Madden2K3 mission: Make the Bengals win

[Rob E Dangerously 0]

Here is my log of the Bengals in Franchise mode on Madden2K3.

 

Preseason moves:

 

Got rid of Akili Smith, got Eric Crouch in a trade with the Rams. Picked up Michael Bishop (K-State grad)

 

Other free-agent signings: Sam Adams, Terrell Buckley, Mike Sellers (as a FB), Antonio Freeman.

 

Pre-Season:

 

Game 1- Cincinnati at Buffalo.

 

Asswhipping.

 

Buffalo 34, Cincy 6 (on a missed XP)

 

Then I got a new PK (Gary Anderson)

 

Game 2- Cincinnati at Indianpolis

 

I went up 28-7 at halftime, but it was not to be. Indy came back and tied it at 28, then they finished me off with a FG as time expired.

 

Indy 31, Cincy 28

 

and I waived Anderson and picked up a PK based off some Senegal world cup guy

 

Game 3- New Orleans at Cincinnati

 

I go down at halftime, but I muster the comeback, and I go up 20-17 (21-17 if I made the XP), and then on the last play, they throw it and score a TD

 

Saints 24, Cincy 20

 

and I signed another PK (Cary Blanchard)

 

Game 4- Atlanta at Cincinnati

 

Atlanta goes up early, but with a late TD, I get within a FG, but they run down the clock.

 

Atlanta 17, Cincy 14

 

and now the real season.. my starting QB is Gus Frerrotte.

 

Game 1- San Diego at Cincinnati

 

A total asskicking. With the score at 23-0, I'm close to scoring, I attempt a trick play with Crouch at QB (since Kitna and Frerotte weren't impressing me). Crouch throws the ball to Corey Dillon, it BOUNCES off him and into Quentin Jammer's hands. 93 yards. Touchdown San Diego.

 

Final: San Diego 33, Cincinnati 0

 

Game 2- Cincinnati at Cleveland

 

Another buttkicking. Frerotte fumbles running up the middle to get a first down on third down and 2. Kitna throws three INTs. Bishop is barely used. Then late in the Fourth Quarter, in my weird rotation, Crouch is throwing on Shotgun. He comes out, he throws to Darnay Scott, Antonio Freeman gets it. Touchdown Bengals. Eric freaking Crouch throws the first TD pass of the year. Then we miss the XP.

 

Final: Cleveland 41, Cincinnati 6

 

At this time, I make two moves.

 

1. I trade Jon Kitna and a center to Oakland for another Center to improve the line and free up cap room, then I sign Randall Cunningham to be the backup.

 

2. I turn the settings for games from 'pro' to 'rookie'. Hell, if I keep up with 3 points a game for the season, I'm toast. At least the Bengals can improve this way.

 

Game 3- Cincinnati at Atlanta

 

This is where I start winning. TDs from Frerotte and Cunningham. Dillon scores TDs. 35-7 lead at halftime. Eric Crouch doesn't pass and I get the win.

 

Final: Cincy 45, Atlanta 14

 

Game 4- Tampa Bay at Cincinnati

 

First play of the game. Peter Warrick runs the kick return back for 94 yards and a touchdown. Sometime later, I add another TD. At halftime, I'm up 17-3. Then Tampa Bay is stopped again and they make it 17-6. On the kickoff, they kick to Curtis Keaton, who runs it 101 yards for another TD. Tampa Bay makes it 24-14. But I go up 31-14. As they try to make a drive, the ball is intercepted by Jeff Burris and run 74 yards for a TD. It's over, and due to the 195 yards on two KR TDs and 74 yards on the INT. Tampa Bay has more yards on offense, almost as many total.

 

Final: Cincy 38, Tampa Bay 14

 

Now, my next game is at Indianapolis. Since I don't have to pull my first string when I go up 28-7, I might go out, hold a lead and keep it.

 

My QBs are:

 

Frerotte (starter)

Cunningham (backup, gets to throw a few times)

Bishop (the guy I'd like to try and make the Cincy QB of the future)

Crouch (the emergency plan. I don't think I can turn him back into a QB on Madden)

 

They throw to Freeman, Warrick, Darnay Scott, Terry Hardy, Schrobel and Corey Dillon.

 

and for those on the Crouch QB watch, he's 2 for 5 with a TD and an INT.

