Simulating the NFL season with Madden 24

We simulated the 2023 campaign in Madden NFL 24 ahead of the regular season starting to see how the year could go. Enjoy the comment section of this just-for-fun exercise.

Note: Rosters were based on Week 1 projections. Players on IR came off based on real-world projections.

AFC North

Bengals

Joe Burrow put up insane numbers, even for a video game. He completed 76% of his passes for 4,442 yards, 48 touchdowns, and just two interceptions.

Team MVP: QB Joe Burrow - 4,442 passing yards, 48 TDs, 2 INTs, 302 rushing yards, 3 rushing TDs

Ravens

While they couldn't catch Cincy's absurd campaign, the Ravens did well for themselves with Lamar Jackson throwing for over 3,300 yards and running for over 900 more.

Team MVP: QB Lamar Jackson - 3,362 passing yards, 24 TDs, 6 INTs, 969 yards rushing yards, 7 TDs

Steelers

Mike Tomlin continues to find ways to finish .500 or better, even in Madden. No one on the defense had outrageous sack production, but all three of Larry Ogunjobi, Cam Heyward, and T.J. Watt finished with 14-plus tackles for loss.

Team MVP - DL Larry Ogunjobi - 53 tackles, 19 TFLs, 5.5 sacks

Browns

Nick Chubb was predictably the engine for Cleveland's offense, racking up over 1,800 total yards and 17 total touchdowns. Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah earned team MVP with all sorts of production. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to get the Browns back to the playoffs.

Team MVP: LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah - 110 tackles, 5 TFLs, 0.5 sacks, 2 INTs

AFC South

Titans

Derrick Henry sees your "old running backs suck" argument and runs right through it. He had another excellent rushing season and the defense showed out to stun the league as the Titans went 13-4.

Team MVP: RB Derrick Henry - 325 carries, 1,795 yards, 14 TDs, 18 receptions, 200 yards

Jaguars

Trevor Lawrence had a similar campaign to his 2022 season with 3,769 passing yards, 27 TDs, and nine interceptions, and Calvin Ridley made a solid debut with the team (79 catches/977 yards/4 TDs). Defensively, Foye Oluokun and Darious Williams were standouts.

Team MVP: CB Darious Williams - 86 tackles, 2 TFLs, 0.5 sacks, 4 INTs, 5 PBUs

Colts

Year 1 for Anthony Richardson was a mixed bag. Like Peyton Manning before him, he led the league in interceptions, tossing 24. But he also had 3,443 yards and 20 TDs through the air and another 437 yards and four touchdowns rushing.

Team MVP: DL DeForest Buckner - 69 tackles, 21 TFLs, 12.5 sacks

Texans

Will Anderson led the team with six sacks, C.J. Stroud had 22 touchdown passes, and the Texans finished with six wins. Those aren't terrible debut seasons for a team that's widely expected to be in contention for the No. 1 pick in next year's draft.

Team MVP: WR Robert Woods - 84 receptions, 1,118 yards, 13 TDs

AFC East

Bills

Things did not go to plan all around the AFC East, but the Bills secured the division crown with a top-five offense and defense in terms of yardage. Von Miller's 16 sacks or Stefon Diggs' 107 receptions, 1,460 yards, and nine touchdowns could've easily earned team MVP.

Team MVP: QB Josh Allen - 4,449 passing yards, 28 TDs, 9 INTs, 526 rushing yards, 3 TDs

Dolphins

Maybe the biggest positive surprise from this letdown of a year for Miami was Cedrick Wilson's 67/822/8 receiving line. The biggest negative surprise could go to any of Bradley Chubb (2.5 sacks), Jaelan Phillips (one sack), or Jaylen Waddle (less than 1,000 yards, only five TDs).

Team MVP: WR Tyreek Hill - 74 receptions, 1,104 yards, 5 TDs

Patriots

Ezekiel Elliott had a productive, if not terribly efficient, first campaign in Foxborough. The longtime Cowboy had 1,237 yards and nine scores on 302 carries. Mac Jones threw a career-high 30 touchdown passes but also had 14 interceptions.

Team MVP: LB Marte Mapu - 73 total tackles, 4 TFLs, 5 INTs

Jets

Aaron Rodgers got closer to his old MVP self in his first season in New York, but the team failed to live up to its lofty aspirations. Rogers gets the team MVP, but Quinnen Williams' 10 sacks and 13 TFLs deserve a mention.

