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NOA Video Bowl -- See How the Big Game Plays out on Madden 2005!

Feb 03, 2005

Sunday's big game - see how it plays out here first!

On the heels of the biggest sporting event of the year, http://Nintendo.com presents the inaugural NOA Video Bowl, a matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and the New England Patriots on Madden NFL 2005.

With Controllers in hand, our Madden experts NOA_Rufus and "Natedog" battled in what may or may not be an accurate portrayal of the big game. Using Madden's customization options, we've removed from the rosters those who aren't expected to play in Sunday's game (T.O., Chad Lewis, Ty Law, etc.). Can the Eagles overcome the loss of Terrell Owens and put points up on the New England defense? Will the Pats penetrate the powerful and intimidating Eagles defensive line?

"Natedog" and NOA_Rufus have sustained a heated football rivalry in both Madden NFL 2005 and NCAA Football 2005 with a head to head record of 52-52-1 (one tie when NOA_Rufus had to go home). "Natedog" is known in the online circles for his vaunted passing attack and aggressive blitz packages. NOA_Rufus subscribes to an old-school, smash-mouth running game and lets his defensive line do the work for him. It's an Nsider matchup for the ages and they're ready to kick off!

(We're still offering to sell advertising spots in the videos if you're willing to pony up $1 million for 30 seconds. It's well worth it.)

First Quarter Video
NOA_Rufus won the coin toss and chose to play as Philadelphia. "Natedog" won the in-game toss and will kick the ball to start the game. Click the image to view the first quarter!

First Quarter Action!
First Quarter Commentary
Philadelphia missed the explosiveness of Terrell Owens, but even without their star wide receiver, the Eagles didn't become a one-dimensional team. "I reckon they think we ain't gonna pass," said Philadelphia coach NOA_Rufus in a pre-game rant, "but we got a surprise for them fellers." Thirty-five seconds into the game, Rufus called for a play-action pass that Donovan McNabb executed perfectly. Receiver Todd Pinkston beat the man coverage by Asante Samuel and trotted into the end zone to cap off the 60-yard completion. "Stupid button. I know I didn't push it," said New England coach Natedog. "There should have been a flag; that Pinkston practically threw Samuel down!" David Akers shanked the extra point and blamed the miss on Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston's break up (how can he concentrate on a game when Jennifer's hurting?). Philadelphia 6-0.

New England quickly drove to the 50 yard line. On 1st and 10, Tom Brady dropped back to pass, but couldn't find a receiver open. Drifting back, Brady hit the ground when an unregistered vehicle known as defensive tackle Corey Simon dropped him for a loss. Coach "Natedog" once again blamed the button for failing to register the pass. After inspecting the button, play resumed. Facing 2nd and 16 and still stinging from Simon's hit, Brady would get the ball away quicker. Taking a five-step drop, Brady passed to his left, but free safety Brian Dawkins intercepted the ball intended for Deion Branch. The button, in fact, did work.

Two plays later, the Eagles took to the air again. McNabb faked to runningback Brian Westbrook, who blocked the incoming linebacker blitz by Mike Vrabel, and fired a rocket to Freddie Mitchell. Free safety Eugene Wilson caught Mitchell at the 4. Two plays later, Westbrook pranced in for the score to make the lead 13-0 after two minutes of play. "I reckon that was all right," said coach Rufus about the first quarter, "but there's two things you don't count out in this world, and 'Natedog' is one of 'em." When asked what the other thing was, Rufus paused, told us to "look over there" and ran off.

Second Quarter Video
Click the image to view the second quarter!

Second Quarter Action!
Second Quarter Commentary
After sleepwalking through the first quarter, "Natedog" came up with a new strategy. He said, "I'm going to try to pass the ball to a receiver. Then, I want him to catch it -- not drop it, catch it -- and I need him to use those things called 'legs' to do this thing called 'running' into an area called an 'end zone.'" With the ball at the Philadelphia 14 yard line to start the quarter, "Natedog" prepared to put his plan into motion. However, someone forgot to tell both the offensive line and Brady. Philadelphia brought the blitz, and middle linebacker Mark Simoneau came around the corner to sack Brady for a 10-yard loss. "Natedog" then resorted to drawing his plays in a pile of dirt using a stick. "See these rocks," he asked his offensive line, "they're bad guys. You here need to stop the bad guys from tackling this guy on our team called a quarterback." After running a couple of plays for minimal gain, "Natedog" called on kicker Adam Vinatieri to put the Patriots on the board. His field goal was good and the Patriots trailed 13-3.

