The Third Act.

[Soapy]

550 yards and a loss. Oof.

Weird game where I felt like we outplayed them and still loss

Letting Matty Ice put 440 on you is nuts.

it was all underneath stuff too.

The home field on next-gen is NCAA 14 on steroids. I pretty much the entire first half not being able to see the defense/offense I just called post snap with the squiggly lines and just straight up sometimes the wrong play.

Thank god we're at home next lmao

The home field advantage stuff is fun imo.

It is, makes being home and away matter for the first time in Madden (weather aside). I just wish it was more situationally based like in the playoffs, the effects would be more severe while if you're playing a non-playoff team late in the season, there won't be as much fans in the stand so the effects are less.

[Soapy]

Week 13 NFL Results
DAL 45 - NO 24 | MIA 34 - NYG 9 | IND 21 - HOU 7 | DET 28 - MIN 27
PHI 23 - NYJ 14 | DEN 29 - KC 17 | CHI 28 - ARI 27 | LAC 35 - CIN 28
ATL 44 - TB 38 | LV 21 - WAS 13 | LAR 21 - JAX 14 | BAL 35 - PIT 13
SF 31 - SEA 28 | NE 44 - BUF 35
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
NFL Playoff Standings
AFC
1. Tennessee, 10-2
2. Baltimore, 9-3
3. LA Chargers, 8-4
4. Buffalo, 7-5
5. Las Vegas, 8-4
6. Pittsburgh, 7-5
7. New England, 7-6
-- Cleveland, 6-6
-- Denver, 6-6
-- Indianapolis, 6-7
-- Cincinnati, 5-7
-- Kansas City, 5-7

NFC
1. Green Bay, 10-2
2. LA Rams, 9-3
3. Dallas, 9-3
4. Tampa, 8-4
5. Arizona, 8-4
6. Atlanta, 7-5
7. Carolina, 6-6
-- New Orleans, 6-6
-- Philadelphia, 6-7
-- Minnesota, 5-7
-- San Francisco, 5-7
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Players of the Week
HB Javonte Williams (DEN): 21 carries, 154 yards, 4 touchdowns.
LB Joe Schobert (PIT): 9 tackles, 2 interceptions.
QB Tom Brady (TB): 30 of 48, 384 yards, 5 touchdowns, interception.
CB Byron Murphy (ARI): 4 tackles, 2 interceptions.
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Notable Injuries
DT D.J. Reader (CIN): Season (leg)
CB Bryce Callahan (DEN): Season (knee)
OLB Bradley Chubb (DEN): Season (ankle)
OLB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (CLE): Season (ankle)
DE J.J. Watt (ARI): Season (shoulder)
HB Clyde Edwards-Helaire (KC): Season (knee)
DE Brandon Graham (PHI): Season (ankle)
HB Saquon Barkley (NYG): Season (ankle)
WR Calvin Ridley (ATL): Season (personal)
HB Raheem Mostert (SF): Season (knee)
CB Jason Verrett (SF): Season (knee)
CB Jaire Alexander (GB): Season (shoulder)
QB Sam Darnold (CAR): Season (shoulder)
CB Jonathan Jones (NE): Season (shoulder)
HB James White (NE): Season (hip)
HB Cam Akers (LAR): Season (ankle)
LT Ronnie Stanley (BAL): Season (ankle)
WR Michael Thomas (NO): Season (ankle)
QB Jameis Winston (NO): Season (knee)
HB Derrick Henry (TEN): Season (foot)
DE Danielle Hunter (MIN): Season (shoulder)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notable Transactions
New Orleans Saints release HB Mark Ingram II
Pittsburgh Steelers release CB Joe Haden

[James]

Yeah and when combined with the Superstar abilities it can make every game feel different. I enjoy it.

I also like your house rules. Pretty similar to the ones that I’ve been using in my test chise with some small differences. I have one question. Does it count as a different play if it is from a different formation? Or do you only get one HB Dive per drive even if it is in different formations.

[Soapy]

Patriots activate Trent Brown off injured reserve
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- — The Patriots activated offensive tackle Trent Brown from injured reserve Saturday, the team announced.

They sent defensive lineman Gerald Willis III to the practice squad in a corresponding move. Willis has been signed as a free agent when defensive lineman Deatrich Wise suffered an injury and had tow miss two games. Willis was active for the past three games but did not record a snap on defense.

