Dallas Cowboys Madden simulation predicts bad loss to Baltimore Ravens

It would not be an exaggeration to say that this week was the Dallas Cowboys’ least optimistic week for the season so far. Of course, only three weeks have passed, but the mood and spirits were somber.

This is when you’re fresh off a 44-19 loss and are one of only 11 teams in NFL history to allow 44 or more points against you in two consecutive home games (playoffs included). It goes without saying that a win here could go a long way.

The bookies, however, think that’s unlikely, as Dallas is an underdog at home against the Baltimore Ravens this week. However, we’ve seen the bookies get it wrong in the Cowboys’ last two home games, as Dallas was heavily favored in both games, only to lose each time.

But what about Madden? What does the video game have to say? Every week we run a simulation to see how the Cowboys fare, and this week’s game promises even more bad vibes. In Madden, Dallas loses to Baltimore with a final score of 21-14.

Madden hasn’t been kind to the Cowboys heading into Week 3, as last week it looked like Dallas was going to lose a high-scoring game, and while that was somewhat true, the Cowboys themselves weren’t able to put up high scores. They clearly lost.

Madden predicted a win for Dallas in Week 1, but the Cowboys came away with a clear victory. So far this season, the game has been very mixed.

• Madden Prediction for Week 1: Dallas Cowboys lose against The Cleveland Browns18-17
  Week 1 in reality: Dallas Cowboys beat The Cleveland Browns33-17
• Madden Prediction for Week 2: Dallas Cowboys lose to New Orleans Saints 36:29
  Week 2 in reality: Dallas Cowboys lose to New Orleans Saints 44:10

This particular simulation was interesting, however, because Dak Prescott got injured on the home stretch while Dallas was trying to tie the game. Cooper Rush made some great throws on third and fourth down to get Dallas to the goal line, but Ezekiel Elliott was stopped at the 1-yard line. Amazingly, with the score tied and less than a minute left, the Cowboys got the ball back at about halftime, but a checkdown from Rush to Elliott landed four yards from the end zone and was the last play of the game.

Should the Cowboys lose, they would drop to 1-2 this season, a record they’ve achieved 12 times in franchise history. They’ve only made the playoffs four times (Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott were part of the group that made it in 2018), but Madden seems to think they’ll have to try again soon.