When you are trying to score in Madden NFL 26, you have a much better chance of earning points when adopting the strategies found in the best offensive playbooks. Playbooks are portfolios of a team's different plays, which usually contain a variety of schemes, formations, and plans of attack. Each organization has its own identity of offense, but some can be more well-rounded or potent for your team.
Every offensive playbook is designed around a different core strategy, which your team may or may not have. For example, a playbook that emphasizes a strong passing game is not as suitable for a team that likes to run the ball more often. The playbooks you'll want to try might depend on your top players in Madden 26, as well as what roles they play in your offense.
Chicago Bears
New Coaching Has Created Immaculate Offensive Schemes
Madden 26 Chicago Bears logo over offensive playbook for same team
Madden 26 Chicago Bears logo over offensive playbook for same team
With the arrival of new head coach Ben Johnson, the Chicago Bears have completely overhauled their offense, doubling down on variety to give themselves more options. This playbook is perfect for a well-rounded team, even working well for beginners who are looking for an easier playbook to pick up and win with.
This playbook focuses on Shotgun formation passes, with multiple players going into motion to confuse defenses easily. This can exploit opponents who aren't as familiar with adjusting their defense on the fly, opening up opportunities to get a deep pass or two for a quick scoring drive.
If you have one of the fastest Quarterbacks in Madden 26, this playbook can help them shine with flexible plays that emphasize run-pass options. A strong selection of running plays also fills up this playbook, giving it a balanced versatility with fewer weaknesses rather than an exploitable specialization.
Washington Commanders
Counter Meta Defenses With A Strong Passing Game
Madden 26 Washington Commanders logo over practice field with plays from their playbook
Madden 26 Washington Commanders logo over practice field with plays from their playbook
Anyone who enjoys a passing-focused offense might want to try the Washington Commanders playbook, as it contains a multitude of throwing schemes to exploit over-aggressive defenses. A majority of Washington's offensive plays are from the Pistol or Shotgun, keeping the QB back long enough to throw before any blitzing opponents can reach them.
One of the most popular defensive plans in Madden 26 is the Cover 0 Blitz, which tries to lock down the middle of the field while greatly pressuring a QB. The Commanders get around this with lots of outside Swing plays that attack where that defensive scheme can't cover.
Some running plays in the Commander's strategy can also break to the outside, favoring teams that use a double runningback set near their QB. As one of the only teams with the Gun Go Go formation that features two RBs, you can confuse rivals with plays that are designed to beat popular defensive options.
The Gun Bunch passing formation in this playbook also makes the Commander's strategy extremely potent when you reach the end zone. Short, quick passing plays can get you the yardage you need for a first down or touchdown, especially if you committ to the Bunch Tight End (TE) variant ideas that utilize an extra blocker to give you more time.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Controlled Options For Returning Veterans
Madden NFL 26 Jacksonville Jaguars team logo next to plays from offensive playbook
Madden NFL 26 Jacksonville Jaguars team logo next to plays from offensive playbook
The Jacksonville Jaguars have an offensive playbook that also works out of the Shotgun formation, similar to the Bears. However, while this playbook is also balanced, it adds complexity to the actual plays featured within its catalog, making it perfect for teams who like to make adaptations on the fly with audibles.
For those who don't care about Madden 26 player ratings and would rather tweak existing plays, the Jaguars' playbook has a lot of variety. Powerful running and passing plays are featured in this playbook, with some coming out of long-standing "meta" formations like the Doubles Flex Y Off Close or the Gun Bunch strategy the Commanders favor.
Unlike the Commanders, the Jaguars tend to attack the inside portion of the field rather than take risks on the outside. This does mean that you'll have to find split-second vulnerabilities in an opponent's defense to maximize the potential of this playbook, but its versatility will still give you great choices every play.
Los Angeles Chargers
Hard-Nosed Rushing Schemes To Test An Opponent's Endurance
Madden 26 Los Angeles Chargers logo next to plays from team's offensive playbook
Madden 26 Los Angeles Chargers logo next to plays from team's offensive playbook
While many teams want to use explosive passing plays to score big, the Los Angeles Chargers' playbook takes it back to basics with more rushing plays than most teams have. Those who have a fast running back in Madden 26 will want to use this playbook to test another team's endurance, as the plethora of running plays will up possession time and run out the clock quicker.
Tons of Singleback options are paired with the infamous Split T formation, which aims to rush through gaps in an enemy's defense to score easily when close to the end zone. Multiple plays in the Charger's handbook utilize quick pulls of their linemen, who open up gaps and trick blitzing opponents to open a path for an RB to take off.
Many of the plays used by the Chargers rely on their players lining up close together. This puts a larger focus on blocking for successful plays, which can be difficult for beginners of Madden 26 to master.
Despite their focus on running plays, the Chargers offensive playbook still has potent passing schemes baked into it. For example, the Gun Normal Y Off Close formation gives you shallow passing routes and play-action options to fool opponents into thinking you're going to run again. Gun Trips can even place your receivers far away, setting up a big pass or luring rivals away to free your run near the middle of the field.
New Orleans Saints
Endless Variety For Only The Most Creative Teams
Madden NFL 26 New Orleans Saints logo with play from offensive playbook in background
Madden NFL 26 New Orleans Saints logo with play from offensive playbook in background
The New Orleans Saints have a strange offensive playbook, mainly due to the sheer number of underutilized formations that exist within it. Despite this, the Saints playbook has a lot of balance to it that can be adjusted, allowing teams to take its strategies and mold them into something new.
This playbook has a variety of standard Singleback, Pistol, and I formations to give you both passing and rushing options when you need them. While this playbook emphasizes both short and deep yardage gain, it excels more when a team has players that can maximize the potential of these plays. This fact is made even more clear when you start dipping into the unorthodox strategies at this playbook's disposal.
Wildcat plays in the Saints playbook are strong, giving a mobile QB room to shine as they rush or scramble outside the pocket. Plenty of motion-oriented running plays give faster RBs time in the spotlight too, allowing for greater scoring opportunities equivalent to your player's potential. As a result, this is a playbook for those who manage to have multiple superstars in their squad.
The free-form play calling of this playbook is not always for those new to the series, but the meta strategies here can be helpful even if you don't dip into the riskier schemes. The best offensive playbooks in Madden NFL 26 are ones that can take chances and provide consistently to help your team rack up all the points they deserve.