 

That's all for the Bengals report. I equaled their win total for 16 games in just four games.

[EL DANDY~! 0]

You know Rob...they're looking for a new coach and GM...

[Guest Lethargic]

The only shocking thing in this is that you actually lost two games playing Madden. I got so sick of the game being so easy I gave up on having any fun with it and just always did general manager stuff and just simed the games.

[Rob E Dangerously 0]

El Dandy~!:

 

I'm afraid that my radical ideas like "bring back the Run and Shoot" or "Just because it's 4th down doesn't mean we have to punt" would not go over well in the NFL.

 

I could just do the drafting for the Bengals.

 

one more thing I don't need to do: make the games have 15 minute quarters.

 

I usually scored around 70 points a game with that on Gamebreaker, I'm sure I'd do that on Madden also

[Guest Flyboy]

I got so sick of the game being so easy I gave up on having any fun with it and just always did general manager stuff and just simed the games.

*beats Leth in Madden*

 

*walks off*

[Guest kkktookmybabyaway]

What difficulty level are you playing at?

 

Do a fantasy draft and purge your current roster...

[Guest MarvinisaLunatic]

That would have been more impressive had you not made any moves..

[Guest Flyboy]

What difficulty level are you playing at?

I always play on All-Madden.

[Guest kkktookmybabyaway]

I started a franchise on All-Madden and just entering the playoffs on my second season. Do you adjust the sliders Fly? I have to in regards to the CPU's passing attack -- its routine miracle passes to recievers in TRIPLE coverage got on my nerves...

[Guest Flyboy]

I believe my uncle did when he first bought the game (well, stole). And even then, I BARELY beat the CPU.

 

I just had a game between Denver and the Giants... they win with an FG in the last quarter. I was doing it to decide who ROY was, but I was SCREWED I tells ya. *ahem*

 

Anyhow... I usually just fantasy draft my franchises and I don't coach any team. I see if my created players (college and some of myself) make it to the playoffs and if they can win the Super Bowl. It's nice seeing Kliff KINGSBURY~! take the Redskins to the Super Bowl and win.

 

But, one thing I still haven't been able to do is beat my created Ken Dorsey on All-Madden. I blitz, zone.. everything. He makes the impossible possible. I hate him. May he rot in hell.

 

Um, so yeah..

[Rob E Dangerously 0]

And the update..

 

first, results

 

Cincinnati @ Indianapolis

 

Bengals 63, Colts 31

 

After three quarters, it was 49-3, but after making it 49-10, the Colts got the ball two times in a row on onside kicks, but I managed to score two more times to break the franchise scoring record of 61.

 

Also, Gus Frerotte got player of the week for throwing six touchdown passes.

 

At this point, I was told the trading deadline was before my next game, so I made some trades.

 

Lorenzo Neal to the Texans for their 2nd round pick

 

2nd round pick of the Texans to somebody for Prichett (a fullback)

 

I eventually got that pick back with another trade

 

Darnay Scott to the Redskins for Kevin Lockett

 

Antonio Freeman to the Titans for Kevin Dyson

 

I also signed Leon Lett to try and make my defensive line better.

 

Next game:

 

Bengals 17, Steelers 7

 

This game got close, but I pulled out for a win.

 

The bye week was uneventful

 

next game: Bengals 34, Titans 24

 

Corey Dillon rushed for 263 yards, but the Titans got close. Dillon got player of the week.

 

next game was alot of fun, the 0-7 Texans..

 

Results: Cincinnati 62, Houston 14

 

The game got up to 41-0 before the Texans scored. But it all turned out to be a pretty easy game.

 

next- Cincy @ Baltimore

 

This time, I went up 24-0. But, the Ravens stalled me and scored 22 points. Without much time left and up 2 points, I was on the 38 yard line for a fourth and one. So, after lining up for a 53 yard field goal, I took a timeout and went for it. Corey Dillon delivers with a 38 yard touchdown run.

 

Final- Bengals 31, Ravens 22

 

next.. the revenge.. Browns at Bengals. They beat me 41-6, so I decided to whup their asses. I went up to a huge lead and with seconds left, I was up 38-6 and I could chipshot a FG to make it 41-6, but I went for it and I scored.

