08-22-2021, 03:05 PM
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#22
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Rookie
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Re: How’s Your Franchise Going: Madden 22 Edition
I know some people have complaints (many legit) about the new Madden but I've gotta say, it's been awhile since I've been as pumped after playing a video game than the end of my All-Pro franchise season. Like many, I'm an older (43 year old) player and am well past my prime at this so All-Pro is a pretty solid challenge for me. Anyway, let me update where this ended up:
Following the Bengals, we faced the redrafted Texans in round 2. I tried to run my Steelers playoff team pretty similar to how the Steelers handled Ben Roethlisberger's first show: limit passing and commit to the run. We entered halftime up 24-0 and, despite the Texans and Ryan Tannehill scoring 19 unanswered, we put up 13 in the fourth quarter to win it. Zach Wilson threw 3 TDs for me and 0 interceptions (big achievement if you read my earlier posts). Derrick Henry ran for 144 on 19 carries and we advance!
AFC Championship Game: My 6th seed Steelers face the 5 seed New York Jets. This team is the more daunting of the teams I've faced in the playoff run. Aaron Rodgers, Jonathon Taylor, A.J. Brown and Henry Ruggs look to put me to the test...EXCEPT it is my second blizzard game!!! The weather had the potential to take Rodgers and their passing attack out of it. In addition to the weather, one other big thing happened for me: Jonathon Taylor broke his hand on his first carry. All of a sudden I'm facing a pass first offense (61% passes during the year) in a windy blizzard and their best running back is Rhamondre Stevenson.
I would love to tout my offense here (and they did do well) but the defense won this game. On 18 carries, the Jets managed 50 yards. Aaron Rodgers and his 44 touchdowns and 12 interceptions had a nightmare day. #12 finished the day 12-33 for 136 yards, 5 interceptions and 6 times sacked!
That let me keep the training wheels on the offense. Zach Wilson threw for 193 and 3 TD with 1 pick. Henry carried 29 times for 133 and 2 TD. Honestly, field position was HUGELY in my favor all game. Cam Heyward had 2.5 sacks, Melvin Ingram 2 and Stephon Gilmore had two of the picks.
ON TO THE SUPER BOWL!!!!
We faced a pretty talented Vikings team led by Dak Prescott, Melvin Gordon and Justin Jefferson. Defensively, they are stacked as well with Myles Jack, Jon Abram, Marcus Williams and Brandon Copeland. This is a tough match-up for me but we focus on the medium pass to lock down Dak and, as usual, we are run first.
The Vikings stop us on a 4'th and 1 at their 36 yard line on our first drive. Dak takes over and quickly drives them down field. Gabriel Davis and Anthony Firkser tear me up, the former getting 3 catches and the latter scoring a TD.
We bounce back in the 2nd quarter where Reuben Foster channels James Harrison. Foster intercepts Dak at our 13 yard line and sprints up the sideline...dodges two tackles and slides into the endzone: TOUCHDOWN!
Dak brings them right back though and takes a 14-7 lead. However, after a couple runs and a short pass, Derrick Henry gets a handoff at their 46 AND...IS...GONE! TOUCHDOWN Henry! 14-14.
They go three and out and we take over with two minutes in the half. A few runs move us pretty quickly down and, with 4 seconds left, Stephen Gostkowski lines up a 41 yarder...GOOD! 17-14 Steelers at half!
The third quarter only features one score, a field goal for the Vikings...17-17 entering the 4th quarter. They hit another early field goal and I'm down 20-17 with 6:30 to go. Zach Wilson throws a pick 6 and it is now 27-17 Vikings with 6:20.
We start moving the ball again, this time on two passes and two big Zach Wilson scrambles. From their 27 yard line, Derrick Henry takes a hand-off AND GOES ALL THE WAY...AGAIN! 27-24 and we need a stop.
They run some clock and with 2:16 left, we get a sack that forces a punt. I benefit from a solid return to the 39. We need a field goal and the target distance is only about 27 yards away. Fournette steps in on this drive much to my chagrin but he takes a 9 yard run and a 10 yard run moving us quickly. Wilson scrambles again, this time for 16 yards as they've moved to a deep prevent. I'm on their 26 yard line with 0:54 seconds to go. I decide to take an endzone shot...Lockett breaks out open...Wilson throws and is hit just after and the ball floats...right into a leaping Tyler Lockett's hands...TOUCHDOWN!!!!!!!!!
The Vikings hit a couple short passes but ultimately go nowhere...STEELERS WIN 31-27!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I hate to have won the Super Bowl in my first year and yet it was a really challenging season for me. I don't think I'm quite ready for All-Madden but this tested me well. Concentrating on what I do well in the playoffs and being conservative with my passing game (more so than any other Madden game) really is what got me through.
For the playoffs, my stats were:
Wilson was 58-100 (58%), 642 yards (about 160 p/game), 7 TD and 2 INT
Henry ran 99 times (about 25 p/game) for 634 yards (158 p/game) with 9 TD and 1 fumble
T.J. Watt had 5 sacks, Cameron Heyward had 4.5 and Melvin Ingram had 4.5
It really did remind me a lot of the Bettis-Roethlisberger Steelers with the commitment to the run and the stifling, aggressive defense.
Off the draft!
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