Madden NFL 27 Kickoff - Week 1 Breakdown
September 8, 2026
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Welcome to Madden NFL Kickoff
The wait is over: the NFL is back, and with it, another season of EA SPORTS™ Madden NFL.
Already, we got a taste of what the 2026 season has to offer with Preseason Standouts (highlighted by our Madden Ultimate Team™ program) and countless Franchise playthroughs and simulations from the Madden NFL community. Official Ratings Adjuster Marshawn Lynch showed out in the Super Bowl champion Seahawks’ preseason on our behalf, athletes from around the league gave their own strong opinions about where they stand in the game, and all 32 NFL teams are set with their 53-man rosters alongside those ready to break out of their practice squads.
We’ve gone 35 weeks without an NFL Sunday - now, it’s finally time for kickoff.
If you haven’t picked up Madden NFL 27 yet, this is the time to start the season with a W: the Kickoff Bundle is available now on your platform of choice and includes both the EA SPORTS™ College Football 27 Standard Edition and EA SPORTS™ Madden NFL 27 Standard Edition. Gridiron glory awaits - learn more about this bundle and how you can live your entire football journey here.
But even if you have been with us since Early Access, here’s everything you can expect in Madden NFL 27 as Week 1 kicks off:
The Full Week 1 Slate
A Super Bowl LX rematch. The International Series game that some punters call “the Down Under Bowl.” The first NFL Sunday afternoon. And two heated NFC East rivalry games closing out an exciting first weekend of the season.
In Madden NFL 27, you can jump into Play Now and experience these games up to one week prior to their real life kickoff. Just like in the preseason, each Week 1 game will be pre-configured with the exact teams, time, and location, alongside the option to create your own custom matchup. In addition, as the season progresses, each team’s playbook will be updated (in Play Now, Franchise, and Superstar Modes) to reflect the tactics they use throughout the season on both sides of the ball.
That’s the angle we’re taking when it comes to breaking down this slate. We all have our favorite experts and already know the incredible amount of data on the league; here, we’re highlighting each team’s top three rated players, their overall ratings, and key insights based on their attributes, X-Factors, Superstar abilities, and Player Items in MUT.
Consider this your virtual guide to kickoff, one to help you through Week 1 as you throw Redzone on one screen while leading your Franchise or Ultimate Team to a Super Bowl on the other:
Super Bowl LX Rematch{#superbowl)
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NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
87 OVR / 85 OFF / 87 DEF
TOP-3 PLAYERS:
Christian Gonzalez, CB, 98 OVR
Drake Maye, QB, 92 OVR
A.J. Brown, WR, 89 OVR
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
86 OVR / 86 OFF / 86 DEF
TOP-3 PLAYERS:
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, 99 OVR
Devon Witherspoon, CB, 91 OVR
Leonard Williams, DT, 88 OVR
We waited 213 days for this moment.
The main matchup to watch here is 99 Club member Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Madden’s #1 rated CB Christian Gonzalez, the quintessential WR/DB battle Madden NFL 27 was built for. In the Super Bowl, the Seahawks won despite Gonzalez blanketing the NFL Offensive Player of the Year. But with several months of off-season preparation and a 99 Club honor in his pocket, can Smith-Njigba reach true “Double Me” status and break Gonzalez’s Universal Coverage in front of the 12s?
The Seahawks also boast a high-end defense according to the Madden ratings… Especially after a “Beast Mode” adjustment was done to reflect their talents. CB Devon Witherspoon and Edge Rusher DeMarcus Lawrence are both top-10 rated athletes in their respective positions, while Leonard Williams sits well within the top-15 Defensive Tackles. If you’re looking to create a Theme Team in MUT, then you can pair up these current stars with Legion of Boom Legend Kam Chancellor, who is still available in the Season 1 Field Pass as an upgradable item.
For the Patriots, new options in A.J. Brown, Romeo Doubs, Julian Hill, and Reggie Gillam, along with protection from free agency signings Alijah Vera-Tucker and James Hudson, are all ready to reinforce Drake Maye, the only Pro Reads X-Factor QB in Madden NFL 27. Between Maye and fellow 24-year-old Christian Gonzalez, these two X-Factors are already developing into the league’s greatest young talents… Which makes this team a potentially great Franchise candidate to make into another Patriots dynasty.
