The Patriots of this League: A New England 'Chise

The following is my offline New England Patriots franchise, for Madden NFL 11 on the PS3 system. The player skill settings are all at 14, one point shy of All-Madden, with no adjustment of sliders.

House rules:

• No user catches
• No switching defenders post-snap
• Mix up play-calling often on offense and defense
• Never call same play more than twice on offense
• Only play that can be called more than twice on defense is a basic scheme (e.g., cover 2 man or cover 2 zone).
• No excessive audibles, hot-routing, or no-huddles

2011 Week 1 - Panthers Win at Texans, 13-10

Texans LB Brian Cushing comes with a swift hit on Panthers QB Jimmy Clausen, leading with his facemask and causing a sack-fumble of Clausen. Clausen showed great poise despite taking many big hits.

HOUSTON, Texas - Despite having one of the weakest drafts during the 2011 offseason, the Panthers came out determined to make this season better than last year's 4-12 record. Jimmy Clausen would be the unrivaled starter, and thanks in large part to great defensive play and a solid ground game, Carolina managed to beat the Texans 13 to 10. Clausen did well passing though despite zero TDs, as he threw zero picks and Steve Smith had 128 yards receiving, on 10 receptions. CB Chris Gamble helped us ice the game with a late INT of Matt Schaub.

2011 Offseason - Teams' Most Promising 2011 Drafted Rookies*

*I've changed the names of many rookies in order to make the game more unique. AFC East  Buffalo Bills - LB D'Antwone Mosely (72 OVR, A), LB Clark Edmond (81 OVR, B), OL Stefan Hart (78 OVR, B)  Miami Dolphins - RB Mark Rifford (80, B), OL Garrett Wells (73, A), DL Quinton Griffon (63, B)  New England Patriots - DL Elijah Mourning (80, B), RB Davonte Cain (71, A), WR Carrick Carroll (72, A), WR Howard Hill (84, A)  New York Jets - LB Tyrone Dawkins (78, A) North  Baltimore Ravens - TE Deshaun Ford (84, A), LB Alfred Lopez (64, A), WR Nick Jones (65, B)  Cincinnati Bengals - OL Rudy Axton (81 OVR, A)  Cleveland Browns - OL Wesley Peiffer (74 OVR, A), DL Quayshawn Hall (74 OVR, A), QB Ben Nason (69 OVR, B)  Pittsburgh Steelers - TE Joe Larksen (84, A) South  Houston Texans - OL Jeff Alstott (86, A)  Indianapolis Colts - OL Tom Luvert (81, A)  Jacksonville Jaguars - QB Reggie Perkins (80, A), RB Darius Olsen (71, B)  Tennessee Titans - LB JaMarcus Wayans (76, A) West  Denver Broncos - DL Dee Hamilton (65 OVR, A), DL Sam Hodgin (73 OVR, B)  Kansas City Chiefs - LB Cody Marsh (77, C)  Oakland Raiders - QB Cody Hilton (79, B), RB Angel Keith (85, B)  San Diego Chargers - QB Tucker Rarp (69, A), WR Giovanni Deas (70, B) Analysis: Best draft - Patriots, Bills, Lions Worst draft - Chiefs, Seahawks, Panthers

NFC East  Dallas Cowboys - DL Mike Barr (88, A), DL Andre Carson (75, A), RB Jarvis Kirton (68, B)  New York Giants - DB Jake Tyson (79, B)  Philadelphia Eagles - OL Alex Bing (77, A), LB Dillon Sauls (74, A), DB Sam Stuvall (78, A)  Washington Redskins - DE AJ Wade (78, A) North  Chicago Bears - LB Marshall Owens (83, A), OL Tim Paulson (78, A)  Detroit Lions - LB Thomas Jackson (82, A), LB Derrick Campbell (74, B), DB Darnell Black (82, A)  Green Bay Packers - DB Levin Porter (75, A)  Minnesota Vikings - DB Yolando Suggs (78, B), DB Bernard Green (75, A) South  Atlanta Falcons - OL Joe Hawley (74, B), LB Bruce Bassell (70, B)  Carolina Panthers - WR David Markson (73, B)  New Orleans Saints - SS Walt Campbell (80, B), OL Dalton Gist (68, B)  Tampa Bay Buccaneers - DB Darrien Baldwin (68 OVR, A), DL Isaac Rider (78 OVR, A) West  Arizona Cardinals - OL Hal Garseld (75 OVR, A), OL Jamison Darby (83, A)  St. Louis Rams - TE Kevin Dawkins (73, B), WR Camron McNabb (81, A)  San Francisco 49ers - RB Carlton Manningham (83, A)  Seattle Seahawks - RB Steve Riley (78, B)