Best Defensive Playbooks in Madden NFL 26

While offensive playbooks get the most attention in Madden NFL 26, you won’t be able to win games without a strong defense. Thankfully, you can choose a custom defensive playbook to customize your formations and keep the offense on your toes to win more games in Madden 26.

With so many teams in the NFL and custom creations from other players, there are dozens upon dozens of defensive playbooks to choose from in Madden NFL 26. Some defensive playbooks are much stronger than others, though, and a few select teams are dominating the defensive meta in this year’s Madden. These are the best defensive playbooks to use in Madden NFL 26.

Baltimore Ravens Defensive Playbook

The Ravens have one of the best overall defensive playbooks in Madden NFL 26. It’s especially strong if you like to blitz the offense and put huge pressure on the opposing quarterback. There are plenty of other formations up the Ravens’ sleeves, however, and this playbook will have you prepared for anything the offense tries.

Kansas City Chiefs Defensive Playbook

The Chiefs have a great defensive playbook with especially effective blitz plays and some solid zone coverage to shut down passes. Kansas City’s playbook has a bunch of 4-2-5 formations that set it apart from other standard NFL playbooks. If you have high-rated cornerbacks and defensive ends, this is the playbook for you.

Green Bay Packers Defensive Playbook

The Packers defensive playbook has a bunch of strong formations like 4-3 and 4-6 that can completely shut down the offense’s passing game. This playbook is great for bullying the opposing quarterback with plenty of Nickel plays, placing pressure on the QB, and padding your stats with some sacks. Star quarterbacks are the cornerstones of many top-rated NFL teams, and this playbook can completely negate their strategies.

Detroit Lions Defensive Playbook

The Lions have one of the best defensive playbooks for 3-3 formations. It’s not great at much else, but there are a staggering number of 3-3 plays to pick in Detroit’s playbook. The Lions playbook excels with high-rated defensive players, prioritizing their raw talent and abilities over special formations. If your defensive strategy centers around one or two key players, this is the playbook for you.

Dallas Cowboys Defensive Playbook

How ’bout them Cowboys? The Dallas defensive playbook shares a lot of similarities to Detroit, performing its best when your defensive strategy rides on one or two star players. The Cowboys defensive playbook especially excels if you have fast linemen that can slip past the offensive line and scare the opposing quarterback. The Cowboys really just have their playbook designed around Micah Parsons, but the rest of this team’s defense is full of holes. If you use their playbook with another team, you’ll have much better results (and maybe actually win some playoff games).

You can change your defensive playbook at any time and even customize your playbooks to meet your team’s needs, so use these recommendations as a starting point in Madden NFL 26. Things can change from season to season in franchise mode, and a good coach should make adjustments to fit their team’s talents.

Madden NFL 26

Released

August 14, 2025

Multiplayer

Online Multiplayer