America's Game: A 32 Team NFL Franchise (Madden 25)

[Gronk4M13]

Game: Madden 25 XBOX 360

Rosters: Omega's 2014 Offseason Roster

Sliders: GJD23 & WTBB (will adjust when/if necessary)

Starts: After the 2014 NFL Draft

Rules: Try to be realistic

[Gronk4M13]

Seattle Seahawks Win Their First Superbowl, as They Defeat the Denver Broncos 43-8

Superbowl 48 was not a game. Rather, it was a showcase of the Seattle Seahawks' dominant defense, and potent offense. One one of the first plays of the game, Broncos C Manny Ramirez botched the snap, resulting in a safety. From this point, the game spiraled down for the Broncos. At first, Denver held Seattle's offense in check, forcing the Seahawks to sttle for a pair of field goals. Then, "Beast Mode" Marshawn Lynch ran for a touchdown. Here, the game blew out of control. Eventual Superbowl MVP Malcolm Smith intercepted NFL MVP Peyton Manning, and returned it for a touchdown. Seahawks reciver Percy Harvin would return a kickoff for a touchdown soon-thereafter. Next, Russell Wilson, the Seahawks quarterback, found Jermaine Kearse for a twenty-three yard touchdown pass.

Denver finally got on the board, as Peyton Manning threw a touchdown pass to De'Maryius Thomas. However, Wilson threw a second touchdown, this one to Doug Baldwin, and the game was officially over. Peyton Manning crumbled under pressure, throwing two interceptions, as the Legion of Boom rattled him all night long. Manning threw for nearly 300 yards, but only one touchdown. Superbowl 48 was the first cold-weather outdoor Superbowl, and (despite the score/lack of a close game) was quite a success.

[Gronk4M13]

2013 NFL Season in Review: AFC

#16: Houston Texans

The 2013 Houston Texans' season was...surprising, to say the least. In the pre-season, The Texans were considered a Super Bowl dark horse at best, and a playoff contender at worst. The team started out 2-0, but lost 14 straight games to finish with the NFL's worst record. Head coach Gary Kubiak was fired before the end of the season (December 6th.) Matt Schaub deserves at least some blame; Schaub threw a pick-six in four consecutive games, an NFL record. Nine of the fourteen losses were by a touchdown or less; this team just couldn't finish games. JJ Watt continued his rise to stardom, with a career-high 117 tackles. Injuries also devastated the team all season long.

#15: Cleveland Browns

2013 marked Cleveland's sixth straight losing season. The Browns, especially on offense, are stuck in a state of mediocrity. The Browns are suffering from a culture of losing, both from the perspective of fans and players. An 0-2 start and an injury to starting QB Brandon Weeden led to the emergence of QB Brian Hoyer. Hoyer energized the team as a whole with his play, as the team won all three games that Hoyer started. Hoyer brought a sense of hope to Cleveland; many people believed that the Browns could make the playoffs. Then, Cleveland's bad luck struck again. Hoyer was done for the season, as he tore his ACL and MCL during a Thursday Night Football win over the Bills.

Hoyer's injury killed any energy/hope that the Browns had, as Cleveland lost ten of its last eleven. The Browns finsihed 4-12, "good" enough for the fourth overall pick in the draft. First year coach Rob Chudzinski was fired after the season, leading many people to question the stability of Cleveland's front office. Both coordinators, Norv Turner and defensive coordinator Ray Horton, have jumped ship. The Browns have several good pieces to build around on defense, but the offense (other than Josh Gordon and Jordan Cameron) must be retooled.

#14: Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars, like the Browns, have been mediocre for a few years now. Several losses to open 2013 reaffirmed that. Then, new coach Gus Bradley managed to turn the team around. Late in the season, Jacksonville actually looked...competitive and respectable. Once Chad Henne was made the starting QB, the offense became decent, as Cecil Shorts emerged as a good target. The plug has been pulled on the Blaine Gabbert experiment (more on that later.) The defense was just as bad for most of the season. The Jaguars, like the Browns, need a quarterback. Otherwise, both teams have hope for the future. Gus Bradley has what it takes to turn this team around.

