The Madden NFL 23 video game predicts a change to the recent run of competitive Super Bowls, with the official simulation playing out a Philadelphia Eagles 31-17 victory over Kansas in Super Bowl LVII.
The simulation game is tied 10-10 at the half, but the Eagles pull away in the second half, thanks to two third-quarter touchdown passes from Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts - a 26-yard TD pass to AJ Brown and a 63-yarder to DeVonta Smith.
Brown is the game's leading receiver, grabbing eight catches for 114 yards and a touchdown, while Smith has six catches for 92 yards and a touchdown.
Eagles running back Miles Sanders has 15 carries for 78 yards and the Eagles' last touchdown.
Hurts is sacked twice by Kansas City defensive tackle Chris Jones, but his offensive performance - including a nine-yard run for a touchdown in the first quarter - is enough to earn the game's Most Valuable Player honoirs.
He completes 26 of 33 passes for 282 yards and no interceptions.
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes doesn't fare as well in the simulation. He opens the game with a four-yard TD pass to tightend Travis Kelce, but that is the only one for Mahomes.
Mahomes ultimately completes 29 of 39 passes for 249 yards, the one touchdown and an interception by Eagles safety CJ Gardner-Johnson in the busy third quarter. He is also sacked twice by Philadelphia edge rusher Haason Reddick.
The Eagles are able to contain Kelce, who has six catches for 65 yards and the opening touchdown. The Chiefs leading receiver is Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who has 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 San Francisco 49ers. That game also correctly predicted Mahomes would be the MVP.
Stay tuned for the actual Super Bowl LVII on Sunday in Glendale, Arizona.
Reuters
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