igforum.bio
/
i-played-an-entire-season-in-madden-23-without-throwing-a-single-pass-techradar
-
263491
O
% I played an entire season in Madden 23 without throwing a single pass TechRadar Skip to main content TechRadar is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here's why you can trust us.
visibility
487 views
thumb_up
50 likes
J
I played an entire season in Madden 23 without throwing a single pass By Phil Iwaniuk published 28 August 2022 Pass over (Image credit: EA) How many games are the Chicago Bears going to win this season? It's a simple question, one posed to you by management in every Franchise Mode preseason.
thumb_up
40 likes
D
Promise the Super Bowl, and you'll be showered in XP if you actually deliver it – or managing the Detroit Lions in a flash if you don't. But this time, there's an added complication: I've decided to go 16 games without throwing a single pass. So, with that considerable and entirely self-imposed constraint on my playbook: how many games are my Bears going to win?
thumb_up
0 likes
A
If you're playing Madden 23 on PC this year, you've probably noticed that it leaves much to be desired. It's a $60 roster update without any of the next-gen features present on the PS5 or Xbox Series X versions.
thumb_up
22 likes
K
So if I was going to have a good time with it, I needed to bring the innovations myself. Even though the league's still hugely focused on passing yards, there has been a growing trend of running Quarterbacks.
thumb_up
19 likes
M
And a handful of teams, bound either by limited throwing arm from their QBs or wayward coaching, are running the ball more. Naturally, I felt it was my solemn duty to take this idea to its extreme: a season of National Football League fixtures in which not a single passing yard is recorded.
At least, not a single forward pass. Technically, I'll have to hand off the ball to the Halfbacks and Running Backs, and these alone will provide our offense.
thumb_up
40 likes
T
No bullet passes, Hail Marys or hot routes. Just two or three beleaguered men, running the ball into brick walls of padded muscle, over and over again, until either a) they can take no more and I genuinely run out of position depth through injury, b) I'm fired by team management for such a flagrant show of incompetence, or c) the end of the regular season.
thumb_up
24 likes
S
I make my decision: we will win four games. Norse for wear
(Image credit: EA)
With that, we head out into our first fixture, away to the Minnesota Vikings.
thumb_up
34 likes
I
We put a decent sequence of possessions together in the opening minutes, but we're regularly using three downs to get a fresh one. And by the time we get even faintly near the end zone, the defense seems to have got our number and built a wall. We can't get through, so bring the special teams out on fourth down and kick a field goal.
thumb_up
38 likes
D
Our first points of the season. The Vikings score two touchdowns in a row.
thumb_up
5 likes
H
By the fourth quarter, we don't have anything like enough time to run it in twice, and the only way for us to stop the clock is through timeouts or going out of bounds. It's not enough. In our first game, my brave Bears record an L.
thumb_up
19 likes
R
It's the same story in game two against the Packers. Their defense always seems to get to my HB just as he's lined up on his route and building up speed. Meanwhile, they're scoring TDs on nearly every possession.
thumb_up
4 likes
I
I'm starting to wonder whether four wins might not have been a bit optimistic. This, I'm sure, is a good trade.
thumb_up
13 likes
J
Not in real life, of course. But within the constraints of this preposterous season I'm putting together
Then the revelation hits me: I have decent – not stellar, but decent – Wide Receiver talent on the roster that I'm genuinely not going to be using.
thumb_up
47 likes
W
Not once. Darnell Mooney and Byron Pringle aren't the most sought after WRs in the league, but they do hold some trade value.
thumb_up
36 likes
I
Conversely, David Montgomery and Khalil Herbert aren't stellar Running Backs either. And I'm asking them to record the greatest ever season in running yards and TDs in NFL history.
thumb_up
34 likes
L
I spy an opportunity for a bit of trade activity. Away go Mooney and Pringle, both of them plus a first round pick in the next draft, to the Colts. Coming the other way, and please give him a big hand ladies and gentlemen, is elite HB Jonathan Taylor.
thumb_up
37 likes
M
One of the best in the league. He's got Superstar X Factor abilities and everything.
thumb_up
42 likes
S
This, I'm sure, is a good trade. Not in real life, of course. But within the constraints of this preposterous season I'm putting together, it makes perfect sense.
thumb_up
43 likes
E
My offense is literally one man. Two at most, if I get Justin Fields running a bit.
thumb_up
46 likes
M
Trading away my redundant WRs for arguably the best HB in the league is the smart move. It's Mooneyball. Apples for pears
(Image credit: EA)
Not to brag, but the fruits of this unorthodox trade deal are immediately evident in game three, against the visiting Patriots, where we record our first W of the season.
thumb_up
13 likes
O
Taylor is an absolute monster, shrugging off contact and making those extra yards that Montgomery wasn't able to. We're still taking absurd amounts of game time to make it across the field, the clock ticking down the whole time, but our progress is very difficult to stop.
