Whether you’re a seasoned Madden veteran or just picking up the sticks, having reliable money plays in your arsenal can make all the difference. These five plays work against both man and zone defenses, forcing opponents to cover every blade of grass. By the end of this guide, you’ll have new schemes ready to plug straight into your playbook - and when you pair them with a strong roster built through smart grinding or when you buy Madden 26 coins, you’ll be ready to dominate any matchup.

5. High Low Dig (Trips X Nasty)

Key Setup

· Always align the trips side on the wide side of the field for spacing.

· Adjustments:

 o Outside trips WR → Out route (stemmed all the way down).

 o Middle trips WR → Zig route.

 o Inside trips WR (tight end) → Deep crossing route.

 o Solo WR (opposite side) → Streak.

Reads

1. Out route - Quick hitter to the sideline if the flat is open.

2. Zig route - The money route. Pulls defenders out of position and creates separation versus man or zone.

3. Deep crosser - Opens underneath deep zones when paired with the streak.

4. RB in the flat - A safe checkdown if all else fails.

Why It Works: The out route pulls flat zones, creating space for the zig and crossing routes. It’s one of the most balanced plays in the game for attacking both coverages.

4. Deep Crossers (Gun Tight Y Off)

Key Setup

· Line up the RB on the short side of the field.

· Adjustments:

 o Tight end → Return route.

 o Outside WR (non-RB side) → Slot fade.

 o Inside WR (same side) → Streak.

Reads

1. Inside WR streak - Look early for seam shots against single-high looks.

2. Slot fade - A cover 2 killer; pass lead outside for a potential one-play touchdown.

3. RB out route - Beats man consistently and stays reliable against zone.

4. TE return - Complements the deep crosser by creating a high-low read.

5. Crosser - Your big play option that stretches the field horizontally.

Why It Works: This play layers every level of the field, making it hard to defend. Even if opponents user-switch to cover the crosser, streaks and fades punish them.

3. RPO Alert Bubble (Gun Bunch TE)

Key Setup

· No adjustments needed.

Reads

1. Snap the ball - if the bubble receiver has space, throw it immediately.

2. If the defense overloads the bubble side, hand the ball off instead.

Why It Works: This is the most consistent RPO in Madden 26. Even hard flats struggle because blockers often neutralize them. Against opponents who don’t know the counter adjustments, you’ll get free yards almost every time.

2. China Wide Post (Trips TE)

Key Setup

· Trips side on the wide side of the field.

· Adjustments:

 o Middle trips WR → Streak.

Reads

1. RB swing route - Excellent vs. man since the defender struggles to chase across the field.

2. Outside trips WR in route - Quick separation vs. man or soft zones.

3. Corner route - Works underneath deep zones; pass lead down for safety.

4. TE post - A sleeper route that carves up both man and zone for big gains.

Why It Works: Simple to set up but deadly in execution. The streak clears coverage, opening consistent windows for the post and corner. Meanwhile, the swing route forces defenders to cover sideline-to-sideline.

1. X Spot (Gun Ace Slot)

Key Setup

· Trips side aligned to the wide side.

Adjustments:

 o Outside WR → Streak.

 o Middle WR → Return route.

 o TE → Slant.

 o RB → Flat (optional for extra read).

Reads

1. RB flat - Hit it if uncovered; forces defenses into adjustments.

2. TE slant - Great vs. man; punishes hard flats when they appear.

3. Return route - Separates against man and sits nicely under zones.

4. TE short post - The star of the play, destroying both man and zone by slipping under deep coverage.

Why It Works: The short post is one of the best routes in Madden 26. Combined with the slant-return combo, defenses are stretched horizontally and vertically, giving you answers against any look.

Final Thoughts

These five plays give you reliable answers against any defense in Madden 26. From quick hitters like the RB swing in China Wide Post to game-breaking one-play scores with Deep Crossers, you’ll always have a way to move the chains and punch it into the end zone. And if you’re looking to build a stacked roster to complement these strategies, keeping an eye on Mut 26 coins for sale can give you the boost you need to stay competitive.