Yet they had the top three in August and one more in the Top Ten (In order: 360, PS3, PS2, Wii), plus one more in the top 20. They were going strong in September as well. A sales drop of in October, two months after release, isn't a sign of doom, it's a sign of reality. Most sports fans don't buy their sports videogames beyond the halfway point of the season
. PS2 down is no suprise either. It's another year older and I would realistically expect it to decline as more and more console owners get the increasingly more affordable 360's and PS3s.
Plus for Oct/Nov you have: Fable 2, Dead Space, Fallout 3, Far Cry 2, Gears of War 2, NBA games, Resistance 2, Left 4 Dead, and I'm sure others I'm forgetting. "The heart of football season" doesn't matter in the videogame world. This is the heart of "videogame season" with big titles being pushed out before the Holidays.
None of what you referenced points to anything negative to Madden. This is just more wishful thinking, IMO. Madden sales are fine. In fact, just last month everyone was lamenting the article pointing to Madden's overwhelming success.
Of course, this is what happens in a community where people are unhappy with the product...lol. Oh well, may next year be better