It's finally here, the beginning of the NFL regular season. The Cowboys will head to MetLife stadium to take on the defending champion New York Giants on Wednesday night. Lets see how EA Sports' Madden NFL '13 simulates the game.
The reigning Super Bowl Champion New York Giants exposed the Dallas Cowboys' rebuilt secondary to open up the 2012 season. Eli Manning passed for 410 yards and three touchdowns, while rookie running back David Wilson added 101 rushing yards on 22 carries to help the Giants rally and pull out a 24-17 win Wednesday night over the Cowboys.
Manning and the Giants came into the game looking to continue their winning ways against Dallas. The Giants are 5-1 against the Cowboys in their last six meetings. The Cowboys had high expectations for their new-look secondary and were hoping for better results but rookie cornerback Morris Claibourne could not slow down Victor Cruz or Hakeem Nicks. Cruz caught 12 passes for 136 yard and Nick add 98 on seven receptions.
The game started with a big play by Dallas' DeMarcus Ware, who caused an Ahmad Bradshaw fumbled on his first carry. Bradshaw was injured on the play and had to leave the game. Rookie halfback David Wilson stepped in and ran the ball well. Dallas turned the fumble into the first 3 points of the game after the Giants' defense held them to a quick 3 and out.
The Giants defense came up big in the game with six sacks on Tony Romo and two forced fumbles. Dallas only managed 272 yards in total offense and one rushing touchdown by DeMarco Murry. The second year back ran the ball for 123 yards on 33 carries and helped Dallas take a 10-7 lead into halftime.
Dallas half back Felix Jones took the second half kick-off a 101-yard for the score to give the cowboys a 17-7 lead. This is where the momentum began to shift as Eli Manning would led the Giants on an 80-yard drive for a touchdown. Cruz caught a 15-yard strike from Manning to put the Giants within 3 points.
The Cowboys had four sacks and two turnovers including the Bradshaw fumble. Ware led the team with 11 tackles, 2 sacks and one forced fumble. Ware also stopped Giants halfback Wilson on a third and short from the Dallas' 10-yard line, which forced the Giants to go for the game tying field goal early in the fourth quarter.
The Cowboys got the ball back on offense with 13:02 remaining in the fourth quarter and game tied 17-17. Tony Romo completed seven-of-nine passes during the drive and had the Cowboys on the Giants' 6-yard line, before tossing an interception to Giants' cornerback Corey Webster.
The big play came with just under five minutes remaining in the game and set up another miraculous Eli Manning fourth quarter comeback. Manning was perfect on the games final drive hitting his receivers on 11-of-11 passes and driving the ball 90-yards for the game winning score.
An 8-yard touchdown reception by New York Giants' tight end Martellus Bennett, with 23-seconds remaining would seal the deal as the Giants went on to win the game by the final score of 24-17.
Lets have a look at how EA Sports' Madden NFL '13 has simulated the rest of the NFL season.
NFC
NFC East winners: Eagles
NFC North winners: Packers
NFC South winners: Saints
NFC West winners: 49ers
Wildcard winners: Giants, Seahawks
NFC Conference Champions: Packers
AFC
AFC East winner: Patriots
AFC North winner: Ravens
AFC South winners: Texans
AFC West winners: Chargers
Wildcard winner: Steelers, Broncos
AFC Conference Champions Patriots
Super Bowl XLVII winner: New England Patriots
