Sometimes, teams start to sabotage their season and tank their record. But there are instances where some guys tried to win but the ship just sank. We’re going to analyze every current team with 6 wins or less and PML and decide whether they committed a full-blown tank or they were just on the ship as it sank!
New England Patriots (2-14)
First Six Games: 0-6
Reasons For Tank: The 32nd-ranked rushing offense with one of the best offensive line units in the league. Traded many veteran players at the deadline for picks. Targeted Hunter Henry (90 catches) twice as much as any other player on the team, showing a willingness to sacrifice overall offensive efficiency to force-feed Henry. Could be seeking a new QB after Mac Jones throws 47 INTs.
Reasons For Sank: Sub-par user was put in a division with 3 players perceived as better than him. One of the worst season 1 rosters in the league. Questionable front 7 besides Judon. Had no OBJ or Thornton to start the season due to injuries. Highest SOS in the league
Tank Score: 9/10
Analysis: While Nef might struggle to find success with the Patriots in future years, the trade deadline moves and questionable offensive tactics make me believe this user was not interested in turning his season around after starting 0-6. But a tough SOS might have never given him the chance if he had his full roster.
Miami Dolphins (4-12)
First Six Games: 2-4
Reasons For Tank: Slow start to the season demoralized a user who was used to having a division timeshare last cycle. Pivoted offensive focus to developing Jaylen Waddle, who has almost 30 more receptions than the 2nd highest player on the team. Bottom 6 defensive unit in the league could mean no effort on the defensive side. Did not try to establish the run at all.
Reasons For Sank: 6th highest SOS in the league. The user struggled using left handed QB Tagovailoa all season throwing 37 INTs. User ran a 2 QB system that didn’t work, with Teddy throwing another 16 INTs. The user’s level of substance abuse before games was higher than he could handle. Perhaps the worst offensive line unit in the league.
Tank Score: 7/10
Analysis: Did Que just have a bad season? Yea, that’s allowed. But did Que absolutely give up on his team after a slow start? Yes, I believe so. But I don’t believe this was a full tank job, a combination of not caring about wins and not knowing how to win is what we have.
Pittsburgh Steelers (5-11)
First Six Games: 2-4
Reasons For Tank: Unhappy with current QB situation, the regime does not like Pickett or Trubisky. Multiple failed trade attempts at the trade deadline frustrated the user with the current state of his team. 32nd in points against. Gave up after the red hot Bengals diminished any chances of winning the division.
Reasons For Sank: The user has traditionally had bad records for years now. The offense is young and needs development. Pickett is not a good Madden QB.
Tank Score: 2/10
Analysis: Considering 5 wins is considered a solid season for Arod, I think we can rule this one out straight away.
Cleveland Browns (5-11)
First Six Games: 3-3
Reasons For Tank: 32nd-ranked passing offense. 57 INTs from Deshaun Watson
Reasons For Sank: The user is traditionally not the best player. A strong start to the season came against 3 major tank teams (Falcons, Panthers, Patriots). Losses came against contenders after Week 6 besides Dolphins.
Tank Score: 0/10
Analysis: Vet is usually penciled in for the “trash” divisions of PML. But this season’s AFC North has 2 strong contenders, leaving the Browns in the dust. No tank, just could be the norm in Cleveland. And if that wasn’t enough to convince you, the Browns don’t have their first-round pick because of the Watson trade.
Indianapolis Colts (4-12)
VOIDED! Isaiah Rodgers ran this team into the dirt by being outmatched in games and not playing games. New user JcClutch won his first game taking over in Week 16 despite zero incentive to win. Nothing else to inspect here.
Tennessee Titans (5-11)
First Six Games: 3-3
Reasons For Tank: The user has complained about how “unusable” the Titans are since Day 1. The user might’ve preferred the Colts over Titans and is now upset and taking it out on his season 1 record. Traded Derrick Henry midseason without getting a Superstar back. 5th easiest SOS yet still lost many games. Jaguars and Texans running away with the division deflated the user. 5th-ranked offensive YPG and 29th-ranked defense YPG, signaling a desire to build offense at the expense of playing defense
Reasons For Sank: Malik Willis is wildly inaccurate. No good pass rushers besides Jeffrey Simmons (who is more of a run defender) on the roster. The WR room is not talented enough to win against man coverage. No players to actually build on offense besides Willis.