Team MVP: QB Aaron Rodgers - 4,204 passing yards, 40 TDs, 8 INTs

AFC West

Chargers

Khalil Mack (16.5 sacks, 11 TFLs) and Joey Bosa (15 sacks, 15 TFLs) deserve shoutouts on the defensive side of the ball, but it's the Chargers' offense that really took off. Austin Ekeler had just under 1,600 total yards with 17 total scores and Keenan Allen put up an 84/1,270/11 receiving line.

Team MVP: QB Justin Herbert - 3,866 passing yards, 26 TDs, 3 INTs, 477 rushing yards, 4 TDs

Chiefs

Patrick Mahomes continued to show that he's an alien despite the lack of a division title. Isiah Pacheco's 1,123 yards and 10 touchdowns were a nice complement to Mahomes' aerial assault, but the defensive struggled to stop opponents consistently.

Team MVP: QB Patrick Mahomes - 4,116 passing yards, 41 TDs, 3 INTs, 325 rushing yards, 2 TDs

Raiders

Josh Jacobs took home his second consecutive rushing title as the Raiders enjoyed a surprise playoff-caliber season. Davante Adams was their unquestioned top receiver with 82 catches, 1,143 yards, and 13 touchdowns, including 379 yards after the catch.

Team MVP: RB Josh Jacobs - 293 carries, 1,872 yards, 15 TDs, 22 receptions, 191 yards

Broncos

Despite missing the playoffs and owning a losing record, an 8-9 finish can't be too disappointing for Denver after last year's dumpster fire. Russell Wilson still has some work to do to recapture his form, though, after throwing 18 interceptions.

Team MVP: RB Javonte Williams - 257 carries, 1,025 yards, 8 TDs, 31 receptions, 259 yards, 1 TD

NFC North

Packers

The Packers continue to own the North even after Aaron Rodgers' departure. Jordan Love had 3,586 yards and 23 touchdowns, both of which are solid, but also 20 interceptions. Interestingly, Green Bay was 6-0 in division games, making the team 3-8 against the rest of its foes.

Team MVP: RB Aaron Jones - 317 carries, 1,547 yards, 15 TDs, 17 receptions, 140 yards

Lions

Detroit failed to live up to its lofty expectations and finished a below-average 7-10. Jared Goff's astonishing regression (3,189 yards, 11 TDs, 15 INTs) is the biggest culprit.

Team MVP: EDGE Aidan Hutchinson - 60 tackles, 11 TFLs, 12.5 sacks

Vikings

Kirk Cousins, like several other passers, had an outstanding TD-to-INT ratio at 24-to-4. Expectations might not be sky-high, but a 5-12 record is quite the fall from grace after last year's 13-4 finish.

Team MVP: WR Justin Jefferson - 131 receptions, 1,477 yards, 7 TDs

Bears

Congratulations to the Bears on the league's worst record, worst offense, and a bottom-five defense. Justin Fields' below-average 2,600 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions through the air weren't elevated enough by his 715 yards and five touchdowns on the ground to lift Chicago out of the NFL's basement.

Team MVP: CB Jaylon Johnson - 100 tackles, 4 TFLs, 0.5 sacks, 2 INTs, 12 PBUs

NFC South

Panthers

Derrick Brown (12 sacks), Brian Burns (10.5 sacks), and Frankie Luvu (six sacks) got after quarterbacks, Jaycee Horn hauled in five interceptions, and team MVP Shaq Thompson was all over the field for the league's No. 1 defense.

Team MVP: LB Shaq Thompson - 124 tackles, 6 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, 3 INTs, 17 PBUs

Falcons

The digital version of Arthur Smith remembered to use Kyle Pitts in this simulation, with the tight end posting 81 catches, 1,034 yards, and four touchdowns in his third season.

Team MVP: RB Bijan Robinson - 301 carries, 1,290 yards, 6 TDs, 21 receptions, 219 yards, 5 TDs

Buccaneers

Mike Evans' streak of consecutive 1,000-yard seasons was snapped. The veteran wideout had just 865 yards and 10 touchdowns on 66 catches as the Bucs floundered in the first season of their post-Tom Brady era.

