Saturday Sim: Cards @ 49ers

by robloosli on Dec 12, 2009 9:01 AM MST

We're back with another edition of the Saturday Sim, this time simulating the Cards going to San Francisco for Monday Night Football. I set Madden to All-Madden level, put the quarter length on 8 minutes with a 15 second runoff, and let her rip.

Now, obviously these simulations are rarely even remotely close to what happens in the actual game, but they're fun none the less. This game, in my opinion, could play out very much like this one. The way the Cardinals are playing right now, and I could see it happening. Regardless, you'll all like the outcome, and if the actual game even remotely resembles this simulation, we'll be celebrating a 2nd straight NFC West title come Monday night! After the jump, the Sim results:

1st Quarter:

49ers won the toss and received the ball, however Gore fumbled on first down after a vicious hit by A-Dubb, and Haggans recovers for the Cards.

Warner opened up passing, but threw an 85 yard pick 6 to Willis on 2nd down. 7-0 SF.

Cards spread the ball around as they work there way up the field. Boldin, Fitz, Doucet, Breaston all catching passes, and with a few runs sprinkled in the Cards are in scoring position. Warner scores on a QB sneak on 1st and goal after a 13 yd pass to Q to the 1. 7-7.

Quick 3 and out by the 49ers gives the ball back to the Cards, but they go 3 and out on 2 drops by Doucet, and the 1st Quarter is over, 7-7.

2nd Quarter:

49ers lose a 3rd down conversion on a hold, but convert the 3rd and long on a pass to Morgan to move across midfield. Smith to Crabtree for 22 yards to the 25but after a 1st down Gore run, DRC picks off Smith in the end zone to end the threat.

After a 1st down pass to Fitz, 3 straight runs by Hightower moves the ball to the 43, where the drive stalls after a drop by Q and a hurried incompletion by Warner.

On the 1st play after the punt, Rolle intercepts Smith to give the Cards the ball inside the 20. Warner throws a TD to Hightower on the first play for a 17 yard TD. 14-7 Cards.

49ers get the ball back and open up in Shotgun. A-dubb drops a pick on 1st down, DRC knocks the ball down on 2nd, and B-Mac knocks the ball down on 3rd to force a 3 and out before half. Pass D looks really good to this point with 2 picks and several passes defended in the 1st half.

Cards run the ball 3 times, and punt with 8 seconds to go in the 1st half. End of 2nd Quarter, 14-7 Cards.

3rd Quarter:

Cards get the kick, and on the 2nd play of the half Warner beats a CB blitz to find Breaston for a 77 yard TD pass. 21-7 Cards.

Smith to Crabtree, and Smith to Bruce move the ball into Cards territory. But 2 straight Gore runs lead to 2 straight TFL by Haggans, and on 3rd and long and Adams sacks Smith to force the punt.

After stopping the Cards on 1st and 2nd, a Facemask gives the Cardinals a 1st down to keep the drive alive. A Patrick drop at the 25 leads to a 3rd and long that is knocked down. Rackers 52 yard FG attempt HITS THE UPRIGHT! 3rd Quarter Score Cards 21-7.

4th Quarter:

After allowing 2 49er 1st downs, a sack by Hayes leads to a 2nd and long completion, but a sack by Okeafor on 3rd and 10 ends the drive and the 49ers punt.

1st down 15 yarder to Q, but pressure on Warner leads to an INT by Spencer on the next play. 49ers ball on the Cards 32.

2 straight passes to Vernon Davis, and 49ers have 1st and 10 on the 12. Gore has no room to run, and a near sack on 3rd down sets up a 4th and 7 pass that A-dubb knocks down in the end zone.

49ers get the ball back after a 3 and out, but inside the 2 minute warning. 2 near INTs by Dansby sets up 4th and 4 with just over a minute left, and a 74 yard DRC pick 6 ends any chance of a comeback for the 49ers. 28-7 Cards.

9ers get the ball back, but 3 straight incompletions and a punt leads to the Victory formation. Game over, 28-7 Cards win!

All in all, it was a dominant effort. The 49ers couldn't really move the ball, and The Cards picked Smith 3 times, sacked him another 3 times, and forced a Gore fumble. Warner threw 2 INTs, but also 2 TDs, and played a solid game overall. I think we can all agree that an outcome like this would certainly be a welcome sight come Monday Night! Go Cards!

