Madden 19 Divisional Round Simulation
Colts vs Chiefs
NFL Picks: Chiefs ATS & Under
This game was all Chiefs from start to finish. They led 10-0 after one quarter, 20-0 at half-time, and 27-0 after three. The Colts didn’t score at all until garbage time in the fourth. Mahomes was ok in his playoff debut—he didn’t make mistakes, but he wasn’t spectacular. He went 18-for-32 for 217 yards, two touchdowns, and zero picks. Running back Damien Williams continued to be a solid replacement of Kareem Hunt. He averaged 4.8 YPC. Tyreek Hill led KC receivers with seven receptions and 84 yards. Tight end Travis Kelce was right behind with six receptions for 77 yards.
For Indianapolis, Andrew Luck was awful and his numbers were even a bit inflated from garbage time activity. He went 19-for-28 for 162 yards and one touchdown. He also threw two picks. Marlon Mack couldn’t come close to repeating his rushing performance from the Wild Card round. Also notably, superstar receiver T.Y. Hilton only had eight yards. Who said that the Chiefs didn’t play defense?
This game was not the shootout that everyone expected it to be. The Chiefs won 33-7, covering the spread on the NFL odds board by the largest margin of the weekend.
Cowboys vs Rams
NFL Picks: Cowboys ML & Over
This one was insane, an absolute rollercoaster. Dallas’ defense stepped up initially, shutting out the Rams through the first quarter, after which Dallas led 10-0. But over the next two quarters. the Rams scored 20 of the 27 points scored and led 20-17 after three. The fourth quarter saw 34 points, which was almost as many points scored during the previous three quarters combined. Ezekiel Elliott got the lead back for Dallas with a one-yard touchdown to put Dallas up 24-20. Brett Maher added a field goal to extend the lead to seven. Jared Goff tied it back up for the Rams with a touchdown pass, 27-27. Dallas added a rushing touchdown to make it 34-27. With 1:30 left, Goff threw a touchdown pass to Josh Reynolds to tie it up again. Dak had enough time left to march his team down the field in order for Maher to kick a 55-yard field goal with time expiring. Dallas won 37-34.
Both Goff and Prescott were excellent, throwing for 300+ yards and multiple touchdowns and both completed at least 60% of their passes. Goff did throw a pick. Zeke mustered 114 yards, but needed 32 carries to do so (3.5 YPC). Todd Gurley was superb, though, with 18 carries for 170 yards (9.4 YPC). Brandin Cooks for the Rams and Blake Jarwin and Amari Cooper for the Cowboys eclipsed 80 yards receiving.
Chargers vs Patriots
NFL Picks: Chargers ML & Over
This game was a back-and-forth from start to finish between two awesome pass attacks. In all, there were a total of eight lead changes. Ironically, it was Melvin Gordon who was the hero as his 21-yard touchdown run with 40 seconds remaining put L.A. up for good, 38-31. Philip Rivers was 26-for-41 with 362 yards and three touchdowns. Brady was 39-for-55 with 475 yards, three touchdowns, but two picks. Gronk was unstoppable with 15 receptions for 223 yards and a touchdown. Hunter Henry and Keenan Allen both accrued 100+ yards receiving for L.A. Linebacker Jatavis Brown was a star, leading all players with 13 tackles and picking off Brady twice.
Eagles vs Saints
NFL Picks: Eagles ATS & Under
The Saints led from start to finish, but didn’t win in the blowout fashion that many seem to expect. The Eagles' largest deficit was 12 (they got a safety) and they cut it to five with a Josh Adams run in the fourth. But that was it, they couldn’t complete the comeback and lost 23-18. Both quarterbacks attempted over 30 passes and were very efficient, but Nick Foles threw a pick. Drew Brees was 29-for-41 with 288 yards and two touchdowns. Their passing replaced any semblance of a running game. Mark Ingram was the only running back to eclipse 50 yards. Michael Thomas was actually not the Saints’ leading receiver. Tre’quan Smith stepped up for 11 receptions and 88 yards. For Philly, Alshon Jeffery had seven receptions for 84 yards and tight end Zach Ertz added six for 79. On defense, left end Cameron Jordan was a beast for the Saints, accruing three tackles for loss and two sacks. Both kickers were important as each one converted three of three field goal attempts. New Orleans’ Wil Lutz completed the longest of the day, 48 yards.
