The 2020-21 NFL season officially kicked on on Thursday night with a thriller between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Dallas Cowboys. But because the 53-man roster update didn’t go live until hours before kickoff, it didn’t feel right to run our annual season simulation. Alas, the update has arrived and we have now conducted our season sim where we use Madden 22 to predict how this year’s NFL slate will play out.
Our simulation is conducted using Franchise mode with the latest roster update from EA (as of September 9). We simulate from the start to the end of the season with no user input. As a reminder, the regular season has been expanded to now include a 17th game. How will it impact the season?
Here’s how Madden 22 predicts the 2021 NFL season will unfold for each team in the league. First, we’ll cover each team’s regular-season performance before getting into the playoffs towards the end.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
11-6, 1st place in NFC South (No. 2 seed in NFC)
We start with the reigning Super Bowl champions, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. With Tom Brady returning for his 22nd NFL season, he leads Tampa Bay to a first-place finish in the NFC South. Of course, it helps that the team returned all of its starters on offense and defense.
Madden 22 predicts Brady will throw for 5,191 yards, 39 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. Not bad for a 44-year-old. As for the receivers, Mike Evans leads the team in catches, yards and touchdowns, but they all put up respectable stats:
- Mike Evans: 100 receptions; 1,325 yards; 10 touchdowns
- Chris Godwin: 96 receptions; 999 yards; 6 touchdowns
- Antonio Brown: 78 receptions; 1,104 yards; 9 touchdowns
- Rob Gronkowski: 80 receptions; 828 yards; 8 touchdowns
Anytime you’ve got three receivers close to 1,000 yards in the season, you know you’re poised for a big year. Aiding their explosive offense is a defense that was ranked first in the league with the fewest yards (5,562) and points (306) surrendered.
As you can see, the Buccaneers are poised for another big season, although they couldn’t quite lock up the bye week in the NFC. How will Tampa Bay perform in the playoffs as the No. 2 seed?
Carolina Panthers
10-7, 2nd place in NFC South (No. 7 seed in NFC)
We’re only on the second team and we’ve already got our first surprise of the sim. Madden 22 predicts a playoff season for the Carolina Panthers who enter as the No. 7 seed in the NFC.
A big reason for the team’s success is the play of quarterback Sam Darnold. After a disappointing stint with the Jets, Darnold rebounded in a big way with 4,434 passing yards, 34 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
It helps when you’ve got a running back like Christian McCaffrey in the backfield. Coming off an injury-plagued 2020 season, McCaffrey carried the ball 289 times for 1,498 yards (5.2 avg.) and a whopping 15 rushing touchdowns. He also led the team in receptions (62) and receiving yards (1,259). That’s a 20.3 average per reception, which is just insane. He finished fifth among all running backs in rushing on the season.
As a team, the Panthers had one of the most efficient offenses in the league with 6,500 total offensive yards. They were fourth in the NFC and seventh in the league in points per game (28.2). They also had a top 10 defense that allowed a total of 402 points, while racking up 50 sacks (4th in NFL) and 13 interceptions (6th in NFL).
Personally, I think the Panthers are a sleeper this season and apparently, Madden 22 does also. They’ve got the best running back in the league, decent receivers and now a quarterback capable of delivering the ball. They could make a run for the playoffs, but how deep will they go?
Because the Panthers finished second in the division with the worst record of all eligible playoff teams, they enter as the lowest seed (No. 7) in the NFC.
Atlanta Falcons
9-8, 3rd place in NFC South
A favorable schedule sees the Falcons improving on their 4-12 record from last year. While they finish above .500, they still miss out on the playoffs, but there are some positive predictions for fans to look forward to.
For starters, Calvin Ridley led the entire league in receptions with 111. His 1,500 yards was third-most in the NFL. He only finished the season with 3 touchdowns though, a big reason for that is the emergence of rookie tight end Kyle Pitts.
Pitts is predicted to have a monster rookie season with 99 receptions, 986 yards and nine touchdowns. That’s the most receptions and third-most receiving yards among tight ends. The hype surrounding Kyle Pitts is real and Madden 22 expects big things this year for him.
Unfortunately, the simulated play of quarterback Matt Ryan leaves a lot to be desired. On the season, Ryan threw for 25 touchdowns, which was fourth in the division, and 11 interceptions.
As a team, the Falcons were near the bottom in offensive points per game (23.7) despite being one of the leading teams in terms of overall yards (7,802). Their defense played well though with just 395 points allowed on the year (ranked 5th). The unit was also second in the league in interceptions with 17. Surprisingly, it was MLB Deion Jones who led the team with six picks.
Madden 22’s simulation for the Falcons is more positive than most analyst predictions. I don’t think anyone is expecting to see this team make the playoffs, but an above .500 record also seems like a longshot given the division they play in.
New Orleans Saints
7-10, 4th place in the NFC South
In the team’s first season without Drew Brees, the New Orleans Saints failed to finish above .500. Madden predicts New Orleans will finish fourth in the NFC South.
The biggest focal point is on Jameis Winson, who was tapped as QB1 to replace the legendary Brees. And, well, Madden predicts some big numbers for the former Buccaneers quarterback. Winson is projected to throw for 4,635 yards and 42 touchdowns (third-most in the NFL). But the big numbers don’t just apply to touchdowns. Winston is also projected to finish with the third-highest number of interceptions in the league with 17.
And those turnovers are probably a big reason why Madden expects the Saints to finish in the bottom half of the league in points surrendered (439). The Saints are projected to have the second-worst turnover difference with -7. There was only one other team worse than that but I’ll save that because it’s such a shocking surprise.
If I had to nitpick one thing about the simulation, it’s how Madden doesn’t properly utilize the Saints system, which will almost certainly see more usage out of Taysom Hill. In the simulation, Hill only attempted three passes for 31 yards. I just don’t see that happening.
Another noteworthy stat is the projection for Alvin Kamara. The simulation predicts a 1,000-plus yard rushing season with five rushing touchdowns. He’ll add another 40 receptions for 589 yards and seven touchdowns in the air.
Wide receiver Michael Thomas, who is coming off a disappointing 2020 season filled with injuries, is expected to miss the start of the season. Madden didn’t seem to care though as the simulation predicts 108 receptions for 1,278 yards and 13 touchdowns. I just don’t see that happening, despite him being one of the top wide receivers in the league (when healthy).
