Josh Allen, usually the maestro of the gridiron, hit a sour note in Week 10 against the Denver Broncos. The Buffalo Bills‘ quarterback, who is known for orchestrating symphonies of touchdowns, found himself tangled in interception dissonance against the Broncos Brigade. Now, the Bills boast a top-tier offense, an iron-clad defense, a loyal fanbase, and a coaching crew that’s sharper than a well-thrown spiral. But, boy oh boy, did the decision to feature Allen on the cover of Madden NFL 24 throw a wrench into the winning gears.

Despite being hailed as a Top-3 QB, Allen’s touchdown tango is being overshadowed by a relentless dance with turnovers, leading the league with a staggering 15. The prime suspect? The notorious ‘Madden Curse,’ proving it’s not ready to retire just yet. It’s back with a vengeance, resurrected like a gridiron zombie. Allen’s playing a horror show of football (by his high standards), and everyone’s playing detective to unmask the root cause. Turns out, the curse was lurking in plain sight all along.

Josh Allen vs. The Madden Curse: An unhappy dance of turnovers and fumbles

Two decades deep into the Madden legacy, and it’s like trying to dodge a blitz for there’s no escaping the Madden Curse. Ever since Garrison Hearst’s ankle took a hit in ’98 post-Madden NFL 99 fame, it’s been a playbook of pain for cover stars. it’s been like a gridiron crystal ball predicting injuries for cover stars. As a nasty trend emerged. Coincidence? Nah, it’s become more predictable than a two-minute drill.

Now, if you thought it was all just spooky hocus-pocus, think again. Players started having seasons that made horror movies look like rom-coms. Some even vanished from the league faster than a running back with a clear path to the end zone. Cue the eerie music, and the latest victim stepping into the cursed spotlight is none other than Josh Allen.

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Sure, the Bills’ maestro might be hitting receivers with sniper-like precision, but when it comes to turnovers, he’s throwing more pick-sixes than compliments. Allen’s on track for a career-high 19 interceptions in 2023, with a side of fumbles – four to be exact, losing three of those bad boys. Consistency is nice, they say, and the Madden Curse is back, wrapping the NFL in an embrace of disappointment. It’s like clockwork, and disappointment just clocked in for another season.

Playbook of legends: Mahomes, Brady survive Madden, but will Allen break free?

With the Madden Curse staging a comeback, a few gridiron gladiators managed to dodge the hex. First up, we’ve got Patrick Mahomes, the Kansas City Chiefs’ wizard of a quarterback. He shook off the curse during his debut cover appearance in Madden NFL 20 and 22. But the 2021/22 season has been throwing him some unexpected curveballs.

Then there’s the ageless wonder, Tom Brady, gracing the cover of Madden NFL 18 and 22, The Goat Edition. Brady not only survived the Madden Curse but got a taste of the Season MVP curse instead. It’s like he traded one mythical spell for another. The MVP mojo cost him Super Bowl victories against the Giants in ’07/’08 and the Eagles in ’17/’18. Turns out, when you’re as legendary as Brady, you’ve got a whole playbook of curses to contend with. Will Josh Allen be able to shake off the curse? Stay tuned to find out.

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