#13: Oakland Raiders

GM Reggie McKenize knew this year would be tough. McKenzie has been tasked with the tough job of rebuilding the Raiders. He has infused a lot of youth into this team, and also some veterans to guide these young players. McKenzie and new coach Dennis Allen are still trying to clean up Mark Davis' mess. 2013 served as an assessment year, to establish what the team currently has, and what it needs to get better. The defense flashed the potential to be a top-ten unit and QB Terrell Pryor showed flashes of Michael Vick-like ability. Yet, the wake-up call of the season came when Nick Foles and the Eagles entered Oakland, and the former threw seven touchdowns. The Raiders lost 8 of their last nine. Pryor went down with an injury, and rookie Matt McGloin looked decent. Next year, the Raiders will have plenty of money in free agency, and a high draft pick.

#12: Buffalo Bills

The Bills drafted the only quarterback selected in the first round of the 2013 draft, EJ Manuel. Manuel would miss six games of the regular season, so it's unfair to completely evaluate him. Manuel started ten games, guiding the Bills to wins over Carolina, Baltimore, the New York Jets and Jacksonville. Three knee injuries marred Manuel's season. Manuel record 13 total TDs and 9 interceptions. Otherwise, HB Fred Jackson bounced back and CJ Spiller was not given the ball as much as many expected. Several rookies had breakout seasons; Robert Woods, Kiko Alonso and Marquis Goodwin come to mind. Alonso came in second place for AFC Defensive Rookie of the Year. The defense, under Mike Pettine, was an improvement. The Bills finished 6-10, but if Manuel can stay healthy and the front office keeps drafting well, things are looking up for Buffalo.

#11: Tennessee Titans

The Titans, shockingly, started 2013 3-1. Then, Jake Locker got hurt (again.) Ryan Fitzpatrick guided the team to win the game where Locker went down with an injury. However, Tennessee lost three straight, even when Locker returned to the active roster. The Titans were 4-4 when Jake Locker went down with a Lisfranc injury, ending his season. Ryan Fitzpatrick guided the team to a 7-9 finish. The Titans should seriously evaluate whether or not Locker is the right man for the QB job.

#10: Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins were the "winners" of Free Agency last year, spending a lot of money to reel in players in a hope to make the playoffs. The Dolphins were 8-6, staring at a wildcard berth. Yet, a wild race to the finish for the sixth seed in the AFC, and the Dolphins dropping their last two games, resulted in an 8-8 finish. Miami missed the playoffs again. Ryan Tannehill has developed into one of the NFL's better quarterbacks, yet he was inconsistent. The Martin-Incognito scandal attracted a lot of negative attention, and cost Miami two o-line starters. Expect a retooling of at least the offensive line this offseason, if not much more.

#9: New York Jets

The Jets were coming off a 6-10 2012 campaign, and were expected to miss the playoffs for a third straight season. Rex Ryan was expected to be dismissed at the end of the season, if not before it. Only one of those two things happened. Rex Ryan kept his job as he guided the Jets to an 8-8 record with a rather untalented group. Youth has been infused into this season: rookies quarterback Geno Smith, defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson, corner-back Dee Milliner all started, and turned in a .500 winning percentage. Richardson won the Defensive Rookie of the Year. Only one player, CB Antonio Cromartie, made the Pro Bowl; yet Rex did the best he could. The team finished 11th in total defense, a promising sign for the future. Smith was...very inconsistent. The rookie threw 21 interceptions to 12 touchdowns. Perhaps Geno committed so many turnovers due to a lack of weapons. If that's the case, the front office must provide him with some firepower to further his development.

