Madden 23 - best offensive and defensive playbooks to use (2024)

Madden 23 - best offensive and defensive playbooks to use (1)

Madden 23 - best offensive and defensive playbooks to use (2)

August 24, 2022 5:20 am ET

While at first glance playing Madden is rather easy, there’s some nerdy insider information that veterans of the series have gotten into in recent years that will help you get ahead.

Playbooks are one of these methods, as rather than using the pre-generated ones allocated to your Madden Ultimate Team (MUT) or Franchise, you can use any team’s book on both sides of the ball.

This can open up a realm of opportunities for players. We’ve seen the list flux each year, and for Madden 23,we’re going to run over the best ones to use on the offensive and defensive side of the ball.

Madden 23 - Best Offensive Playbooks

Madden 23 - best offensive and defensive playbooks to use (3)

While the game is freshly released, and we’re sure this list is going to change throughout the year, when certain plays become overpowered compared to others, there are some that stand out right away.

We’ll be highlighting three playbooks on each side of the ball that you should take a deeper dive into. Up first, we have the offense.

Best Running Playbook - Baltimore Ravens

A lot of the Raven’s success in the NFL in previous years has been thanks to their electric QB in Lamar Jackson, who is known for his speed and tenacious running plays.

This translates to one of the more dynamic playbooks within Madden 23, and for fans of the series, you’re well aware of how vital this playbook has been in other titles.

QB Blast is a great way to sneak in a running play with your QB, and this playbook is really catered to teams with agile QBs, and ones with enforcing HBs.

However, it also features a ton of great passing plays, such as TE slants and Play Action passes, so you can always mix it up if needed.

Best Passing Playbook - Kansas City Chiefs

What sounds better than decimating your opposition’s secondary with a barrage of passing plays? Well, if this is the playstyle you’re seeking within Madden 23, then you will want to check out the Chiefs’ playbook.

As the Chiefs have a generational QB in Patrick Mahomes, there isn’t much else needed in terms of the running game. With passing plays unique to all WR slots, along with the TE positions, your opponent will be left guessing where to cover.

However, as noted above, the one drawback is the lack of carefully designed running plays. While there are the usual Jet Sweeps and Read Options, there isn’t much to gloat about, but hey, you’re here for the passing anyways!

Best Balanced Playbook - New England Patriots

Does this really come as a surprise to NFL fans? To us, there isn’t a better dynasty within modern sports than the legacy Bill Belichick has crafted within New England, and it shows year in, year out within Madden.

While Tom Brady has departed from the offense for a few years, newly instilled Patriot Mac Jones has been leading the way and has shown promise within Belichick’s masterly coordinated playbook.

This playbook doesn’t do anything amazing in terms of passing or running the ball, but it does offer a wide array of plays that’ll get the job done when it matters most.

Madden 23 - Best Defensive Playbooks

Madden 23 - best offensive and defensive playbooks to use (4)

Moving on to defense, there are some teams that have modeled their Franchise off stellar Blitz plays, Secondary coverage, and more.

One vital aspect when it comes to picking a defensive playbook is the sheer amount of plays and variety that they have within. Furthermore, the coverage type your team is best suited for comes into play. Whether you want to play a 4-3, 3-4, or a jack of all trades, these playbooks are the best to use within Madden 23.

Best 4-3 Playbook - Buffalo Bills

While much attention towards the Bills in recent years has been on Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs, their defense has been stellar compared to the rest of the league.

Focusing on blitzing the opposition with sheer force while also maintaining a stable presence in the backfield is all the Bills playbook entails, and it’s a blast to use.

You’ll find it difficult to be beaten when using this playbook, and while 4-3 is traditional, it still offers some fantastic plays to experiment with during a game.

Best 3-4 Playbook - Las Vegas Radiers

We could throw some other teams here in the place of the Raiders, but Las Vegas offers some elaborate configurations that’ll throw your opponents off guard from time to time.

You’ll be able to establish your secondary rather quickly with this playbook, and being placed in a Nickel formation will hinder you from getting barraged with excellent passing plays.

Best Versatile Playbook - Pittsburgh Steelers

Lastly, we have one of the league’s most formidable defenses rounding out our list.

For decades, Pittsburgh has been tormenting teams with their brick wall style of play, as they use sheer aggression to decimate their opposition with trick plays, combined with stable options for the secondary.

There are many options within this playbook, and Madden players will quickly take keen on some of their coverage plays, along with their tactical blitz plays.

Be sure to check out our other Madden 23-related content, including our top-rated players and the best teams to rebuild within Franchise mode.

Written by Nick Farrell on behalf of GLHF.

