Denver Broncos vs. New York Jets Madden 21 simulation

How did the Denver Broncos vs New York Jets matchup go according to our Madden 21 simulation?

The Denver Broncos head to New York to face the Jets on Thursday Night Football this week. Here’s how our Madden 21 simulation of the game played out.

The Jets got the ball first to start this game.  However, after just a small handful of plays, Broncos safety Justin Simmons picked off quarterback Sam Darnold to put the offense in great field position.

Brett Rypien is the starting quarterback for the Broncos in this game. The Broncos get the ball at the 12-yard line. After a couple of plays, including an end-around to rookie receiver Jerry Jeudy, the Broncos were held to 4th-and-4.

Instead of kicking the automatic field goal, they chose to do a fake field goal. The pass from Brandon McManus was incomplete. The only good thing that comes from that now is that the Jets have the ball against their own goal line, at the 6-yard line.

Not far into the drive, Darnold threw deep and the play resulted in the Jets being up to their 20. New York got up to their own 49-yard line but weren’t able to get a first down after that, resulting in a punt that went out at the 8-yard line.

Broncos fans won’t want to hear this, but something that Rypien struggled with in this game is getting rid of the football. He just held onto it far too long at times, resulting in sacks.

However, Rypien made up for taking those sacks with a 73-yard touchdown pass to rookie receiver K.J. Hamler. The field goal was good, giving the Broncos a 7-0 lead with 8 seconds left in the first quarter.

To end the first quarter, Darnold rolled out to his right but threw across his body for a first-down completion.

The Jets had Frank Gore in this game, who helped them get a nice solid gain up to the Broncos’ 21-yard line. It wasn’t enough, though, as the Broncos stopped the Jets on their own 7-yard line. The field goal attempt was good by Sam Ficken.

7-3, Broncos.

On 3rd-and-7, Rypien found Tim Patrick past the first-down marker for a 23-yard gain, and the drive continues.

The theme of this drive was the Broncos converting several third-downs. That’s something they will have to do to stay in this game. It’s a real treat to see this.

With 52 seconds left in the half, Rypien found Hamler for a short gain but two yards short of the first down. He could have easily run past the first-down marker if the play call was the right call. However, Vic Fangio chose to go for it on fourth down and converted.

A long drive unfortunately ends with three points instead of seven. New York wanted to get another score before halftime but were stopped when rookie cornerback Michael Ojemudia picked off a Darnold pass.

The Broncos tried a 51-yard field goal just seconds before halftime but the ball bounced off the crossbar and out. No good.

The Broncos lead the Jets 10-3 at halftime.

In the first half, Rypien threw for 153 yards while completing 50 percent of his passes.

To start out the second half, the Broncos ran the ball like nuts, with a few passes mixed in.

One of those passes was a 23-yard touchdown to tight end Noah Fant. The Broncos now lead 17-3. That seems like a very nice lead.

The Broncos appeared to be in phenomenal field position at the Jets’ 9-yard line. In position to score, Rypien was strip-sacked.

On the very next play, Darnold found Jamison Crowder for a 73-yard touchdown reception. The extra point was good, putting the Jets just 7 points behind.

Again, Rypien held onto the ball way too long. The Broncos got off the hook with a sack though as the Jets defender grabbed Rypien by the face mask. First and 10 after the 15-yard penalty.

That gift wasn’t appreciated enough by the offense, though. They kept trying to take shots down the field instead of running out the clock and then punted the ball, giving the Jets another shot at tying the game, which they did.

Jamison Crowder torched the Broncos for 102 yards on just two receptions. Brutal.

New York drove down the field while the clock was rolling down, and Darnold threw a touchdown pass, which tied the game.

Rypien threw for over 325 yards in the game, which is an outstanding number.

Overtime

After a couple of changes of possession in overtime, the Jets rolled down the field and were in obvious field goal, game-winning position. However, they for some reason tried to score a touchdown. Since both teams had the ball one time, a field goal would have won the game.

Instead, they continued to try passing and at one point was sacked by Broncos linebacker Josey Jewell. It was now 3rd-and-17. The Jets got the first down on the next play, resulting in a first down at the 2-yard line.

The Jets refused to kick the field goal with 20 seconds left in the game. No timeouts. They tried running the ball in but failed. Game over.

The Broncos should have come away with this one but gave up some late scores.

Tie. Broncos 17, Jets 17. Wow.