49ers vs. Rams in Australia
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SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
85 OVR / 89 OFF / 82 DEF
TOP-3 PLAYERS:
Christian McCaffrey, HB, 97 OVR
Fred Warner, MIKE, 97 OVR
George Kittle, TE, 96 OVR
LOS ANGELES RAMS
90 OVR / 93 OFF / 89 DEF
TOP-3 PLAYERS:
Matthew Stafford, QB, 99 OVR
Myles Garrett, REDG, 99 OVR
Puka Nacua, WR, 98 OVR
The Melbourne Cricket Ground is ready for the Rams and 49ers or any team you want in Madden NFL 27, as it’s a playable stadium in Play Now and Franchise mode.
Fred Warner is the game’s best rated middle linebacker (or MIKE) at 97 OVR, and is a great option to learn the basics of becoming a better Madden player: the user. Instead of controlling a defensive lineman (the default when on defense), switch to this Field General with stellar physical ratings and a maxed out Pursuit attribute. Once you learn to recognize plays, you’ll be able to lurk routes, stuff runs, and ultimately unleash his Universal Coverage X-Factor that mimics the caught ball knockouts he performs every given Sunday.
On the other side of the ball, the 49ers have an electric offense, one of the few that can rival the Rams’ top NFL rating. Over the past seven years, McCaffrey and Kittle (recently reactivated from the PUP list) have achieved virtual dominance with neither player’s OVR dipping below 95, with McCaffrey earning two 99 Club honors during that time. Combine that with a newly signed WR Mike Evans, another X-Factor (Double Me) offensive threat, plus Madden’s best Fullback for the past decade Kyle Juszczyk, and you have a team that can cause problems for opposing defenses in the game, let alone on one of the grandest stages in sport, the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
However, if there is one team that can short-circuit this 49ers offense, it’s their divisional rival Rams led by their new Edge Rusher, 99 Club member Myles Garrett. This team has all the makings of a Madden Franchise dream save: there is plenty of veteran talent alongside youth potential, especially at Quarterback as rookie Ty Simpson showed flashes of greatness in the pre-season backing up 99 Club Member Matthew Stafford. Development Wizard Head Coach Sean McVay is primed to lead the Rams to another Super Bowl at SoFi Stadium, but just know expectations are high in Inglewood if you decide to fill his virtual shoes.
New Orleans Saints vs. Detroit Lions
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NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
78 OVR / 81 OFF / 75 DEF
TOP-3 PLAYERS:
Chris Olave, WR, 87 OVR
Erik McCoy, C, 87 OVR
Travis Etienne Jr., RB, 87 OVRDETROIT LIONS
86 OVR / 88 OFF / 87 DEF
TOP-3 PLAYERS:
Jahmyr Gibbs, HB, 98 OVR
Penei Sewell, LT, 98 OVR
Amon-Ra St. Brown, 95 OVR
Against a stout Detroit Lions team that ranks among the top Madden squads, all eyes are on second-year Field General Tyler Shough, who has the offensive options and the potential to rise from his current high-70s OVR rating. His Throw Power, among the league’s best rated at 92, will be one to watch with deep threats like Chris Olave and Juwan Johnson, all while Travis Etienne Jr. (pronounced Ay-chan) is primed to become the team’s star Elusive Back ready for check-downs and mix-ups.
Still, the Lions are heavily favored according to the Madden NFL Ratings on both sides of the ball. For the past three seasons, Amon-Ra St. Brown has been a consistent 95+ OVR threat while Jahmyr Gibbs grew into this franchise’s true X-Factor Elusive Back. He and the Lions second WR option, Jameson Williams, are currently tied for second in Speed among all NFL players, so get ready to watch some pure athleticism this Sunday or defend against a quick offense should you face the Lions online.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Cincinnati Bengals
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TAMPA BAY BUCANNEERS
81 OVR / 83 OFF / 79 DEF
TOP-3 PLAYERS:
Tristan Wirfs, LT, 95 OVR
Vita Vea, DT, 94 OVR
Antoine Winfield Jr, FS, 93 OVRCINCINNATI BENGALS
83 OVR / 88 OFF / 77 DEF
TOP-3 PLAYERS:
Ja’Marr Chase, WR, 99 OVR
Joe Burrow, QB, 97 OVR
Dexter Lawrence II, DT, 93 OVR
Who dey? Only one of the best offenses in the game with 99 Club member Ja’Marr Chase ready to run and gun it with Joe Burrow for another season. The Bengals have a top-heavy roster especially on Defense, where two massive offseason additions - Dexter Lawrence II and Jonathan Allen - can be a heavy force with this team’s Multiple Defense playbook.
Holding them back will be one of the best offensive lines in Madden NFL led by Tristan Wirfs, a top-five Left Tackle whose consistency stretched across multiple seasons both in the game and in real life. The Buccaneers have their own front seven threat with franchise cornerstone Vita Vea, along with a Shutdown Free Safety in Antoine Winfield Jr. Across this entire roster, there’s a ton of potential to be tapped as a Franchise, or there are plenty of opportunities to lead this team through Superstar mode.