#8: Baltimore Ravens

Perhaps the best way to describe the Ravens' 2013 season would be Superbowl Hangover. The Ravens hoisted the Lombardi Trophy high to end the 2012 NFL season, after they defeated the San Francisco 49ers. Many crucial contributors (Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, AnQuan Boldin, Matt Birk, Paul Kruger, Dannell Ellerbe, Cary Williams) left via retirement, trade or free agency. The Ravens added some players (Elvis Dumervil, Chris Canty, and others) in free agency, and got some good rookies (Matt Elam, Marlon Brown,) and yet something was obvious. The team lost a lot of the talent and leadership that the Superbowl team had. Joe Flacco, the quarterback the Ravens can thank for their second Lombardi trophy, was signed to a $120 million dollar deal, and lost a lot of weapons. Regardless...the Ravens took a few steps back in 2013. The Ravens missed the playoffs for the first time in coach John Harbaugh's five year tenure. It wasn't all bad; Marlon Brown, an undrafted rookie, emerged as one of Flacco's favorite target (he led the team in TD catches with seven.) Torrey Smith has become one of the better wideouts in the AFC. Some bad things; the offensive line was atrocious, Ray Rice was injured and not the same all year, and the defense could not get stops when necessary in many games. Daryl Smith emerged as a great player on the D, despite his relatively old age. The Ravens were fighting for a playoff spot until the end, but fell just short.

#7: Pittsburgh Steelers

For the second straight season, Pittsburgh has finished 8-8 and missed the playoffs. The Steelers began 2013 0-4, with erratic play to blame for the terrible start. Mid-season, the Steelers were 2-6, and all hope for the playoffs was seemingly lost. The Steelers did not quit or "tank." Instead, they finished 6-2, just shy of a playoff spot, like the division rival Ravens. Wideout Antonio Brown did a good job of replacing Mike Wallace, Le'Veon Bell had a good rookie year, and the Steelers are riding some momentum heading into next year.

#6: San Diego Chargers

Everyone knows that Phillip Rivers, the quarterback for the San Diego Chargers, bounced back in 2013 and guided the Chargers to a playoff spot. Everyone knows that Rivers' resurgence was due to new coach Mike McCoy. So, what doesn't everyone know? Keenan Allen had a breakout rookie year, and a two pronged rushing attack led by Danny Woodhead and Ryan Matthews helped the offense. The defense was fourth-worst in the NFL, with safety Eric Weddle being one of the few bright spots. The Chargers upset the Bengals on the road in the wildcard round (more on that later) but were sent packing by division rival Denver Broncos in the Divisional Round.

#5: Kansas City Chiefs

New coach Andy Reid has taken this team from worst to first. Reid, with new quarterback Alex Smith, took Kansas from a 2-14 record (enough for last year's first overall pick in the draft) to 11-5. The team started 9-0, but ended the season in a rough way. HB Jamaal Charles returned and bounced back from injury in a big way. Three linebackers, Tamba Hali, Derrick Johnson and Justin Houston, had Pro Bowl seasons. So what went wrong? Alex Smith wasn't that good in 2013. The Chiefs finished 21st in passing. Smith didn't have many weapons to throw to, which must be fixed for next year.

#4: Indianapolis Colts

The Colts have expedited the rebuilding process in a short period of time. The Colts struggled with injuries all year young; star wideout Reggie Wayne missed a chunk of time, as did several other key contributors. First year offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton changed the 2012 offensive philosophy, and he was successful. After missing most of the 2012 season as he battled Leukemia, head coach Chuck Pagano was back at the helm. All of this led to a second consecutive 11 win season, and a playoff win. The Colts won the AFC South, but lost to the Patriots in the Divisional Round. Andrew Luck avoided a sophomore slump, and continued his rise to stardom. Linebacker Robert Mathis led the league in sacks with 19.5,a franchise record. The Colts hope to take that next step in 2014, and look like they're in a good position to do just that.

