What is up with those Buffalo Bills? Early in the season they were hot, and a hot pick to get to the Super Bowl. Now they’re barely hanging on to a five hundred record, and those Super Bowl aspirations seem almost laughable. Still, this is the NFL, and any moment a team can “click” and reclaim former glory. The Bills seemed to do just that in Madden 09 sim of this week’s match-up between the Bills and the Jets. They started the game with an impressive drive, gashing the Jets defense with big runs and a big pass play. Favre and the Jets answered in kind to tie the game at seven. The Bills marched down the filed again on their second possession, but this time they stalled and had to settle for a field goal. Again, the Jets answered and tied the game. Thus far, the Bills were showing some of their fearsomeness from early in the season, but then all of that changed in the final minute of the second half. The Bills tossed up a pick that was returned to their own thirty yard line, and Favre made quick work of the defense and capitalized on the opprotunity to put the Jets up by seven right before the half. Then, Favre once again worked over the defense and took the Jets into the end zone, giving them a comfortable two score lead. Maybe it was the weather (cold and rainy) or maybe it was something else, but both teams kind of fizzled after that. Jones lost a fumble inside the Bills’ thirty yard line, and Favre threw a pick early in the fourth. On the other hand, the Bills had a hard time getting anything going, throwing an interception in the endzone and only able to get in range for a field goal. Two missed fourth-down conversions and too many three and outs cost them the game, although the Jets tried to give it back to them with their own mistakes. But in the end, Brett Favre and the Jets walked off a muddy field from sloppy game with a 24-13 win. Favre threw for 328 yard (since there wasn’t much a ground game) hitting 18-27 passes for 2 TDs and an INT. If the Jets continue to look like this in real life, their playoff hopes and their potential to get through the playoffs look mighty dim.
[Update] Amazing, the Bills gave the game away in our Madden 09 sim, and then they went and did it for real against Favre and the Jets this weekend. I was convinced that this prediction was going to be wrong. It looked like the Bills had everything under control; and then they lost it. Turnovers were the key to the game and to the victory of the Jets. Favre struggled, completing 17 of 30 passes for 203 yards, 1 TD and 2 INTs. However, no matter how hard the Jets tried to give the game to the Bills, they just gave it right back. The Jets squeaked by with a 31-27 win, but they continue to look confused and unsure of themselves. With only two weeks left in the regular season, can Favre and the Jets pull it together in time for the playoffs. Stick around and we’ll see if our Madden 09 cyrstal ball will tell us.
