Madden 18’s Super Bowl Prediction Got A Lot Wrong This Year

Sometimes, Madden’s annual Super Bowl prediction is eerily accurate. In 2015, it not only accurately predicted the final score of Super Bowl XLIX, but also that the Patriots would come from behind to beat the Seattle Seahawaks. It also predicted the receiver who would catch the winning TD and the exact type of pass play it would be. Scary stuff.

This year, however, Madden’s simulation was completely wrong in pretty much every major way. Madden’s simulation predicted that the New England Patriots would defeat the Philadelphia Eagles 24-20 in Super Bowl LII. In reality, the Eagles defeated the Pats to claim their first-ever title by a score of 41-33.

Madden’s sim said Patriots QB Tom Brady would win the Super Bowl MVP; he did not. The more deserving Eagles QB Nick Foles took home that award. Below are some other things that the Madden sim got wrong this year:

• Madden Prediction: Eagles score first with a touchdown run by Jay Ajayi.
  • Reality: Eagles score first with a field goal.

• Madden Prediction: Brady connects with Danny Amendola for a first-quarter touchdown.
  • Reality: Brady connected with Amendola eight times for 152 yards, but never for a touchdown.

• Madden Prediction: Patriots score two touchdowns in the second quarter on passes to Rob Gronkowski and Brandin Cooks.
  • Reality: The Patriots scored zero touchdowns in the second quarter, and Cooks left the game with a terrible-looking head injury.

• Madden Prediction: Brady threw an interception that led to an Alshon Jeffery touchdown.
  • Reality: Brady did not throw an interception in the game.

• Madden Prediction: Chris Long, a former Patriot, recorded a sack on Brady.
  • Reality: Brady was sacked once, crucially, in the fourth quarter. Brandon Graham recorded the sack.

• Madden Prediction: Eagles safety Malcolm Jennings stripped the ball from Patriots running back Dion Lewis, resulting in a turnover.
  • Reality: Lewis never fumbled the ball in the game.

• Madden Prediction: The game ended with Foles heaving a hail mary to Jeffery, but Patriots DB Stefon Gilmore breaks it up to secure the Patriots win.
  • Reality: It was Brady who threw a desperate pass as time expired, hoping to give the Patriots the come-from-behind victory. The ball was tipped into the air in the endzone, giving Patriots fans hope for a moment, but it was not meant to be (for the Patriots).

• Madden Prediction: Gronkowski leads all receivers with four catches for 107 yards and a touchdown.
  • Reality: Amendola led all receivers with eight catches for 152 yards and no touchdowns.

• Madden Prediction: Ajayi led all rushers with 73 yards and a touchdown.
  • Reality: Former Patriot Legarrette Blount was the top rusher, picking up 90 yards on 14 carries.

For lots more on Super Bowl LII, check out GameSpot’s roundup of the best and funniest commercials from the big game. You can see more of this year’s Super Bowl commercials below.