However, Cincinnati routinely pulled off upsets during its surprising run to an AFC title. Will the Bengals be able to do it again to win Super Bowl 56?

The Rams will pose a tough challenge for the Bengals, as Los Angeles is favored by four points in the contest. But will they be able to win? At least one source is skeptical of that: EA Sports’ Madden 22 video game.

EA Sports has been running Super Bowl simulations since the 2005 game between the Patriots and the Panthers. More often than not, they have been accurate, though the game has had a rough go of it in recent seasons.

Did Madden get the game right in 2022? Here’s a look at the popular video game’s prediction for Super Bowl 56.

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Madden 22 Super Bowl prediction

First half

The first quarter saw the Bengals get on the board first. Joe Burrow found, you guessed it, Ja’Marr Chase for a 10-yard touchdown to give Cincinnati a 7-0 lead.

However, the Bengals would go scoreless the rest of the half. The Rams scored twice, once on a 4-yard Sony Michel touchdown run and once on a 32-yard reception by Cooper Kupp, to take a 14-7 lead into halftime. 

Second half

There was only one scoring play in the third quarter, and it came on defense. One of Matthew Stafford’s passes went awry and Eli Apple grabbed the ball. The mercurial Bengals cornerback returned it 29 yards for a touchdown to tie the game at 14.

In the fourth quarter, Cincinnati took the lead once again. Burrow hit Tee Higgins for a touchdown that gave the Bengals a 21-14 lead, their first since the first half. The Rams would counter with an 18-yard touchdown catch by Odell Beckham Jr. to make it 21-all.

The Bengals managed to get into scoring range late in the fourth quarter and as we have seen so often this season, rookie kicker Evan McPherson blasted home a 49-yard field goal to give Cincinnati the win.

MORE: Sporting News’ staff picks for Super Bowl 56

Final results

The Bengals beat the Rams 24-21 as time expired in regulation. Burrow went 32 of 44 passing for 317 yards, two touchdowns and an interception while Stafford went 27 of 36 for 280 yards, two touchdowns and the costly pick-six.

Below are the rest of the notable stats for each team.

Bengals stats from Madden simulation

Joe Mixon: 18 carries, 70 rushing yards, five catches, 40 receiving yards Ja’Marr Chase: 6 catches, 88 yards, 1 TD Tee Higgins: 10 catches, 199 yards, 1 TD Eli Apple: 1 interception, 1 TD Vonn Bell: 9 tackles (team-high) Logan Wilson: 8 tackles

Rams stats from Madden simulation

Sony Michel: 11 carries, 38 yards, 1 TD Cam Akers: 10 carries, 51 yards Cooper Kupp: 12 catches, 102 yards, 1 TD Odell Beckham Jr.
7 catches, 89 yards, 1 TD Jalen Ramsey: 1 interception Aaron Donald: 4 tackles, 2 sacks Eric Weddle: 8 tackles

MORE: Myth-busting the seven worst narratives for Super Bowl 56

Madden Super Bowl predictions history

The “Madden NFL” franchise has made an official Super Bowl prediction every year since 2004, when it picked the Patriots to beat the Panthers by a field goal in Super Bowl 38. The video game has picked the correct winner 11 times in 18 years but has gone just 2-4 in the last six Super Bowls.

The Madden Super Bowl simulation predicted the exact outcome once in its history. That came in Super Bowl 49, when the Patriots beat the Seahawks 28-24 in the famed Malcolm Butler interception game.

Below is a full list of the predictions over the last 18 years.