Madden NFL 10 Predicts Saints Super Bowl Win

The New Orleans Saints will defeat the Indianapolis Colts 35-31 at Super Bowl XLIV, a

February 3, 2010 8:45 AM

The New Orleans Saints will defeat the Indianapolis Colts 35-31 at Super Bowl XLIV, according to this year's EA Sports prediction.

As in years past, the company loaded the team's current rosters and player statistics into its most recent Madden-branded video game--in this case, Madden NFL 10--for the simulation.

These simulations have a surprisingly reliable track record, having correctly predicted five of the last six Super Bowl outcomes. And while 2008 was the odd year out--the Patriots were incorrectly prophesied to beat the Giants--the company boasts that last year's simulation was spot on "down to the final score and individual player statistics."

Furthermore, the company says earlier simulations for this year's NFC and AFC Champions games were accurate down to "a margin of three points for each."

Here's how EA sees the big game going down come this Sunday, February 7:

The first three quarters display the offensive fireworks that both teams have become known for, with the Colts leading 24-21. A nail biting fourth quarter begins with a big play, courtesy of the Saints' special teams, when Reggie Bush returns a punt for a 42-yard touchdown. However, with minutes left in the game the duo of Joseph Addai and Peyton Manning put the Colts back on top with a go-ahead touchdown pass. With the game hanging in the balance, Drew Brees hits David Thomas for an 11-yard touchdown and the game winning score. Drew Brees takes home MVP honors as the Saints earn their first Super Bowl Championship title in the franchise's 46 year history.

And as for the lauded stats? You can find them just below.

Saints vs. Colts - Super Bowl Stadium

1

2

3

4

OT

TOTAL

NO

7

7

7

14

0

35

Ind

7

3

14

7

0

31

SCORING SUMMARY
Quarter 1
(Ind) D. Clark 17 YD Pass from P. Manning (Stover)
(NO) R. Bush 8 YD Pass from D. Brees (Hartley)
Quarter 2
(NO) P. Thomas 21 YD Run (Hartley)
(Ind) M. Stover 38 YD FG
Quarter 3
(NO) R. Meachum 22 YD Pass from D. Brees (Hartley)
(Ind) J. Addai 5 YD Run (Stover)
(Ind) P. Garcon 32 YD Pass from P. Manning (Stover)
Quarter 4
(NO) R. Bush 46 YD Punt Return (Hartley)
(Ind) J. Addai 10 YD Pass from P. Manning (Stover)
(NO) D. Thomas 11 YD Pass from D. Brees (Hartley)
PLAYER STATS
QB
NO D. Brees 25 for 37, 299 Yards, 3 TD, 1 Int
Ind P. Manning 28 for 39, 322 Yards, 3 TD, 1 Int
RB

NO
P. Thomas 14 for 74 Yards, 1 TD
R. Bush 8 for 41 Yards
Ind
J. Addai 16 for 79 Yards, 1 TD
D. Brown 6 for 24 Yards
WR

NO
M. Colston 6 for 74 yards
R. Meachem 4 for 62 yards, 1 TD
J. Shockey 1 for 9 yards
D. Henderson 4 for 41 yards
R. Bush 4 for 37 Yards, 1 TD
P. Thomas 3 for 24 Yards
D. Thomas 3 for 52 Yards, 1 TD
Ind
D. Clark 7 for 81 Yards, 1 TD
R. Wayne 5 for 67 Yards
P. Garcon 6 for 48 Yards, 1 TD
J. Addai 3 for 46 Yards, 1 TD
A. Collie 5 for 63 Yards
D. Brown 2 for 17 Yards
Kicking
NO G. Hartley 0/1 FG, 5/5 XP
Ind M. Stover 1/1 FG, 4/4 XP

Chris Faylor

Chris Faylor was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

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Serrin

 reply
February 3, 2010 9:04 AM

While their claims regarding accuracy (if true, I didn't check) are impressive, I have to disagree with this one. The Saints barely beat the Vikings, and in all honesty, they DIDN'T beat the Vikings, the Vikings beat themselves.

5 turn overs including several critical ones and the Saints still only one by virtue of sudden death overtime rules (god I hate sudden death, takes all the skill out of the game a brings it down to "win the coin toss and have a decent kicker).

I just don't see this happening. The Vikings played HORRIBLY and still nearly won. The Colts don't typically make Viking-like mistakes and are far and away the better team overall. Barring bizarre luck or weird injuries or something, I think the Saints are going to get thrashed.
- Serrin
  
   reply
  February 3, 2010 9:08 AM
  
  Typos all over that, didn't close a quote, one = won, etc.
  