Now, though, the problems on defense are more evident. The Patriots take a fraction of the time to record touchdowns in answer to our own.
thumb_up
47 likes
J
It's 14-14 in the fourth, and through sheer, ugly, dogged running plays, we get within the opponents' 40 and kick a game-winning field goal.
Our next win comes just one week after. We're on a roll.
This is where Madden's defensive AI shows itself up as silly robot thinking in one sense, and also demonstrates impressive realism in another
This isn't an aesthetic brand of football. Every possession, we claw about four to six yards of ground.
thumb_up
10 likes
E
The most flamboyant we get is running an option play and making 12 yards with Justin Fields against a baffled opposing zone coverage defense. It should, in reality, be so easy to defend against us.
thumb_up
24 likes
M
It's obvious: we're going to hand the ball to Jonathan Taylor, and he's going to run in one of a very limited number of routes with it. Or Fields is going to hold onto it and run it.
And this is where Madden's defensive AI shows itself up as silly robot thinking in one sense, and also demonstrates impressive realism in another.
thumb_up
2 likes
E
It's incredibly silly in that it doesn't adapt to this one-dimensional offense, still covering our WRs in case this time, for the first time in five games, we throw a pass.
But when you play this way, you also notice the unique quirks in opposing coaches' playbooks, and the differences between standard and superstar linebackers. Normal Madden doesn't let you see these subtleties because you're mixing it up so often offensively. But when you're running the same two or three plays over and over, you get to know defensive formations and linebacker behavior routines very well.
thumb_up
49 likes
E
Fields ahead
(Image credit: EA)
Let's flash forward. We're at the season closer, Jonathan Taylor is of course leading the league in running yards, and Justin Fields is top of the QB running yards stat sheets. We are, somehow, with seven wins and eight losses across the season.
thumb_up
44 likes
V
I've made a further few hard-headed trades – losing some depth at HB by putting Montgomery on the trade block, with a few draft pick deal sweeteners, in order to shore up our defense. In comes De'Vondre Campbell from the Packers at middle linebacker. It's a team designed to last one season, playing only six or seven plays.
thumb_up
6 likes
L
It would ruin any franchise in real life.
In this virtual football ecosystem, I'm very proud of these bizarre Bears
But in this virtual football ecosystem, I'm very proud of these bizarre Bears. They were far from the best team entering the season, but together we've found a way. That way has involved many, many field goals, since it's basically impossible to run four-minute and two-minute offenses without passing.
thumb_up
36 likes
R
But thanks to our impenetrable defense, those field goals and the odd hard-fought TD have kept us competitive. There's not much at stake in this final game against the Vikings.
thumb_up
37 likes
C
But it'd be nice for this experiment not to go down as a losing season. Going 8-8 won't take us to the playoffs, but it might put Coach Phil Iwaniuk on NFL fans' lips for decades. The cunning maverick who broke football.
thumb_up
50 likes
H
The Running Man. Anyway, we lose it, so let's move on. Is there anything at all of practical use to take from this?
thumb_up
5 likes
S
Well, exclusively picking running plays chews some serious clock time. And as Coach Kilmer says in Varsity Blues, if you control the clock, you control the game. (Image credit: EA)
And look, the man's injury protocols were slightly old-fashioned, sure, but he was a legend in that bizarre Texan town where nobody noticed that high school quarterback James Van der Beek was a) 45 years old and b) speaking like an 1800s prospector.
thumb_up
5 likes
R
So maybe we should heed his wisdom. If you're up against a team whose offense isn't getting much done on first and second downs, going heavy on running plays is one way to stifle them. To minimize their time with the ball.
thumb_up
43 likes
L
Run pass option plays, when you're using them once every five or six downs, reveal themselves to be pretty OP against the AI. Use them all the time, is my advice.
