Warm weather is here and that means NFL training camps are just around the corner. Nothing gets the fingers typing and tongues wagging around NFL training camps faster than a quarterback controversy, with who fills the most important spot on the roster always sure to draw attention.
One city where the QB controversy furnaces are likely to burn hot this summer is in Indianapolis, where third year quarterback Anthony Richardson will now face competition from former Giants starter Daniel Jones. While it’s clear that on the real field this is a competition that could well go either way, what about in the digital world of Madden 25?
When you get down to the attributes and how they play with your thumbs on the stick, a clear winner emerges.
How Are The Indianapolis Colts Positioned For The 2025-2026 NFL Season?
Not overly well, as evidenced by the presence of a quarterback controversy in camp, which is generally not the purview of teams ready to make a deep playoff run. That said, things in Indianapolis are not hopeless, either. The first thing working in the Colts’ favor is something they had absolutely no part in creating or maintaining — their weak division.
The AFC South has been one of the least formidable divisions in the NFL for much of its existence, rarely featuring more than one contender and often including one or more of the league’s worst teams. Division rivals Tennessee wrapped up the top pick with their dreadful 2024, while division champs Houston regressed a bit back to a modest 10-7 record. Jacksonville and Trevor Lawrence continue to underwhelm. All in all, it’s a winnable group, and experts put the Colts as joint-second favorites with Jacksonville, with only Tennessee on truly long odds.
Another thing working in the two QB’s interests is the supporting cast. Jonathan Taylor missed three games last season, but was at his dominant best when in the lineup. He put up 11 touchdowns in 14 games while averaging over 100 yards per game. A strong running game can set defenses up to be gouged in the air.
Through the air, the Colts ran a balanced attack with Alec Pierce, Michael Pittman Jr. and Josh Downs each topping 800 yards. Where they struggled was at tight end, with 182 yards for Kylen Granson leading the way. To address this, the Colts spent their first round pick on Tyler Warren, so the winning QB will have a new tool at his disposal this season.
Anthony Richardson In Madden 25
The first thing you’ll notice about the Madden take on the Colts QB room is that the team at EA is not enthused about the Colts or their chances this year. Richardson comes in as the lower overall rated player at just a 71. This is far from the rating you’re going to be looking for in a Super Bowl winning quarterback, however he does come with tags from the team that he is still positioned as the QB of the Future and a Future Starter.
When you get into the fine attributes it becomes very clear where Richardson’s strengths in the game are and where he is weaker. On the positive side of things, Richardson’s physical tools are considered his best trait and his in-game attributes show this. He can throw the ball a mile and has the Speed, Acceleration, Agility and Change of Direction to be dangerous on the run, as well as decent strength to make plays happen with broken tackles.
The negative is also very clear and in line with his real-world performance, as he has an atrocious 54 Awareness, along with flagging pass accuracy stats. What this means, however, is an interesting quirk of Madden — he can play much better in the hands of a user than the computer or in sim mode. While his poor attribute accurately reflects his on-field struggles, by controlling him yourself, you can significantly mitigate the downside.
Daniel Jones in Madden 25
After six seasons running the show for the New York Giants, Danny Dimes is now an Indianapolis Colt and showing up to compete with Richardson for the starting gig. As Madden sees it, he is the better player right now on the surface, with an overall rating of 73.
When you begin to dive into the attributes it becomes very clear where the major advantage for Jones arrives to cause problems for Richardson. Attributes on the technical side of things tend to marginally favor Jones, with slightly better accuracy and crucially a significantly higher Awareness of 73. Not exactly elite numbers, but much better than Richardson is bringing to the table.
Like Richardson, Jones also gets a significant deal of value out of his legs and his ability to move around in or even escape the pocket. With Speed, Acceleration and Agility all in the 80s and good Strength for a QB, Jones has proven capable when given the chance to get running, even if the turf is sometimes all you need to trip him up on the way to the end zone.
What a Madden 25 Simulation Says
In short, nothing good for the Colts either way. Jones posted the better results in the standings, picking up eight wins to Richardson’s six, but notably, neither of those is a playoff result. On the stat page, there was little to distinguish between the two. Richardson did more, both good (yards, completions, and touchdowns) and bad (interceptions) by marginal amounts, but the two were broadly interchangeable.
So, why does Richardson still come out ahead despite the worse overall rating and win/loss record? Two reasons. If you’re playing as them, you can counteract his mental attribute loss while benefiting from all the physical advantages. In a sim if you’re going to be middling either way it’s better to do so with the player with some upside, at least, and hope to develop on his weaknesses.
Who will win this QB battle on the field is yet to be seen, but in-game it’s Richardson’s job to use, not lose.