Brown injured his calf seven snaps into the 2021 season and missed the team’s next three games before being placed on injured reserve Oct. 9. Brown is in his second stint with the Patriots. He also has played for the 49ers and Raiders. In seven seasons, Brown has played 64 games with 61 starts.

[Soapy]

Yeah and when combined with the Superstar abilities it can make every game feel different. I enjoy it.

I also like your house rules. Pretty similar to the ones that I’ve been using in my test chise with some small differences. I have one question. Does it count as a different play if it is from a different formation? Or do you only get one HB Dive per drive even if it is in different formations.

I typically play with Superstar abilities off since the game can sometimes feel gimmicky, especially at the LOS.

It can be from a different formation so I can run HB dive from I form and then run it from Singleback and those only count as running that play once, not twice.

[Captain Canada]

That Titans game we're going to have to have a conversation about that. Good shit rebounding against the Bills though.

[Soapy]

Bye Week Report: The State of the Patriots
The season is almost over and with the IR list pilling up for most teams, the New England get a late and much needed bye in the fourteenth week of the season, fresh off perhaps the biggest game of their season.

The losses to Tennessee and Atlanta will linger for a while as has the stench of the season opening loss to the now 4-9 Dolphins who at one point looked like the worst team in football shortly after beating New England in Foxborough.

Even with the late bye, it's still unclear who exactly are the New England Patriots. They looked dominant in opposite halves against Atlanta and Tennessee and had strong performances for most of the game against Buffalo, Los Angeles and Cleveland, all teams with playoff and even championship aspirations. Yet, there is the first half of the Atlanta game and the second half against the Titans, the aforementioned loss to Miami and New Orleans while looking less than impressive in their win over Houston.

The answer is most likely in the middle which is to be expected with a first-year quarterback, a third-year running back and their top receiver being a converted quarterback that's in his third-year in the league as well. Offseason additions such as Hunter Henry, Nelson Agholor, Kendrick Bourne, Jonnu Smith and Matthew Judon have helped elevate their young players and keep the team afloat and alive in the playoff chance but ultimately, they just might not have enough firepower to be among the league's elites.

Best player through weeks 1-13:
The league leader in sacks, Judon is exactly what the doctor ordered for the New England Patriots who haven't had a dominant edge rusher since Chandler Jones was traded to the Cardinals.

With eighteen tackles for loss, Judon has also been stout against the run but it's his work in the passing game as an edge rusher that has made him special this year. In the last three games, he's recorded thirteen QB hurries and one of his best games of the season last week with five hurries on Josh Allen and two sacks, including stripping Allen on a play where Christian Barmore returned it for a touchdown.

Worst player through weeks 1-13:
While Judon is the clear winner for best player, worst player is a bit of a tougher designation to bestow but ultimately, it falls on Myles Bryant. The second-year pro out of Washington is replacing the injured nickel corner Jonathan Jones and had a strong start initially but lately, he's been exposed. In the last three weeks, he's posted a PFF grade of 48.9 including 24.0 grade last week in a game where he allowed nine catches including a touchdown.

It remains to be seen if the team will continue to use him as their third corner behind J.C. Jackson and Jalen Mills or will they give rookie Shaun Wade or Joejuan Williams more of a look throughout the season.

Most Impressive game so far:
W 44-35 at Buffalo

The second Jets game where New England put up fifty-four points is another nominee but when considered the context of the game, the opponent, being on the road, the Bills game last week takes the cake.

New England's defense wasn't able to slow down Josh Allen but the offense was able to score 44 points on the league's top defense and the running game had no problems with what was supposed to be an elite unite they were going up against. It also came off the heels of back to back close losses to Atlanta and Tennessee where New England had a chance to win both games late and couldn't do it.

Least Impressive game so far:
L 28-13 vs. New Orleans

Probably the worst game of Mac Jones' career, he threw three interceptions, the offense had just 49 yards on the ground and they just looked like a team destined to win just three or four games in their loss to a Saints team that didn't particularly play well that day either.

Early Offseason Forecast:
A lot can change in the last month of the season but the Patriots are in a good position to at worst be a seventh seed with a tie breaker over the eight seeded Cleveland Browns. They finish the season at Indianapolis next week then at home against Buffalo and Jacksonville before closing the season out on the road at Miami. Even if they finish the season 2-2, it brings their record to 9-8 with Cleveland needing to win four of their final five games (vs. Baltimore, vs. Las Vegas, at Green Bay, at Pittsburgh, vs. Cincinnati) where they will likely be underdogs or slight home favorites in all of them.

