San Francisco 49ers:  Packinlipper
NFC West:  ARI - Widow, LAR - ?, SEA - ?, SF - Pack

Pack joins Widow in the NFC West.  A real-life Ravens fan, I know him well enough to know he didn’t want any part of that division in M18.  Who wants that Ravens roster anyways, would have to be a little crazy.   

Roster Notes: The 49ers have a lot of haters but upon closer review have a very young team to develop and some see that as a plus in DWHO, a clean slate.  Pack will need to address the QB situation immediately since the current options include Barkley, Hoyer, and rookies Beathard and Mullens.  The focus of the roster is really the potential of the rookies.  Reuben Foster was a steal for the Niners as he sets out to fill the shoes Patrick Willis left empty.  Solomon Thomas was touted as one of the top pass rushers in the draft and should start immediately.  Witherspoon is long at CB and has huge potential at 6’3, 4.45 speed and a 40.5” vertical.  Your sleeper here is Kittle at TE.  Recognized as one of the best blocking TEs in the draft, he also ran a 4.52 40.  If he can catch, he will be a beast.

Play Style Profile: Pack is better than most give him credit for.  The tricky part for him is putting together a complete game.  Part of that is self-induced as he has been known to fall asleep/pass out mid game.   He runs a balanced attack on both offense and defense.  Turn on your mic and you won’t be disappointed.

M18 Projection: This division should be one of the most competitive in the league.  It will be totally up for grabs every season.  If he can keep the dog from vomiting in his lap, Pack will make the playoffs.  I bet he does it more than once.

New England Patriots:  MaoriRugger
AFC East:  BUF – Pride, MIA - ?, NE - Rugger, NYJ - ?

New England was a popular choice in team selection and has been a debated destination for at least 6 players that I can think of.  But who are we to break up what is probably the deepest rivalry currently alive in DWHO – Rugger v Pride.  It was also Rugger’s #1 team choice so he stays put and continues to pester Pride.   

Roster Notes: This team is stacked!  Brady, Gronk, Cooks, Hightower, an old David Harris, and Gilmore.  The reigning champs (28-3) don’t need any hype.  There are two questions with this roster and both on defense.  Can they generate an effective pass rush?  Who fills out the secondary?  The Pats first selection in the draft was in the 3rd round and they selected DE Derek Rivers as a possible solution to the first question.  The rest is up to Rugger.

Play Style Profile: (courtesy of Tosh) Rugger plays balls out.  His all-out style means he will fight to the end and go down fighting. He doesn't get discouraged by throwing 6 picks... and he will keep throwing them.  According to ovfd, if you shut down the run, you’re golden.

M18 Projection: Rugger has a huge challenge on his hands.  He’s a confident man and a good player but we would be dishonest to say we did not discuss the possibility that he is out-matched in this div.  The consensus is that he will not make the playoffs in M18 and will find himself with a top 10 pick every season.  Prove us wrong Rugger.

Chicago Bears:  DoubleClutch
NFC North:  CHI - DC, DET - ?, GB - ?, MIN - noexult

Nobody saw this one coming.  With plenty of Bears fans out there, none of them were a good fit in this division.  DC never submitted any response so he was defaulted to “whatever is best for the league” and lands himself in Chicago and what will be a hotly contested NFC North.

Roster Notes: Sun had a lot of success with the Bears in M17 and there is every reason to believe the offensive roster will be rated even better for M18.  Jordan Howard is a star and PFF rated the OL as top 5 in the league.  Kevin White gets some company in the receivers corps with Wheaton and Cruz and of course Mitchell Trubisky will no doubt start from day 1.  The Bears gambled big in the draft and are counting on him being the franchise QB for years to come.  While committing to the QB position, the Bears didn't do anything in free agency and nothing in the draft to dramatically improve their defense.  This will be a work in progress for DC.

Play Style Profile: DC is a card-carrying member of the Wack Pack.  The “King of the Wack Pack” imposes strict sim play standards for which DC mostly complies.  The biggest complaint about DC is probably “difficulty” in scheduling games.  He doesn’t participate in chat so it may take a little more effort to schedule.  Try Direct Messages or messages on the xbox guys, it’s not that hard.  Other than that, DC remains one of the mysterious players we know little about.  I do know he is a rock star of AC/DC fame and I’m a fan.

M18 Projection: DoubleClutch is a top 10 player in DWHO.  He was tops in the NFC once in M17 finally losing to Luigi in the Super Bowl and consistently posted winning seasons.  He will continue to do so in M18.  While the division is not a push-over, DC has the winning pedigree that makes him the early favorite in this division.  He won’t win it every season but he will compete for it every season.

Los Angeles Chargers:  Kayser
AFC West:  DEN - ?, KC - zoufan, LAC - Kayser, OAK - ?

No surprise here.  Kayser took over the Chargers last season and has pledged his allegiance since.  LAC was his #1 selection.  For the record, that’s 7 of 12 getting their #1 selection so far. 

