Breaking Down the Madden NFL 13 Play-in Matchups in the AFC North

Considering the success of last year's Madden NFL 12 campaign to have football fans vote for the player featured on the game's cover, it's no surprise they've expanded the voting format for Madden 13.

This year, the field of candidates has been expanded to 64, with a play-in round that pits two players from the same team head-to-head.

Let's take a look at the matchups between players in the AFC North and make a few predictions about who will move on to the next round of voting.

Cleveland Browns: OT Joe Thomas vs. CB Joe Haden

It's the Battle of the Joes in for the Cleveland Browns, as last year's cover boy, running back Peyton Hillis, may no longer be a Brown in a few days and clearly, EA Sports doesn't think any other skill position player deserves to represent the team this year.

The odds of an offensive lineman making the cover of Madden, even a four-time Pro Bowler like Joe Thomas, are pretty slim, though voters might view selecting him as safe and thus appealing.

But I expect Thomas to be out-shined in the vote by cornerback Joe Haden, who had zero interceptions in 2011 compared to the six he netted in his rookie 2010 season. That's a testament to opposing quarterbacks not wanting to throw in his direction, one of the greatest compliments a cornerback can get.

Who's moving on: Joe Haden

Baltimore Ravens: LB Terrell Suggs vs. RB Ray Rice

Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs was named Defensive Player of the Year for his 2011 performance in which he notched 70 tackles, 14 sacks, seven forced-fumbles and two interceptions. But is that enough to knock running back Ray Rice out of contention for this year's Madden cover?

There is a bit of bias against defense when it comes to Madden covers, especially when public voting is concerned. I think that Ravens fans alone could swing the vote in Suggs' favor, however the fans at large will likely go for Rice.

And it's not like Rice wouldn't deserve it—he was the Ravens' all-around offensive leader in 2011 and was tops in total yards from scrimmage in the entire league. Among Ravens fans, the vote will likely be close, but overall, Rice will move on to the next round.

Who's moving on: Ray Rice

Cincinnati Bengals: QB Andy Dalton vs. WR A.J. Green

The head-to-head matchup between Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton and his top wide receiver A.J. Green brings to mind the classic chicken-or-the-egg argument.

In this case, who was more responsible for the other's success: Andy Dalton's arm and accuracy or A.J. Green's otherworldly playmaking abilities?

Clearly, a receiver is only as good as his quarterback, but a quarterback can only be as good as the weapons around him, making this battle between the two a perfect encapsulation of a classic football debate.

Wide receivers—good ones, at least—aren't dime-a-dozen, but ultimately a quarterback is the face of the franchise. That gives Dalton the edge, and leads me to believe he will win the Bengals' play-in vote.

Who's moving on: Andy Dalton

Pittsburgh Steelers: QB Ben Roethlisberger vs. S Troy Polamalu

Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu has already appeared on the cover of Madden NFL in 2010, alongside Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald.

But he's the most popular and certainly most recognizable player both on the Steelers and perhaps in the entire AFC North, so it makes sense he'd be one of the team's play-in representatives.

Outside of Steelers fans (and not all of them, might I add), quarterback Ben Roethlisberger isn't a very popular player, though he's helped lead his team to three Super Bowls and two championships in his time in Pittsburgh.

Yes, Polamalu is aging, and doesn't play as consistently well, game after game, as he used to, while Roethlisberger is really just hitting his stride as a top-tier passer. But Madden voting is more of a popularity contest than it is an assessment of a player's true value, so Polamalu will move on by a wide margin.

Who's moving on: Troy Polamalu

Follow @FBALL_Andrea