Team MVP: CB Jamel Dean - 75 tackles, 1 TFL, 0.5 sacks, 5 INTs, 7 PBUs

Saints

New Orleans' offense performed, with Derek Carr earning the honor of the club's best player, but the defense provided about as much resistance as a wet paper towel.

Team MVP: QB Derek Carr - 4,038 passing yards, 33 TDs, 10 INTs, 320 rushing yards, 3 TDs

NFC East

Cowboys

Dallas put up excellent offensive numbers despite Tony Pollard playing in just six contests. CeeDee Lamb (96 receptions/1,293 yards/12 TDs) benefited most from passer Dak Prescott's 4,679/44/15 season, but the team's top player - and the league's top sack artist in this simulation - lined up on the defensive side of the ball.

Team MVP: EDGE Micah Parsons - 78 tackles, 13 TFLs, 22 sacks

Eagles

Philly regressed a bit after last year's juggernaut regular season, but it still looked like a legit contender. Although Jalen Hurts took home the team's MVP, Darius Slay, DeVonta Smith, and D'Andre Swift earned consideration with strong outings.

Team MVP: QB Jalen Hurts - 3,667 passing yards, 22 TDs, 8 INTs, 144 carries, 683 rushing yards, 12 TDs

Commanders

Chase Young managed to play in all 17 games and led the team with 10.5 sacks. Sam Howell's solid debut season as a starter (3,297 yards/26 TDs/17 INTs) was enough to get the team to the playoffs.

Team MVP: RB Brian Robinson - 275 carries, 1,025 yards, 12 TDs, 28 receptions, 249 yards, 1 TD

Giants

The G-Men were happy to have Saquon Barkley on the field all season, even if his receiving production was mysteriously scarce and the team missed the playoffs. Kayvon Thibodeaux's 63 total tackles, 18 TFLs, and 6.5 sacks deserve mention as one of the defense's top playmakers.

Team MVP: RB Saquon Barkley - 275 carries, 1,435 yards, 12 TDs, 11 receptions, 27 yards

NFC West

49ers

Brock Purdy (3,507 yards/32 TDs/7 INTs) built on last season's success, Brandon Aiyuk recorded 1,093 yards and 11 touchdowns, and multiple defenders had good sack and interception numbers.

Team MVP: RB Christian McCaffrey - 285 carries, 1,591 yards, 12 TDs, 29 receptions, 246 yards, 1 TD

Rams

Picking between Cooper Kupp (110 catches/1,590 yards/12 TDs) and Aaron Donald was tough, but Donald ultimately gets the nod after another stellar personal season.

Team MVP: DL Aaron Donald - 81 tackles, 23 TFLs, 14.5 sacks

Seahawks

The Seahawks tumbled back to earth after a surprisingly strong 2022. At least Bobby Wagner continued to defy Father Time in his return to Seattle.

Team MVP: LB Bobby Wagner - 116 tackles, 6 TFLs, 4 sacks, 3 INTs, 7 PBUs

Cardinals

Marquise Brown (66 receptions/888 yards/6 TDs) was the team's top offensive player, but Budda Baker's stat-sheet stuffing was more valuable in a predictably down year for the Cardinals.

Team MVP: S Budda Baker - 79 tackles, 4 INTs, 5 PBUs

Playoffs

AFC wild card

• Titans defeat Raiders 35-17
• Chargers defeat Ravens 35-21
• Bills defeat Chiefs 20-16

NFC wild card

• Falcons defeat Panthers 30-11
• Cowboys defeat Commanders 35-14
• Eagles defeat Packers 27-24

AFC divisional round

• Bengals defeat Bills 35-20
• Titans defeat Chargers 21-17

NFC divisional round

• 49ers defeat Falcons 35-14
• Cowboys defeat Eagles 31-20

AFC Championship Game

• Bengals defeat Titans 35-31

NFC Championship Game

• Cowboys defeat 49ers 25-24

Super Bowl LVIII

• Bengals defeat Cowboys 31-28

The Bengals, powered by their exceptionally potent offense, finally get their first Super Bowl victory in a nail-biter against the Cowboys. Dallas missed a 55-yard field goal with 1:57 left on the clock, leading to a loss in the franchise's first Super Bowl appearance since the 1995 season.

Super Bowl MVP: QB Joe Burrow - 19/27 (70%), 337 yards, 3 TDs

Major awards