Madden 23 - best offensive and defensive playbooks to use (2024)

FAQs

What are the best Madden 23 defense playbooks? ›

Best Defensive Playbooks in Madden 23
  • Kansas City Chiefs. As of right now, it seems as though the meta defensive playbook in Madden 23 lies with the Kansas City Chiefs. ...
  • When it comes to defensive playbooks in Madden, non-team playbooks are usually the meta. ...
  • Multiple D. ...
  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers. ...
  • Chicago Bears. ...
  • Baltimore Ravens.
Sep 2, 2022

What is the best offensive playbook in Madden 23? ›

Rams playbook may be the most complete offensive playbook in the game. Their singleback is loaded with 15 formations including a few formations that are usually good like Y trips, duece close and wing flex close.

What is the best defensive formation to use on Madden 23? ›

A 4-3 or 3-4 formation is a go-to choice for beginner Madden players because they offer a stronger defense with extra linebackers. But choose the best formation with two principles in mind: If the opponent has three or more receivers, go with a formation with at least three cornerbacks.

Why is it called the 46 defense? ›

Ryan devised a defense that moved balls-out safety Doug Plank to middle linebacker. Ryan called it the “46” because that was Plank's jersey number, and it would challenge evolving NFL offenses like as no defense had before.

What is the best offense to run in Madden 23 franchise? ›

Best offensive playbooks in Madden 23
  • Best rushing playbook: Baltimore Ravens. ...
  • Best passing playbook: Kansas City Chiefs. ...
  • Best balanced playbook: New England Patriots/Oakland Raiders. ...
  • Most underrated offensive playbook: Detroit Lions. ...
  • Best playbook to beat man coverage: Pittsburgh Steelers.
Sep 1, 2022

What is the funnest position to play in Madden 23? ›

Running Back

The gameplay is also more fun as an RB. You can run routes in the passing game and pound the rock in the running game. Screen passes are hard to run while controlling the RB, so we avoid them.

Should I use skill based passing Madden 23? ›

The short answer is yes, absolutely. In Madden 23, one of the biggest changes to the game is what EA Tiburon calls Skill-Based Passing. This new feature is meant to give quarterbacks more control than ever before in deciding where to put the ball.

Is strength important in Madden 23? ›

Strength Rating (STR): Higher the strength, the better a player will block or a defender will shed blocks and more effectively use power moves.

Is scheme fit important in Madden 23? ›

Players will look to match the team's offensive or defensive Scheme to best showcase their talent on the field. These players are looking to be starters at their position, plain and simple.

What NFL team has the best defense in Madden 23? ›

What is the best defense to use in Madden 23?
  • Bills. The Bills had the league's best defense in 2021. ...
  • Rams. This is where having star power really makes a difference. ...
  • Packers. On the flip side of the star talent of the Rams is the well-rounded group of the Packers. ...
  • Steelers. ...
  • Texans. ...
  • Lions. ...
  • Falcons.
Jul 22, 2022

Who has the highest speed rating in Madden 23? ›

It is no secret that Jaylen Waddle and Jameson Williams are two of the fastest players in the NFL, and the newly released Madden 23 ratings reflects that. In terms of speed, Tyreek Hill leads the way with a full 99. To no Crimson Tide fan's surprise, Williams is second with a 98 overall speed.

Who got the best defense in Madden 23? ›

Best defensive team in Madden 23: Top 3 teams that you should choose if you want to play effective defense
  • TJ Watt is one of the best defenders in the game.
  • The Bills boast one of Madden 23's most stacked defenses.
  • Aaron Donald is one of only a handful of 99-rated players.
Apr 13, 2023

What is 3/4 and 4:3 defense? ›

In a standard 4–3 alignment, these four rushers are usually the four down linemen. But in a 3–4, the fourth rusher is usually a linebacker, though many teams use a safety to blitz and confuse the coverage, giving them more defensive options in the same 3–4 look.

What team run a 4-3 defense in Madden 24? ›

  • 4-3 Defense. madden-playbook. ...
  • Buffalo Bills Defense. madden-playbook. ...
  • Chicago Bears Defense. madden-playbook. ...
  • Cincinnati Bengals Defense. madden-playbook. ...
  • Cleveland Browns Defense. madden-playbook. ...
  • Dallas Cowboys Defense. madden-playbook. ...
  • Houston Texans Defense. madden-playbook. ...
  • Indianapolis Colts Defense. madden-playbook.

What is the best strong safety in Madden 23? ›

Luckily, the position is bursting with talent in Madden NFL 23, and these safeties are primed to be foundational pieces for your team.
  1. 1 Jordan Poyer, SS, Buffalo Bills (90 OVR)
  2. 2 Jessie Bates III, FS, Cincinnati Bengals (90 OVR) ...
  3. 3 Jamal Adams, SS, Seattle Seahawks (90 OVR) ...
Sep 2, 2022

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