Rebuilding Since '57 | Maize's Detroit Lions

[Maize08]

I recently picked up the new Madden, after not having a Madden game in 5+ years. While at first I wasn't loving the gameplay, the franchise update has led me to invest some time into a new franchise story.

I'm taking over my favorite team, the Detroit Lions. I want to handle this dynasty like I do all of my other posted franchise stories: Focused on realism, creating story lines and writing to immerse myself in the game.

I'm already realizing the AI logic is flawed (especially in the draft) and could take away the fun pretty quickly. So, I will be controlling all 32 franchises - but only for the draft and pre-season cut day.

I have a feeling I'll have some time on my hands soon, so I'm in the process of setting this up currently. I'll be picking up after Week 10 of this season. I'll be simulating to match records.

Please let me know if you have any input or ways I can improve this franchise. I'm new to Madden franchises, having not really spent a lot of time on a PS4 Madden franchise. I'm excited to get started.

The Rundown
Game: Madden 21 on PS4
Difficulty: All Madden
Quarter Length: 8 minutes, accel. clock to 25 seconds
Gameplay Sliders: Matt10's Madden 21 Sliders
Starting Roster: StayODD's Accurate Sim Roster
Draft Classes: jcblayze's Madden 21 Draft Class
Update Notes: Stats and standings will be posted after Weeks 5, 9, 13 and 17. I plan on playing 10 games per season, simming 6 games to help make certain stats more realistic (Sacks allowed, assisted tackles, etc.). Game recaps for simulated games (including scoring drives) will be created to match the box score and player stats.

[Maize08]

Lions History and Records

Retired Numbers
7 - 20 - 22 - 37 - 56 - 85

Overall Record: 560-668-33
NFL Championships: 1935, 1952, 1953, 1957
NFC Championships: None
NFC Division Titles: 1983, 1991, 1993

Lions Record Versus Divisional Rivals
Chicago Bears: 75-102-5 (Bears won last 5 games)
Green Bay Packers: 72-104-7 (Packers won last 4 games)
Minnesota Vikings: 39-78-2 (Vikings won last 7 games)

Lions Playoff History
Postseason Record Since 1930: 7-13
Last Playoff Appearance: 2016 (Loss 6-26 vs. Seattle)
Last Playoff Win: 1991 (Win 38-6 vs. Dallas)
Current Streak: Lost Last 9 Playoff Games

-

Team Records
Passing
Passing Yards (Game): Matthew Stafford - 520 yards (1/1/2012)
Passing Yards (Season): Matthew Stafford - 5,038 yards (2011)
Passing Yards (Career): Matthew Stafford - 44,858 yards (2009-)
Passing Touchdowns (Game): Tied - 5 TD (Last Time: Matthew Stafford on 11/26/2015)
Passing Touchdowns (Season): Matthew Stafford - 41 TD (2011)
Passing Touchdowns (Career): Matthew - 284 TD (2009-)
Rushing
Rushing Yards (Game): Barry Sanders - 237 yards (11/13/1994)
Rushing Yards (Season): Barry Sanders - 2,053 yards (1997)
Rushing Yards (Career): Barry Sanders - 15,269 yards (1989-'98)
Rushing Touchdowns (Game): Barry Sanders - 4 TD (11/24/1991)
Rushing Touchdowns (Season): Barry Sanders - 16 TD (1991)
Rushing Touchdowns (Career): Barry Sanders - 99 TD (1989-'98)
Receiving
Receptions (Game): Tied - 14 receptions (Last Time: Calvin Johnson on 10/27/2013)
Receptions (Season): Herman Moore - 123 receptions (1995)
Receptions (Career): Calvin Johnson - 731 receptions (2007-'15)
Receiving Yards (Game): Calvin Johnson - 329 yards (10/27/2013)
Receiving Yards (Season): Calvin Johnson - 1,964 yards (2012)
Receiving Yards (Career): Calvin Johnson - 11,619 yards (2007-'15)
Receiving Touchdowns (Game): Cloyce Box - 4 TD (12/3/50)
Receiving Touchdowns (Season): Calvin Johnson - 16 TD (2011)
Receiving Touchdowns (Career): Calvin Johnson- 83 TD (2007-'15)
Defense
Tackles (Game): Paul Naumoff - 21 tackles (11/9/1975)
Tackles (Season): Chris Spielman - 195 tackles (1994)
Tackles (Career): Chris Spielman - 1,138 tackles (1988-'95)
Sacks (Game): William Gay - 5.5 sacks (9/4/1983)
Sacks (Season): Robert Porcher - 15 sacks (1999)
Sacks (Career): Robert Porcher - 95.5 sacks (1992-'04)
Interceptions (Game): Don Doll - 4 interceptions (10/23/1949)
Interceptions (Season): Don Doll - 12 interceptions (1950)
Interceptions (Career): Dick Lebeau - 62 interceptions (1959-'72)
Scoring
Scoring (Season): Jason Hanson - 134 points (2012)
Scoring (Career): Jason Hanson - 2,150 points (1997-2012)