Baltimore Ravens vs. Indianapolis Colts
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BALTIMORE RAVENS
88 OVR / 91 OFF / 86 DEF
TOP-3 PLAYERS:
Lamar Jackson, QB, 94 OVR
Derrick Henry, HB, 93 OVR
Roquan Smith, MIKE, 93 OVRINDIANAPOLIS COLTS
82 OVR / 84 OFF / 79 DEF
TOP-3 PLAYERS:
Jonathan Taylor, HB, 96 OVR
Quenton Nelson, LG, 94 OVR
DeForest Buckner, DT, 91 OVR
A legendary Baltimore football lineage stretches between these two teams, as many football historians will tell you about what happened in the dead of night of March 29, 1984.
On the ground, this is a battle between two Freight Trains: Jonathan Taylor and Derrick Henry are both X-Factor players who refuse to go down on first contact. Expect plenty of ground-and-pound offense on Sunday and when facing either team in Madden NFL, especially with the Ravens also having Mr. Truzz himself, Lamar Jackson, and the Colts entering the season with a strong run blocking core led by Quenton Nelson.
Defensively, the Ravens are winning the Madden ratings game, but the Colts Defensive playbook is one to take a quick read through, especially as it’s based on the adaptable tactics from the Mad Scientist himself, Lou Anarumo. Ready to be put to practice by a solid defensive backs unit led by Sauce Gardner (90 OVR) and Charvarius Ward (88 OVR), this playbook has plenty of options to prevent spread offenses like the one the Ravens may employ, including Dollar 3-2 Mug (a spin on the traditional Dollar set with two linebackers close to the line of scrimmage) and six different Nickel packages.
Cleveland Browns vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
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CLEVELAND BROWNS
78 OVR / 75 OFF / 81 DEF
TOP-3 PLAYERS:
Denzel Ward, CB, 93 OVR
Jared Verse, REDG, 88 OVR
Elgton Jenkins, C, 84 OVR
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
79 OVR / 79 OFF / 79 DEF
TOP-3 PLAYERS:
Josh Hines-Allen, REDG, 89 OVR
Foyesade Oluokun, MIKE, 86 OVR
Trevor Lawrence, QB, 84 OVR
Just like their AFC South rivals in the Colts, the Jaguars defensive playbook is one to study if you tend to face opponents spamming PA Crossers, Four Verticals, and TE Attack (we’re looking at you, little brothers of Madden). The amount of Cover 4 plays across their formations are enough to force opponents to throw underneath or run the ball, especially when fooling them with some clever coverage shells where appropriate. Remember that you can use the new Custom Adjustments to come up with answers for short pass plays, as well as play around with Smart Zones and Defensive Alignments controls to best fit the routes your opponent tends to run.
All of those plays can be carried out by a solid front-seven led by Josh Hines-Allen and Foyesade Oluokun, with the former being an Unstoppable Force X-Factor and the latter developing into a true Field General ever since he entered the league as a 66 OVR. Not listed among the top three is WR/CB Travis Hunter; in his second year in the league, we’ll see how much time he splits on both sides of the ball, but in Madden NFL 27, his league-leading 99 Stamina is ready for all the reps.
The Browns, meanwhile, have a defense that ranked fourth last year in yards allowed thanks to Superstar CB Denzel Ward, and have reloaded that roster with edge rusher Jared Verse who ranks well within the top-10 for his position. With most of their offensive playmakers all still on their rookie deals and tons of potential, especially with Quinshon Judkins tallying up over 1,000 all-purpose yards last season, this team is a great Franchise mode candidate to take over.
New York Jets vs. Tennessee Titans
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NEW YORK JETS
77 OVR / 75 OFF / 77 DEF
TOP-3 PLAYERS:
Demario Davis, MIKE, 90 OVR
Minkah Fitzpatrick, SS, 89 OVR
Breece Hall, RB, 87 OVR
TENNESSEE TITANS
76 OVR / 74 OFF / 78 DEF
TOP-3 PLAYERS:
Jeffrey Simmons, DT, 95 OVR
Peter Skoronski, LG, 84 OVR
Wan’Dale Robinson, WR, 84 OVR
Franchise and Superstar mode players: these are two great teams to start your season.
