Week 17 Madden simulation predicts dramatic Dallas Cowboys win over Detroit Lions

The Dallas Cowboys are looking to rebound on Saturday night against the Detroit Lions, and if they are able to do so they will keep hope alive for an NFC East title and the home playoff game that comes with it. They would also still be alive for the #2 seed in the NFC and a guaranteed second contest in their building should they win the first one.

Needless to say the stakes are rather high for the Cowboys, as I told our friends at Pride of Detroit, and not quite as high for the Lions after they clinched the NFC North last week.

There are a lot of ways that Saturday can go, at the very least Jimmy Johnson will finally be inducted into the Ring of Honor, and in an effort to try and predict what will happen we did what we always do. We ran a simulation through Madden 24.

This was one of the more dramatic simulations that we have had this season as the Cowboys got the ball with 2:34 left in the game and needed at least a field goal to tie. They got more than that and scored the go-ahead touchdown leaving very little time for the Lions to pull off a miracle.

Please note that this simulation was run prior to Friday’s news or injury announcements.

The game-winning drive

• 1st and 10 (DAL 20): Dak 4-yard rush
• 2nd and 6 (DAL 24): Dak to Ferguson for 24 yards
• 1st and 10 (DAL 48): Dak incomplete to Ferguson
• 2nd and 10 (DAL 48): Dak to Gallup for 6 yards
• 3rd and 4 (DET 46): Dak to Pollard for 5 yards
• 1st and 10 (DET 41): Dak incomplete to Ferguson
• 2nd and 10 (DET 41): Dak to CeeDee for 15 yards
• 1st and 10 (DET 26): Dak to Gallup for 20 yards
• 1st and Goal (DET 7): Dak to Pollard for 6 yards
• 2nd and Goal (DET 1): Touchdown, Tony Pollard

 

The simulation saw Tony Pollard punch it in from the 1-yard line, perhaps a make-up for last week during Dallas’ first possession against the Miami Dolphins, to cap off an 80-yard drive. However, the really special play was the one that came two plays before it when Michael Gallup got near the goal line on a 20-yard reception.

Notable Madden statistics

• Dak Prescott: 15/21, 163 passing yards, 1 passing touchdown
• Tony Pollard: 11 carries, 68 yards, 1 touchdown (the game-winner)
• Michael Gallup: 4 receptions, 65 yards
• Brandin Cooks: 3 receptions, 28 yards
• Jake Ferguson: 2 receptions, 24 yards
• CeeDee Lamb: 1 reception, 15 yards
• Luke Schonmaker: 1 reception, 12 yards, 1 touchdown
• Chauncey Golston: 1 sack (the only one of the game for Dallas)

This is always a fun guess at how things could play our for the Cowboys and their opponent, and while this sounds hard to believe we have in the past seen Madden predict the score in a completely accurate fashion.

…although that has definitely not happened this season.

Madden predictions this season and game result:

• Week 1: Madden predicted Cowboys win 23-20, Cowboys won 40-0
• Week 2: Madden predicted Cowboys win 27-14, Cowboys won 30-10
• Week 3: Madden predicted Cowboys win 14-7, Cowboys lost 28-16
• Week 4: Madden predicted Cowboys win 41-14, Cowboys won 38-3
• Week 5: Madden predicted Cowboys win, 27-19, Cowboys lost 42-10
• Week 6: Madden predicted Cowboys lose, 21-17, Cowboys won 20-17
• Week 8: Madden predicted Cowboys lose, 30-27, Cowboys won 43-20
• Week 9: Madden predicted Cowboys win, 28-10, Cowboys lost 28-23
• Week 10: Madden predicted Cowboys win, 31-3, Cowboys won 49-17
• Week 11: Madden predicted Cowboys lose, 34-31, Dallas won 33-10
• Week 12: Madden predicted Cowboys win, 20-17, Dallas won 45-10
• Week 13: Madden predicted Cowboys win, 23-20, Dallas won 41-35
• Week 14: Madden predicted Cowboys lose, 23-20, Dallas won 33-13
• Week 15: Madden predicted Cowboys win, 28-3, Dallas lost 31-10
• Week 16: Madden predicted Cowboys win, 31-10, Dallas lost 22-20
• Overall Madden Accuracy so far this season: 6-9

Time will tell whether or not this prediction is how things unfold for the Cowboys on Saturday night. Hopefully it is off in terms of the drama and Dallas is in cruise control for most of the evening.