Buffalo Bills kicker Tyler Bass gets shoutout from former All-Pro WR Chad Johnson.
Bills kicker Tyler Bass was so impressive that Chad Johnson gave him a shoutout for his increased skills recently.
Literally, his increased skills in the Madden 20 video game, and yes, we mean the former All-Pro wide receiver.
It’s hard to really explain what it was, but here’s the gist: Johnson broke down why Bass’s skills in the game are increasing. It has to do with his three-straight 50-plus yard fields he made in Week 10 against the Cardinals. The game frequently updates their player ranking each week, and among them this week was Bass, evidently.
The best-of-three playoffs came and went in the blink of an eye, though, with Chiggs of 300 and Equozo making quick work of their opponents, both only needing two games to reach the finals.
For Chiggs of 300, his continued success with the Baltimore Ravens’ defense made it difficult for the opponent’s offense to produce any game-changing momentum, which was not accidental or lucky but instead a result of pregame study. “I knew exactly what my opponent was going to run on offense,” he explained to For The Win, “and I was able to prepare for it before the games.”
That preparation only heightened an offensive attackâone that he had mentioned would have a few additional wrinkles in the game planâand he closed out the semifinals 20-10 and 30-16.
Equozo’s Madden 20 talents didn’t disappoint, either. He had been dominating on defense during the tournament, using a Kansas City Chiefs team that surrendered an average of two touchdowns per game. In contrast, the offenseâas we’ve all come to expectâhad torched other teams with nearly five TDs a game.
Although both games were not completely fitting of those metricsâ21-7 and 23-20, respectivelyâthe outcomes captured the Al Davis-approved ethos: Just win, baby!
From there, the best-of-three final showdown was set. It was two players capable of outshining the other, on both sides of the ball. Chiggs of 300’s overall thoughts echoed what we’ve heard in moments like these: “Even though I was happy to be in the final, I knew that the job wasn’t finished.”
And then, kickoff!
…Game 1: 38-21
…Game 2: 17-10
And just like that, a champion’s work was completed. Game. Set. Madden.
Courtesy of Super League
“I didn’t make any major changes after the semifinal,” Chiggs of 300 told For The Win after earning the top nod. He had dabbled with a possible defensive shift to counter his opponent’s offensive attack, but that never happened. In the end, it was his day in the sunâor really: day in the comfort of his own home.
What’s the feeling like, I asked.
“It’s an honor to be the first USA Today Madden tournament champion,” he said, before shifting focus to the overall enjoyment. “The experience was great, everyone involved did an amazing job. It was awesome to be able to compete for a share of $10,000 in a free-entry tournament, all from home.”
The tournament’s success leaves open the idea that repeats could surely happen down the roadâin football and beyond.
As for the inaugural Madden champ? There’s always a first for for everything, especially in the sports cosmos where records are kept, discussed, and then replayed in conversations. It’s part of the fun. And now, there’s a small slice of esports history that will go hand-in-hand (or controller) with one Madden gamer and his Ravens squad…
The USA Today Sports Madden 20 $10K Open Powered by Super League heads into the next round, with 38 players battling for a playoff spot and a chance at winning part of the $10,000 prize pool!
After 142 games, 38 participants remainâeach looking ahead to the next round, the chance for ultimate bragging rights, and a possible slice of the $10,000 prize pool!
And if the head-to-head matchups this coming week are anything like the first few rounds, then look out!
The Madden 20 gamers still in the running have put on a gridiron display, with some of their highlights even hitting social media, like this passing clinic put together by Jamir:
JR Slay prides himself on defense and controlling the gameâand it has shown
With the New England Patriots under his schematic control, opposing offenses found practically zero success.
What’s working?
“My keys on defense have been not allowing my opponent to run the football,” he told For the Win. “Running the ball in Madden 20 is extremely effectiveâa lot of people rely on the running game to move the ballâand I feel that if I am able to force my opponent into passing downs/situations, I can be successful.”
So far, it’s worked. No team has scored more than 14 points on JR. And the dominance has helped his offense, too, winning the critical battle of field position. That is, when the McCourty brothers or Stephon Gilmoreâ”the best corner in Madden 20,” Slay explainedâaren’t taking it to the house on a pick-6.
