Madden NFL 25 – How to Defend the Red Zone

Defend the red zone with high-pressure defense and blanket coverage

To win consistently in Madden NFL 25 you must defend the red zone. Here we show you high-pressure defense as well as blanket coverage.

Recommended Videos

HONORABLE MENTION: GOAL LINE FORMATION
5 COVER 2 WITH ADJUSTMENTS
4 5-2 MONSTER (RUN DEFENSE)
3 TAKE AWAY THE #1 OPTION
2 MAX COVERAGE DEFENSE
1 COVER 0

5 COVER 2 ZONE WITH ADJUSTMENTS

THE FLAT IS TYPICALLY WHERE THE OFFENSE FIRST LOOKS IN THE RED ZONE.

Defending in the red zone should be easy because the offense has less space to work with, but often it’s the hardest area to defend. We like to call any Cover 2 zone and then hot route both safeties to buzz zones. Next, we user-control the MLB and look to take away the middle of the field. At the snap of the ball our flat defenders press the outside WRs and look to take away any flat pattern. If the offense runs a curl-to-flat pattern our buzz zones will be in position to make a play on the ball. Last, we will patrol the middle of the field with our MLB to take away anything that comes our way.

4 5-2 MONSTER (RUN DEFENSE)

THIS IS A VERY SPECIFIC DEFENSE FOR RUNNING SITUATIONS IN THE RED ZONE.

The 5-2 Monster defense was one of the most popular defensive schemes for multiple decades in professional football. The idea behind it is to give the illusion to the offense that they can attack the weak side of our defense. We set this up by calling 5-2 Normal Cover 3, shifting the LBs right, and then user-controlling the FS over the DE on the left of the screen. If the offense looks to run to the strong side of the formation there will be too many defenders and they will most likely lose yards. They will then look to run to the weak side, towards your user defender, where we will still have the advantage in run support but give the illusion that we don’t. If you are looking to stop the run in the red zone, this is a must-have defense.

3 TAKE AWAY THE #1 OPTION

AT ALL COSTS TAKE AWAY YOUR OPPONENT’S PRIMARY OPTION. NO EXCEPTIONS.

If taking away the number one option means putting three defenders on one offensive player, by all means put three defenders on him. Make your opponents feel uncomfortable in the red zone and force them to go where they don’t want to go. Remember that space is tight in this area of the field, which means you can get away with paying extra attention to one offensive player. A good example of this would be to play man-to-man coverage and then have another zone defender play the anticipated area. You would user-defend him as well.

2 MAX COVERAGE DEFENSE

MIX THIS IN WITH THE COVER 0 SETUP FOR MAXIMUM EFFICIENCY.

When setting up max coverage defense we are looking to frustrate our opponent into being patient. Call any 2 Man Under in the game and hot route both DEs into buzz zones. Next, hot route one of your safeties to a QB spy. Last, user-control the other safety. This defense isn’t set up to generate pressure; its purpose is to frustrate your opponent into bad decisions.

1 COVER 0

HEAVY PRESSURE EQUALS HIGH PROBABILITY OF MISTAKES.

Call 4-3 Under—Edge Sting. Use your coverage audibles to call press coverage. User-control the MLB covering the HB and be ready for anything over the middle of the field as well as the HB breaking to the flat. This defense will get all over your opponent’s QB quickly, especially if he is under center. The pressure will come through the left A gap and will force a quick throw. Test your opponents early and see if they can handle this pressure in the red zone.

Check out the Top 5 Ways to Read Defensive Coverages and get even more free Madden NFL 25 strategies!


Prima Games is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more
related content
Read Article Steam’s Family Sharing Feature Just Got Even Better
Steam Family Featured
Read Article The Pokemon Company Just Revealed the Most Adorable Pokemon Cards Yet
Image of Hisuian Growlithe Pokemon Card.
Read Article This Final Fantasy 7 Abomination is the Creepiest Dragon’s Dogma 2 Character Creation
Screenshot of Cloud in Final Fantasy 7.
Related Content
Read Article Steam’s Family Sharing Feature Just Got Even Better
Steam Family Featured
Read Article The Pokemon Company Just Revealed the Most Adorable Pokemon Cards Yet
Image of Hisuian Growlithe Pokemon Card.
Read Article This Final Fantasy 7 Abomination is the Creepiest Dragon’s Dogma 2 Character Creation
Screenshot of Cloud in Final Fantasy 7.
Author
Prima Games Staff
The staff at Prima Games.