Steelers win Madden 11 Super Bowl simulation

Computers can be used to calculate all sorts of truly helpful data ... or they can be used to simulate the Super Bowl. If you're going to use processing power to predict the outcome of a sporting event, then you'd better be pretty darned accurate if you hope to maintain any semblance of a reasonable use of life (it still takes human people to run, recap and even report on -- hi there! -- the simulation). EA Sports' Madden games have at least been that, accurately calling the winner of six of the last seven Super Bowls.

This year, Madden 11 sees the Pittsburgh Steelers defeating the Green Bay Packers 24-20 in Super Bowl XLV, which sounds like a good enough guess. But now, do you put money on that? (After the break, delve into the video highlights and box score ... of the simulated game.)

Also vying for "reasonability" will be this Thursday's Madden Bowl XVII (wait -- there have already been sixteen of these?). The annual tournament of NFL players gamers whose seasons have been reduced to playing as themselves will be broadcast live on ESPN3 (on your Xbox Dashboard) at 9PM ET, February 3. Hey Niners fans, did you know Alex Smith* has won a record two Madden Bowls? That's the same number of Super Bowl rings that Roethlisberger has -- well, until Sunday's victory, according to Madden. [*Update: Oops! Sorry to get your hopes up San Francisco faithful -- it's Alex Smith the tight end (currently playing for the Cleveland Browns) who holds the Madden Bowl record. Alex Smith the quarterback has never participated in the event.]
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EA SPORTS MADDEN NFL 11 PREDICTS PITTSBURGH STEELERS WIN SUPER BOWL XLV

Steelers Win Seventh NFL Championship in Eighth Super Bowl Appearance


Dallas - February 1, 2011 - In a battle of storied NFL franchises, the Pittsburgh Steelers win their record seventh Vince Lombardi Trophy, defeating the Green Bay Packers 24-20 in Super Bowl XLV, according to the annual EA SPORTS™ Super Bowl Simulation powered by Madden NFL 11.

Down 13-17 going into the fourth quarter, Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers hit James Jones in the end zone to put the Pack up by three points with nine minutes left in the game. The defense for both teams kept the score tight throughout most of the fourth quarter, with neither willing to budge. After the two minute warning, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger hit Mike Wallace on a slant, and the wide receiver's world-class speed helped outrace the Packers defense for a 36 yard touchdown pass; giving Pittsburgh the lead with 1:20 left on the clock. With no timeouts, Rodgers led Green Bay into Pittsburgh territory as the nail-biting contest drew to a close. In a last second desperation attempt, Rodgers targeted receiver Jordy Nelson, but Steelers safety, Ryan Clark, picked off the pass, clinching Pittsburgh's Super Bowl XLV victory. Pittsburgh wide receiver Mike Wallace was named Super Bowl MVP with five catches for 111 total yards and a touchdown.

Earlier this season, Madden NFL 11 simulated the entire NFL season and correctly predicted the Green Bay Packers as the NFC Champion. Dating back to Super Bowl XXXVIII, EA SPORTS has conducted the annual Super Bowl simulation using the latest iteration of the Madden NFL franchise. The Super Bowl XLV simulation was conducted utilizing artificial intelligence powered by real-life data from each team to determine player ratings, and includes variances, such as injuries, to predict the outcome. Six out of the last seven Super Bowl champions have been accurately predicted by Madden NFL. Previous results include:

* Super Bowl XXXVIII – Patriots 23, Panthers 20
o Actual Score: Patriots 32, Panthers 29

* Super Bowl XXXIX – Patriots 47, Eagles 31
o Actual score: Patriots 24, Eagles 21

* Super Bowl XL – Steelers 24, Seahawks 19
o Actual score: Steelers 21, Seahawks 10

* Super Bowl XLI – Colts 38, Bears 27
o Actual score: Colts 29, Bears 17

* Super Bowl XLIII – Steelers 28, Cardinals 24
o Actual score: Steelers 27, Cardinals 23

* Super Bowl XLIV – Saints 35, Colts 31
o Actual score: Saints 31, Colts 17


Tune in to ESPN3.com on Thursday, February 3rd at 9:00 pm EST to watch the live broadcast of Madden Bowl XVII. Hosted by EA SPORTS and NFL PLAYERS, Madden Bowl XVII is the quintessential players' tournament that showcases NFL superstars and their gaming skills on the virtual gridiron as they face off on Madden NFL 11. The broadcast will include celebrity red carpet interviews, live action of the Madden Bowl tournament and a Madden NFL franchise retrospective. Madden Bowl XVII will also feature performances by 2010 GRAMMY® nominees, Big Boi and Cee Lo Green.


Madden NFL 11 is available on the Xbox 360® video game system from Microsoft, PlayStation®2 and PlayStation 3 computer entertainment systems, Wii™, and PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) handheld entertainment system. Madden NFL 11 is also available for download globally on mobile platforms including iPod® touch, iPad® and feature phones.


Madden NFL 11 is developed in Orlando, Florida by the EA Tiburon studio, which also produces NCAA® Football, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR®, and EA SPORTS™ MMA.

For more information about Madden NFL 11 please visit: http://maddennfl.easports.com/home.action

NFL PLAYERS, the marketing and licensing arm of the NFL Players Association, provides Madden NFL with the rights to use player names and likenesses in the game and facilitates all player participation.