EA Sports
Welcome to the Week 9 Madden matchup preview, where we break down the three best games of the week from the perspective of the Madden player. So pick up those controllers and get ready for some gaming action.
The Panthers are 7-0 heading into their game against Green Bay. For the Packers, this will truly test the team's resiliency as they play one of the leagues top defenses for a second straight week. Play this one as the Packers. Do everything you can to not throw the ball at Josh Norman's side. Every indication says that Norman is the heir apparent to the title of "leagues best corner." Look to go after Peanut Tillman as often as possible with intermediate routes. You can also try your best to get the running game going, but I wouldn't expect much out of Eddie Lacy seeing as how you are facing the best linebackers in the league.
This is the ultimate running match-up. Adrian Peterson, the NFL's best back, against the young and ultra talented Todd Gurley, the feature back of the future. Play as the Vikings because it should be a little bit more of a challenge to beat the Rams defense using the Vikings offense. When playing offense, you really have three options, but they will all be available at different points in the game. Option one is to run Adrian Peterson out of the I or power sets. Look to get a few blockers in front of Peterson as he builds up a little momentum and begins to run downhill. One of the problems for Peterson this season has been trying to adjust to the new playbook that doesn't seem to lend itself to his style. Option two is to use Peterson in single back formations and toss it to him going to the wide side of the field. Sometimes you just need to give the best player on the field the ball with a bit of space and watch him do the rest (seems simple, yet the Vikings consistently screw this up). Option three is to use your other weapon on the field, Stefon Diggs. Diggs appears to be one of the best rookie wideouts in this class and you need to use him correctly. Get the ball to the speedy, sure handed receiver in the flat or toss it to him on a medium to long-range route.
Play as the Raiders for this one to increase the difficulty. When the using the Raiders defense, blitz on the short side of the field with your outside linebacker. This will help you to get additional pressure on Ben Roethlisberger and will also dare the Steelers to try and throw the ball over the middle with anyone of their star receivers who hate catching passes over the middle. The only person you do not want to blitz is the corner that is covering Antonio Brown. Everyone else is fair game and I encourage you to try to blitz every other player on the field at least once.