 

Final Score: Bengals 45, Browns 6

 

Corey Dillon got Player of the Week for a 240yd plus game.

 

Next- Bengals @ Steelers. The Game of the Week.

 

The Steelers kept the game at 7-3 after one. Then I put some points up and make it 21-6 at the half. I started to run it up, making it 49-6 by the time they scored again. Then I made the game 62-13 and I went for two to break the Franchise record, but they scored again.

 

Final: Bengals 64, Steelers 20

 

The Game of the Week ends with a 44 point victory for me.

 

And Frerotte gets player of the week for throwing for over 300 yards and throwing 8 touchdown passes (four of them to Peter Warrick). That breaks the NFL record of 7, last tied in 1969 by Joe Kapp.

 

So, the results so far

 

09/08- San Diego- L 0-33

09/15- at Cleveland- L 6-41

09/22- at Atlanta- W 45-14

09/29- Tampa Bay- W 38-14

10/06- at Indianapolis- W 63-31

10/13- Pittsburgh- W 17-7

10/20- BYE

10/27- Tennessee- W 34-24

11/03- at Houston- W 62-14

11/10- at Baltimore- W 31-22

11/17- Cleveland- W 45-6

11/24- at Pittsburgh W 64-20

12/01- Baltimore

12/08- at Carolina

12/15- Jacksonville

12/22- New Orleans

12/29- at Buffalo

 

and with 5 games left, the Steelers are the only team close- at 8-3.

 

And my lineup:

 

QB- Gus Frerotte

RB- Corey Dillon

FB- Stanley Prichett

WR- Peter Warrick, Kevin Dyson

TE- Terry Hardy

G- Matt O'Dwyer, DeMingo Graham

T- Levi Jones, Willie Anderson

C- Adam Trau

 

Backups-

QB: Randall Cunningham, Michael Bishop

RB: Curtis Keaton, Brandon Bennett

FB: Mike Sellers

WR: Kevin Lockett, Chad Johnson, Bobby Newcombe, Eric Crouch

TE: Matt Schobel

T: Jimmy Herndon, Jamain Stephens

G: Scott Rehberg, Mike Goff

C: Ryan Schau

 

Starters-

 

LE: Leon Lett

RE: Justin Smith

DT: Sam Adams, Oliver Gibson

LOLB: Kevin Hardy

MLB: Brian Simmons

ROLB: Takeo Spikes

CB: Terrell Buckley, Jeff Burris

FS: Lamont Thompson

SS: Victor Green

 

Backups:

 

Ends: Cedric Jones, Chuck Smith

DT: Christian Peter, Bernard Whittington

LBs: Steve Foley, Adrian Ross, Armenis Spearman

CBs: Artell Hawkins, Robert Bean, Kevin Kaesviharn

Safeties: Henry Jones, Mark Roman

 

K: Cary Blanchard

P: Nick Harris

 

If you think I've equipped the team now (the only first round picks going all the way back to Ki-Jana that aren't starting are Akili Smith and Wilson. Those picks are Smith, Levi, Warrick, Willie Anderson, Simmons and Spikes), wait until my draft day. I have three picks in the 7th round, high picks in the 2nd and 5th rounds (both picks traded from the still winless Texans). Wait until I get the shot to get a better TE, or a good center or tackle, or another linebacker, or a free safety, or a punter!

 

Sure, I could play with the Bengals as they really are, but I could just go Jimmy Johnson and remodel the team. Hehe.. \m/

[Guest Choken One]

Fuck that bullshit...

 

I took the TEAM AS IS on Pro (Just traded Smith for Freeman) and went 8-8.

[Guest pinnacleofallthingsmanly]

I haven't played a Career Mode of Madden since Madden 2001, but in that game, it was easy as hell to get high draft picks.

 

Stop playing on Easy.

[Guest DrTom]

but in that game, it was easy as hell to get high draft picks.

It still is. At the end of a season in Franchise mode, I look at the Progression list to see who on my team has declined. Unless they're still really good, I try to trade them. I try to replace the position with a younger chap first, but it's still easy to get draft picks for them. I also tend to sign guys I have no intentions of keeping from the free agent class, just to trade them for players I need and draft picks.

 

The only problem with having a lot of high draft picks is that you have to open your wallet and pay unproven guys in the low-to-mid 70's $2-3 million per year.