#3: Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals have become one of the better teams in the AFC. Cincinnati consistently drafts well, and have some great pieces, but there's something,or someone, holding them back. An 11-5 record gave Cincinnati the AFC North crown. The Bengals have plenty of weapons on offense; AJ Green, Giovanni Bernard, and Tyler Eifert are just a few names. Mike Zimmer, the defensive coordinator, has done a great job of making the defense one of the NFL's best (second in pass defense in 2013.) Zimmer now is the head coach of the Vikings, and offensive coordinator Jay Gruden is the head coach of the Redskins (more on all of that later.) So what is holding Cincinnati back? Andy Dalton, the starting quarterback. Dalton has been very...average throughout his young career. The Bengals have improved their regular season record for three straight years. However, three straight first round post season losses, following a similar pattern (Dalton struggles, the offense can't get anything going, and the defense can't do everything) have people questioning if Dalton is the man for Cincinnati.

#2: New England Patriots

The Patriots couldn't say out of the headlines, in a bad way, last offseason. The Aaron Hernandez controversy/trial led to a top offensive target's dismissal from the team, Rob Gronkowksi got hurt again, and an ugly end to the team's relationship with Wes Welker led to the star wideout bolting for the Denver Broncos. Many people thought that the Patriots would not be dominant whatsoever in 2013; some of these people thought that Bill Belichick's Patriots would miss the playoffs. Neither of those things happened. The Patriots have been a dynasty (arguably) in the 2000s: "five Super Bowl appearances, three wins in the big game, eight AFC Championship appearances, 12 double-digit win seasons, a 16-0 campaign, and a book full of records set by Head Coach Bill Belichick and Tom Brady." (Numberfire.com, Mark Berenbaum.) Yet, this team hasn't made the Superbowl since losing it in 2011 to the Giants. The team lost its top five receivers from 2012, resulting in Tom Brady having his worst statistical season since his rookie year. And still, the Patriots won 12 games, and made it to the AFC Championship game for the second straight year.Tom Brady found a new favorite target in Julian Edelman,and built a relationship with rookie Aaron Dobson. If Gronkowski is healthy next year, this offense should be back to its juggernaut form. The team, for once, had a good pass defense, led by CB Aquib Talib and safety Devin McCourty. The rest of the defense was a different story. After Vince Wilfork and Jerod Mayo were lost to injury, the defense was not the same. No matter how you look at it, the Patriots' championship window is closing.

#1: Denver Broncos

The best way to describe the 2013 Denver Broncos is record breaking. 2013 NFL MVP Peyton Manning (his record fifth time) led the #1 ranked Broncos offense, as he threw for a record 5,477 yards and a record 55 TDs. The team also set a record for most points scored in a regular season with 606 total points. A 13-3 record gave the Broncos home field advantage in the playoffs, where they beat rival San Diego, rival New England, and lost the Superbowl (more on that later.) The defense enjoyed some breakout performers ( Danny Trevathan, Shaun Phillips, etc.) The three headed monster receiving corps (Wes Welker, DeMaryius Thomas and Eric Decker) loses a member, as Decker signed with the New York Jets. 2014 is a Superbowl win or bust year for Denver, as retirement looms near for Peyton Manning.

[Whew! Done with the AFC}

[JG80]

You know I'm following, man. Also I like those reviews, can't wait to see my saints.


Sent from Nawlins.

[Gronk4M13]

Quote: Originally Posted by JG80

You know I'm following, man. Also I like those reviews, can't wait to see my saints. Sent from Nawlins.

Thanks man. Today's a half day at school so I'll be putting some work into this.

[Gronk4M13]

Done with the AFC, expect the NFC on Wednesday.

[thesportsguru11]

Curious to see how the Pats perform from 2014 onward. We all know Belichick can get the absolute max out of every one of his players, but I wonder if it will happen in this dynasty.

Anyway, following. I've never done a 32 team dynasty and it should be neat.

[Gronk4M13]

Quote: Originally Posted by thesportsguru11

Curious to see how the Pats perform from 2014 onward. We all know Belichick can get the absolute max out of every one of his players, but I wonder if it will happen in this dynasty. Anyway, following. I've never done a 32 team dynasty and it should be neat.

Thanks for the support. It'll be interesting to see how the Patriots do post-Brady.