I actually see the Saints doing better than what Madden predicts. I don’t know if they’ll make the playoffs, but I don’t envision a last-place finish.
Dallas Cowboys
11-6, 1st place in NFC East (No. 3 seed in NFC)
Shifting to the NFC East, we’ve got America’s Team, the Dallas Cowboys predicted to win the division with an impressive 11-6 record. And just to be clear, Madden predicted a 24-0 loss to the Buccaneers so it’s already correct in one sense.
Dak Prescott proved in Thursday’s opener that he’s still a top-five quarterback in the league, despite coming off a devastating ankle injury, and Madden certainly seems to agree. The simulation predicts 4,543 passing yards and 34 touchdowns for Prescott along with an additional 207 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
Honestly, I think Prescott will top these numbers in real life and that’s not just me being a Cowboys homer. I legitimately think he’ll easily top 40 touchdowns on the season, especially if he continues to perform as he did against the Buccaneers.
Madden also predicts two thousand-yard receivers in Amari Cooper (100 rec., 1,286 yards, 11 touchdowns) and Ceedee Lamb (66 rec., 1,057 yards, 8 touchdowns). I think both of these projections are pretty spot on.
And then we come to Ezekiel Elliott. After the disaster of a season last year, Madden 22 predicts a monster comeback that I just don’t see happening. The simulation predicts 1,460 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns. Meanwhile, his backup, Tony Pollard will run for 366 yards and another 13 touchdowns. None of this is going to happen.
That said, it is definitely possible that the Cowboys will win the division. Although they lost the season opener to the Bucs, they looked good. If their defense can play decent enough, their offense will carry them. As a team, the Cowboys are projected to finish with 30.2 points per game (3rd most) and, perhaps most surprisingly, are expected to have a top 10 defense in terms of points allowed (396). The first part is believable, but I don’t know about the defensive projections.
The Cowboys are predicted to enter the playoffs as the No. 3 seed in the NFC.
New York Giants
10-7, 2nd place in NFC East
The Cowboys are the only team from the NFC East expected to make the playoffs, according to Madden 22. However, I think it’s a division that’s up for grabs. But I’m honestly surprised with how the rest of the division shakes out with this simulation. I think most would agree that it’s a three-way race between the Cowboys, Eagles and Washington Football Team. But it’s the Giants projected to finish second in the division with a 10-7 record.
Daniel Jones, in his third year with the team, is predicted to throw for 20 touchdowns and 7 interceptions which is closely aligned to his rookie season. His 4,166 passing yards would be a career-high.
It seems if the Giants are to perform well, they will have to rely on Saquon Barkley, who is coming off a torn ACL last year. Madden 22 seems to think he’ll do just fine with 291 rushes and 1,309 yards with 11 touchdowns. That’s the kind of production the Giants will need if they are to make a run at the division.
On defense, there’s not a whole lot to write home about. They were middle of the pack in the simulation and Leonard Williams led the team with 10 sacks.
Overall, this just seems like a weird prediction from Madden and I don’t see it happening. But I guess that’s why we play the game. Anything can happen in the NFL, including the Giants having a surprising season.
Philadelphia Eagles
8-9, 3rd place in NFC East
In his second season with the Philadelphia Eagles, Madden 22 predicts a solid increase in production from quarterback Jalen Hurts.
Not only did Hurts throw for 33 touchdowns in the simulation, but he also limited his turnovers to just eight interceptions. He also tacked on 271 yards on the ground, which I think is on the low-end for what he’s capable of.
The Eagles also have Gardner Minshew II and Joe Flacco on the roster which, in real life, seems like we could have some changes at the position should Hurts struggle. But Madden doesn’t think he will so the two backups didn’t see much on the field.
Heading into the offseason, the Eagles’ biggest issue was a lack of star power at the receiver position. So they went out and drafted DeVonta Smith. Madden 22 predicts 92 receptions for 994 yards and seven touchdowns for the rookie.
Meanwhile, the underrated Dallas Goedert is projected for 78 receptions for 849 yards and two touchdowns.
The pieces are starting to come into place for the Philadelphia Eagles and the rebuild is coming along. I think an 8-9 record is definitely possible for this team, and that would be quite an improvement over last year.
The thing I don’t like about this prediction is what it would mean for the Washington Football Team, which we’ll get to next.
Washington Football Team
5-12, 4th place in NFC East
This, to me, is one of the biggest red flags in our Madden 22 simulation. In no multiverse do I see the Washington Football Team finishing last in the NFC East — especially with a 5-12 record. Sure, Washington finished 7-9 last year, so it’s not like they are amazing; but, that was with no true quarterback.
Now they’ve got Fitzpatrick who is at least serviceable. If anything, he’s got a great beard.
Unfortunately, Madden doesn’t predict much Fitz-magic. The veteran journeyman is projected to throw for 4,329 yards, 25 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. Honestly, that seems pretty accurate. Antonio Gibson adds 1,1014 yards on the ground with 10 touchdowns, while Terry McLaurin catches 95 passes for 1,273 yards and four touchdowns. Logan Thomas has 77 receptions for 800 yards and seven touchdowns. All of this is believable. So where does it go wrong for the Washington Football Team?
Based on the simulation, the defense was the team’s biggest issue… which, what? Washington had one of the league’s top defenses last season, ranking second in yards allowed and fourth in points allowed. Yet somehow, it’s a complete 180 in Madden 22 as the team finished with the third most yards allowed (6,716) and most points allowed (499). What?! This can’t be real.
When people say Madden is unbelievable, this is probably what they will point to. Unless there are serious injuries to Washington, this defense will not rank near the bottom of the league. I guess you could point to Fitzpatrick’s interceptions as the team finished with a -4 turnover difference, or the team’s 54% in redzone points scored. I don’t have a hard time believing the Cowboys could win the East, but the Redskins finishing fourth just seems like a complete miss on the simulation.
Minnesota Vikings
10-7, 1st place in NFC North (No. 4 seed in NFC)
No COVID shot, no problem for quarterback Kirk Cousins. In the Madden simulation, Cousins threw for 3,435 yards and 21 touchdowns. The bigger takeaway here is probably how he limited his turnovers, throwing just six interceptions (half of his 2020 total).
If the Vikings are to win the division, they’ll need to rely on the legs of Dalvin Cook. In Madden 22, he rushed for 1,541 yards and 16 touchdowns which seems about right.
