The Madden NFL 23 video game is predicting a change to the recent run of competitive Super Bowls — the official simulation plays out with the Philadelphia Eagles beating the Kansas City Chiefs 31-17 in Super Bowl LVII.
The simulation game was tied 10-10 at the half. However, the Eagles pulled away in the second half thanks to two third-quarter touchdown passes from Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts — a 26-yard TD pass to A.J. Brown and a 63-yarder to DeVonta Smith.
Brown was the game’s leading receiver, grabbing eight catches for 114 yards and a touchdown, while Smith had six catches for 92 yards and a touchdown.
Eagles running back Miles Sanders had 15 carries for 78 yards and the Eagles’ last touchdown.
Hurts was sacked twice by Kansas City defensive tackle Chris Jones but his offensive performance — including a 9-yard run for a touchdown in the first quarter — was enough to earn the game’s Most Valuable Player honors. He completed 26 of 33 passes for 282 yards and no interceptions.
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes didn’t fare as well in the simulation. He opened the game with a 4-yard TD pass to tight end Travis Kelce, but that was the only one for Mahomes.
Mahomes ultimately completed 29 of 39 passes for 249 yards, the one touchdown and an interception by Eagles safety C.J Gardner-Johnson in the busy third quarter. He was also sacked twice by Philadelphia edge rusher Haason Reddick.
The Eagles were able to contain Kelce, who had six catches for 65 yards and the opening touchdown. The Chiefs leading receiver was Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who had seven catches for 89 yards.
Chiefs fans may take some solace in the knowledge that the Madden simulation game has gotten four of the past five Super Bowls wrong. The last one the Madden simulation correctly predicted was Super Bowl LIV, when it rightly had the Chiefs beating the San Francisco 49ers. That game also correctly predicted that Mahomes would be the MVP.
Stay tuned for the actual Super Bowl LVII on Sunday in Glendale, Ariz.
–Field Level Media