Well, I finally did it.  I beat a human opponent in my Madden Marketing League game.  Weeks and weeks of practice, some key strategic changes, and a bit of luck from the "Madden Gods" was all I needed to move on to the second round of the playoffs.  I have to say I was pretty nervous about this playoff game since it could have sealed the deal on a season where I defeated every computer controlled team I played, but lost to all human opponents.  But I was fortunate to pull out the W; here's how it happened.

I went into this game knowing that it was my offense that had held me back throughout the regular season.  I hadn't been able to successfully utilize the small, quick receivers of the Washington Redskins and had spent a lot of time trying to figure out what I could do differently to capitalize on their strengths.  The week before the game I practiced a lot of routes with double moves, keeping my running backs and tight ends in to block.  A lot of times in games I lost, my receivers would get open but I'd be on my back before I could get the ball to them.  I made a decision to simplify my offense by sending out fewer receivers in favor of some extra blocking.  This also meant that I could check down very quickly with only a couple of options to go to, allowing me to get rid of the ball as fast as possible.

I won the kickoff and elected to receive.  I was pleased to move the ball down the field against my Green Bay Packers opponent, but was forced to punt.  The Packers first drive started out impressively.  He spread out and ran the ball on me, making quick throws on passing downs.  Then came the early moment that changed the game.  On a draw play that worked earlier in the same drive, my linebacker Marcus Washington caused a fumble, picked it up, then rumbled for about 50 yards into the endzone.  I couldn't believe the early luck I was having and was determined to keep my lead.

On my possessions I pounded the football with Ladell Betts (Portis is out one more week for me) and stuck to my plan of max pass protection.  On a third down play in the second quarter it was clear that I made the right decision.  I sent Santana Moss on a double move route to the sideline, hoping to pick up the first down.  He caught the ball and when he turned the corner there was nobody there.  He ran half the length of the field for a touchdown.

At that point in the game I knew things were heavily in my favor.  I stayed aggressive, mixing man and zone blitzes to try and keep up the pressure.  The main benefactor of my defensive game planning was London Fletcher.  He had three interceptions, all of which were on my side of the field.  Laron Landry got in on the action with a key interception in the third quarter that set up a field goal.  My defense had turned it up and I wasn't going to be stopped.  They had a safety in the second half before Betts capped off the win with a 60 yard TD run.  Final score Redskins 29, Packers 3.

I'm relieved to get this win out of the way.  In the next round I face the same Chicago Bears who beat me near the end of the regular season.  At least this time I'll know better than to kick to Devin Hester.