There are many different ways to go about predicting the winner of an NFL game; studying scouting reports, analyzing individual matchups, checking out the NFL point spreads, those are just a few of the tools used to make predictions. Those are all fine methods, but I prefer a more modern way, playing the match-up on Madden 2010 and seeing who comes out on top. Here is this week’s game prediction:

Chiefs Outlast Bills in OT

In a battle of struggling teams, the Kansas City Chiefs needed overtime to defeat Buffalo, 32-26 before a sparse crowd at Arrowhead. Chiefs wide receiver Lance Long’s 31-yard touchdown catch in overtime clinched the victory and capped a comeback that was ignited late in the fourth quarter when kicker Ryan Succop sent the game into overtime after converting a 29-yard field goal with 2:44 left in regulation.

Earlier in the game it was the Bills playing catch-up. Trailing 17-9, Buffalo came out of the locker room and lit up the scoreboard, scoring 17 second-half points. Running back Fred Jackson scored on a 2-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Fitzpatrick and Roscoe Parrish returned a punt 76 yards for a touchdown to give Buffalo a brief 26-23 lead. On the ensuing possession, quarterback Matt Cassel led the Chiefs down the field with a seven-play, 60-yard drive, setting up Succop’s game-tying kick. Cassel, who has struggled the last two weeks, finished with 252 yards passing and three touchdowns.

Game Stats

Kansas City Passing:
Matt Cassel 22 of 31 for 253 yards, 3 touchdowns and 1 interception

Buffalo Passing:
Ryan Fitzpatrick 17 of 33 for 224 yards, 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions

Kansas City Rushing:
Jamaal Charles 26 carries for 104 yards and 1 touchdown

Buffalo Rushing:
Fred Jackson 15 carries for 59 yards
Marshawn Lynch 10 carries for 42 yards
Lee Evans 1 carry for 9 yards

Kansas City Receiving:
Chris Chambers 10 receptions for 90 yards and 1 touchdown
Lance Long 3 receptions for 92 yards and 2 touchdowns
Bobby Wade 3 receptions for 24 yards
Jamaal Charles 3 receptions for 10 yards
Leonard Pope 2 receptions for 11 yards
Mark Bradley 1 reception for 26 yards

Buffalo Receiving:
Fred Jackson 5 receptions for 60 yards and 1 touchdown
Terrell Owens 3 receptions for 54 yards
Lee Evans 3 receptions for 48 yards
Josh Reed 2 receptions for 23 yards
Marshawn Lynch 2 receptions for 17 yards
Shawn Nelson 1 reception for 15 yards
Corey McIntyre 1 reception for 7 yards