Top "Cheese" Plays in Madden 26 and How to Counter Them Discover the most frustrating offensive strategies in Madden 26 and learn the defensive counters to stop them

In Madden 26, there are certain plays that players rely on repeatedly for cheap yards and easy victories. While these plays can feel impossible to stop, we’ve got the defensive strategies you need to blunt their effectiveness and force your opponent to think twice before spamming the same play.

🏈 Vikings Clearout Rub Return (Gun Trey Open)

The Vikings' Clearout Rub Return is a play that utilizes a crossing route to create separation, often resulting in an easy gain. The play works well against both man-to-man and zone coverage. The outside receiver (often Jefferson) runs a crossing route, using the interior receivers to "rub" the coverage off, creating space.

Defensive Counter

To stop this play, try using a Cover 1 Hole defense. Move the deep safety to cover the outer third on the trips side to eliminate the go route. Adjust the other safety to hook curl coverage. While this may leave some space momentarily, the route usually doesn't get much use, so you'll need to capitalize on it when the receiver runs back into the safety zone.

Alternatively, playing zone coverage with a linebacker or deep safety on the opposite side of the trips can make it harder for the opponent to manipulate the coverage and force them to find a new route.

🧀 Dolphins HB Angle Screen (Gun Trey Open)

The Dolphins’ HB Angle Screen can be incredibly dangerous, especially if you’re facing a fast running back like De’Von Achane. This screen pass allows for huge gains, but it is predictable if overused.

Defensive Counter

The best way to stop this play is to use a 4-3 defense with a linebacker in zone coverage on the weak side where the running back is positioned. The linebacker should be ready to react to the screen and make the play on the ball. Quick reactions and awareness of the play are key to stopping it effectively.

🏆 Chiefs PA TE Leak (I Formation Close)

This play is a favorite for Chiefs fans, utilizing a tight end (usually Travis Kelce) running an out route, along with a deep in-breaking route and a go route. It’s designed to beat man coverage and is a dangerous red zone play.

Defensive Counter

To counter this, use a Cover 3 Sky defense to neutralize the tight end’s route. Then, use the weak-side corner to cover the deep route while shifting your safety to cover the middle of the field. This will help minimize the chances of being beat by multiple options in the play.

🚨 Chiefs PA Read (Gun Stack Y Flex)

The Chiefs' PA Read is another high-risk, high-reward play featuring four viable routes. It includes stacked receivers running inside routes and a tight end performing an inside stunt. The most dangerous part of this play is the comeback route, which consistently beats man coverage.

Defensive Counter

The best counter to the PA Read is to play zone defense and combine it with an all-out blitz. Using a blitz like Crossfire 3 from a 3-4 defense gives you more pressure on the quarterback while maintaining coverage on the routes. The blitz forces the quarterback to make quick decisions, hopefully preventing the play from developing fully.

🔁 Shallow Cross or Mesh Plays (Any Playbook)

Shallow cross and mesh routes are some of the most popular and reliable plays in Madden. They involve crossing routes that move across zones or away from man defenders, making them an easy way to rack up yards.

Defensive Counter

To defend against these plays, adjust your defense to cover underneath routes. Using a linebacker in zone coverage between the hashes can create an additional layer of protection for the area most often targeted by crossing routes. Fast cornerbacks with high man coverage ratings are also essential for defending against these plays in both Franchise mode and MUT.

💡 Conclusion

While "cheese" plays in Madden 26 can be frustrating, the right defensive strategy can make all the difference. By adjusting your coverage, using smart defensive shifts, and capitalizing on your opponent's reliance on the same plays, you can force them out of their comfort zone and regain control of the game.