Best defensive playbooks in Madden 25

From excellent zone coverage to piling pressure on QBs, picking the right defensive playbook should help you tackle any offense in Madden 25.

An important part of setting up your team for glory in Franchise or MUT is sorting out the defensive organization. Being able to strip the ball or using the hit stick to great effect are crucial while defending but you’ll need to use Madden 25’s best defensive playbooks for sustained success on the field.

Best Madden 25 defensive playbooks

Las Vegas Raiders

The Las Vegas Raiders defensive playbook was a favorite among Madden 24 players, and it looks set to retain its popularity in Madden 25. The playbook contains formations like 2-4 Double Mug and 3-4 that feature blitz plays, allowing you to put opposing QBs under pressure.

In terms of zone coverage, the Dime 2-3-6 Sam formation offers protection against passing plays with six defensive backs on the field. Other popular setups like 4-3 and Nickel 3-3 Cub are also in the playbook, so there’s no shortage of options.

Kansas City Chiefs

The Super Bowl holders run a dominant man-to-man defense with well-disguised blitzes that can lead to sacks, and their defensive style is represented nicely in their playbook.

If you have reliable cornerbacks on the field, the Dime 3-2 and Big Nickel Over G formations offer ample coverage while being aggressive with Linebackers. For protection against running plays, you’ll have access to the 4-3 Even 6-1 and Nickel 3-3 formations, both of which have been popular in recent titles.

Multiple

Multiple is easily the most versatile defensive playbook in Madden 25. It features a range of different formations, including meta picks like the 3-4 which contains the Cover 4 Drop and Cover 3 Sky zone plays. Speaking of the meta, the Multiple playbook also comes with the Nickel 3-3 formation, allowing you to pick between man-to-man coverage and blitz plays.

Lastly, the Dime 3-2 formation is the best way to stop offenses using strong setups like Bunch TE and Bunch Offset. When facing these formations, just call DB Fire 2 and you’ll likely pull off a successful pass rush.

Once you’ve sorted out the tactics, make sure to pair your selected playbook with the best players and fastest CBs in the game.