Philadelphia started their next possession on their own 20. McNabb once again torched the secondary with a rollout pass to Billy McMullen in the middle of the field. Disgusted at his secondary coach, "Natedog" casually asked the coach if he and the secondary corps watched Eagles game film this week or if they decided to rent "Groundhog Day" instead because it "looks like the same thing over and over out there and it's not very funny!" Bill Murray could not be reached for comment. The New England defense did stop the McNabb train from running over them and held the Eagles to a field goal, making the score 16-3.

With time running out in the half, it was time for the Patriots to make one last charge. With 1:22 to go and the ball on the 50, Brady dropped back and fired a bullet to Branch who snuck past the Eagles secondary. New England capped off the drive with a 12-yard touchdown pass to tight end Christian Fauria. "See what happens when everybody listens to the gameplan? We score," said "Natedog" to the sideline reporter who wasn't asking him a question. Although the score was 16-10 Philadelphia, the Eagles had out gained the Patriots 187 yards to 66 yards.

Can the Patriots take the momentum into the second half? "I hope so, but right now, the most important thing is, I need a taco," said "Natedog."

Third Quarter Video
Click the image to view the third quarter!

Third Quarter Commentary
After looking dead in the water in the first quarter, the New England Patriots were one drive away from taking the lead against the Eagles -- a fact not lost on Coach Rufus. "Well, I reckon they were all hot-to-trot goin' into the locker room," said Coach Rufus, "but I paid a feller to have Paul McCartney's halftime show piped into their locker room. If that don't make 'em a little sluggish or at least take their mind off football, I reckon I don't know what will."

It didn't look like the plan would work. On the first play from scrimmage, Brady completed a 30-yard pass to get the Patriots to midfield. But two plays later, the McCartney effect showed. Brady dropped way back, and "The Freak" Jevon Kearse hammered him, forcing a fumble. The Eagles were a mere 35 yards from putting the game away.

Not convinced it was a fumble, Coach "Natedog" threw out the red flag to challenge the play. "If anybody knows tucks, it's Tom Brady," said "Natedog," "and that was a tuck, not a fumble." In response, Rufus threw a red flag to challenge New England's challenge. "That there football is mine!" Rufus said. "If he wants this ball, he's gonna have to come over here and rassle me for it!"

Referee Slim McForeyz settled both coaches down and went to the fancy box on the sideline to review the play. After reviewing the play, McForeyz determined that Brady indeed fumbled the ball although after the game McForeyz admitted he wasn't real sure about the rules. Nonetheless, Philadelphia retained possession of the ball. "Yeeeee-haaaaw!!" Coach Rufus shouted as he danced a jig on the sideline.

Needing to run out as much clock as they could, the Eagles turned to the ground game. "If there's one thing I'm good at it's playing a winning and totally unwatchable game," said Rufus. After running some time off the clock, Akers kicked another field goal, giving the Eagles a 19-10 lead.

Fourth Quarter Video
Click the image to view the fourth quarter!

Fourth Quarter Commentary
After finally shaking off the haze of the McCartney effect, New England psyched themselves up to score twice in the fourth. "We can do this, people," said Coach "Natedog" to his Patriots. "All we have to do is keep them from tackling us and we're going to win!"

Once again, the Patriots marched to midfield via Brady's accurate passing. However, the Eagles defense tightened up, as it had done the previous three quarters. The Eagles D deflected three straight Brady passes and forced a punt.

Now with the ball, the Eagles focused on winding the game clock. After eating two minutes off the clock, Philadelphia decided to go to the air. McNabb rolled right, as he did all game, and hit his receiver for a seven-yard gain. The officials in the replay booth, however, stopped play and decided to take a look at the reception. After further review, they determined the receiver caught the ball out of bounds.

"At least they got one of them right," said "Natedog."

Without making any gains on third down, the Eagles decided to kick the ball away. Trying to catch the Patriots off guard, Rufus called for a fake punt, which failed miserably. "Hey, if I can't do stupid things, then I can't be me, and I wouldn't want that, to not be not me," said Coach Rufus. His self-affirmation gave the Patriots great field position, but only 96 seconds remained on the game clock.

The Patriots decided to take their gift and smash it with a sledgehammer. The Eagles defensive line hit Brady so many times, he started falling down just out of habit. "My field! My beautiful field," cried the head groundskeeper, Soddy Johnson. "I'll never get that quarterback stain out!" Brady threw one final interception to Simoneau to seal victory for the Eagles.

NOA Video Bowl

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