As for the next round, seeing the Pats on the sidelines for JR Slay isn’t a lock. “If I feel like I need more offensive firepower versus someone using a team like the Chiefs, then I may change teams to the (Houston) Texans!”
Earlybird4k kept his cool under pressure
Speaking of the Houston Texans, they faced a true nail-biter under the helm of Earlybird4k last round, but he wasn’t phased by a little pressure, ultimately leading the team to a 10-7 win.
When asked about the close victory, he reminded fansâespecially in the Houston areaâof a quarterback-wideout combo in Madden 20 that many wish would be around for many Madden iterations to come: Deshaun Watson to DeAndre Hopkins.
“The run game and ball control, with ‘D Watson to D Hop’ thrown in there, keeps me in ball games for the most part,” he told For the Win.
Another player who looks to command the game’s tempo, Earlybird4k explained that we should expect a controlled effort in the next round “with a run game and strong defense.”
And he’s sticking with the team that’s got him to this point, not switching allegiances to his actual squad, the Denver Broncos.
“I will again be running with Deshaun Watson and the crew.”
He scored how many points?
I Make Those might be one of the most fitting names in the Madden 20 10K Open.
During the last gameâled by the trio of Dalvin Cook, Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielenâhis Minnesota Vikings offense scored 62 points!
“Everything on the field for me was clicking,” he explained to For the Win, “with Kirk Cousins having a day and throwing 7 TDs, and Dalvin having over 200 yards on the ground.”
It was easy work for the NFC North crew, aided by a quick defensive stop that allowed the Vikes to take a control and never relinquish it.
But I Make Those understands that as the playing field decreases, the competition increases.
“Heading into (the) next game, Iâm going to try to keep the offense rolling, but Iâm going to have to be ready to adjust because of how different some players are when playing Madden.”
Arguably, there are also 62 reasons why the opponent should be the one preparing to adjust, but we’ll have to wait and see how the in-game chess match unfolds.
The same goes for the other remaining Madden 20 10K Open matchups, as the players continue to battle for a playoff spot and a chance at cold, hard cash!
Courtesy of Super League
This tournament is not affiliated with or sponsored by Electronic Arts Inc. or its licensors.
As we get closer to the 2020 NFL season, the release of the upcoming EA Madden 21 game is starting to get fans back into the swing of things. What better way to stoke some old flames than releasing player ratings a few weeks before training camp starts?
With the information dump that came to start the week, a number of Washington players had their ratings released, with a few grunt-work players getting most of the praise. Among them are Brandon Scherff (87), Matthew Ioannidis (86) and Kendall Fuller (860.
Another interesting stat comes with second-year wide receiver Terry McLaurin, who came in at an 82 overall.
Terry McLaurinâs 82 overall Madden rating is the highest out of the 2019 rookie wide receivers. Higher than A.J Brown and D.K Matcalf.
The weapons in Washington are solid, but it is a bit concerning to see your presumed starting QB not crack the 80s. Understandable as it is, we’ll see how quickly those numbers rise when Dwayne Haskins takes the field this fall.
Madden 21 rookie rating revealed for Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa
Attention all gamers! The latest edition of the Madden franchise is right around the corner â which means it is time to reveal some of the grades assigned to a slew of the league’s newest star players via the NFL Draft. EA Sports released the first collection of rookie ratings for this year’s game yesterday â highlighted by the quarterbacks of the 2020 NFL Draft.
For Dolphins fans, this year’s team is probably going to be a lot more fun for you to play with than the ‘Madden 20’ edition was â in which the Miami Dolphins were comfortably the worst team in the game.
The new-look Dolphins are highlighted by Tua Tagovailoa, who was granted a 73 overall rating from Madden ahead of the release of this year’s game. That rating is good for the second best score among rookie passers (trailing Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow) and tied for the second-best grade assigned to a rookie quarterback over the last two years (with Arizona’s Kyler Murray, who also received a 73 overall rating to open last year’s game).
