The Arizona Cardinals are big underdogs on the road against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. Can they pull off an upset?
In a simulation of the game on Madden NFL 25, they did.
In the simulation, Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray threw three touchdown passes, receiver Greg Dortch had over 100 yards and two scores, and the defense picked off 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy three times.
The Cardinals took a 3-0 lead after Sean Murphy-Bunting picked off Purdy in the first quarter and Chad Ryland made a 37-yards field goal. After forcing punt, Ryland hit from 50 yards.
Purdy threw a 46-yard touchdown pass to Deebo Samuel to give the Niners the lead and added a field goal to make it 10-6 but Murray threw a 42-yard touchdown pass to Greg Dortch. However, the Niners tied the score with a 29-yard field goal as time expired to end the first half.
The 49ers made it 20-13 with a four-yard Jordan Mason touchdown on the opening drive of the second half, but the Cardinals tied it two possessions later with a three-yard touchdown catch by Dortch.
Zaven Collins picked off Purdy and Murray threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Michael Wilson to make it 27-20. It was extended to 30-20 with a 56-yard field goal.
Then Star Thomas intercepted Purdy and a three-yard touchdown run by James Conner made it 37-20.
Purdy threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to George Kittle but the Cardinals recovered the onside kick and ran the clock out.
Purdy was 19-for-39 passing for 310 yards, two touchdowns and three picks. Mason was held to 34 rushing yards and a touchdown on nine attempts. Kittle had eight catches for 100 yards and a touchdown.
Collins sacked Purdy once and Bilal Nichols and Dennis Gardeck shared one.
Murray went 28-for-40 passing for 285 yards and three touchdowns.
Conner only had 39 yards and a score on 14 carries.
Dortch led the team with 12 catches for 116 yards and two scores. Marvin Harrison Jr. had six catches for 82 yards.
Murray was sacked twice.
We will see how close this simulation is to the real thing.
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