  Seriously, why is there not an edit button? Come on already.
  - usmcmueller
    
     reply
    February 3, 2010 9:10 AM
    
    You're forgiven.
- usmcmueller
  
   reply
  February 3, 2010 9:09 AM
  
  I agree. The Saints, while talented, just don't have it in them to beat the Colts.
  
  I hated to see the Vikes fall like that. But they did in fact destroy themselves. Even that last play by Favre, if he would have only ran. At any rate I'm going to enjoy watching the Colts beat the Saints.
- dysfunctional
  
   reply
  February 3, 2010 9:21 AM
  
  I think it's going to be closer than you might think, if the saints do win though, it's going to be exactly like this simulation ran, a high scoring game.
- [deleted] 554076221
  
   reply
  February 3, 2010 9:42 AM
  
  [deleted]
- Navy Spitfire
  
   reply
  February 3, 2010 9:48 AM
  
  I've been waiting to see the results from Madden. However, I have to disagree and say that the Colts will hopefully win and shut those NO fans up.
  - X Fuzion
    
     reply
    February 3, 2010 2:26 PM
    
    You can blow said Saints fan.
    - CRaY SV1
      
       reply
      February 3, 2010 2:30 PM
      
      ditto
- CRaY SV1
  
   reply
  February 3, 2010 10:19 AM
  
  Yeah, not so much. Any other week, the Saints would have throttled the Vikings after giving up 5 turnovers. The Vikings are just lucky that Brees had a terrible game and was obviously nervous... He missed open receivers all day and the ball was coming out a bit funny. If you had watched the previous 17games, you would know this.
  
  Secondly, the Saints defense dropped at one interception earlier in the game that hit Greer directly in the numbers and another that hit Vilma in his side.
  
  Third, on the second scoring drive, the Vikings benefited on two long third down conversions because of BS roughing the passer penalties. I don't care what any of you pansies say, but the Defense is designed to kill the QB. If his Offensive line can't stop the Saints, then so be it. None of those hits were dirty. One was an extended hand-off where Farve rolled out, at full speed, as if to block... He got blown up. The second was the "driving into the turf" which was dubious, at best; especially considering they did the exact same thing to Brees later in the game with no-call. Farve was being coddled all day by the refs... I don't want to see any ref picking a player up off the field, exchanging words and fixing shoulder pads. It looks...... questionable.
  
  The fact of the matter is that the Vikings should have lost by 14-21 and were lucky that Brees wasn't on his game and that they didn't give up more turnovers which, I might add, were all FORCED. I saw only one UNFORCED turnover (the Peterson muffed hand-off)... So give the Saints D a bit of credit.
  
  As for the Colts... I think the Saints are going to blow them out. The Colts have not played a balanced offense like this in a long time. Newsflash: The Saints have the #6 rushing offense and the Colts are #26 defending against the rush. That's besides the fact that the Saints' Passing attack is as good as the Colts' or better. Defensively, the Saints will be able to force Peyton to pass since the Colts' running game is non-existent... This plays right into the hands of the Saints who have one of the best Secondary's in the league, when healthy... which they are.
  
  37-17 Saints
  - n0tr4b
    
     reply
    February 3, 2010 11:59 AM
    
    Ask the Jets and their #1 rushing offense how that Colts run defense tasted. You are out of your mind if you think the Saints are going to win by 20+ points.
    - CRaY SV1
      
       reply
      February 3, 2010 2:30 PM
      
      The Jets are not a balanced Offense... The colts put 8+ in the box and DARED Sanchez to beat them. He could not. The Saints have the #6 Rushing attack and the #1 Passing attack. If the Colts put 8+ in the box, Brees is going to light them up. Look what the Jets did in the 1st half and ask yourself what would have happened if they didn't have the #31 ranked passing offense. I think the Saints are going to march up and down the field at will.
      
      68.6... Remember that number. That's the Opposing QB Rating against the Saints Secondary this year... And that's without their starting secondary for 6 games. 73.0 in the playoffs against Favre and Warner with the starters in there. If Indy can't run the ball, it's going to be a long day, IMHO
      - m0rb
        
         reply
        February 3, 2010 7:07 PM
        
        Whatever the case, not gonna be a blowout.
        
        Peyton can figure any defense out, given one half of play, and that's exactly what happened in the Jets game ... not to mention at least 5 other games this season.
        
        I think it's really about how healthy Dwight Freeney is ... the game will hinge on the Colts ability to bring pressure.
        
        CRaY SV1
        
         reply
        February 4, 2010 6:38 AM
        
        Sorry... If the Saints are up 2+ scores after the first half and Peyton has to go to the locker room to figure it out, the game is over. The Colts better stop the Saints in the first half and they better score some points.
        
        CRaY SV1
        
         reply
        February 8, 2010 3:50 PM
        
        Well... 31-17... close enough ;)
        
        31-7 after the first quarter, though... Some might consider that a blowout :D