Madden NFL 15: Best New England Patriots team ever?

Madden NFL 15 cover; credit EA Sports

The Madden NFL video game franchise is now entering its 26th season, and Patriots fans have their best digital team since Madden 08. Remember how unfair it was to play with New England in 2007? That offense was unstoppable (in actuality and in gameplay). Tom Brady was a 98 overall and throwing to the likes of Randy Moss and Wes Welker. Even Donte Stallworth and Reche Caldwell were rated in the 80s, which was probably a few points too high for their genuine abilities.

I still bust out the old PS2 to play past Madden games once in awhile because classic video games, like wine, only get better with age. So, when I was sent a Reddit thread full of New England fans celebrating the Patriots best Madden team since that legendary ’08 squad, I went digging through the attic to find my missing AV cord.

This summer’s Madden NFL 15, due out August 26th, features a Patriots team which is undoubtedly the best squad since ’08. There wasn’t a team between then and now that would give either a run for their money (Madden 12 Patriots had a weak defense). But, which team is better? New England is the highest rated team in Madden 08 at 97 overall.* And although the Madden 15 official player and team ratings have not yet been released by EA Sports, the website www.madden-school.com, which sparked the Reddit thread, rated the Patriots an 8.4 out of 10. Could the Madden 15 Patriots possibly have a better overall rating than one of the most prolific teams ever assembled? I believed it was feasible…until I played Madden 08 again.

It had been awhile since my PS2 saw the light of day; but miraculously, I got the system working and decided on a rematch of Super Bowl XLII. Immediately, I was reminded why this team went undefeated. The first quarter saw an Ellis Hobbs pick-six, an 80-yard touchdown pass from Brady to Moss, and a Rodney Harrison strip-sack. Everybody remembers that offense, but the defense was almost as impressive: Samuel, Wilson, Warren, Colvin, Thomas, Bruschi, Seau, Seymour, Vrabel, and Harrison just to name the core guys.

By the end of the game I had humiliated New York, 36 to 9. Although, I couldn’t help but feel a lingering depression, as if there may still be unresolved Super Bowl issues as a result of the horrifying loss six and a half years ago. It was so bad in fact, I spent the next thirty minutes on YouTube watching highlights from 2004.

There are two major takeaways of my blast from the past. One: the best Madden team of all time was the Madden 08 New England Patriots; and two: if the Patriots don’t win it all this year, I’m going to weep like an infant child.

Let us know in the comment section which team you think is better.

*The New York Giants are painfully rated 81 overall in Madden 08.





Follow Josh on twitter - kriegerjak