Tank Score: 9/10
Analysis: Once again, a bad season is allowed from a good user. PML is tough. But did Bubba throw in the towel on this season early? More likely than not. If you can’t beat them with skill, beat them with the talent you acquire from the draft? Perhaps. The Derrick Henry trade balloons the score here.
Los Angeles Chargers
First 6 Games: 3-3
Reasons For Tank: Why else would someone lose so many games with the best roster in the league? The user prioritized getting Justin Herbert passing yards over winning.
Reasons For Sank: User-made win now moves at the trade deadline. This user also lost perennially with the top-ranked Browns CFM team in years past. There is no reason to tank when your team is as good as the Chargers w**?
Tank Score: 4/10
Analysis: I think HD just needs to get better at Madden. Especially defense, as the Chargers managed to give up over 200 yards rushing per game. How do you even do that on purpose, let alone while actually trying to play defense? But HD is known for throwing in the towel at the end of a season when eliminated from the playoffs, so a slight bump to the score for that.
Philadelphia Eagles (6-10)
First Six Games: 3-3
Reasons For Tank: Not sold on current QB Jalen Hurts. Felt playoff chances dashing after the first half of the season. The Eagles are a good team, undefeated currently IRL.
Reasons For Sank: Traded for Derrick Henry at the trade deadline. The user was put in a tough division.
Tank Score: 0/10
Analysis: There is zero evidence suggesting a sniff of tanking. He traded his first-round pick for Derrick Henry which further makes this null and void.
Arizona Cardinals (6-10)
First Six Games: 1-5
Reasons For Tank: The user is unhappy with current QB Kyler Murray, throwing 44 INTs and thus causing Kyler to lose abilities at the season’s end. A bad start made the user throw in the towel early. User made playoffs multiple times last cycle.
Reasons For Sank: KingDev is not as good at Madden as Dlloyd. The user has a .500 record since week 6.
Tank Score: 1/10
Analysis: I think going 5-5 after a really bad start destroys any tanking allegations.
San Francisco 49ers (5-11)
First Six Games: 2-4
Reasons For Tank: Slow start made user start looking at the draft board more than his own depth chart. User made the NFC title game last time we saw him in Madden 22.
Reasons For Sank: User was put in a tough division. User struggles passing the ball.
Tank Score: 0/10
Analysis: This is a similar spot like Wumbo, where Ant may be the bottom barrel of a very tough division in a very tough conference. And like Wumbo, does not even own his first round pick.
Atlanta Falcons (4-12)
First Six Games: 0-6
Reasons For Tank: Winless start made the user quit on the season with a bad roster. The User showed minimal effort to improve skills at the game as the season goes on. The user was willing to trade anyone at the deadline including Kyle Pitts.
Reasons For Sank: The team is bad. The user might actually be bad at offense in Madden 23. Ridder could be a turnover machine unless in the hands of a capable user.
Tank Score: 6/10
Analysis: This may be the most surprising score of the article. I believe Greeny has been trying to win all season. I also believe he is not trying hard to find new ways to win games at the moment after a bad start to the season with a bad team. But this is not a full tank job, there are multiple users bombing it more egregiously in the league.
Carolina Panthers (0-16)
Reasons For Tank: He’s winless! Using Cam Newton at QB. User traditionally has a bottom 3 record in the season as he builds his team for Season 5.
Reason For Sank: He’s the main commissioner who is also responsible for creating the draft class, getting the website running, and maintaining all the little c**** in the league. The user claims to not even be using a custom playbook this season
Tank Score: 10/10
Analysis: I will not be convinced this is not a yearly tank job from JT and the Panthers unless Cam Newton gets the boot.
And there you have it! Good luck in Week 18 to all these teams as they try to improve their draft positio–I mean get a win to close out the year!
