid for it in spades. Somehow the myth of bridgwater is a backup somewhere still, can't remember off hand.

This was the first offseason the bears really were active in free agency, they just took the 2019 roster starters and said ride or die until just now. The only player to grow here was Jordan Howard to a crazy 90ovr, hes the 8th best halfback in madden. (madden 19 ranks players by ovr and ratings for you conveniently)
---

Much like real life, HoF Qbs dont guarantee superbowls

@@@Green Bay Packers
2018 Record: 13-3 (Won Division, #1 Seed)
2019 Record: 9-7
2020 Record: 10-6 (Won Division)
2021 Record: 12-4 (Won Division, #1 Seed)
2022 Record: 9-7 (Won Division)
Playoff Record: 2-4
QBs Started:
2018- Aaron Rodgers
2019- Aaron Rodgers
2020- Aaron Rodgers
2021- Aaron Rodgers
2022- Aaron Rodgers
2023- Aaron Rodgers

The packers are 4/5 on playoff trips because well Rodgers in this madden universe somehow never gets hurt, like ever. Some Packers fans at EA maybe?

2018 They get #1 seed and cardinals whomp them
2019 missed
2020 they crush the Redskins in the wildcard then ran into my superbowl team
2021 they get #1 seed and 49ers bounce them
2022 they crush the Giants, made NFC Championship and then lost to Saints

So they can beat up bad NFC East teams that sneak in and that's it. Kinda strange.

Madden 19 seems to let QBs play to 39-40 before saying its time to retire, most likely cause of Tom Brady being in the coding. If you look at older madden titles players were gone by about 35-37 but then again a lot more QBs are playing longer now?

Looking at this team on papers rough, this team is miles worse on paper than the Bears and yet the success rate is here somehow. Davonte Adams is still here, he is the #5 best WR in football. They also have a stud CB that they got in year 2 that they grew to be #5 in the nfl.

This is also an alternate universe where Ha Ha Clinton Dix stayed and played as a top 10 FS is entire time with the Packers.

This is the classic Madden case of as soon as Rodgers steps down after Year 6 or 7 this team will tank unless the AI reacts.
---

@@@Minnesota Vikings
2018 Record: 6-10
2019 Record: 12-4 (Won Division)
2020 Record: 4-12
2021 Record: 6-9-1
2022 Record: 5-11
Playoff Record: 1-1
QBs Started:
2018- Kirk Cousins (10 Games)
Relief: Trevor Siemian (6 Games)
2019- Kirk Cousins
2020- Kirk Cousins
2021- Kirk Cousins (14 Games)
Relief: Craig Tretter (2 Games)
2022- Sean McCann *R*
2023- Sean McCann

So I can't explain the 2019 vikings, they just channeled some miracle I guess. They barely beat the Falcons in the first round then got shuttered by the Seahawks 38 to 0. Like yikes. Kirk Cousins kinda festered out in that 2021 season (11TD and 15INT a career worst) that led to them drafting Sean McCann in the first round. So far this QB won rookie of the year so thats promising right?

2023 is the year for the vikings to do something and god help this poor QBs painful 77OVR. Hes ranked #34 which isnt a great sign and there is no other QB help on the team even in the wings.

The Vikings have taken a bears stance here, holding onto players past their prime or simply refusing to upgrade. The cornerbacks might be some of the worst I've seen, if we figure there are 32 CB1s, and 32 CB2s we can kinda figure 1-32 is that starter range and 33-64 is the CB2 slot, with 65-96 in that true backup status.

Rashawn Reinhart is a 75ovr, ranked #77. Yeah this corps has an issue as the next guy is ranked #99.

So will the vikings do better than say the Bears? Likely not as they have Dalvin Cook 90OVR, ranked #11 but no oline. If there is any hope its the McCann to Diggs connection, diggs is still the 11th best WR in this madden franchise.
---

Last one for today

@@@Detroit Lions
2018 Record: 6-10
2019 Record: 6-10
2020 Record: 4-12
2021 Record: 6-10
2022 Record: 8-8
Playoff Record: 0-0
QBs Started:
2018- Matthew Stafford
2019- Benton Casey *R*
2020- Matthew Stafford
2021- Matthew Stafford
2022- Matthew Stafford
2023- Bruce Gachkar *R*

Welcome to another underperforming team. The most exciting thing about this no playoff team is that Matthew Stafford was let go to join a struggling Bengals team. The lions spent pick 13 on Bruce Gachkar , ranked 31st already by madden. He is the 15th slowest QB on a roster (starters, backups, practice squads) and has one good skill...throwing short passes. Madden is unpredictable and this could somehow work...but wow Detroit.

I had to look but found Benton Casey in free agency, couldn't see his stats unless I signed him cause Madden is strange. No idea why he started Year 2 instead of stafford, hes currently sitting in Free agency with a 75ovr, but he did and did not much better than stafford?

Lets talk Wide Receivers, Henry Arnold who is in his 3rd year is the 7th best WR in this madden chise. So props to the lions for wasting real and fictional stud WR talents!

Another standout is LOLB, which I always call LOL Backers, is Tramell Osgood. Hes an 87 OVR in year 2 and ranked #4 in the league. Their MLB who is in his 4th year is #10 ovr. Lions you can maybe draft, grats we found your strong point!