Justin Jefferson sees a bit of a drop in his production for his sophomore year, catching just 61 passes for 825 yards and four touchdowns. That’s down across the board from 2020 (88 rec., 1,400 yards, 7 touchdowns). Adam Thielen’s stats are even more disappointing — 47 receptions, 529 yards and five touchdowns. There would have to be some sort of injury for this to happen in real life.
On defense, newcomer Patrick Peterson leads the team with five interceptions. The veteran cornerback, entering his 11th NFL season, looks to rejuvenate his career with the Vikings and it seems he will effectively do so. As a unit, the Vikings defense would finish third in points allowed (386) and boast one of the top secondaries with a league-leading 18 combined interceptions.
Let’s be clear, the Vikings aren’t running away with the division. There’s just too much parity between them, the Packers and the Bears. I think it’s possible they could come out on top, but it’s going to come down to the wire. In the simulation, they enter the playoffs as the No. 4 seed in the NFC.
Green Bay Packers
9-8, 2nd place in NFC North
When I found out the season win total for the over/under on the Green Bay Packers was 10.5, I thought easy money. But apparently, Madden and oddsmakers know something that most of us don’t. Perhaps it has something to do with all the offseason drama surrounding quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Whatever the case, the Packers are predicted to finish with just nine wins, something that would shock just about everyone.
Remember how I said there was a surprise team that would lead the league in turnovers. Well, the Packers are that team, shockingly.
Aaron Rodgers is projected to throw 36 touchdowns which, fine, a little regression is understandable from his 48 touchdowns last year. But the most surprising stat from the simulation? 22 interceptions.
22 interceptions from a guy who is known for taking care of the ball? That’s more than he has thrown in his last four seasons combined. His career-high for interceptions is 13, back in 2008. This isn’t Jameis Winston we’re talking about here. I just don’t see this happening.
I guess it’s possible that the Packers disappoint and finish with just nine wins on the year. And maybe Aaron Rodgers does struggle as a result of all the offseason shenanigans. But this just seems pretty overboard.
22 interceptions coupled with just five from the Packers defense is the cause for the league-leading -17 turnover difference, which was the most in the simulation. Despite that, they still finished above .500. Suffice to say, I think they will do better in real life.
On the plus side, Madden predicts another big year for Davante Adams (92 rec., 1,139 yards, 9 TDs). Veteran Randall Cobb, who reunited with Rodgers this offseason, has a decent year with 58 receptions, 889 yards and 15 touchdowns. On the ground, Aaron Jones rushes for 1,110 yards and six touchdowns.
Chicago Bears
8-9, 3rd place in NFC North
Having finally moved on from Mitch Trubisky, the Chicago Bears still struggled with rookie quarterback Justin Fields under center. But I suppose Madden 22’s prediction should instill some confidence in the fanbase.
Although Andy Dalton is technically QB1 for the Bears in Week 1, the future is undoubtedly Justin Fields. And because of that, the rookie quarterback took the reigns for the Bears in the season simulation.
And if Madden 22 is any indication, fans have a lot to look forward to. The first-round draft pick threw for 4,204 yards, 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He rushed for an additional 203 yards and four touchdown.
Fields’s favorite target was veteran receiver Allen Robinson II, who amassed 1,247 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns on 89 receptions. Jimmy Graham added another 826 yards and three touchdowns.
The Bears have the talent on both sides of the ball to put together a playoff run, but it will ultimately come down to the quarterback play. If Fields does end up starting the majority of games, it probably means the Bears weren’t very competitive early on in the season. If that turns out to be the case, then I think playoffs are out of the question.
While I do think Fields has the talent to eventually excel in the NFL, I find his Madden stats to be a bit inflated in this prediction. That said, a third-place finish in the NFC North isn’t out of the realm of possibility. Because there is always the lowly Lions.
Detroit Lions
3-14, 4th place in NFC North
The Detroit Lions made headlines this offseason with their blockbuster trade, sending veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams for quarterback Jared Goff and a pair o first-round picks in 2022 and 2023. Clearly, the Detroit Lions are playing for the future and it doesn’t really matter if Goff is part of that future or not. The point is, they might be competitive in games this season — they may even score a bunch of points — but the Detroit Lions aren’t going to win a bunch of games.
There’s not a whole lot to takeaway from the Madden sim for the Lions. And honestly, it doesn’t even matter. This is a fourth-place team on paper, in Madden and probably in real life.
I guess if there’s one thing to really take away from the sim, it’s that the Lions finished with the worst record in the NFL, which means they could get the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. So, there’s a potentially bright future!
If you are a Lions fan, here are some of the noteworthy stats from the sim:
- Jared Goff: 4,358 passing yards, 23 touchdowns, 13 interceptions
- Jamaal Williams: 607 rushing yards, 11 touchdowns
- D’Andre Swift: 516 rushing yards, 4 touchdowns, 488 receiving yards, 6 receiving touchdowns
- Tyrell Williams: 74 receptions, 1,066 receiving yards, 5 touchdowns
- T.J. Hockenson: 73 receptions, 885 receiving yards, 4 touchdowns
- Quintez Cephus: 64 receptions, 413 receiving yards, 4 touchdowns
So if you play Fantasy Football, I suppose those are some Lions players you could look at. As for the Lions’ playoff potential, don’t get your hopes up.
San Francisco 49ers
13-4, 1st place in the NFC West (No. 1 seed in NFC)
The NFC West is always a competitive division and probably one of the toughest in the league. In the Madden 22 sim, it was the 49ers who emerged as the pack leader, claiming not just first place of the NFC West but the No. 1 overall seed in the NFC playoffs.
This is one of the more interesting teams to follow in the NFL because of the quarterback battle between Jimmy Garoppolo and Trey Lance. Here’s the problem with the sim — while the 49ers will utilize Lance in special packages early on, Madden isn’t quite that smart. So for the sim, Garoppolo took all of the snaps, throwing for 4,527 yards, 37 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Considering Garoppolo has only thrown for 27 touchdowns once in his career, I can’t imagine this sim being accurate at all.
Regardless of what anyone thinks of Garoppolo, it’s clear that Trey Lance is the future of the 49ers. You don’t spend the third pick in the NFL Draft on a quarterback if you don’t intend on them to be your future. It’s possible that Lance even supplants Garoppolo midseason.
