THE MADDEN CURSE!

It took only one week -- but the ruthless Madden video game curse struck again last night.
After making one of the sickest interceptions you're going to see all year, 2010 Madden co-cover guy Troy Polamalu went down with a sprained MCL in his knee during the 2nd quarter of last night's Steelers-Titans game.

It's no coincidence ... no fluke ... he should've seen it coming.

Players who have graced the cover of the Madden video game box have been doomed since 2002 -- Marshall Faulk, Ray Lewis, Vince Young, Shaun Alexander ... and of course Michael Vick.

The evil twist -- this year, Troy shares the cover with Arizona Cardinals superstar Larry Fitzgerald. Might be a good time to trade him off your fantasy squad...