If Madden’s ratings are any indication (they’re not, but we digress), the Dolphins made the right choice with the No. 5 overall pick. Fellow rookie quarterbacks Justin Herbert (70 overall) and Jordan Love (71 overall) failed to meet the ranking of Tagovailoa; both were rumored to be in consideration for Miami at different points throughout the pre-draft process.
Tagovailoa, Love and Herbert were three of the rookie quarterbacks spotlighted by EA Sports to mark the release of the first rookie grades â each was joined by Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young to overview their individual ratings in certain categories before their overall grades were revealed. Don’t worry though, Dolphins fans. Tagovailoa is confirmed to be a much better quarterback than he is at guessing his ratings for this year’s Madden game!
Plus, registered participants in the Madden 20 10K Open will not only have the chance to win part of the $10,000 prize pool, but theyâll also have opportunities to be included in the tournamentâs coverage by USA TODAY Sports and For The Win.
Both companies will also showcase exciting highlights across their social media channels, some of which will be player-submitted, so bragging rights will be at full strength!
Your time is now, Madden 20 gamers â sign up today!
Also, a fresh start for Chido Awuzie, drafting an all-time Cowboys roster, Dez Bryant makes dreams come true, and playing in empty stadiums.
Jadeveon Clowney reportedly wants to be in Dallas, but there are a few factors that make it doubtful that he joins the Cowboys, even though many fans are hoping for the team to engineer a Cam-Newton-to-New-England-type blockbuster signing. The current crop of Cowboys, according to Vegas oddsmakers, are set to make some serious noise in 2020. The defensive backfield could potentially hold Dallas back, but players like Chido Awuzie could take the next step with a fresh coaching staff.
NFL games, if they happen at all, are likely to be without fans. But the lack of fans might actually enhance the viewing experience. Cowboys writers take turns drafting their all-time Dallas rosters, and a former Cowboy believes he should be next in line for Canton. All that and more; here are the Dallas Cowboys news and notes for June 29, 2020.
Many people are linking Jadeveon Clowney to the Cowboys after he revealed he would like to play in Dallas. Clowney has lowered his asking price slightly in the last few weeks, but Patrik Walker explains it still doesn’t make sense for the Cowboys to sign Clowney to a huge deal.
Whether it’s for actual wagering or just fantasy football scouting, looking at the official odds can indicate who may be poised to do big things. Plenty of Cowboys are getting decent-to-good odds at winning some end-of-season hardware, and that could mean good-to-great things for the team in 2020.
The team’s staff writers feel the 25-year-old cornerback might be on the cusp of an elevation in his game (and maybe even a move to safety), especially now that he’s under a new coaching staff that includes the likes of Al Harris. “Remember this: Byron Jones was a disappointing first-round pick,” David Helman writes, “and coaching helped turn him into an All-Pro.”
The former Cowboys running back told a Minnesota news outlet back in April that he had done enough in just the NFL to be enshrined in Canton. But as Mike Fisher points out, it’s the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and Walker’s USFL stats should count, too. It’s likely an uphill battle, though, considering some of the other Cowboys legends who also don’t have a gold jacket.
"Just to be honest with you, he made dreams come true."
Bob Sturm and Jon Machota go head-to-head, each drafting a full 53-man roster from a pool that includes every player to ever wear the star. In Part One, they lay out the ground rules and reveal the overall top ten picks. Who went first? Probably not who you think.
Imagine Roger Staubach throwing to Jason Witten with Emmitt Smith blocking in the backfield. Or a defensive huddle that includes Bob Lilly, DeMarcus Lawrence, Deion Sanders, Mel Renfro, and DeMarcus Ware. RADIO.COM and 105.3 The Fan put together a historic showdown for the ages- thanks to Madden 2020- over the weekend. It took a Dan Bailey boot with under 20 seconds left to decide this one; read the recap at the link, or go back and watch the whole game here.
Would NFL games in an empty stadium be weird? Of course. Would it be flat, sterile, and boring? Not necessarily, according to one former player. In fact, fewer penalties and a more intimate proximity to on-the-field audio might just enhance the game experience for television audiences.
