Official New England Patriots Madden Simulation
The 7th Annual Awards
- Best Gaming or Esports Experience
ABOUT THIS ENTRY
The New England Patriots Madden Simulation is a weekly YouTube show hosted by Matisse Baumann and Chris Cassidy. Each episode features a live Madden simulation of the Patriots' upcoming NFL matchup, with Matisse and Chris providing real-time commentary and analysis. They break down key storylines, review past performances, and discuss how in-game results might translate to the actual matchup. The show offers fans an entertaining and insightful way to preview the Patriots' next game, blending football knowledge with engaging discussion. Whether analyzing player performances, coaching strategies, or potential game-changing moments, Matisse and Chris bring energy and expertise to every episode. Their commentary provides both casual viewers and die-hard fans with a fun, interactive way to stay informed and engaged throughout the NFL season.
How does this represent "Excellence in Engagement"?
The Madden simulation introduced a fresh way to excite fans of Madden, the Patriots, and video games about the team's upcoming matchups. It sparked engagement in the comments, with fans sharing score predictions and speculating about what might happen on the field. The YouTube short videos we created performed exceptionally well, reaching a new audience that prefers short-form content over full-length videos. This program has the potential to inspire other NFL franchises to adopt similar initiatives, possibly leading to collaboration between teams. Looking ahead to its second season, the goal is to expand the simulation and explore innovative ways to enhance it further.
Objective
The New England Patriots Madden Simulation aimed to engage fans by building excitement for an upcoming real-life game. This innovative approach, introduced by the team's official NFL account, provided a fresh way to connect with their audience. By simulating the game in Madden 2025, the team created an interactive and entertaining platform to preview the matchup, discuss potential scenarios, and explore hypothetical outcomes.
The Madden simulation stood out as a unique form of digital fan engagement, blending sports analysis with gaming culture. It encouraged fans to speculate on key plays, player performances, and strategies, sparking engaging conversations about the upcoming game. Additionally, the simulation featured commentary from diverse voices, offering fresh perspectives to the discussion.
With this creative content, the Patriots not only got fans excited for Sunday’s game but also discovered a new way to strengthen their connection with the gaming community.
Strategy & Execution
Madden simulations had been done before, but rarely with live commentary. The Patriots were unfortunately predicted to have a tough season. However, with a new head coach and the #3 overall draft pick, Drake Maye, heading to Foxboro, there was renewed optimism for the future. We ensured the rosters were as up-to-date as possible, providing the commentators with key talking points for each game.
For example, Drake Maye’s debut against the Texans was a major focus. As fans themselves, the commentators were able to view and analyze the simulation from a fan’s perspective, creating content that resonated with Patriots fans and gave them something to connect to.
The games were simulated with 5-minute quarters, resulting in about 50 minutes of recorded gameplay. We also would only run the simulation once to make sure there were honest reactions to the game. We then edited the footage down to 12–15 minutes, which was the perfect length to keep viewers engaged and entertained.
Organizations
- The New England Patriots
Credits
Matisse Baumann
Content Operations Manager (Host, Producer)
New England Patriots
Christopher Cassidy
Digital and Social Media Coordinator (Host, Producer)
New England Patriots
Kellen Donovan
Associate Video Producer (Producer, Editor)
New England Patriots
Anthony Morini
Video Production Assistant (Technical Director)
New England Patriots
Jordan Franco
Technical Director
New England Patriots
Matthew Morel
Audio Producer
New England Patriots
Julieann Challacombe
Digital Services Coordinator (Assistant Audio Producer)
New England Patriots
Ashok Moore
Senior Director - Digital/Social Content & Strategy (Executive Producer)
New England Patriots
Fred Kirsch
VP of Content (Executive Producer)
New England Patriots
Junhee Chung
Senior Video Producer and Editor (Coordinating Producer)
New England Patriots
Karina Santos
Digital Design Manager (Graphics)
New England Patriots
Celebrate in NYC
Join us for the 7th Annual Hashtag Sports Awards™ on the evening of June 24, 2025 as we celebrate finalists and reveal the winners of this year's awards live during the show.
