Jan 28, 2020

Best Madden 20 Offensive and Defensive Playbooks [With Videos]

With Superbowl 54 right around the corner, this is peak time for playing Madden. If you are the typical Madden player, you probably prefer the offensive side of the ball. After all, we all know how tedious the defensive side of Madden can be, especially when playing against AI. However, there are some ways to counteract this repetitive and boring gameplay that Madden may have sometimes. Here are the best Madden 20 offensive and defensive playbooks.

Best Madden 20 Offensive Playbooks

The offensive side of Madden is perhaps where the most fun is had. Who doesn’t love throwing a 50-yard touchdown with a Hail Mary play? Although passing the ball excessively is a viable option, there are certain teams that have an array of plays that can further elevate your game. Before we dive into some of the best offensive playbooks, it is good to know that these playbooks are already catered to specific players depending on the roster you are using.

Here are the best offensive playbooks in Madden 20:

Arizona Cardinals

Although the Arizona Cardinals were not the best team on the field this year, this young team has one of the best passing playbooks in the history of Madden. When newly-appointed Cardinals head coach, Kliff Kingsbury, was the head coach of Texas Tech, he coached NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes and was known for having a high-octane passing offense. Coming over to the NFL, Kingsbury brought his playbook to the Cardinals.

The new Shotgun Cluster passing play is one of the most notable plays in the Cardinals playbook. Using this while in a spread offense lets the tight end and halfback free themselves up, allowing for more options for the quarterback. The Cardinals offensive playbook is one of the more heavy passing ones we will focus on, so if you are looking to use this in Madden Ultimate Team, be sure to have some stellar receivers.

Oakland Raiders

The Oakland Raiders experienced a late surge in the season in an attempt to grab that final playoff spot. And although they came up short at the end of the season, this should not take anything away from their well-rounded playbook. Jon Gruden was recently hired last season, and with his return to the team, the offense was overhauled with an innovative playbook. It is hard to come by a Madden fan who does not agree that the Raiders have one of the best playbooks. It appears to be one of the best-balanced playbooks in the game this year, with the perfect combination of running plays and passing plays.

There are also a lot of unique formations in this playbook. Whether you want your TE running a route or you want to sub in your fullback, this playbook offers it all. Some of the key plays in this playbook are Power O, Rollout Smash, and Gun Trips TE. Gun Trips TE is one of the special shotgun plays from this playbook. It has also become the go-to for many players during Madden Ultimate Team.

New England Patriots

This one should come as no surprise to Madden fans as the Patriots are known for their offensive talent over the years. Much like the Arizona Cardinals, the Patriots’ offensive playbook is centered around passing plays. While there are some decent running plays in this playbook, when your team has Tom Brady, there is an emphasis on unique passing plays.

Best Madden 20 Defensive Playbooks

Not everyone dislikes playing defense in Madden 20. After all, you have the chance to control top players like JJ Watt (97 Overall Rating), Aaron Donald (99 Overall Rating), and Myles Garrett (93 Overall Rating). The ability to get a sack, an interception, or run a game-changing blitz play is still some of the best Madden moments for fans of the series. Still, with the ability to make ground-breaking plays, people seem to dislike this side of the ball far more than offense. However, players will still need to play defense if they are trying their hand at Madden Ultimate Team.

Here are the best defensive playbooks in Madden 20:

Chicago Bears

Although the Chicago Bears had a rather turbulent season mainly due to their lackluster offense, their defense continues to be one of the highest-rated defenses in Madden 20 (88 Defense Rating). Led by star defensive end Kahlil Mack (98 Overall Rating) who is considered a top-five player in the league, the Bears run a 3-4 defensive scheme and various forms of nickel and dime formations. There are also numerous blitz plays that will leave you and your opponents wondering what happened.

Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens cruised to a playoff spot and are one of the biggest surprises of this past NFL regular season. They run a 3-4 or 4-4 defensive scheme, so there are an ample amount of options here. The Ravens' defensive playbook offers some of the best blitzes in Madden 20, and the team has some stellar nickel and dime players.

New England Patriots

Rounding off our list of the best Madden 20 defensive playbooks is the scheme used by one of the best defenses we have seen in the NFL in many years. The New England Patriots defense defied all odds earlier in the season, posting record lows in terms of points allowed for the majority of the season. In Madden 20, the Patriots offer one of the best hybrid playbooks for your Madden Ultimate Team.

What do you think of our list of the best Madden 20 playbooks?

Let us know in the comments section below!

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Hero image via Electronic Arts

This article was written by Nick Farrell, a full-time university student who loves writing and talking about video games.