The Arizona Cardinals started the season with an embarrassing loss at home against the Kansas City Chiefs. They hope to change their fortunes with a win over the Las Vegas Raiders on the road.
If the real game is anything like a simulation of the game played out on Madden NFL 23, Cardinals fans will be thrilled and Raiders fans will be concerned.
Cardinals vs. Raiders ‘Madden’ simulation
In the simulation, the Cardinals blew out the Raiders 36-3. Kyler Murray threw for 353 passing yards, James Conner had three rushing touchdowns and the defense sacked Raiders quarterback Derek Carr six times.
The Raiders did not score in the first half of the simulation.
The Cardinals scored first on a 44-yard field goal and then Conner got the first of three touchdowns with a five-yard rush to make it 10-0. Conner’s one-yard score made it 16-0 because the extra point was blocked.
Kyler Murray made it a 23-0 game in the first half with a five-yard touchdown pass to tight end Zach Ertz, and it was 26-0 before halftime after Matt Prater’s 20-yard field goal.
The Raiders got a 50-yard field goal in the third quarter and the Cardinals responded with a 52-yard kick.
The Raiders turned the ball over on downs twice and then, trying to just run out the clock, Conner broke free for a 47-yard touchdown run to complete the rout 36-3.
‘Madden’ simulation individual stats
Murray was 25-for-41 passing for 353 yards and a touchdown. He also added 30 rushing yards. He was sacked twice by Chandler Jones.
Conner had 16 carries for 112 yards and three scores.
A.J. Green led the team with seven catches for 100. Hollywood Brown had five catches for 78 yards, Zach Ertz had five for 70 and a score, and Greg Dortch had five receptions for 68 yards.
Defensively, the Cardinals had six sacks. Dennis Gardeck had two, J.J. Watt had 1.5, Isaiah Simmons and Markus Golden each had one, and Zach Allen had a half sack.
The Raiders got big contributions from receiver Davante Adams and tight end Darren Waller.
Adams had nine receptions for 112 yards and Waller had seven for 95.
Derek Carr was 18-of-40 passing for 234 yards. He did not have a touchdown pass or an interception.
Raiders running back Josh Jacobs was held to 22 yards on seven carries.
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