But for the sim, it was all Jimmy G and a trio of talented receivers. Tight End George Kittle led the team in receptions (89) and yards (1,091). But the 49ers had two other receivers with 1,000-plus yards; Devin Funchess (66 rec., 1,065 yards, 68 TDs) and Deebo Samuel (72 rec., 1,103 yards, 10 TDs). Even Brandon Aiyuk improved on his rookie season with 81 receptions, 769 yards and 9 touchdowns.
On the defensive side of the ball, Nick Bosa led the team with 9.5 sacks while cornerback K’Waun Williams led the team with five interceptions. As a unit, the 49ers defense wasn’t amazing in the sim, and it’s likely they’ll perform better in real life.
I think the 49ers have a legitimate shot at the playoffs regardless of who is under center. But staking the No. 1 overall seed in the NFC seems like a longshot.
Seattle Seahawks
11-6, 2nd place in NFC West (No. 5 seed in NFC)
The NFC West is predicted to deliver three playoff teams, with the Seattle Seahawks claiming the No. 5 seed (since they lost the division). Any time you’ve got Russell Wilson at quarterback, you’re going to be in contention and Madden predicts big things for the veteran.
In the simulation, Wilson threw for 4,706 yards and 32 touchdowns with just eight interceptions. He also ran for 359 yards and two more touchdowns. Chris Carson led the team with 1,146 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns, while Rashaad Penny added another 346 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns.
Seattle has a talented receiving corp., so here’s a look at their simulated stats:
- Tyler Lockett: 88 receptions, 755 yards, 5 touchdowns
- D.K. Metcalf: 82 receptions, 947 yards, 7 touchdowns
- Steven Sims: 67 receptions, 973 yards, 5 touchdowns
- Chris Carson: 34 receptions, 659 yards, 7 touchdowns
As a unit, the Seahawks finished with the fourth-best offense in total yards (6,632) and points per game (29.7). The defensive unit was just as effective with the sixth-fewest yards allowed (5,884) and tenth in overall points allowed (406). The Seahawks also finished fourth in turnover difference (+8).
I think it’s more likely that the Seahawks win the NFC West than it is the 49ers. And let’s also not forget about the Los Angeles Rams, who are potential Super Bowl contenders.
As the second-place team in the NFC West, the Seahawks enter the playoffs as the No. 5 seed, behind all four division winners.
Los Angeles Rams
10-7, 3rd place in NFC West (No. 6 seed in NFC)
The Rams have the unfortunate luck of playing in the ultra-competitive NFC West. But they’ve got the talent to potentially win the Super Bowl and I’m a little surprised with Madden’s simulation prediction.
As I mentioned previously, the Rams big offseason acquisition was quarterback Matthew Stafford. Make no mistake, Stafford is a gunslinger and a clear upgrade over Jared Goff. If he can stay healthy, the Rams should improve on the offensive side of the ball.
Madden 22 predicts a big year for Stafford in L.A. The simulation calls for 4,358 passing yards and 39 touchdowns for the veteran with only nine interceptions. That’s definitely doable, especially with all the talent the Rams have.
Unfortunately, Cam Akers is out for the season with a torn Achilles. In the simulation, Sony Michel carried the bulk of the load with 279 carries and 1,079 yards. Darrell Henderson Jr. took backup duty with another 392 yards and six touchdowns.
Besides Stafford, the biggest acquisition for the Rams this offseason was wide receiver DeSean Jackson. Jackson will stretch the field for the Rams and assuming he stays healthy, should open things up for this offense in a big way.
Madden predicts a big season from this talented receiving corp. led by DeSean Jackson, COoper Kubb, Tyler Higbee and Robert Woods. Here are their stats:
- DeSean Jackson: 85 receptions, 1,261 yards, 15 touchdowns
- Cooper Kupp: 90 receptions, 929 yards, 7 receptions
- Robert Woods: 64 receptions, 792 yards, 6 touchdowns
- Tyler Higbee: 67 receptions, 802 yards, 5 touchdowns
I honestly think the Rams will take the division in real life, so I’m a bit taken aback by this third-place finish in the Madden simulation.
Arizona Cardinals
4-13, 4th place in the NFC West
This is probably not what Cardinals fans want to see. Madden expects a major step back for the Cardinals from last year’s 8-8 record. Not only are the Cardinals projected to finish fourth in the NFC West, but Madden predicts them to be one of the worst teams in the league.
In the competitive NFC West, it’s possible that the Cardinals do struggle. It’s likely that they’ll even miss the playoffs. But I think a 4-13 record is a bit extreme. There’s too much talent on this team to underachieve like this.
Third-year quarterback Kyler Murray is projected to throw for 4,367 yards and 28 touchdowns to just 11 interceptions. The game also predicts 454 rushing yards and two touchdowns for him on the ground. Again, this is a problem with Madden simulations in general — they fail to truly represent dual-threat quarterbacks with tremendous scrambling ability.
As a reminder, longtime receiver Larry Fitzgerald is no longer with the team but the offense didn’t seem to lose a beat. DeAndre Hopkins put together another stellar season with 102 receptions for 1,559 yards (second in the league) and 8 touchdowns.
Christian Kirk had 86 receptions for 826 yards and eight touchdowns while A.J. Green made his veteran presence known by adding 64 receptions for 591 yards and five touchdowns.
It’s not unreasonable to expect the Cardinals will miss the playoffs, but a 4-13 record is hard to believe. Should the Cardinals struggle as Madden predicts, Arizona might start to rethink their future with Kyler Murray as quarterback.
Jacksonville Jaguars
9-8, 1st place in the AFC South (No. 4 seed in AFC)
Moving to the AFC, we’ve got potentially one of the biggest surprises of the simulation. The Jacksonville Jaguars are predicted to finish atop the AFC South. While it’s not an impressive record, Madden apparently doesn’t think highly of the Tennessee Titans, who I personally believe will run away with the division.
Anyway, the Jaguars, of course, are led by rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence and while people expect big things from the No. 1 overall pick, it doesn’t usually happen this quickly. Lawrence is predicted to throw for 30 touchdowns in his rookie debut, along with 17 interceptions.
But perhaps an even bigger surprise is the production out of half-back James Robinson. The second-year player had an impressive rookie season, but Madden predicts a bigger jump in year two. Robinson was the lead back for the Jaguars with 1,546 rushing yards (3rd overall) and a whopping 22 rushing touchdowns (1st overall). What’s more, he was equally as effective in the passing game with 43 receptions and 799 yards. Look, I’m a big fan of James Robinson, but I think this is highly improbable.
