‘Madden 16’ video game predicts Carolina Panthers beat Broncos to win Super Bowl

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – The Carolina Panthers are headed for one more win this season, according to Electronic Arts’ “Madden NFL 16” Super Bowl prediction.

The video game has the Panthers defeating the Denver Broncos 24-20.

EA says its prediction has been accurate in nine of the last 12 championships. Patting itself further on the back, EA notes it correctly forecast the final score last year and said Tom Brady would win MVP honours, that New England would overcome a 10-point third-quarter deficit and that Julian Edelman would score the deciding touchdown.

This year’s prediction has Carolina building an early lead thanks to a big kick return by Ted Ginn Jr., that sets the stage for a Cam Newton touchdown pass to Greg Olsen. A first-quarter field goal and second-quarter Jonathan Stewart rushing TD makes for a 17-0 halftime lead.

Denver quarterback Peyton Manning engineers a comeback in the second half, beginning with a TD pass to Emanuel Sanders. Aqib Talib then picks off Newton to set up a Broncos field goal. A second Denver field goal cuts the Carolina lead to 17-13.

The Broncos go ahead in the fourth 20-17 on a Manning TD pass to Demaryius Thomas. But Super Bowl MVP Newton scores the winning TD on a goal-line scramble.

The EA scenario has Newton completing 19 of 26 passes for 216 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Manning completed 21 of 37 passes for Denver for 241 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.