Box Score:

Passing: Ari-Warner 14/24 216, 2/2 81.2. SF-Smith 15/29 171, 0/3 30.2.

Rushing: Ari-Hightower 16/62, Fitz 1/7, Warner 2/-2 1 TD. SF-Gore 12/18.

Receiving: Ari-Breaston 4/114 1 TD, Fitz 3/28, Q 3/44, Doucet 2/14, Patrick 1/-1, Hightower 1/17 1 TD. SF-Davis 5/49, Crabtree 3/48, Bruce 3/39, Morgan 2/26, Gore 2/14.

Sacks: Ari- Adams, Okeafor, Hayes. SF-none.

INT: Ari-DRC 2, Rolle 1. SF-Willis 1, Spencer 1.

Fumbles: A-Dub 1 FF, Hayes 1 FR.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Revenge of the Birds' (ROTB) editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of ROTB's editors.

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Comments

I hope that happens on Monday.

Something weird does go on whenever I play Rivalry games on Madden. Teams from the NFC West always play against the Cardinals harder than all of the other teams [besides the high rated ones] and every time I score they wind up responding with a big play.

Lifelong Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan.

No band-wagoner fans allowed, pick a team and stick with em, throughout the good and the bad.

by JoeCB1991 on Dec 12, 2009 12:58 PM MST reply actions

I hope this holds true.

Seems like the Cardinals are already fired up for this game.

What? I didn't break it, I was just testing its durability, and then I placed it in the woods becuase it's made out of wood and I just thought he should be with his family.
Revenge of the Birds

by Andrew602 on Dec 12, 2009 1:04 PM MST reply actions

Cards vs SF outcome

I wouldn’t like the exact outcome that you described, with Warner throwing 2 picks. Why not envision Warner tossing 4 TDs 0 INTs. Now that’s more like it.

by emanuelr1a on Dec 12, 2009 9:56 PM MST reply actions

"Warner scores on a QB sneak on 1st and goal after a 13 yd pass to Q to the 1."

Silly Madden, tricks are for Wright!

by tw3kr on Dec 12, 2009 10:06 PM MST reply actions

+1 That's hilarious

I’ve been wondering all year if they would consider having Warner push one in! But you’re absolutely right tw3kr, that’s what they have the shifty Wright for.

But I’d love to see Warner sneak one in. Maybe in the playoffs?

Section 102, Row 18

by CardsFan08 on Dec 13, 2009 1:03 AM MST up reply actions

I suppose it's fun but . . .

it seems mostly ridiculous to me. Gerald Hayes gets a sack? The Cards run the ball 3 straight times at the end of the half? Warner scores on a QB sneak? The best playcallers in the NFL don’t have that much imagination!

I assume you’re just giving highlights, so it isn’t a true play-by-play, but still . . .. The only way I see the Cards running the ball 3 times for a 3 and out at the end of the half is if they are inside their own 10, and that seems unlikely since the Niners had just taken a kickoff and failed to move the ball on the preceding series. You didn’t mention a great kickoff return by the Niners to near midfield or a 60 yard punt. Maybe Warner got concussed on that sneak and was too woozy to throw the ball? Or maybe somebody headbutted Whiz after the go-ahead touchdown, and he forgot he had one of the three most dangerous passing attacks in the NFL and a very accomplished 2-minute QB.

There is also ABSOLUTELY no way Warner sneaks the ball unless a Super Bowl or playoff victory is the prize—certainly not in the first quarter of a game that may very well be meaningless when all the dust settles; and ESPECIALLY not only 3 weeks after suffering a concussion. Yeah, yeah, the less they expect it, the more effective it would be. Right.

by bigred49yrs on Dec 13, 2009 5:05 AM MST reply actions

If Michael Adams gets a sack in a real game...

…I’ll piss myself. Or Alex Smith will after getting taken down by a 5’7" corner with man-to-man coverage down field. Are sure Madden didn’t stick J.T. O’Sullivan back in the Niners’ line-up?

We all leave footprints in the sands of time, just watch out for the discarded fish hooks!

by Hawkwind on Dec 13, 2009 5:49 AM MST reply actions