thumb_up
27 likes
M
And interestingly, Fields didn't pick up an injury all season, even though I soon stopped pressing slide to end the play before contact and just let him take the hit.Madden 23 franchise: set up your save or fantasy draft Phil IwaniukContributor
Ad creative by day, wandering mystic of 90s gaming folklore by moonlight, freelance contributor Phil started writing about games during the late Byzantine Empire era. Since then he's picked up bylines for The Guardian, Rolling Stone, IGN, USA Today, Eurogamer, PC Gamer, VG247, Edge, Gazetta Dello Sport, Computerbild, Rock Paper Shotgun, Official PlayStation Magazine, Official Xbox Magaine, CVG, Games Master, TrustedReviews, Green Man Gaming, and a few others but he doesn't want to bore you with too many.
thumb_up
3 likes
L
Won a GMA once. TechRadar Newsletter Sign up to get breaking news, reviews, opinion, analysis and more, plus the hottest tech deals! Thank you for signing up to TechRadar. You will receive a verification email shortly.
thumb_up
43 likes
S
MOST POPULARMOST SHARED1My days as a helpful meat shield are over, thanks to the Killer Klown horror game2One of the world's most popular programming languages is coming to Linux3It looks like Fallout's spiritual successor is getting a PS5 remaster4I tried the weirdest-looking Bluetooth speaker in the world, and I utterly adore it5You may not have to sell a body part to afford the Nvidia RTX 4090 after all1We finally know what 'Wi-Fi' stands for - and it's not what you think2Dreamforce 2022 live: All the announcements from this year's show3'Go small or go home': HTC teases a new Vive VR headset4She-Hulk episode 8 just confirmed Netflix's Daredevil TV show is canon in the MCU5Google's new AI lets you turn words into HD videos Technology Magazines (opens in new tab)● (opens in new tab)The best tech tutorials and in-depth reviewsFrom$12.99 (opens in new tab)View (opens in new tab)
thumb_up
16 likes
Similar Discussions
-
Current Superstar MVP debunks long standing WWE myth
-
WWE scrapped Vince McMahon s secret rule under Triple H
-
The more we criticize him the worse he becomes Probably a part time footballer Barcelona fans frustrated with 22 year old star despite 3 0 win against Sevilla
-
What time will Roswell New Mexico season 4 episode 13 series finale air on The CW? Plot and more details explored
-
X FACE APK Download for Android
-
Spiritual Yoga Academy APK Download for Android
-
Store inventory management app APK Download for Android
-
Pour une fiscalit verte une carte vaut parfois mieux qu un dito Energie Prix Energie
-
EN DIRECT TotalEnergies propose 6% d augmentation pour ses salari s en 2023
-
En Chine le Parti communiste se pr pare un troisi me mandat de Xi Jinping Chine Asie Et Oc anie
-
Roblox Backpacking Codes September 2022 The Nerd Stash
-
Linksys WRT54G Default Password
-
Compare Chevrolet Tahoe vs GMC Yukon XL CarBuzz
-
2019 Ford Ranger Will Set You Back At Least $25 395 CarBuzz
-
Global Volkswagen Tiguan And Touran Recall Due To Fire Risk CarBuzz
-
Mayo Clinic Transplant Center Doctors by location and specialty Mayo Clinic
-
The Role of Amazon RMA amp Dealing With Product Returns Sellics
-
CES 2021 Post Pandemic Future for Telehealth and Digital Health Technology Everyday Health
-
Houses For Sale New Richmond Wi
-
Arrma Typhon 3s Light Kit
-
6 Things You Need to Know About the New GMO Food Label Everyday Health
-
Frankie Lapenna s Net Worth How Rich Is Frankie Lapenna
-
Time to silence the haters Giving me goosebumps already Chelsea fans thrilled as 29 year old star is included in playing XI against Southampton
-
Which team was eliminated from LEGO Masters Season 3 premiere Recap and more
-
Possible update on numerous WWE Superstars meeting with Triple H backstage regarding their booking Reports
-
When does the Season of GO end in Pokemon GO
-
How to complete Hot Wheels Park Tour in Forza Horizon 5
-
How to clean an air conditioner and improve air quality Tom s Guide
-
Tip 3 Load Maximizing Tactics
-
Question of Strength 11