Best defensive playbooks in Madden NFL 25

In Madden NFL 25, your offense might receive the shining lights, but opting for a great defensive playbook will help you come one step closer to a spot in the Superbowl.

A good defensive playbook doesn’t directly translate into good defense. However, going with the default playbooks in defense might not always be a great option. This holds true because there are better playbooks available inside the game, and you can even change your default options. While I have yet to explore all the teams and what they offer, here are two great options to consider.

Best defensive playbook in Madden NFL 25 (team)

This honor goes to the Cleveland Browns. In reality, the Browns are extremely robust at the back, which is perhaps the biggest reason for them being so good in the game. Even for a relative learner like me, the Browns felt like an excellent choice in defense. Almost all their defensive playbook options are great when you pick the correct one.

With the Browns, it’s honestly quite hard to go wrong. You can always begin with Nickel and Cover and then shift based on what your opposition is doing. If you’re well experienced with the Madden series, picking Nickel and Blitz is a great choice as well.

An honorable mention, though – the Kansas City Chiefs have some excellent Nickel plays in defense. Sure, Mahomes will ‘Mahomes’ on the field, but I absolutely loved their defensive playbook as well. While the Browns might be the best one, the Chiefs might just edge them if you’re a Nickel person in particular.

Best defensive playbook in Madden NFL 25 (custom)

So far, I like the Multiple D playbook, and it’s an excellent choice for almost anyone. Once again, the template’s core strength lies in the Nickel plays, and Multiple D is equally great for Blitz plays. It’s Dime 3-2 is great when pressuring your opponent, but I did end up making a mess (so be a bit careful).

The playbooks mentioned have all been tested on default sliders. Of course, tweaking your in-game settings will make some difference. I will also update this list as I explore more parts of the game and test the gameplay with more teams.