‘Madden’ demands that Packers RB Eddie Lacy have a big week

Our coaching change last week doesn’t appear to have worked. The move from the Xbox 360 to the PlayStation 4 resulted in Madden’s worst week yet, putting up a paltry 6-9 record. Not all the blame rests on the digital shoulders of Madden though.  It’s been an odd year in the NFL.  Teams that were expected to be Super Bowl contenders like San Francisco and Green Bay are barely clinging on to a playoff hope, while teams like Kansas City and Indianapolis have two of the best records in the league.

A lot of that has to do with injury, and not just the absence of a player, but the domino effect it can have on the team in general. Sometimes Madden can pick up on those things – like picking former backup quarterbacks Case Keenum and Nick Foles to have breakout performances. Other times it will continue to stick with teams like Green Bay even after Aaron Rodgers is out, not factoring in his intangibles like general leadership abilities. Green Bay on paper, even without Rodgers, should have been able to take care of the New York Giants, who started the season 0-6. The Pack came into that game on a two-game losing streak though, while the Giants had won three straight and easily made it four in a row. No matter how sophisticated, a game can’t really predict momentum. 

Madden foresees an end to the Pack’s slide this week though, partly thanks to a huge day from running back Eddie Lacy. So far this season, Lacy (the real one) has run for 696 yards with five TDs. That ranks him eighth in running yards, and tied for ninth in touchdowns. (His digital counterpart has just 587 yards and  three TDs) If Madden is right, Lacy’s performance against the Vikings could put him in the top five running backs in both categories. And it’s definitely possible, even though Lacy ran for just 27 yards last week.  With Rodgers still out with a broken collarbone, Madden is wisely predicting the Pack to run the ball; in real life that makes sense given replacement quarterback Scott Tolzien’s three INTs last week, plus Minnesota’s anemic run defense that has given up the fifth most rushing touchdowns this season.

According to Madden though, the game to watch this weekend will be Indianapolis versus Arizona, which will come down to a single field goal. The Colts are firmly in control of the AFC South, while the Cardinals have won three in a row and have a shot at a wildcard playoff spot. If Carson Palmer can put up numbers like last week versus Jacksonville – where he threw for 419 yards, had two TDs and no INTs – Andrew Luck and the Colts are going to have a tough day. The game is also in Arizona.     

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