@NFL@NFLPA can we have an update on training camp procedures, testing, etc.? Weâre 4 weeks from the assumed start of training camp and it would be nice to have adequate info before I attempt to move my family across country during a pandemic…
The Dallas Cowboys are entering the 2020 season with a new offensive line coach, and will have a new starting center. What will this all mean for a unit that has been consistently among the top offensive lines in football? Cowboys staff writer Rob Philips takes a deeper look at the O-line changes.
USA Today Sports has launched a free Madden 20 bracket-style tournament open to amateur players, with a chance to collect some of the $10,000 prize pool. As part of its partnership with Super League Gaming, which operates an amateur gaming content and community platform, USA Today Sportsâ bracket tourney will allow thousands of players of all skill levels to show off their Madden 20 prowess beginning July 6, all from the comforts of their own home and Xbox One console.
âWhether youâre a casual player or trying to climb the ranks to be one of the best, our Open format gives you a shot,â explained Matt Edelman, Super Leagueâs Chief Commercial Officer. âItâs great to be able to bring players together during this isolating time when itâs not as easy for people to meet up at one personâs house for a round of games on a weekend afternoon.â
The competition begins Monday, July 6th. Super League will host, monitor, and manage the Tournamentâs gameplay, while USA TODAY Sports and For The Win will provide complete coverage of the Tournament and updates to the bracket. Both companies also will be showcasing exciting highlights across their social media channels.
Players can submit game highlights, too, with a chance to be featured on USA Today Sports and For The Win.
The best part? Registration for the tournament is simple and free!
Hereâs how it works:
Players who are 13 years of age or older can register for the tournamentâif youâre under 17, youâll need a parent or legal guardian to sign this consent form for the prizing.
After registering, players will be matched automatically for the opening round, which will be from July 6 to July 26. Like major tournaments, youâll be separated by conferences â North, East, South, or West â where youâll play Best of Three matches in a 64-person group.
The best of the best from each conference (two contestants) will move onto the playoffs on August 1, where the eight players will compete to determine a Final Four â all while enjoying the national attention from USA Today Sportsâ coverage of the event.
Then, on August 2âŠa chance at Madden 20 Glory (and cash!). The top four players will compete in the Finals Bracket and the pool of $10,000, with the first-place champ pocketing $1,500.
Here are highlights from Drew Lock’s showdown with Daniel Cormier in the first round of ESPN’s ‘Madden’ tournament.
Denver Broncos quarterback Drew Lock and running back Melvin Gordon are participating in ESPN’s Celebrity Madden Tournament this week.
In the first round of the tournament, Lock played with the Green Bay Packers and faced off against UFC fighter Daniel Cormier, who played with the New Orleans Saints.
Lock probably picked the Packers because he “models his game after Aaron Rodgers,” according to ESPN’s Arda Ocal. Lock also has a poor rating (67 overall) in Madden 20 so he probably didn’t want to use the Broncos.
Check out the highlights from Lock’s showdown with Cormier in the video below. Warning: The final score and more spoilers are listed below the video.
After initially taking an early 6-0 lead, Lock went down 7-6 in the second quarter and failed to ever regain the lead. Lock threw two interceptions and eventually lost 20-13.
“Oh, I’m bad, I know I’m bad,” Lock said after the loss.
Here are highlights from Melvin Gordon’s showdown with Cam Jordan in ESPN’s Celebrity Madden Tournament.
Denver Broncos quarterback Drew Lock and running back Melvin Gordon are participating in ESPN’s Celebrity Madden Tournament this week.
In the first round of the tournament, Gordon played as the Los Angeles Chargers against Cam Jordan, who played with the New Orleans Saints.
Gordon likely picked his former team because Madden 20 was released last year when he was still a member of the Chargers. Gordon won’t be the Broncos’ video game roster until Madden 21 is released later this summer.
Check out the highlights from Gordon’s showdown with Jordan in the video below.Warning: The final score and more spoilers are posted below the video.Â
After leading 14-6 at halftime, Gordon had a pick-six in the third quarter and another touchdown in the fourth quarter, extending his lead to 28-6. Gordon was eager to lay down the smack talk after the W.
“Sorry I had to beat up on you in front of the fans like that,” Gordon said to Jordan. Gordon will now advance to the quarterfinal of the tournament.
