Ha! Now how does it feel, you stupid CPU?

Inspired by actual NFL football, I fired up my Seattle Seahawks franchise in “Madden 08” again. This time the ghost in the machine got vaporized like it was in “Ghost Busters.” As you may recall from a previous post, my team lost on an improbable play when the Saints backup quarterback threw an 80-yard bomb against my prevent defense to win on the last play of the game, 45-38.  This time the shoe was on the other foot in a Week 10 match against the visiting San Francisco 49ers.

True to life, the Seahawk offense was struggling to get points.  Early in the 2nd quarter, the Niners were up 10-0 until the Seattle defense smacked around Niners running back Frank Gore and forced a fumble, which was scooped up by Lofa Tatupu and returned 90 yards for a touchdown. Seattle was finally on the board. Ten seconds later, Seattle cornerback, Marcus Trufant, intercepted an Alex Smith pass and took it back to the house. 14-10 Seattle.

Halfway through the fourth quarter, the Niners had added three more touchdowns, increasing their lead to 31-14. It was taking all of my patience to not quit this game and start over, but I just couldn’t do that to Tatupu and Trufant by taking away their brilliant plays. So I continued.

Then with 3:54 remaining in the game, the Seahawk offense came to life when Hasselbeck hit wide receiver DJ Hackett with a 67-yard touchdown pass. 31-21. Seattle defense held and forced a San Francisco punt. The team drove down the field and Shaun Alexander ended the drive with a 3-yard touchdown run, but Seattle’s still down 31-28 with only 2:20 left on the clock. Once again, Seattle’s defense held San Francisco to a three-and-out. The offense quickly went down the field working against the Niners defense and the clock. On the five-yard line with less than ten seconds on the clock, I decided to gamble and go for the win. I picked a passing play so that in case of an incompletion, I should be able to bring on the field goal unit. Hasselbeck dropped back and threw a strike to his left, a pass intended for wideout Bobby Engram, but was instead intercepted by a Niner linebacker. Game over.

Two seconds remained on the clock and the Niners had the ball on their 3-yard line. Pissed off and not really paying attention to my play-calling screen, I selected ‘FG block.’ Here comes the kneel down to end the game.

Then the impossible happens. Rather than taking a knee, the Niners run a pitch play to the left. QB Alex Smith tosses the ball to RB Frank Gore, but the ball hits the back of the blocking Niner fullback. FUMBLE!! Seahawk linebacker Julian Peterson is Johnie-on-the-spot, picks up the loose ball and drags himself with two Niners on him into the endzone. Touchdown Seahawks! Seahawks win 35-31.

It was like the “Miracle in the Meadowlands” for a new generation. I looked around the room to exclaim “Can you believe that?!” and celebrate a hard-fought victory. The only response I got was the sounds of my snoring wife next to me on the couch.