Madden 09 predicts the obvious: Steelers win Super Bowl

  • by Dave Rudden
  • January 23, 2009 00:00 AM PST

One of the most reliable Super Bowl predictors--Madden's game simulation--is predicting that the Pittsburgh Steerlers will win Super Bowl XLIII.

With Super Bowl Sunday a little more than a week away, plenty of sports pundits and compulsive gamblers have started making their picks for the big game. Surprisingly, the simple act of simulating the game in the latest Madden game has worked wonders, as EA has used it's franchise to choose the winners of the past five Super Bowls and it's picked the winner four times, only mis-prognosticating last year when the Giants upset the 16-0 Patriots. This year, Madden NFL 2009 predicts that the Pittsburg Steerlers will defeat the Arizona Cardinals, with the simulation predicting a 28-24 sqeaker.

While we're not one to scoff at a 80% successful prediction rate, this Super Bowl is not one that's too tough to predict. The Steelers have been in the playoffs six times this decade, and won the Super Bowl four years ago. The Cardinals last made the postseason a decade ago. The Steelers ended the regular season with a dominating 12-4 record, while the Cardinals limped into the postseason with a 9-7 record, losing four of their last five games. Only one other 9-7 team has made it to the big game, with the LA Rams getting to the Super Bowl in 1980, losing to the... you guessed it, Pittsburgh Steelers. Then again, everyone, including Madden, thought the Patriots were going to win, so we could have another surprise in store this year. EA's official press release is below.

Madden 09 predicts the obvious: Steelers win

Expect more Steeler pwnage on February 1st

EA SPORTS PREDICTS SUPER BOWL XLIII CHAMPION USING MADDEN NFL 09

January 23, 2009 -- Black and gold will reign supreme in Tampa Bay, according to the official EA SPORTS simulation of Super Bowl XLIII by Madden NFL 09. According to the award-winning video game, the Pittsburgh Steelers will win an unprecedented sixth Super Bowl title in a tightly contested game against the Arizona Cardinals, by a final score of 28-24. Holding off a fourth quarter comeback by the Cardinals, the Steelers bring the Vince Lombardi trophy back to the Steel City for the second time in the past four years and for a sixth time in franchise history, setting an NFL record.

Madden NFL 09 is the most authentic and adaptable game in sports video game history, and utilizing each team's current roster and the latest player statistics, EA SPORTS matched the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals in a simulation of Super Bowl XLIII. Ben Roethlisberger threw for 3 touchdowns and was named the Super Bowl MVP; joining teammate Hines Ward who was the Super Bowl XL MVP. Steelers coach, Mike Tomlin, became the youngest coach in NFL history to win a Super Bowl, at the age of 36.

The start of Super Bowl XLIII became a defensive struggle, but Pittsburgh put the first points up with a 10-yard touchdown reception to Santonio Holmes, with less than two minutes left in the first quarter.

The Cardinals returned the favor with their reinvigorated running game as Edgerrin James diced through the vaunted Steelers defense with 8-yard touchdown run, near the start of the second quarter. Pittsburgh, showing great balance, quickly swung the momentum in their favor with two consecutive touchdowns --a 10-yard scamper by Fast Willie Parker, and a 13-yard strike to Hines Ward. The Steelers headed into halftime with a 21-7 lead and the route appeared to be on.

Despite their high-powered air attack, Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt, kept to the successful running attack as the third quarter opened. The Cardinals made a statement as again they punctured the Steel Curtain with an Edgerrin James 14-yard touchdown run; drawing the score to 21-14. The Steelers, unfazed, looked like they had potentially put the Cards down for good with Santonio Holmes's second touchdown reception. At the close of the third quarter, the score was 28-14 in favor of Pittsburgh.

Taking a page from the Steelers defense, the Cardinals held tough and would not surrender any additional points. This coupled with Pro-Bowl receiver, Larry Fitzgerald's 15-yard touchdown catch midway through the 4th, brought the Cards within seven points. Neil Rackers added a 45-yard field goal with 3:15 remaining in the game, closing the gap to 28-24. On the following possession, Pittsburgh was able to break through for a few first downs; leaving the Arizona comeback short.

Super Bowl XLIII kicks off Sunday, February 1 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.
THE VERDICT by Dave Rudden Dave Rudden's Avatar

Bravo, Madden. But can you predict which commercials will be funny? I surmise that you cannot.

LIke this story? You may also enjoy these articles.

Comments [13]

post a comment

mrhammer

Why is EA talking about this like it was the actual game? Pittsburgh "showed great balance"? IT'S A VIDEO GAME! The GAME ENGINE showed great balance!

goldberg_evan

Obvious? Cardinals are going to win so they're wrong anyway. Plus what are the ratings of the teams on Madden? Obviously the Steelers are a lot better than the Cardinals (video game-wise) so of course they're going to win.

camhead25

Well, it will come down to the QBs. I am sorry but, due to play, I have to go with Warner over Big Ben. If Ben plays as poorly as he did in SB 40, the Cards will win.

neji64

if the steelers defense show up they are going to destroy the cardinals... the only thing the cardinals have on there side is home field advantage and being the underdogs. my guess is 31-17 steelers's win. overall this superbowl sux

dandan5

neji64 wrote:

if the steelers defense show up they are going to destroy the cardinals... the only thing the cardinals have on there side is home field advantage and being the underdogs. my guess is 31-17 steelers's win. overall this superbowl sux

the whole "home field advantage" thing would be true... if either team were actually playing at home.

denveraic

goldberg_evan wrote:

Obvious? Cardinals are going to win so they're wrong anyway. Plus what are the ratings of the teams on Madden? Obviously the Steelers are a lot better than the Cardinals (video game-wise) so of course they're going to win.

You are hilarious. The Cardinals blow, they are the probably one of the worst teams of all time to reach the Super Bowl. They are dead last in the NFL in rushing, and have a terrible Defense. Donovan McNabb played like garbage against the Cardinals, yet he still had 375 yards passing and 3 TD's and one Int. Pretty good stats for being OFF. He missed passes all day, wide open WR's. Had he been on, he would have had 450 yards passing and 5 TD's. As bad as McNabb was, the Cardinals still barley won. They are terrible, yeah they have half of a good Offense, a good passing offense that is, but the Steelers have the number 1 D in the NFL. They don't even have to fear the run of the Cardinals. The Cardinals have a suspect offensive line. Maybe the Cardinals can keep it close, if all goes well, but make no mistake, the Steelers will win. And don't give me look at the Patriots last year and the Giants. The Giants had a awesome Defense, and nailed Brady all day.

post a comment