Roster Notes: Joey Bosa, period.  Should be all you need to know but the Bolts have plenty of talent.  Philip Rivers and Kayser have that North Carolina connection and he still has a few good seasons left in him.  Keenan Allen is joined by rookie Mike Williams out of Clemson who should start right out of the gate.  AND Kayser gets a punter named after himself.  Name change approved to add a Y to his name.

Play Style Profile: Kayser is better than his average record showed last season.  He prefers a strong running game and uses a running-back-by-committee system well, thunder and lightning was his game plan.  He had trouble with the passing game accuracy early but started showing signs of improvement near the end of M17.  Apply pressure to his QB and go duck hunting.  On defense, he uses that same method with heavy pressure the name of the game.

M18 Projection: Kayser graduated from our powderpuff division in the AFC West of M17 and will have to step up to compete in M18’s AFC West.  I have complete confidence that he will be able to do that.  It won’t be easy and he will no doubt have some up and down seasons but I do believe he makes the playoffs a couple times in M18.

Last edited by aceblazer13 (1499164238)

New York Giants:  Bundy
NFC East:  DAL - ?, NYG - Bundy, PHI - ace, WAS - ?

This one is as boring as Pride to Buffalo.  Now up to 8 of 13 getting their #1 selection.  Surprised we didn’t see any mention of the Giants from anybody else.  This team looks like it will be fun to play in Madden.   

Roster Notes: The Beckham/BMarshall tandem is going to be tough to defend.  Add rookie Evan Engram (6’3, 4.42 40) to that mix and the pass game is solid from the start.  Bleacher Report ranked the G-men as the #5 D in the league with the addition at pass rusher in rookie Dalvin Tomlinson and an upgrade at safety in Darian Thompson.  Eli Apple and Landon Collins return at CB and hopefully continue to develop while DRC make have a couple years of productive play left.  Want a sleeper?  How about Davis Webb at QB?  He’s got the arm for the job but other atts will need to be developed.  Shouldn’t be too hard to throw to OBJ and BMarsh.

Play Style Profile: Bundy takes his sim play style seriously.  You can count on it.  Balanced offense and defense playcalling are his game plan.  He plays an intelligent game so have your Xs and Os in order.

M18 Projection: Bundy was in rare company in M17 as one of only 3 different SB winners.  He will continue to put up winning seasons but the big question is will a change in division makeup shake him a bit.  I wouldn’t say the division is easier or harder, but it is a very different group than he is accustomed to. 

Baltimore Ravens:  BigOzzy
AFC North:  BAL - Oz, CIN - Knugs, CLE - ?, PIT - ?

This one seems to have confused most but Oz was the only mention of Baltimore that I’ve seen and it was his #1 selection.  That’s 9 of 14 if you’re counting.  Oz and Knugs competed against each other in the NFC West and both travel to a different conference to continue their rivalry.  The remaining two teams here are obviously up in the air and will dictate the way this division plays out.

Roster Notes: Ravens are definitely not an exciting roster.  Maclin was a huge addition just days ago and should walk in as the #1 receiver with Perriman opposite field of him.  Waller is a stud at TE but beyond that, this offense needs a boost.  Marlon Humphrey out of Alabama should be an interesting rookie to watch progress.  And of course, from the same alma mater, CJ Mosley was made famous by Luigi and should be the anchor of that D. 

Play Style Profile: It took some time for Oz to adjust to the league but late in M17, he was a force to be reckoned with.  Of course, he struggled with the Niners so a clean slate team should benefit as is the case with most of the M17 rookies.  Oz will be playing with a few DWHO veterans so he should get a lesson 6 times per season at least in how the game should be played. 

M18 Projection: Hard to project how much success a player will have when you know they’re about to have their first child.  Fact of the matter is, regardless of the child, Oz just stepped into a division which is a step up in difficulty level.  I have faith in the big guy, but I predict he doesn’t make the playoffs in M18. 

Atlanta Falcons:  King
NFC South:  ATL - King, CAR - ?, NO - ?, TB - KotB

10 of 15, that’s 66% so far getting their #1 selection.  And again, this is a no-brainer.  Plenty of guys would like to play as the Falcons although nobody but King requested them and he’s the real fan.
 
Roster Notes: This is the best Falcons team ever as far as I’m concerned.  If I’m not right, King will tell me.  Matt Ryan had an elite season as he should with the options he has on offense.  Julio is probably the best receiver in the game and the combo of Freeman and Coleman in the backfield is scary.  The defense is just as star-studded as the offense.  King has a man-crush on Trufant and don’t you dare talk about best corners in the league without mentioning him.  Rookie Takkarist McKinley out of UCLA should be a playmaker from day 1.  Dontari Poe, Deion Jones, Vic Beasley, Keanu Neal… This team is deep.