[Maize08]

Season Reviews

2019
Overall Record: 3-12-1
Home | Road Splits: 2-6 at Home | 1-6-1 on the Road
NFC Standings (Division): 15th in NFC (4th in North)
Player Recognition: CB Darius Slay (Pro Bowl), WR Kenny Golladay (Pro Bowl),
0 All Pro selections, 0 League Leaders
Offensive MVP: WR Kenny Golladay
Defensive MVP: CB Darius Slay
NFL MVP: BAL Lamar Jackson, QB
Super Bowl Champion: Kansas City Chiefs

2020
Overall Record: 5-11
Home | Road Splits: 1-7 at Home | 4-4 on the Road
NFC Standings (Division): 13th in NFC (4th in North)
Player Recognition: TE T.J. Hockenson (Pro Bowl)
0 All Pro selections, 0 League Leaders
Offensive MVP: TE T.J. Hockenson
Defensive MVP: LB Jamie Collins
NFL MVP: KC Patrick Mahomes, QB
Super Bowl Champion: Kansas City Chiefs

[Maize08]

NFL Draft Recaps

2020
1st Round, 3rd Overall | CB Jeff Okudah, Ohio State
2nd Round, 35th Overall | RB D'Andre Swift, Georgia
3rd Round, 67th Overall | DE Julian Okwara, Notre Dame
3rd Round, 75th Overall | OG Jonah Jackson, Ohio State
4th Round, 121st Overall | OG Logan Stenberg, Kentucky
5th Round, 166th Overall | WR Quintez Cephus, Wisconsin
5th Round, 172nd Overall | RB Jason Huntley, New Mexico St.
6th Round, 197th Overall | DT John Penlsini, Utah
7th Round, 235th Overall | DT Jashon Cornell, Ohio State

[Maize08]

You can now post! Really hoping I can get some feedback on this once I get started.

On a quick note, I have played a few games and made two changes to Matt10's sliders: Dropped holding to 60 and QB Accuracy for both User and CPU to 40. I also adjusted the Lions roster to include practice squad players and some slight ratings adjustments. Same with the draft class, since the '21 class hadn't been updated since late September. Nothing major, but changing players to better reflect where the class currently stands.

[moose141]

Looking forward to checking this out! The Lions are always in a perpetual state of rebuild, so it will be fun to see what you can do with them. Always love storylines as well, so excited to see what you've got in store. What's the draft issue that you're referring to? I just picked up Madden to run a franchise alongside my NCAA dynasty, but haven't played current gen Madden at all so don't know about any of the weird goofs they have in the game these days, haha.

[johnstone1987]

Quote: Originally Posted by Maize08

Passing Yards (Season): Scott Mitchell - 4,332 yards ('95) Passing Yards (Career): Bobby Layne - 15,710 yards ('50-'58)

Doesn't Stafford own both of these or am I missing something?

[Careless Whisper]

Looking forward to this!