The Madden 22 cover is out.
The esteemed video game always features one of the biggest NFL stars from the previous season on its cover.
This year, there were two stars on the cover for the first time in 12 years when Troy Polamalu and Larry Fitzgerald were featured.
They are Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes.
🏆 Two Super Bowl Champions
🏅 Two @NFL MVPS
🎮 Two 2x Madden Cover AthletesThe Greatest Cover of All-Time #Madden22 pic.twitter.com/ceMI9ouDE3
— Madden NFL 22 (@EAMaddenNFL) June 17, 2021
Though unusual, it seems fitting to pick two quarterbacks at different junctures in their NFL careers who played great last year.
That got our minds churning as to what other NFL duos could grace the cover of Madden 23 when it comes out a year from now.
Here are two NFL duos that could be there, provided they have outstanding seasons.
1. Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, Cleveland Browns
The running back tandem from the Cleveland Brows is stellar.
Both are RB1s on any NFL team, but sharing the load works.
Chubb and Hunt continue to wrack up individual stats while keeping the Browns offense rolling.
Just your friendly reminder that Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt combined for 1,908 rushing yards last season
Nick Chubb missed 4 games pic.twitter.com/xYmVjxF2ip
— The Cleveland Pulse (@PulseCleveland) June 16, 2021
Rarely does a running back by committee strategy yield two legitimate stars, but this one does.
Everybody knows what Nick Chubb can do.
He is one tough customer to bring down when the ball gets in his hands.
Kareem Hunt has similar rushing skills and catches a lot of passes also.
If the Browns make it to the Super Bowl in 2022, it will largely be because these two guys were able to grind out yards on the line of scrimmage because of their sheer will and ability and an excellent Browns offensive line.
2. Matt Ryan and Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons
Falcons select Florida TE Kyle Pitts with the No. 4 pick.
A weapon for Matt Ryan… and maybe the most explosive player in the #NFLDraft2021 pic.twitter.com/5yehfDWKkg
— Manish Mehta (@MMehtaSports) April 30, 2021
If Pitts plays anything like scouts believe he will, he is a once in a generation tight end, the likes of which we haven’t seen for quite a while.
He is also called a wide receiver in a tight end’s body; he is fast and has great ball-handling skills.
Pitts arrives on the Falcons team at a perfect time; wide receiver Julio Jones has left the building, and Matt Ryan needs a new target.
Ryan’s career may be reinvigorated with the rookie Pitts in the huddle with him.
Conclusion
Though Brady and Mahomes are on different teams, it is hard to envision another duo from different teams gracing the cover of the Madden video game.
It did cross my mind that if both played well for their new teams, perhaps the powers-to-be would have a sense of humor and put Matthew Stafford and Jared Goff on the cover next year.
One other possibility that almost made the above list is also a duo from the same team.
How potent could the Titans offense be this season with Derrick Henry and Julio Jones??? https://t.co/TUYK7eZjM0
— Lineups (@lineups) June 16, 2021
They are Derrick Henry and Julio Jones of the Tennessee Titans.
The Titans were on the brink of success in 2020 so Jones could be just what they need to become a championship-caliber team.
This is all mere conjecture because none of us knows who will have a great season in 2021 though it is fun to come up with possibilities.
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