The Buffalo Bills are healthy underdogs as they host the Los Angeles Chargers for the team’s home opener. Let’s see what the Madden 19 video game predicts will happen.
Last week’s Madden 19 score: Baltimore 17, Buffalo 16
Last week’s real-life score: Baltimore 47, Buffalo 3
Although last week’s Madden 19 prediction turned out to be extremely generous to the Buffalo Bills, the moral of the story is that the team ended the week with their tail between their legs.
With the 2018 home opener now upon us, let’s see if Madden 19 will be more generous to the Bills as they host the favored Los Angeles Chargers.
BUFFALO, NY (Sep 16) – Mother nature has bestowed Bills fans with a glorious 80 degree weather day for the team’s long-awaited home opener. The Bills decide to take the field donning their aesthetically pleasing white-on-white attire, hoping that it will render better results than last week.
Unfortunately, things start off in horrific fashion. Rookie signal caller Josh Allen looks rattled in his first NFL start, completing a dismal one of five passes for six yards after two consecutive three and outs.
The same cannot be said for star quarterback Philip Rivers. He shreds the Bills surprisingly susceptible secondary for two first quarter passing touchdowns to Keenan Allen and Tyrell Williams. End of first quarter score: Los Angeles 14, Buffalo 0
As the partisan home fans begin to brace themselves for back-to-back abysmal performances from their beloved Bills, a ray of hope emerges. Allen starts to throw the ball down the field to his new favorite target, Charles Clay. The two connect four times for 43 yards to lead the Bills to a first and goal. The drive is capped off nicely with a Zay Jones four-yard touchdown on a nifty slant pattern.
Alas, the home team’s momentum is short lived, as Rivers continues to have his way with the Bills defense. He goes five for five on a 74-yard drive, culminating in a 20-yard touchdown connection with talented youngster Mike Williams. End of second quarter score: Los Angeles 21, Buffalo 7
Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll decides to make a more concerted effort to involve star running back LeSean McCoy at the start of the second half. From toss sweeps, to counter runs, to screen passes, McCoy registers 44 yards from scrimmage on the drive. Much to the chagrin of Bills fans, the drive ends in a 37-yard field goal from Steven Hauschka.
The Chargers also decide to incorporate more of a running game in the second half, as Melvin Gordon breaks off two long runs as a result of poor tackling by the opponents. Yet again, the drive is ended with an exclamation mark, as Rivers throws his fourth touchdown pass of the game, this time to Gordon. End of third quarter score: Los Angeles 28, Buffalo 10
The fourth quarter is highlighted by Allen taking advantage of a soft defensive spread, routinely hooking up with Clay on crossing patterns that move the sticks at a healthy rate. One drive ends with a beautifully executed fade patter to Kelvin Benjamin (remember him?), while the other is a 48-yard field goal by Hauschka to cut the lead to eight.
Despite the team’s best efforts, it’s simply too little too late. The Chargers are able to execute two crucial third downs late in the fourth quarter to seal the deal.
Final score: Los Angeles 28, Buffalo 20
Player of the game: Philip Rivers – 22 of 30 for 330 yards and four touchdowns.