If the Patriots do make the playoffs, it could potentially change their offseason plans. They re-signed cornerback J.J. Jackson to a four year, $59.4 million and extended Trent Brown another three years for $46.3 million along with linebacker Ja'Whaun Bentley (3yr/$11.4 million) and team captain Devin McCourty (1yr, $12.7 million) earlier in the season and after splurging this past offseason, will there be an appetite for them to spend more money once more?

Left on the docket are veterans Dont'a Hightower and Adrian Phillips who have both played well this season but are on the other side of 30. With the extension to Bentley, could the team be looking to make him a permanent replacement for Hightower. There's also James White whose turning 30 next season and wasn't productive in 2020 due to the QB situation and then missed most of 2021 with an injury but his skillset would be perfect for a quarterback like Mac Jones.

The big free agent to decide on is wide receiver Jakobi Meyers who has outplayed his rookie contract and could be looking to cash in after being the team's best receiver the last two seasons. A limited athlete, will the team be willing to give him an extension in the $10M APY range?

[Soapy]

Week 14 NFL Results
PIT 34 - MIN 21 | WAS 31 - DAL 23 | CIN 35 - SF 28 | TEN 24 - JAX 14 | GB 24 - CHI 14
SEA 23 - HOU 17 | KC 35 - LV 30 | NO 27 - NYJ 17 | ATL 24 - CAR 17 | ARI 24 - LAR 21
CLE 26 - BAL 23 | NYG 21 - LAC 17 | DET 24 - DEN 3 | BUF 30 - TB 24
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
NFL Playoff Standings
AFC
1. Tennessee, 11-2 (clinched division)
2. Baltimore, 9-4
3. LA Chargers, 8-5
4. Buffalo, 8-5
5. Las Vegas, 8-5
6. Pittsburgh, 8-5
7. New England, 7-6
-- Cleveland, 7-6
-- Indianapolis, 6-7
-- Cincinnati, 6-7
-- Denver, 6-7
-- Kansas City, 6-7

NFC
1. Green Bay, 11-2 (clinched division)
2. Dallas, 9-4
3. Arizona, 9-4
4. Atlanta, 8-5
5. LA Rams, 9-4
6. Tampa, 8-5
7. New Orleans, 7-6
-- Philadelphia, 6-7
-- Carolina, 6-7
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Players of the Week
HB Joe Mixon (CIN): 16 carries, 181 yards, 2 touchdowns.
LB Myles Jack (JAX): 12 tackles, sack, interception.
QB Matthew Stafford (LAR): 30 of 42, 352 yards, touchdown.
LB Demario Davis (NO): 17 tackles, interception.
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Notable Injuries
DT D.J. Reader (CIN): Season (leg)
CB Bryce Callahan (DEN): Season (knee)
OLB Bradley Chubb (DEN): Season (ankle)
OLB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (CLE): Season (ankle)
DE J.J. Watt (ARI): Season (shoulder)
HB Clyde Edwards-Helaire (KC): Season (knee)
DE Brandon Graham (PHI): Season (ankle)
HB Saquon Barkley (NYG): Season (ankle)
WR Calvin Ridley (ATL): Season (personal)
HB Raheem Mostert (SF): Season (knee)
CB Jason Verrett (SF): Season (knee)
CB Jaire Alexander (GB): Season (shoulder)
QB Sam Darnold (CAR): Season (shoulder)
CB Jonathan Jones (NE): Season (shoulder)
HB James White (NE): Season (hip)
HB Cam Akers (LAR): Season (ankle)
LT Ronnie Stanley (BAL): Season (ankle)
WR Michael Thomas (NO): Season (ankle)
QB Jameis Winston (NO): Season (knee)
HB Derrick Henry (TEN): Season (foot)
DE Danielle Hunter (MIN): Season (shoulder)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notable Transactions
None

[Captain Canada]

This off-season is going to be lit, knowing how much of a maestro you are. But first, we need some playoffs

[Soapy]

Week 15 Preview: at Indianapolis Colts
Record: 6-7, 2nd AFC South

Team Leaders
Passing: Carson Wentz (63% completion, 3014 yards, 21 TD, 4 INT, 96.4 rating)
Rushing: Jonathan Taylor (1128 yards, 5.4 ypc, 10 TD)
Receiving: Michael Pittman Jr. (63 receptions, 786 yards, 7 TD)
Defense: Darius Leonard (90 tackles, 3 TFL, 3 INT, 7 PBU)