As for the rest of the Jaguars’ offense, there was no receiver with over 1,000 yards on the season. Tight end Jacob Hollister led the team with 88 receptions for 966 yards. Receiver Marvin Jones Jr. had 81 receptions for 861 yards and 10 touchdowns. D.J. Clarke Jr. also had 88 receptions for 849 yards and five touchdowns.
As a unit, the Jaguars’ offense finished with the third-most yards in the league (6,883) and fifth-most points per game (29.6).
Having won the AFC South, the Jaguars enter the playoffs as the No. 4 seed in the AFC, despite their mediocre record.
Tennessee Titans
9-8, 2nd in the AFC South (No. 6 seed in AFC)
I don’t know anyone who doesn’t think the Titans will win the AFC South, so Madden’s prediction that they’ll finish second — behind the Jaguars of all teams — is really out there.
If we’re looking for a little normalcy, at least we can count on Derrick Henry, who Madden predicts will lead the league in rushing yards with 1,877. Once again, Henry was the workhorse for the Titans offense with 314 carries on the season and 16 rushing touchdowns.
Tannehill was surprisingly efficient under center, throwing for 3,728 yards and 33 touchdowns. His six interceptions is even more impressive.
One of the Titans’ biggest acquisitions this offseason was Julio Jones from the Falcons. It’s expected that Jones could help open up this offense if he remains healthy. He’s starting to get a little up there in age now, but he can still be effective when paired with A.J. Brown.
Here are some of the noteworthy player stats:
- A.J. Brown: 67 receptions, 656 yards, 1 TD
- Julio Jones: 48 receptions, 724 yards, 44 TDs
- Josh Reynolds: 49 receptions, 724 yards, 7 TDs
The problem with the Titans is they don’t play any defense. In the simulation, they had the seventh-worst defensive unit, giving up 6,505 total yards and 440 total points.
The Titans actually split the season series with the Jaguars and had the exact same record; however, the Jaguars claimed first place with the better record against division opponents. As such, the Tennessee Titans enter the playoffs as the No. 6 seed in the AFC.
Houston Texans
8-9, 3rd place in AFC South
The Houston Texans are a train wreck. Poor roster decisions over the years and a quarterback facing allegations of sexual assault and harassment, there’s a lot of uncertainty surrounding Houston this season, and I think an 8-9 record is actually generous.
The Texans have already stated that Tyrod Taylor will be the starting quarterback for Week 1, and likely for the foreseeable future. Madden 22 hasn’t gotten that notice yet, so Deshaun Watson played in the simulation. But it’s telling that even with Watson, the Texans failed to make the playoffs.
For those who actually care, if Watson had no surrounding issues, Madden would predict he throws for 4,244 yards and 28 touchdowns. I don’t think that’s happening this season. It’s more likely that he either doesn’t play at all, or he gets traded to another team.
There’s not much to talk about with the Texans in terms of this simulation. They aren’t a very good team and they lack star power. Their best receiver, Brandin Cooks, is projected to catch 76 passes for 906 yards and seven touchdowns. That’s about as exciting as it gets.
I think the Texans’ simulated record is a bit inflated due to the fact that Watson actually started which, in turn, somewhat impacted how the rest of the division records unfolded. That said, they still missed the playoffs in the simulation just as they will in real life.
Indianapolis Colts
6-11, 4th place in the AFC South
The Indianapolis Colts are my dark horse this season, so I’m a bit shocked to see Madden predict a fourth-place finish in the AFC South. Between Jonathan Taylor, Marlon Mack, Nyheim Hines, Zach Pascal, and Michael Pittman Jr., there’s a ton of talent on this team. The uncertainly resides with quarterback Carson Wentz.
Wentz has talent, I think, but his career has kind of been derailed with lingering injuries. There’s also all the drama surrounding his refusal to get vaccinated which could ultimately impact his availability to play this season.
Which Wentz will the Colts get this season? Madden predicts 3,873 passing yards, 26 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. That’s not bad, actually.
The problem s the Colts defense ranked dead last in total yards allowed (6,727) in the simulation. They also allowed the fifth-most points (461). It seems the offense just couldn’t keep up with what the defense was allowing to the opposing team.
Here are some of the noteworthy player stats, according to the Madden 22 sim:
- Jonathan Taylor: 1,012 rushing yards, 13 rushing TDs, 317 receiving yards, 3 receiving TDs
- Marlon Mack: 466 rushing yards, 6 rushing TDs
- Nyheim Hines: 272 rushing yards, 398 receiving yards, 1 receiving TD
- Zach Pascal: 973 receiving yards, 5 receiving TDs
- Michael Pittman Jr.: 265 receiving yards, 4 receiving TDs
Buffalo Bills
10-7, 1st in AFC East (No. 3 seed in AFC)
According to the Madden 22 sim, the Buffalo Bills will regress a bit from last year but still do enough to claim first place in the AFC East. Some of this regression could simply be attributed to the fact that the other teams in the division have gotten better — including the New England Patriots. Never doubt Bill Belichick.
Josh Allen had another solid season with 4,160 yards and 30 touchdowns to just 11 interceptions. Again, Madden doesn’t do a tremendous job with dual-threat quarterbacks, so he only rushed for 258 yards. The biggest uncertainty with the Bills is whether or not Allen can repeat his performance from last season. This team will only go as far as he can carry them. But he’s got some good help at receiver this year.
Here are some of the noteworthy stats for the receivers:
- Stefon Diggs: 89 receptions, 1,172 yards, 10 TDs
- Cole Beasley: 63 receptions, 790 yards, 3 TDs
- Emmanuel Sanders: 70 receptions, 676 yards, 3 TDs
- Dawson Knox: 74 receptions, 831 yards, 10 TDs
While the Patriots are always scary, the Bills enter the season as the clear-cut favorites. Madden believes they’ll enter the playoffs as the No. 3 seed in the AFC, which I don’t think is a longshot at all.
New England Patriots
8-9, 2nd in AFC East (No. 7 seed in AFC)
The New England Patriots are still looking to replace Tom Brady and this season they turn to rookie quarterback Mac Jones. With Cam Newton released, Bill Belichick has put all his faith in the first-round draft pick and there are high hopes for Jones, who was selected 15th overall.