The only name from the default roster still here is Darius Slay, CB who at Age 32 is the 7th best CB in the league. And is slated to miss 10 weeks of Year 6....whoops. I'm curious and hope I remember to check if he remains that OVR. Severe injuries can hurt perm. stats and with older players in decline (30 and above usually) it can cripple them. :(
---

===========NFC East==========
@@@Philadelphia Eagles
2018 Record: 13-3 (Won Division)
2019 Record: 13-3 (Won Division, #1 Seed)
2020 Record: 12-4 (Won Division)
2021 Record: 12-4 (Won Division)
2022 Record: 7-9
Playoff Record: 4-2
Superbowl Record: 2-0
QBs Started:
2018- Carson Wentz (14 Games)
Relief: Nick Foles (1 Game)
Relief: Nate Sudfeld (1 Game)
2019- Carson Wentz (10 Games)
Relief: Nate Sudfeld (6 Games)
2020- Carson Wentz
2021- Carson Wentz (13 Games)
Relief: Nate Sudfeld (3 Games)
2022- Carson Wentz (10 Games)
Relief: Josh Allen (6 Games)
2023- Carson Wentz

You want a fun fact? Eagles QBs are always fragile as a pie crust. Mcnabb, Kolb, Vick, Foles, and Wentz. I can't really argue with it, but it is amusing.

Yeah so Wentz has been great for my franchise team but only when hes there. Without him its been a rollercoaster of emotions. At this point in the franchise only Fletcher Cox (aging and fading), Zach Ertz (still great but very slow now), and Brandon Graham (completely dead just a backup now) are left from the non Wentz star players.

I have the 30th ranked oline in the league and my defense is young and needs time since everyones retired. Until this past draft I was drafting too late and by the time I was on the board it was offense heavy. So I'm rebuilding and hoping to be competitive again this season or next.

I did grab a few studs in drafts years past
HB Tyler Reid a bullet of a HB thats currently 15th best in the league (Year 2)
WR Will Gordon, a younger Alshon Jeffrey clone (Year 3)
WR Cason Casey, is Wes Welker (height and all) with the speed of Desean Jackson (Year 4)

So its not all bad? right?
---

@@@Washington Redskins
2018 Record: 5-11
2019 Record: 5-10-1
2020 Record: 11-4-1 (Wildcard)
2021 Record: 10-5-1 (Wildcard)
2022 Record: 8-8
Playoff Record: 0-2
QBs Started:
2018- Alex Smith (10 Games)
Relief: Paxton Lynch (6 Games)
2019- Alex Smith
2020- Alex Smith
2021- Alex Smith
2022- Alex Smith
2023- Wyatt Niswanger *R*

In this universe the redskins look promising at the near end of Alex Smiths career, reach the playoffs and never show up. The Redskins were a strange team in this franchise as they dumped everyone they had. Jamison Crowder and Alex Smith were the only 2018 starting roster players they kept, and Smith retired.

They drafted a banger of a QB in Niswanger who is a deep ball cannon slugger. Hes entering his rookie year as the 29th best QB on paper. I fully expect him to do well. Why?

Well thats the thing the Redskins replaced big names with no names in the drafts, and actually have quite a solid roster going into 2023. They were actually in the chase for the division in 2022 until Alex Smith just kinda gave up.

Alex Smith going into Week 12 had 5 INTs
Alex Smith in the last 5 games had 12 INTs

then he went off into retireland.

Sad for me cause I'm playing as the Eagles but the redskins are a team to watch.
---

@@@New York Giants
2018 Record: 7-9
2019 Record: 5-11
2020 Record: 6-10
2021 Record: 7-9
2022 Record: 9-7 (Won Division)
Playoff Record: 1-1
QBs Started:
2018- Eli Manning
2019- Tyrod Taylor
2020- Tyrod Taylor
2021- Tyrod Taylor
2022- Lamar Jackson
2022- Lamar Jackson
2023- Lamar Jackson

Why the Giants went with Tyrod Taylor after Eli retired is anyones guess. But Tyrod 2 has worked better for them.

This team is crazy on paper

Lamar Jackson #12 QB
Saquan Barkley #3 HB
Odell Beckham #4 WR
Evan Engram #2 TE
Oline Ranked #7

Yeah but thats all on offense, the defense is a wreck. They do have A+ safeties with Landon Collins (#4) and Eddie Jackson (#8) but the rest of the defense just is pedestrian.

They did win the NFC east last season but when they came up against the Packers came apart.
---

@@@Dallas Cowboys
2018 Record: 6-10
2019 Record: 9-5-2 (Wildcard)
2020 Record: 7-8-1
2021 Record: 7-9
2022 Record: 9-7 (Wildcard)
Playoff Record: 0-2
QBs Started:
2018- Dak Prescott
2019- Dak Prescott
2020- Jean Nicholson
2021- Jean Nicholson
2022- Jean Nicholson (15 Games)
Relief: Martell Levy (1 Game)
2023- Jean Nicholson

The cowboys made the move the real team didn't do, they didn't resign Dak Prescott. Instead focusing the money on Oline and Ezekiel Elliot. Which in turn is a smart move. After Year 1 they drafted a QB in the second round, had him sit a year then tried him out. Jean Nicholson is now the 11th best QB and Ezekiel is scary.

The other highlight is safeties. Dalvin Jowers FS, who is the leagues best FS. Jimmy Thompson at SS is #7. Much like the giants the rest of the defense can stay home for the same results.
---

Tag

Are you actually playing with the Eagles? Or doing a full-on sim with them?
---

mccheyne posted...

Tag

Are you actually playing with the Eagles? Or doing a full-on sim with them?

I am playing with I just happen to love recording these stats to keep myself interested
---

MegamanX posted...

mccheyne posted...

Tag

Are you actually playing with the Eagles? Or doing a full-on sim with them?

I am playing with I just happen to love recording these stats to keep myself interested

Sounds like a me thing to do as well. Will definitely keep an eye on this!
---