Team Rankings
Scoring Offense: 24.4 PPG | 16th
Total Offense: 423 YPG | 14th
Passing Offense: 224 YPG | 25th
Rushing Offense: 133 YPG | 4th
Scoring Defense: 22.9 PAPG | 10th
Total Defense: 362 YAPG | 19th
Passing Defense: 264 YAPG | 27th
Rushing Defense: 97 YAPG | 10th

Injuries
IND S Julian Blackmon (ankle)
IND S Khari Willis (ankle)
IND K Rodrigo Blankenship (foot)
IND RG Mark Glowinski (knee)
IND CB T.J. Carrie (leg)
IND DE Tyquan Lewis (knee)
IND WR Paris Campbell (knee)
------
NE HB James White (hip)
NE CB Jonathan Jones (shoulder)
NE DE Chase Winovich (groin)
NE DE Henry Anderson (chest)

Indianapolis Colts Projected Starters
QB #2 Carson Wentz | 6'5", 237lbs | 73 ovr, 80 spd, 86 acc, 70 awr, 90 thp, 85 sac, 78 mac, 80 dac
HB #28 Jonathan Taylor | 5'10", 226lbs | 87 ovr, 94 spd, 92 acc, 92 car, 89 btk, 88 trk
WR #13 T.Y. Hilton | 5'10", 183lbs | 82 ovr, 91 spd, 90 acc, 86 cth
WR #11 Michael Pittman Jr. | 6'4", 223lbs | 80 ovr, 88 spd, 88 acc, 94 cth
WR #14 Zach Pascal | 6'2", 214lbs | 76 ovr, 87 spd, 92 acc, 86 cth
TE #84 Jack Doyle | 6'6", 262lbs | 77 ovr, 76 spd, 81 acc, 82 cth, 71 rbk
LT #79 Eric Fisher | 6'7", 315lbs | 74 ovr, 88 str, 73 pbk, 76 rbk
LG #56 Quenton Nelson | 6'5", 329lbs | 95 ovr, 97 str, 90 pbk, 91 rbk
C #78 Ryan Kelly | 6'4", 309lbs | 84 ovr, 86 str, 83 pbk, 82 rbk
RG #75 Will Fires | 6'6", 309lbs | 58 ovr, 84 str, 60 pbk, 64 rbk
RT #72 Braden Smith | 6'6", 315lbs | 84 ovr, 92 str, 84 pbk, 83 rbk
---------------------
DE #51 Kwity Paye | 6'2", 272lbs | 75 ovr, 85 spd, 86 acc, 86 str, 74 pmv, 59 fmv, 75 bsh
DE #97 Al-Quadin Muhammad | 6'4", 250lbs | 72 ovr, 81 spd, 87 acc, 78 str, 76 pmv, 65 fmv, 72 bsh
DT #91 DeForest Buckner | 6'7", 295lbs | 91 ovr, 86 acc, 91 str, 85 pmv, 96 fmv, 91 bsh
DT #90 Grover Stewart | 6'4", 315lbs | 80 ovr, 82 acc, 92 str, 75 pmv, 60 fmv, 84 bsh
LB #53 Darius Leonard | 6'2", 215lbs | 84 ovr, 87 spd, 87 acc, 93 awr, 93 tkl, 82 bsh
LB #58 Bobby Okereke | 6'1", 239lbs | 78 ovr, 88 spd, 89 acc, 85 awr, 82 tkl, 72 bsh
CB #26 Rock Ya-Sin | 6'0", 192lbs | 77 ovr, 90 spd, 90 acc, 78 awr, 75 mcv, 81 zcv, 82 press
CB #27 Xavier Rhodes | 6'1", 218lbs | 79 ovr, 89 spd, 88 acc, 84 awr, 80 mcv, 85 zcv, 85 press
NB #28 Kenny Moore | 5'9", 190lbs | 82 ovr, 89 spd, 91 acc, 87 awr, 79 mcv, 83 zcv, 71 press
S #30 George Odum | 6'1", 200lbs | 69 ovr, 91 spd, 92 acc, 67 awr, 65 mcv, 72 zcv, 67 tkl
S #36 Josh Jones | 6'2", 220lbs | 68 ovr, 91 spd, 90 acc, 69 awr, 57 mcv, 63 zcv, 78 tkl
K #6 Michael Badgley | 5'10", 183lbs |69 ovr, 96 kpw, 70 kac
P #8 Rigoberto Sanchez | 6'0", 195lbs | 74 ovr, 92 kpw, 83 kac