Play Style Profile: King is a knowledgeable fan and a gamer.  He finds a way to win any game he is playing and he plays A LOT of Madden.  That very fact is what turns off some opponents.  On the flip side, King’s game is predictable.  If you pay attention and spend some time game planning, you shouldn’t be surprised very often. 

M18 Projection: King was a double digit game winner every season (except for that one where he only won one game…). The point is he had a successful M17.  But some of the face in the NFC South are changing and this may present new challenges for King.  He will make a couple deep playoff runs but he won’t have the consecutive double digit win seasons like he did.

Indianapolis Colts:  PhoofyPhil
AFC South:  HOU - NWS, IND - Phoof, JAX - ?, TEN - ?

Phoof may be the most surprised by this selection since Indy wasn’t even on his list.  But we know he will enjoy playing in this group and he’s always up for a challenge whether it’s body shots at a family get-together or playing with one of the ugliest rosters in the league.

Roster Notes: It is extremely difficult to find anything to talk about on this roster.  Luck can be very good in the right hands and I think Phoof may be the one and he has TY Hilton to make some plays.  The other side of the ball is just terrible.  A barren wasteland.  BUT rookie safety and OSU alum Malik Hooker is a step in the right direction.  Phoof definitely has his work cut out for him.

Play Style Profile: (courtesy of Tosh) Now engaged, Phoof’s playstyle will be determined by his future wife. She is the shot caller.  He has no say whatsoever for the rest of his life. Gone are the days of relying on Luke to bail him out. Gone are the days of setting up the run and utilizing the deep ball. Rumor was Phoof was told by his lady he had to move divisions.

M18 Projection: “The new division will be a breath of fresh air from the grind of the NFC South. With the weekend warrior days long gone, a little more focus might go a long way,” says Tosh.  I believe it will take a couple seasons for Phoofy to hit his stride but once he develops this team, he will be the favorite in the AFC South.  The Colts will make the playoffs multiple times.

Seattle Seahawks:  LethalNtention
NFC West:  ARI - Widow, LAR - ?, SEA - Lethal, SF - Pack

For the second reveal in a row, we have completely strayed from the team selection list that was turned in but again we are gambling that the situation is more attractive than the destination.  One thing is for sure, the NFC West will probably be the most entertaining division in the league, it’s definitely my favorite with that cast of characters.

Roster Notes: Seattle is a very interesting roster when viewed through Madden glasses.  The first order of business here is planning a reload with youth.  There are stars on both sides of the ball but they are seniors in Madden years.  If there is any change in the way regression works, aka 28-30 year olds aren’t worthless, this is the team to have but until we see that change the mission is to infuse youth.  Seattle management got that process started with a couple key draft picks.  On the D Line, Malik McDowell has been described as “an athletic freak with huge upside” and Seattle is hoping he can boost their pass rush defense.  Also keep an eye on the CB from UCF, Shaq Griffin.  All expectations are that he will become the lockdown corner to takeover when Richard Sherman is done.  Anything less than Shaq as an elite corner for years to come will be disappointment in Seattle. 

Play Style Profile: Lethal has one MO when he comes to play, and that is simply to have fun.  From whacked out zoom views to trading for his favorite real-life players to naming Madden gen players Willie Stroker, he’s simply out to have a good time.  So bring your sim game, mix it up and give him an interesting game, and he won’t care if he wins or loses as long as you keep him entertained.

M18 Projection: Out of all the divisions, this is the one that I can see each team winning the division at least once.  Lethal will be there, I think it takes him a season or two, but with a couple key acquisitions, he will be having fun AND winning.  And I really believe he has a ton of fun playing with this group. 

Miami Dolphins:  Luigi
AFC East:  BUF – Pride, MIA - Luigi, NE - Rugger, NYJ - ?

Let’s get back to the #1 team choice placements – Luigi finally gets his Phins.  Everyone figured it was time and it is and he’ll join Pride and Rugger in the AFC East.  One more team to round out the div…

Roster Notes: Does it really matter who is on the roster?  Nope.  Under control of Luigi’s thumbs, Tannehill will amass stats that make Brady look like a chump and Ajayi will look like Emmitt Smith.  Although, he does have a thing for UCF players so we might see Storm Johnson get some play in the backfield.  Keep an eye on Charles Harris, rookie DE from Mizzou.  He won’t be hard to miss, he’ll be the guy leading the league in sacks at the end of season 1.

Play Style Profile: Luigi doesn’t make many mistakes and makes you pay for those that you make.  His defense is suffocating, he pounds with the running game, and he operates the passing game with surgical precision.  Eliminate your turnovers and take the points when you can and you just might be able to keep it close. 

M18 Projection: Luigi was hands down the best player in the league in M17 as evidenced by his winning 5 of 7 Super Bowls.  Barring some major gameplay change implemented by EA that he has a difficult time figuring out, I don’t see Luigi’s success rate being reduced at all.  Step your game up DWHO, Luigi has set the bar high.