Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Don’t overreact to Madden ratings

By James Yarcho | Jun 19, 2018

TAMPA, FL - DECEMBER 31: Quarterback Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers celebrates with offensive guard Evan Smith #62 after reaching for the touchdown on a 1-yard rush during the second quarter of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints on December 31, 2017 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images) /

The ratings for Madden 19 came out this week and it has some Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans in a foul mood.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers haven’t exactly been the model of success and consistency over the past decade. Their record over that span has been a painful 59-101. Despite having some major stars along the way – Gerald McCoy, Lavonte David, Darrelle Revis, Aqib Talib, Michael Bennett, Dashon Goldson, Vincent Jackson, etc – the Bucs have managed to earn two winning records over that span.

So, when the Madden ratings came out giving the Bucs an overall score of 75 – ranking 23rd and only one point higher than the Browns, Bills, Colts, and Dolphins – some fans felt cheated, insulted, and angry.

But why?

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It truly doesn’t matter what the overall rating of the team is when you open the game. At the end of the day, the rating is based off of last season with projections and additions added in. The Bucs have been cellar dwellers in their division almost every year over the last decade, so why should the minds at Madden believe this year would be any different?

It’s equivalent to that of “expert” picks. No, the Buccaneers aren’t going to get any respect because they haven’t earned any. Look at how many people at ESPN, NFL Network, Sports Illustrated picked the Bucs as their surprise team last season. Look at how many of them picked the Buccaneers to make the postseason. Look at how many of them were burned when the Bucs, yet again, finished last.

When it comes to a video game that most of us grew up playing and many still play to this day, it never mattered how bad the Tampa Bay Buccaneers rating was. We would pick them, do our franchise mode, and win the Super Bowl. Some people like to make big trades to add a superstar or two to the team. Some raid free agency when the mode begins, putting the team in future cap hell to go all-in on the one season. Some play with the roster mirroring that of the real thing.

In the end, it never really mattered. We were going to win it all with our team no matter what.

That’s what is so confusing about people taking the rating system so seriously. With the way Madden is today, there will be so many roster updates, rating updates, and changes in season that it’s just giving you a starting point. There’s no need to be angry or upset about it now. Or when you buy the game and play it for the first time. Or ever.

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We, the consumer, make the rating system a disposable stat on the screen by the way we play.

So have no fear. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will hoist thousands of digital Lombardi trophies when Madden 19 drops in August, initial rating of 75 or not.