Colts vs Chiefs
NFL Picks: Chiefs ATS & Under
This game was all Chiefs from start to finish. They led 10-0 after one quarter, 20-0 at half-time, and 27-0 after three. The Colts didn’t score at all until garbage time in the fourth. Mahomes was ok in his playoff debut—he didn’t make mistakes, but he wasn’t spectacular. He went 18-for-32 for 217 yards, two touchdowns, and zero picks. Running back Damien Williams continued to be a solid replacement of Kareem Hunt. He averaged 4.8 YPC. Tyreek Hill led KC receivers with seven receptions and 84 yards. Tight end Travis Kelce was right behind with six receptions for 77 yards.
For Indianapolis, Andrew Luck was awful and his numbers were even a bit inflated from garbage time activity. He went 19-for-28 for 162 yards and one touchdown. He also threw two picks. Marlon Mack couldn’t come close to repeating his rushing performance from the Wild Card round. Also notably, superstar receiver T.Y. Hilton only had eight yards. Who said that the Chiefs didn’t play defense?
This game was not the shootout that everyone expected it to be. The Chiefs won 33-7, covering the spread on the NFL odds board by the largest margin of the weekend.
Cowboys vs Rams
NFL Picks: Cowboys ML & Over
This one was insane, an absolute rollercoaster. Dallas’ defense stepped up initially, shutting out the Rams through the first quarter, after which Dallas led 10-0. But over the next two quarters. the Rams scored 20 of the 27 points scored and led 20-17 after three. The fourth quarter saw 34 points, which was almost as many points scored during the previous three quarters combined. Ezekiel Elliott got the lead back for Dallas with a one-yard touchdown to put Dallas up 24-20. Brett Maher added a field goal to extend the lead to seven. Jared Goff tied it back up for the Rams with a touchdown pass, 27-27. Dallas added a rushing touchdown to make it 34-27. With 1:30 left, Goff threw a touchdown pass to Josh Reynolds to tie it up again. Dak had enough time left to march his team down the field in order for Maher to kick a 55-yard field goal with time expiring. Dallas won 37-34.
Both Goff and Prescott were excellent, throwing for 300+ yards and multiple touchdowns and both completed at least 60% of their passes. Goff did throw a pick. Zeke mustered 114 yards, but needed 32 carries to do so (3.5 YPC). Todd Gurley was superb, though, with 18 carries for 170 yards (9.4 YPC). Brandin Cooks for the Rams and Blake Jarwin and Amari Cooper for the Cowboys eclipsed 80 yards receiving.
Chargers vs Patriots
NFL Picks: Chargers ML & Over
This game was a back-and-forth from start to finish between two awesome pass attacks. In all, there were a total of eight lead changes. Ironically, it was Melvin Gordon who was the hero as his 21-yard touchdown run with 40 seconds remaining put L.A. up for good, 38-31. Philip Rivers was 26-for-41 with 362 yards and three touchdowns. Brady was 39-for-55 with 475 yards, three touchdowns, but two picks. Gronk was unstoppable with 15 receptions for 223 yards and a touchdown. Hunter Henry and Keenan Allen both accrued 100+ yards receiving for L.A. Linebacker Jatavis Brown was a star, leading all players with 13 tackles and picking off Brady twice.
Eagles vs Saints
NFL Picks: Eagles ATS & Under
The Saints led from start to finish, but didn’t win in the blowout fashion that many seem to expect. The Eagles' largest deficit was 12 (they got a safety) and they cut it to five with a Josh Adams run in the fourth. But that was it, they couldn’t complete the comeback and lost 23-18. Both quarterbacks attempted over 30 passes and were very efficient, but Nick Foles threw a pick. Drew Brees was 29-for-41 with 288 yards and two touchdowns. Their passing replaced any semblance of a running game. Mark Ingram was the only running back to eclipse 50 yards. Michael Thomas was actually not the Saints’ leading receiver. Tre’quan Smith stepped up for 11 receptions and 88 yards. For Philly, Alshon Jeffery had seven receptions for 84 yards and tight end Zach Ertz added six for 79. On defense, left end Cameron Jordan was a beast for the Saints, accruing three tackles for loss and two sacks. Both kickers were important as each one converted three of three field goal attempts. New Orleans’ Wil Lutz completed the longest of the day, 48 yards.
