The 49ers were well-represented in the Madden NFL 12 cover vote, as Patrick Willis beat Seattle's 12th Man, pulling 54% in a surprisingly close match. Willis is clearly a bigger factor than the 12th Man on gameday, but I suppose when a candidate literally represents the essence of fandom, you kind of expect the fan-voting to favor them to an extent. Still, Willis advanced and now takes on Hines Ward in the second round, after Ward smashed through Carlos Dunlap.
↵It wasn't as good a day for the Oakland Raiders, however, as they lost to hated divisional rivals and perhaps their most hated player, when Phillip Rivers beat Darren McFadden, pulling 67% on the running back. It's not entirely unexpected, but I did think the Raiders fanbase was more ingrained in Madden culture than any other NFL team. Rivers goes on to take on Adrian Peterson, and I expect him to lose.
↵At least D-Mac would probably beat Rivers in a fight ... and a footrace ... and a "who can be less of a douche-a-thon." Those exist. I swear.
↵The winner of the voting will be featured on the cover of Madden NFL 12, set to come out this August. Do you believe in the Madden curse? Is this a good thing for McFadden, who appears to have found "it" this past season? Does it not bode well for Willis?
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