There will be some growing pains with a rookie, as evidenced by Madden’s prediction for Jones: 31 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. I think those interceptions are a little high for Jones, who has shown great care for the ball during preseason. If Jones can limit his turnovers and simply manage the offense while the defense keeps things close, I think the Patriots have a shot at potentially sneaking into the playoffs as a wild card.
The Patriots’ newest tight end, Hunter Henry, is also projected to have a big season with 87 receptions for 980 yards and 10 touchdowns. When healthy, Henry can be one of the league’s top tight ends, and clearly, Madden thinks so also. Nelson Agholor leads the team with 1,025 yards while adding six touchdowns. The Patriots are known for spreading the ball around, so not having a standout player isn’t a complete shock.
I don’t think it’s a surprise that the Patriots would make the playoffs, but doing so with a 8-9 record is interesting. That would mean the rest of the AFC would have to struggle as well. In any case, Madden predicts the Patriots will lock up the No. 7 seed in the AFC.
Miami Dolphins
7-10, 3rd in AFC East
Of all the quarterbacks in the league, no one faces as much criticism as Tua Tagovailoa. Entering just his second season, and his first as a starter, there are already talks of the Dolphins replacing Tua (possibly with Deshuan Watson). I don’t know why everyone is so keen on moving on from Tua, but in Madden, he gets a full opportunity to show what he’s got.
Unfortunately, it’s not much. The simulation predicts just 4,073 passing yards and just 23 touchdowns for Tua along with 13 receptions and a completion percentage of just 55%. That’s not going to win over many fans or convince his detractors.
Jaylen Waddle, who was drafted with the 6th overall pick, is predicted to have a solid rookie season. The simulation estimates 49 receptions, 673 yards and seven touchdowns for the rookie. Meanwhile, DeVante Parker, another receiver with high expectations, caught 67 passes for 820 yards and three touchdowns. The best receiver for the Dolphins was tight end Mike Gesicki with 74 catches for 918 yards and seven touchdowns.
A 7-10 finish for the Dolphins would certainly be disappointing for fans who are expecting the team to compete. With the Patriots going through their own rebuild, this is Miami’s window of opportunity. And if this simulation is any indication, that window is closing.
New York Jets
7-10, 4th in AFC East
New quarterback, same old results for the New York Jets. Madden actually predicts Zach Wilson to have a decent rookie season with 3,660 passing yards and 21 touchdowns to just six interceptions. The result is the same though, a last-place finish in the AFC East
The Jets are clearly in a rebuilding phase, so there’s not much to get into with this simulation result. Perhaps something of a bad omen, backup quarterback Brett Rypien also recorded 707 yards and four touchdowns. His playing time suggests that Wilson got hurt at one point in the simulation.
Here are some of the noteworthy receiving stats for you Jets fans out there:
- Jamison Crowder: 87 receptions, 1,120 yards, 7 TDs
- Corey Davis: 74 receptions, 961 yards, 6 TDs
- Tyler Croft: 71 receptions, 955 yards, 4 TDs
- Keelan Cole Sr: 50 receptions, 622 yards, 5 TDs
Again, there’s not much to break down with this simulation. It’s an improvement on their 2-14 finish last year, so I guess that’s something to look forward to. If Madden’s simulation is correct, there’s at least hope for the future of the New York Jets.
Baltimore Ravens
12-5, 1st place in AFC North (No. 2 seed in AFC)
Is there a team more unlucky than the Baltimore Ravens right now? The season hasn’t even begun and already they’ve suffered major losses to injury, including J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards and Marcus Peters, all of who are expected to miss the season. Those players aren’t easily replaceable.
Because the injury to Edwards came after the most recent roster update, the simulation actually started him at halfback for the Ravens. In reality, it will be Le’Veon Bell and Latavius Murray splitting duties.
But really, this team flows through Lamar Jackson. Entering his fourth season in the NFL, Jackson is looking to take the next step in the playoffs and hopefully reach the playoffs. A 1st place finish in the AFC North is a good start.
On the year, Jackson is projected to throw for 3,845 yards and 30 touchdowns. His 19 interceptions are a bit concerning.
While Jackson has proved he’s a capable passer, we know his biggest threat is his legs. While I’ve complained that Madden doesn’t do a great job handling dual-threat quarterbacks, the game actually predicted him to rush for 716 yards and nine touchdowns on the season.
For those curious as to how Gus Edwards would’ve performed if healthy, Madden predicts 1,067 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. So the simulation may be a bit misleading because of this, but I think the Ravens have a good shot at finishing atop the division despite injuries.
With an 11-6 record, the Ravens claim the No. 2 seed in the AFC, behind the Kansas City Chiefs. We are primed for a big showdown in the playoffs.
Cleveland Browns
10-7, 2nd place in AFC North (No. 5 seed in AFC)
The Cleveland Browns ended their franchise record and league-high 18-year playoff drought last year. It was the first time they had made it to the playoffs since 2002. And they even beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild Card game, marking their first playoff win since 1994. Their Super Bowl dream ended the very next week against the Kansas City Chiefs in the Divisional Round, so now the Browns will look to build on that success. Madden predicts a slightly better finish for the Browns, coming in second in the AFC North and the No. 5 seed in the playoffs.
The jury is still out on Baker Mayfield as a starting quarterback. Does he have what it takes to actually take the Browns to the Super Bowl? Or is he only good enough to get them to the playoffs? Well, if the Madden sim is correct, Mayfield is due for a breakout season.
Madden predicts Mayfield will throw for 4,578 yards and a whopping 46 touchdowns to just five interceptions. Seriously, those are Aaron Rodgers-esque numbers. Mayfield’s touchdown total is second to only one other quarterback in the league, and you can probably guess who that is.
Of course, it helps when you’ve got a back like Nick Chubb taking some of the pressure off. Chubb is predicted to rush for 1,554 yards and 19 touchdowns. Those are second in the league in each respective category.
Jarvis Landry, who has been relatively quiet during his tenure with the Browns, looks to put up career numbers. Madden projects 110 receptions for 1,477 yards and a league-leading 21 touchdown receptions.
Looking at these stats, I’m honestly surprised the Browns finish second in the division. But as long as they make the playoffs, they’ve got a chance — even as a No. 5 seed.
Pittsburgh Steelers
7-10, 3rd place in AFC North
I have high hopes for the Pittsburgh Steelers, but apparently, Madden doesn’t think too much of them. The Steelers are no longer the most intimidating team in the AFC North, but they are still dangerous. They’ve still got talent and can compete with anyone.
