AFC SOUTH TEAM BREAKDOWN

Team: Houston Texans

Offensive Strategy: Balanced.  The Texans have all sorts of weapons.  A good quarterback, a dominant WR, an elite RB, a steady backup RB, a dangerous rookie receiver, and a very good pass catching TE.  To say you have plenty of options on offense is the understatement of the century.  It would be naive for us to tell you how to use the Texans’ offense in Madden 25.
Defensive Strategy: 3-4 Blitz Heavy.  The Texans defense was a little questionable in last year’s Madden 13 game but it won’t be a problem this year.  Adding Ed Reed next to the already studlike Madden safety Daniel Manning will make the Texans have a top 3 safety combination.  When you pair that with the Texans feared pass rushers, you have a combination for dialing up some interesting blitzes.
Impact Players: QB Matt Schuab, HB Arian Foster, WR Andre Johnson, TE Owen Daniels, CB Johnathan Joseph, S Ed Reed, S Daniel Manning, DE JJ Watt, LB Brian Cushing, P Shane Lechler
Key Newcomers: S Ed Reed, WR Deandre Hopkins, P Shane Lechler, SS D.J. Swearinger
Biggest Strength: Playmakers.  You have around 10 big time playmakers on this team.  Most teams only have 2 or 3.  When playing as the Houston Texans in Madden 25, your opponent won’t be able to key on one guy or one facet of the game.  Play the Vikings and you just have to worry about shutting down Adrian Peterson.  Play the Packers and you just have to worry about stopping the passing game.  You can’t do that against this Texans team.
Biggest Weakness: I don’t see any glaring weaknesses on this team and that is incredibly rare when it comes to Madden NFL.  They are the complete package.

Team: Indianapolis Colts

Offensive Strategy: Pass, Pass, Pass.  The Colts have all sorts of options in the passing game this year.  For anything underneath, you have the always sure handed receiver Reggie Wayne along with young tight ends Dwayne Allen and Coby Fleener.  If you want to stretch the field, you can look to speedsters Darrius Heyward-Bey or T.Y. Hilton.  Unfortunately while Vick Ballard is a servicable back in the NFL, his effectiveness does not translate all that well to Madden 25.
Defensive Strategy: Force Tunrovers.  The Colts defense is pretty weak in terms of Madden potential.  Robert Mathis can get plenty of sacks and possibly force some fumbles as well while free agent pickup Laron Landry is one of the best user-safeties in Madden history.  If used correctly, you should be able to get plenty of interceptions and forced fumbles with him.
Impact Players: QB Andrew Luck, WR Reggie Wayne, WR T.Y. Hilton, WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, TE Dwayne Allen, TE Coby Fleener, OLB Robert Mathis, SS Laron Landry, FS Antoine Bethea, CB Vontae Davis
Key Newcomers: OLB/DE Bjoern Werner, SS Laron Landry, WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, DT Ricky-Jean Francois
Biggest Strength: Offensive Firepower.  Imagine coming out in Shotgun Ace Empty formation (3 WR’s, 2 TE’s) with the Colts in Madden 25.  When you consider Andrew Luck’s mobility and 5 very impressive receiving options, it will be near impossible to defend.
Biggest Weakness: Inside Linebacker.  The Colts unfortunately don’t have any inside linebackers with a decent speed/overall rating combination.  You will have to make up for that with good pass rushers and secondary playmakers.

Team: Jacksonville Jaguars

Offensive Strategy: Run, Run, Run.  The Jaguars have one of the most dangerous backfields in the game. Maurice Jones-Drew (a top 5 Madden running back) should be able to pick up solid gains behind a pretty good offensive line.  It is really unfortunate that the Jaguars don’t have a halfway decent quarterback.  Cecil Shorts and Justin Blackmon paired with newcomers Ace Sanders and Denard Robinson form a pretty scary arsenal of weapons.
Defensive Strategy: Hope for the best.  The Jaguars really don’t have much of a secondary and a pretty terrible pass rush to pair with that.  The linebacking core is decent but doesn’t possess the speed needed to be truly feared.  Look for rookie safety Joanthan Cyprien to make a big time impact in Madden 25.
Impact Players: HB Maurice Jones Drew, WR Justin Blackmon, WR Cecil Shorts, HB Denard Robinson, TE Mercedes Lewis, S Jonathan Cyprien, MLB Paul Posluszny
Key Newcomers: HB Denard Robinson, T Luke Joeckel, WR Ace Sanders, S Jonathan Cyprien, CB Dwayne Gratz
Biggest Strength: Offensive Weapons.  Maurice Jones-Drew is a very effective running back while both Cecil Shorts and Justin Blackmon play well above their potential in Madden NFL games.  The Jaguars also drafted a few of the biggest playmakers in this NFL draft.
Biggest Weakness: Quarterback and defense in general.  The Jaguars defense is unbearably weak with no real puss rush or playmakers.  Both Blaine Gabbert and Chad Henne will be fairly useless in Madden 25 unless one of them does so well in the beginning of the year that EA Sports is forced to give them some significant ratings boost.

Team: Tennessee Titans

Offensive Strategy: Get the ball to your playmakers.  The Titans have no shortage of offensive weapons this year.  Chris Johnson and his insane speed rating will make him one of the toughest backs to contain in Madden 25.  Jake Locker is a much better Madden quarterback than he is on Sundays.  Mix that in with Kenny Britt, Kendall Wright and the other playmaking receivers the Titans possess and you have a formula for success on offense.
Defensive Strategy: Force Turnovers.  Much like their offense, the Titans defense is above average in Madden 25 but cannot be considered elite.  They have pass rushers, decent linebackers, and a serviceable secondary.
Impact Players: QB Jake Locker, HB Chris Johnson, WR Kenny Britt, WR Kendall Wright, LB Zach Brown, DE Kamerion Wimbley, FS Michael Griffin, CB Jason McCourty, CB Alterraun Verner
Key Newcomers: TE Delanie Walker, SS Bernard Pollard, G Chance Warmack, WR Justin Hunter, CB Blidi Wreh-Wilson
Biggest Strength: Versatility.  The Titans have 2 very good Madden 25 playmakers in Chris Johnson and Kenny Britt but they also have plenty of other scary weapons.  Those weapons may not be elite but they are very good and will require your opponent to respect them.
Biggest Weakness: Quarterback.  Jake Locker plays pretty well in Madden but if the Titans want to become an elite Madden 25 team, they will need a better quarterback.