They added some Favre guy in the offseason. I think he's good. Seriously, QB Brett Favre adds legitimacy to a team that needed it even with the addition of Pro Bowl LG Alan Faneca in the offseason. The Jets have the offensive talent to succeed, and with Favre in tow, you can now show off an extensive passing attack featuring both WRs Laveranues Coles and Jerricho Cotchery, as well as rookie TE Dustin Keller. HB Thomas Jones is capable of picking up yardage when necessary.

The J... Read More

The Patriots looked like a Madden team at times last year, throwing the ball at will and lobbing passes up to Randy Moss, who'd catch them in double coverage. Expect more of the same this year, both in real life and in gaming. The Patriots' absurd level of offensive talent make them the most likely pick for your online opponents. The best way to attack them? Keep six defensive backs on the field and don't blitz. The Giants got pressure in the Super Bowl by sending four men and hoping t... Read More

The biggest addition to this team in the offseason was Bill Parcells; if you control this team in Franchise Mode, though, you're essentially taking over Parcells' job. Jerk. Adding Chad Pennington with the game's roster update gives the Dolphins a legitimate quarterback to work with a callous group of wide receivers. Considering Pennington's limited arm strength, you'll want to keep your routes short and protect Pennington fiercely. HB Ronnie Brown is the team's best player, and one th... Read More

Here's the context: HB Marshawn Lynch is one of the most valuable properties in Madden's Franchise Mode. He's certainly the hyphiest. Lynch is already at a 90 rating despite being only 22, and his mix of speed and strength make him a contender for the rushing title every season, particularly behind a very good Bills offensive line. Run him behind LT Jason Peters every chance you get. That goes double when you consider the Bills' issues in the passing game; despite the presence of dynam... Read More

But playing defense isn't easy. There's certainly ways to cop out of it, we're not going to pretend like there's not, but understanding just what's happening on defense will make your life a lot easier when the going gets tough. Many people dread playing defense in Madden because, unlike when playing offense, few things are really explained to you. It's a more hands-off variety of the game, where all you can see in-game are your various coverage areas. Knowing your team's defensive playbook i... Read More