But Ben Roethlisberger is getting up there in age and is no longer the player he was in his prime. In what could possibly be his final season with the Steelers and possibly in the NFL, Madden predicts Roethlisberger will throw for 4,406 yards, 35 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. A potential bright spot for fans, it looks like he stayed healthy the entire season.
The Steelers have a tremendously talented wide receiving group and Roethlisberger will definitely spread the ball around, according to Madden:
- Chase Claypool: 73 receptions, 1,109 yards, 12 TDs
- Eric Ebron: 71 receptions, 790 yards, 8 TDs
- Juju Smith-Schuster: 77 receptions, 771 yards, 6 TDs
- Diontae Johnson: 71 receptions, 743 yards, 3 TDs
There’s also the excitement of rookie running back Najee Harris. Madden predicts the rookie will rush for a respectable 783 yards and 10 touchdowns while adding 590 receiving yards and three touchdowns in the air.
On the defensive side of the ball, linebacker T.J. Watt, who just signed a 4-years, $112 million extension, had a tremendously down year, recording just 4.5 sacks and one interception. Watt wasn’t the only one who struggled on defense as the unit as a whole allowed 6,303 total yards and 440 total points.
Cincinnati Bengals
6-11, 4th place in AFC North
I don’t really have big expectations for the Cincinnati Bengals, but they should be a fun team to follow this season. A big source of that excitement is quarterback Joe Burrow, who showed flashes of promise in his rookie season before he went down with an injury. He looks to rebound and improve upon his rookie season and Madden predicts 4,490 passing yards, 31 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions.
Rookie wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase — who has struggled with drops this offseason — lived up to his fifth overall pick status. On the year, Madden predicts he’ll build great rapport with Burrow, leading the team in receptions (73), yards (1,164) and touchdowns (9). I guess he can see the ball just fine in Madden.
Tyler Boyd is also predicted to have another solid season with 71 receptions, 999 yards and five touchdowns. Joe Mixon, the running back with a ton of potential who seemingly never lives up to it, rushed for 674 yards and six touchdowns. If he produces that kind of stat line in real life there are going to be some disappointed fantasy players. It appears that he even split some caries with Samaje Perine, who carried the ball 158 times to Mixon’s 149 times. Mixon was more productive with a 4.5 yard per carry average, so it seems an injury was at play here.
The Bengals struggles are a combination of turnovers (-5 differential) and just overall lack of production. They averaged only 22.9 points per game, which puts them near the bottom of the league. Combined with a defense that surrendered the second-most yards (6,719) in the league, and it’s easy to see why the Bengals finished last in the simulation.
It’s an improvement on last year, but the Bengals clearly aren’t ready to compete at a high level yet.
Kansas City Chiefs
17-0, 1st place in AFC West (No. 1 seed in AFC)
And finally, we end with the AFC West, saving the best for last. Yes, you read that record correctly. Madden predicts the Kansas City Chiefs will go a perfect 17-0. If this turns out to be true, the Chiefs would be the first team in NFL history to go undefeated in a 17 game regular season schedule. And to do so in the first year of the expansion would be incredible.
The goal is to win a Super Bowl though, so the Chiefs would have to ultimately go 20-0 which, of course, has never been done before. In fact, the only team to go undefeated and win a Super Bowl was the 1972 Dolphins. The 2007 New England Patriots got close, going 16-0 in the regular season and making a run to the Super Bowl before falling to the New York Giants and finishing with an overall record of 18-1.
So if Madden is correct, the Chiefs will be the next team to make a run at perfect. And what a story that would be, coming off a Super Bowl loss to Tom Brady and the Buccaneers.
As far as predictions, Madden 22 predicts some insane stats for the Chiefs. Patrick Mahomes is expected to throw for 5,995 yards and 58 touchdowns, both of which would be NFL single-season records. Peyton Manning holds the current records for most passing yards (5,477) and touchdowns (55) in a single season. Can you imagine the Chiefs going undefeated while Mahomes sets these records?
Wide receiver Demarcus Robinson is the biggest benefactor of Mahomes’s stats. The receiver is projected to lead the league in yards with 1,661 while totaling 12 touchdowns. Meanwhile, Travis Kelce, the best tight end in the league, would finish tied second among all players for receptions (110). As a team, the Chiefs lead the league with 36.8 points per game, over three points more than the second-best Browns.
17-0 would obviously be incredibly exciting for fans. But that’s only the first part. Locking up the No. 1 seed in the AFC is huge, but they need to seal the deal.
Las Vegas Raiders
7-10, 2nd in the AFC West
With the Chiefs going 17-0, it’s not surprising to see the rest of the division with sub-.500 records. After going 8-8 last year, Madden predicts the Raiders will take a small step backward, which fans probably aren’t thrilled to see.
Derek Carr put together another solid season, throwing for 4,621 yards and 36 touchdowns to just 11 interceptions. His 58% completion percentage leaves something to be desired though.
The Raiders have a ton of talent on the offensive side of the ball, so let’s just get right down to their predicted stats:
- Henry Ruggs III: 77 receptions, 1,126 yards, 6 TDs
- Hunter Renfrow: 76 receptions, 1,059 yards, 10 TDs
- Darren Waller: 73 receptions, 944 yards, 4 TDs
- Willie Snead IV: 45 receptions, 644 yards, 7 TDs
The Raiders’ downfall is their defense, which allowed the third-most points overall (472) and fifth-most yards (6,520). Granted, they went up against that record-setting offense in Kansas City, so we can’t expect too much.
For what it’s worth, I don’t expect the Chiefs to dominate as much as Madden predicts they will, so perhaps the Raiders will perform a bit better.
Denver Broncos
7-10, 3nd in the AFC West
Ah, the Denver Broncos. Since the retirement of Peyton Manning, John Elway just hasn’t been able to work his magic. He’s taken shots, but they just haven’t worked out.
The Broncos’ biggest issue is simply finding a competent quarterback, which is probably why any decent veteran is always linked to this team. If Aaron Rodgers or Deshaun Watson (assuming he’s cleared of allegations and can play) had come to the Broncos this offseason, I’m sure this Madden simulation would have gone much differently.
Alas, we enter the season with Teddy Bridgewater as the starter and Drew Lock as the backup. To be fair, I do like Bridgewater, but Madden predicts a lackluster season with just 26 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. That’s not going to get the job done when going up against Patrick Mahomes and company.
