In just about an hour or so, the NFL playoffs will kick-off and the final push to crown the newest Super Bowl Champion will begin. We have decided to let Madden NFL 10 simulate the playoffs to predict the winners leading up to and through the Super Bowl. So let us gaze into our crystal balls together and see what Madden has to say about the this season's NFL Playoffs.

AFC Wildcard Playoffs

New York Jets @ Cincinnati Bengals

On a day when the Bengals offense looked like it was going to knock Cincinnati out of the playoffs, the defense stepped it up by picking of the Jets’ Mark Sanchez four times and sacking him another nine times. It also Didn’t help the Jets’ cause when Thomas Jones broke his leg on the first play of the game.

Bengals 26 Jets 7

Notable Player statistics

Carson Palmer 14-of-30 169 YDS 1 TD 1 INT
Mark Sanchez 15-of-35 178 YDS 1 TD 4 INT

Cedric Benson 24 ATT 77 YDS 1 TD
Shonn Greene 31 ATT 105 YDS

Chad Ochocinco 2 REC 35 YDS 1 TD
Jericho Cothcery 5 REC 86 YDS 1 TD

Baltimore Ravens @ New England Patriots

Ray Rice continued tearing up defenses and the Ravens’ D put all doubters to rest as Baltimore defeated the Patriots on their home turf. The Patriots couldn’t get their run offense going forcing Tom Brady to throw a couple interceptions. The absence of Welker hurt the Patriot's passing game as Julian Edelman had a poor performance with only one catch.

Ravens 31 Patriots 24

Notable Player statistics

Joe Flacco 15-of-29 228 YDS 2 TD
Tom Brady 25-of-42 290 YDS 2 TD 2 INT

Ray Rice 31 ATT 175 YDS 2 TD
Laurence Maroney 19 ATT 42 YDS

Derrick Mason 5 REC 86 YDS 2 TD
Randy Moss 6 REC 58 YDS 1 TD


AFC Divisional Playoffs

Cincinnati Bengals @ San Diego Chargers

Carson Palmer finally broke out of his long slump to lead the Bengals over the heavily favored Chargers. The game was tied going into half time, but Palmer took over in the third quarter to lead the Bengals to a ten-point lead. The Chargers would fight back to within three, but Palmer responded with a drive that resulted in his third touchdown of the day.

Bengals 33 Chargers 20

Notable Player statistics

Carson Palmer 21-of-34 327 YDS 3 TD
Phillip Rivers 21-of-40 233 YDS 1 TD 2 INT

Cedric Benson 29 ATT 98 YDS
Ladainian Tomlinson 15 ATT 92 YDS 1 TD

Chad Ochocinco 5 REC 119 YDS 2 TD
Vincent Jackson 6 REC 101 YDS

Baltimore Ravens @ Indianapolis Colts

In a game with absolutely no defense to be found, the Colts’ let it be known that the road to the Super Bowl will go through them. It was back and forth battle with nobody leading by more than one score the first half, but once the third quarter started the Colts rallied off 41 unanswered points putting themselves in the record books and the AFC Championship.

Colts 79 Ravens 38

Notable Player statistics

Peyton Manning 23-of-36 360 YDS 4 TD
Joe Flacco 18-of-34 367 YDS 3 TD 3 INT

Joseph Addai 20 ATT 143 YDS 3 TD
Donald Brown 2 ATT 71 YDS 2 TD
Ray Rice 24 ATT 187 YDS 2 TD

Reggie Wayne 11 REC 192 YDS 3 TD
Derrick Mason 5 REC 179 YDS 1 TD

AFC Championship

Cincinnati Bengals @ Indianapolis Colts

The Indianapolis Colts survived a major scare from the Bengals to advance to the Super bowl. The Bengals scored 14 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to cut the lead to within two, but as time expired they missed the game winning field goal.

Colts 26 Bengals 24

Notable Player statistics

Peyton Manning 21of-37 236 YDS 2 TD 1 INT
Carson Palmer 15-of-24 199 YDS 1 TD 2 INT

Joseph Addai 28 ATT 134 YDS
Cedric Benson 19 ATT 55 YDS 1 TD

Reggie Wayne 7 REC 104 YDS 1 TD
Chad Ochocinco 6 REC 96 YDS


NFC Wildcard Playoffs

Green Bay Packers @ Arizona Cardinals

The Packers had a 10-0 lead at half time, but couldn’t hold onto it and allowed the Cardinals to avoid the upset. The Cardinals were without WR Anquan Boldin, but that didn’t matter as Early Doucet filled in quite perfectly for him. Neither team could get a running game going, with both quarterbacks throwing over 40 times.