The Tennessee Titans have one of the game’s best Defensive Tackles to help them execute a community-favored playbook, which focuses on solid four-man defensive line packages. Paired with the new Gap Integrity Coaching Adjustment, there are plenty of ways to shut down an opponent’s run game alongside the multitude of bunch formations. Throw in Dime 2-3 and Dollar looks to create a no-fly zone, and you - alongside the Titans - have the makings of a gameplan that could stymie opposing offenses. Between that playbook and one of the youngest rosters in the NFL, the Titans could be your team to create a dynasty from in Franchise or Superstar mode.
Madden Championship Series Open Qualifier competitors know the potential of Breece Hall through his Team Builders Player Item, but anyone can turn him loose as part of their Jets Franchise. Whether you step up into the cleats of Geno Smith, are ready to develop rookie Cade Klubnick, or decide to create your own Superstar to be drafted into the Jets, the high-end talent of Hall and WR Garrett Wilson, who comes in with Slot-O-Matic and Mid In Elite abilities, are ready to give the Jets faithful something to believe in this season. And that’s without mentioning the newly-extended SS Minkah Fitzpatrick who leads this defense with a Deep Out Zone Knockout ability.
Buffalo Bills vs. Houston Texans
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BUFFALO BILLS
85 OVR / 90 OFF / 80 DEF
TOP-3 PLAYERS:
Josh Allen, QB, 99 OVR,
James Cook, HB, 94 OVR
Dion Dawkins, LT, 88 OVR
HOUSTON TEXANS
82 OVR / 80 OFF / 88 DEF
TOP-3 PLAYERS:
Will Anderson Jr., LEDG, 95 OVR
Danielle Hunter, REDG, 92 OVR
Derek Stingley Jr. CB, 92 OVR
An offensive juggernaut known for early-season fireworks meets a formidable defense that led the league in yards allowed, returning their core defensive line whose edge rushers form the best starting position group in Madden NFL 27.
However, during the virtual pre-season, our community showed some love to the Texans offense and their playbook, which balances plenty of Shotgun formations commonly seen online alongside fifteen formations under center. The combination of Mesh concepts and crosses are built for an Ankle Breaker X-Factor WR like Nico Collins, while the run game can be established with plenty of stretches and dives across all formations. Executing the ground game this year will be veteran David Montgomery (83 OVR Power Back) and second-year standout Woody Marks (80 OVR), whose pre-season Week 2 tape you should watch now, if you haven’t already.
Franchise Quarterback Josh Allen will look to remain in the 99 Club after receiving back-to-back honors, with the community getting a look at his new WR1 option D.J. Moore during the pre-season and in many Franchise playthroughs. Along with handing it off to Superstar Elusive back James Cook (especially on the outside, where the Bills roster some of the best tackles in the game), this offense has plenty of QB designed runs for Allen to break out, including the “Goal Line Sneak” formation that only six teams have… Then again, the Tush Push isn’t as automatic as it seems, as the community has learned so far in Madden NFL 27.
The only unfortunate Week 1 fact for the Bills Mafia is that they’ll need to wait until Week 2 to start their regular season of breaking innocent tables outside of the brand-new Highmark Stadium, which is also available across all modes as one of the game’s two new stadiums.
Atlanta Falcons vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
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ATLANTA FALCONS
81 OVR / 83 OFF / 78 DEF
TOP-3 PLAYERS:
Bijan Robinson, HB, 95 OVR
Jessie Bates III, FS, 94 OVR
Chris Lindstrom, RG, 93 OVR
PITTSBURGH STEELERS
83 OVR / 78 OFF / 87 DEF
TOP-3 PLAYERS:
Cam Heyward, DT, 95 OVR
T.J. Watt, LEDG, 93 OVR
Jalen Ramsey, FS, 90 OVR
Aspiring safeties and appreciators of great secondary players, look no further than this Sunday contest to see how two of the best in Madden NFL get to work.
Jessie Bates III is your traditional Shutdown X-Factor safety, quickly making an impact as a 74 OVR to develop into the second-best-rated Free Safety in Madden NFL. As this year’s lone Bottleneck X-Factor, Jalen Ramsey is a more physical safety whose man-to-man coverage abilities helped him rank at the top of the Madden ratings year-over-year, earning a 99 Club honor back in Madden NFL 22. Look for both these safeties’ abilities to cause problems for each opposing offense’s air game.
On the ground, Superstar Rico Dowdle and Jaylen Warren may form a formidable committee, but they unfortunately draw direct comparison to Bijan Robinson. Four years into this league, Bijan went from one of Madden NFL 24’s top rookies up 13 overall points to a true X-Factor for the Falcons, having the game’s best Juke Move rating at 97 thanks to some insane runs… But in his lone game against the Steelers, he “only” had 111 all-purpose yards off 18 attempts and caught all five of his targets. That Steel Curtain front seven still has T.J. Watt (Unstoppable Force) and Cam Heyward (Fearmonger), and they have all the tools to remain one of the top defenses in the NFL.