The Broncos have tremendous talent at receiver and tight end, but they need a quarterback to get them the ball. As a result, their stats are a bit disappointing in the sim:
- Courtland Sutton: 80 receptions, 1,131 yards, 6 TDs
- Tim Patrick: 57 receptions, 758 yards, 6 TDs
- Noah Fant: 63 receptions, 668 yards, 5 TDs
- Jerry Jeudy: 59 receptions, 546 yards, 4 TDs
Sutton’s projected stat line is actually pretty good, but the rest leaves a lot to be desired.
Now it should be noted that the Broncos’ strong suit is their defense and to their credit, they only allowed 398 total points on the simulated season. Overall that’s not bad, but they need an offense that averages more than just 20.1 points per game.
Los Angeles Chargers
3-14, 4th in the AFC West
And finally, we get to the Los Angeles Chargers who, quite frankly, I think will be better than what Madden predicts. The simulation calls for the Chargers to be the second-worst team in the league. Sorry, but that’s not happening, unless they suffer some devastating injuries.
After a tremendous rookie season in which he threw for 31 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, Madden expects a bit of a regression for Justin Herbert. The simulation predicts him to throw for 4,135 yards, 25 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. I don’t think that’s entirely out of the realm of possibility but I also personally think he’s going to improve rather than regress.
The always solid Keenan Allen put together another steady season with 91 receptions for 1,199 yards. However, he only caught four touchdown passes. Meanwhile, veteran newcomer Jared Cook, coming over from New Orleans, had a tremendous season with 80 receptions for 797 yards and five touchdowns.
The problem with the Chargers was simply finding the end zone. The team had the worst average in the league with 18.6 points per game. That’s worse than the lowly Lions. So why did they struggle so much?
Looking at penalties, it seems the Chargers were the most penalized team in the league with 115 penalties committed. They also had a -6 turnover difference. Penalties plus turnovers spell doom for any offense. Coupled with a porous defense that allowed 465 yards, and it’s easy to see why the Chargers went 3-14 in the simulation.
Regular Season Wrap-Up
There are certainly some surprises with Madden 22’s simulation. The Jaguars sneaking into first place in their division, the Chiefs’ unprecedented 17-0 regular season, the complete meltdown of Aaron Rodgers, the continued domination by Tom Brady at age 45 — if any of these happen in real life we’re in for a heck of an NFL season. Now let’s get on to the playoff simulation!
Madden 22: 2021 NFL Playoffs Sim
Wild Card
Baltimore Ravens (No. 2) vs New England Patriots (No. 7)
Lamar Jackson comes up short as the New England Patriots, led by rookie Mac Jones, defeat the Ravens 33-28.
Buffalo Bills (No. 3) vs Tennessee Titans (No. 6)
After a shocking second-place finish in the AFC South, the Tennessee Titans defeat the Buffalo Bills, 21-17, in a defensive struggle.
Jacksonville Jaguars (No. 4) vs Cleveland Browns (No. 5)
Trevor Lawrence’s incredible rookie season comes to an end as the Jacksonville Jaguars fall to the Cleveland Browns, 38-21.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (No. 2) vs Carolina Panthers (No. 7)
Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are shocked by the Carolina Panthers, 21-13. There’s now ay this actually happens, right?
Dallas Cowboys (No. 3) vs Los Angeles Rams (No. 6)
The Dallas Cowboys, once again choke in the playoffs, falling 38-28 to the Los Angeles Rams.
Minnesota Vikings (No. 4) vs Seattle Seahawks (No. 5)
The Seattle Seahawks defeat the Minnesota Vikings in a 35-17 blowout.
1st Round Byes: Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers
Divisional
Kansas City Chiefs (No. 1) vs New England Patriots (No. 7)
Kanas City Chiefs continue their improbable run at perfection with a 42-27 win over the Patriots.
Cleveland Browns (No. 5) vs Tennessee Titans (No. 6)
The magic continues for Baker Mayfield and the Cleveland Browns, who defeat the Tennessee Titans 21-14. It sets up a rematch with the Chiefs with the Browns looking to avenge their playoff loss.
San Francisco 49ers (No. 1) vs Carolina Panthers (No. 7)
The San Francisco 49ers continue to play solid football, defeating the Carolina Panthers 35-14
Seattle Seahawks (No. 5) vs Los Angeles Rams (No. 6)
Matthew Stafford is proving the trade was worth it as he leads the L.A. Rams to a 35-14 win over the Seattle Seahawks.
Championship
Kansas City Chiefs (No. 1) vs Cleveland Browns (No. 5)
With a 35-28 victory over the Cleveland Browns, the Kansas City Chiefs are just one win away from perfection. The Kansas City Chiefs are the first team in the NFL to go 19-0, but must win one more to truly go undefeated.
San Francisco 49ers (No. 1) vs Los Angeles Rams (No. 6)
In his first season as a Ram, Matthew Stafford has led them to a Super Bowl, beating the San Francisco 49ers, 41-35.
Super Bowl 56
Can you even imagine the excitement with this matchup? A potential undefeated season is on the line for the Chiefs while the Rams look to win their first Super Bowl in 21 years!
Kansas City Chiefs (No. 1) vs Los Angeles Rams (No. 6)
Perfection! The Kansas City Chiefs beat the Los Angeles Rams 28-16, capping off a perfect 20-0 season. The Chiefs would become the first team since the 1972 Miami Dolphins to go undefeated, although the Dolphins only won 17 games total.
The Kansas City Chiefs would win their third Super Bowl as a franchise and their second in three years. This would also be the second Super Bowl ring for Mahomes in his young career.
Awards
- Super Bowl MVP: Patrick Mahomes (QB, Chiefs)
- NFL MVP: Patrick Mahomes (QB, Chiefs)
- Coach of the Year: Andy Reid (Chiefs)
- Offensive Player of the Year: Patrick Mahomes (QB, Chiefs)
- Defensive Player of the Year: Za’Darius Smith (LOLB, Packers)
- Offensive Rookie of the Year: Justin Fields (QB, Bears)
- Defensive Rookie of the Year: Jamin Davis (MLB, Football Team)
And there you have it, our wild and crazy Madden 22 simulation of the 2021-22 NFL season. Of all the yearly simulations I’ve done, I don’t think I’ve ever done one as crazy as this one. Madden is usually fairly accurate in its simulation, but there are some bold predictions this year.