Cardinals 21 Packers 13

Notable Player statistics

Kurt Warner 24-of-46 291 YDS 3 TD 1 INT
Aaron Rodgers 18-of-43 328 YDS 1 TD 2 INT

Tim Hightower 11 ATT 21 YDS
Beanie Wells 15 ATT 34 YDS
Ryan Grant 16 ATT 54 YDS

Larry Fitzgerald 11 REC 126 YDS 2 TD
Early Doucet 6 REC 108 YDS 1 TD
James Jones 4 REC 115 YDS 1 TD

Philadelphia Eagles @ Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys were the hottest team in the NFL coming into this game against the Eagles. They continued that streak by defeating the Eagles for the second weekend in a row and third time this season. Tony Romo hit Miles Austin for the game winning touchdown with under a minute left followed by a sack and forced fumble by DeMarcus Ware, sealing the Cowboys first playoff vctory in over a decade.

Cowboys 34 Eagles 27

Notable Player statistics

Tony Romo 17-of-37 315 YDS 2 TD
Donovan McNabb 18-of-34 206 YDS 1 INT

Marion Barber 9 ATT 95 YDS 1 TD
Tony Romo 6 ATT 34 YDS 1 TD
LeSean McCoy 12 ATT 29 YDS

Miles Austin 6 REC 156 YDS 1 TD
DeSean Jackson 6 REC 68 YDS


NFC Divisional Playoffs

Dallas Cowboys @ Minnesota Vikings

In what could possibly be Brett Favre’s third final game of his career, the Cowboys upset the Vikings in the second round of the playoffs. Both quarterbacks had a horrendous outing. The game almost ended in dramatic fashion when the Vikings returned a squib kick 71 yards before getting pushed out of bounds at the 2-yard line with 0 left on the clock.

Cowboys 31 Vikings 26

Notable Player statistics

Tony Romo 10-of-25 172 YDS 1 TD 1 INT
Brett Favre 12-of-21 140 YDS 1 TD 1 INT

Marion Barber 28 ATT 104 YDS 1 TD
Adrian Peterson 31 ATT 284 YDS 2 TD

Miles Austin 3 REC 96 YDS 1 TD
Sidney Rice 3 REC 33 YDS

Arizona Cardinals @ New Orleans Saints

The Saints proved to be too much for the Cardinals, who put up a great defensive effort not allowing a touchdown after the first quarter. That effort may be due to the fact that Drew Brees was knocked out half way through the second quarter that kept him out of the game. The Cardinals could not find a running game in the playoffs, being held under 100 yards in their two games. He will be healthy for the NFC championship game, Saints fans can breathe easy now.

Saints 28 Cardinals 12

Notable Player statistics

Drew Brees 7-of-11 56 YDS 2 TD
Mark Brunell 9-of-18 136 YDS 1 TD 1 INT
Kurt Warner 23-of-46 385 YDS 1 TD 1 INT

Pierre Thomas 19 ATT 72 YDS
Tim Hightower 16 ATT 36 YDS
Beanie Wells 9 ATT 8 YDS

Larry Fitzgerald 9 REC 133 YDS 1 TD
Jeremy Shockey 6 REC 62 YDS 2 TD

NFC Championship

Dallas Cowboys @ New Orleans Saints

The Saints are on their way to the Super bowl for the first time ever as they defeated the Cowboys. The Cowboys defense and special teams combined for three touchdowns but Tony Romo had a terrible game and threw costly interceptions in the second half that allowed the Saints to come back from behind to calim victory. The two top seeds in the playoffs have set up what will be one great Super bowl.

Saints 34 Cowboys 31

Notable Player statistics

Drew Brees 17-of-37 214 YDS 3 TD 1 INT
Tony Romo 8-of-29 115 YDS 1 TD 2 INT

Pierre Thomas 21 ATT 85 YDS 1 TD
Marion Barber 19 ATT 52 YDS

Marques Colston 9 REC 133 YDS 1 TD
Patrick Crayton 2 REC 61 YDS 1 TD

Super Bowl

Indianapolis Colts vs. New Orleans Saints

The New Orleans Saints are the football champions of the world! The Saints had a miraculous goal line stand as time expired to defeat the Indianapolis Colts and earn themselves the Lombardi Trophy. On a fourth and goal from the two yard line, the Colts failed to convert, sealing the Saints' first ever Super Bowl crown.

Saints 34 Colts 26

Notable Player statistics

Drew Brees 17-of-22 214 YDS 3 TD
Peyton Manning 28-of-42 326 YDS 2 TD 2 INT

Pierre Thomas 15 ATT 126 YDS 1 TD
Joseph Addai 15 ATT 121 YDS 1 TD

Marques Colston 5 REC 93 YDS 1 TD
Pierre Garcon 7 REC 101 YDS 2 TD

There you have it, according to Madden 10 the New Orleans Saints will be holding up the Lombardi Trophy after the dust settles on February 7th. What do you think of the simulation results? Who is your pick for the Super Bowl?