Also, a quick line note: while Chris Lindstrom leads Atlanta’s offensive line in terms of ratings, Jake Matthews at 89 OVR enters this season holding the league’s consecutive start streak and can break the 200 mark if he plays in the Falcons’ first four weeks.
Chicago Bears vs. Carolina Panthers
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CHICAGO BEARS
83 OVR / 85 OFF / 82 DEF
TOP-3 PLAYERS:
Joe Thurney, LG, 96 OVR
Caleb Williams, QB, 90 OVR
Jaylon Johnson, CB, 90 OVR
CAROLINA PANTHERS
80 OVR / 79 OFF / 80 DEF
TOP-3 PLAYERS:
Derrick Brown, DT, 96 OVR
Devin Lloyd, MIKE, 87 OVR
Jaycee Horn, CB, 87 OVR
Permafrost… Er… The Iceman is ready to start his Madden cover campaign year.
The last QB to grace the cover continued his 40+ TD seasons streak and won MVP the following year… But if there is one guy to follow up Josh Allen’s heroics, it’s the third-year dual-threat whose sack-breaking, play-making abilities earned him the lone Brick Wall X-Factor. Protecting him is one of the league’s best lines anchored by Joe Thurney, the #1 LG in terms of OVR rating, and he’ll have no shortage of checkdown options with D’Andre Swift (85 OVR) leading the backfield. The Bears also have plenty of power on defense, with Jaylon Johnson’s Zone Coverage attributes ranking second among the league and SAM Linebacker Noah Sewell as the best in his position for Hit Power.
This first game won’t be easy for the Bears, however, as the Panthers strung together a solid preseason that, if they maintain momentum, could help them rise through the ratings in weeks to come. Their Defense has several stars who play well above the team’s overall 80 rating: Derrick Brown is the best Defensive Tackle in Madden NFL 27 after putting together a 73 tackle, five sack season in 2025, with Devin Lloyd and Jaycee Horn being Superstars in their own right as a Field General and Man-to-Man specialist respectively. Breakout Wide Receiver Tetairoa McMillan has jumped eight OVR points since his rookie season to reflect his award-winning efforts, and is sure to show off his Quick Jump ability with solid route-running and receiving attributes every down.
Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings
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GREEN BAY PACKERS
81 OVR / 81 OFF / 82 DEF
TOP-3 PLAYERS:
Micah Parsons, REDG, 98 OVR
Xavier McKinney, SS, 92 OVR
Josh Jacobs, HB, 91 OVR
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
80 OVR / 78 OFF / 82 DEF
TOP-3 PLAYERS:
Justin Jefferson, WR, 94 OVR
Christian Darrisaw, LT, 90 OVR
Brian O’Neill, RT, 87 OVR
One of the greatest NFC North rivalries shadowed only by each team’s mutual disdain of the Bears… We fully expect both these fanbases to hope for a loss earlier in the morning before diving into this mid-afternoon clash.
Micah Parsons, the game’s best Right Edge Rusher at 98 OVR, is available to play in Madden NFL 27, where he can continue to make a virtual impact before he returns to action. His backup, Devonte Wyatt, is a rare case of a lower OVR rated player (78) boasting a Super Star ability in Quick Jump. If he can step up in real life, he may become an early ratings riser.
Two-time 99 Club member and top deep threat Justin Jefferson will look to build a rapport with new QB1 Kyler Murray, albeit with plenty of other strong targets like Jordan Addison (84 OVR), T.J. Hockenson (83 OVR), and new signee Jauan Jennings (81). Protecting him will be a tough (and, per practice reports, sometimes too tall) offensive line with Brian O’Neill and Christian Darrisaw offering elite pass protection.
Miami Dolphins vs. Las Vegas Raiders
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MIAMI DOLPHINS
74 OVR / 74 OFF / 78 DEF
TOP-3 PLAYERS:
Aaron Brewer, C, 90 OVR
De’Von Achane, RB, 88 OVR
Jordyn Brooks, MIKE, 84 OVR
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS
77 OVR / 79 OFF / 76 DEF
TOP-3 PLAYERS:
Maxx Crosby, LEDG, 97 OVR
Brock Bowers, TE, 93 OVR
Kolton Miller, LT, 91 OVR
As mentioned in our Ratings Recap, the Miami Dolphins have all the bulletin board material entering their week one fight against QB Kirk Cousins and the Las Vegas Raiders.
Playbook fanatics who can’t get enough of trick plays - yes, including a Double Pass - and motion offense might want to learn the Dolphins system. Fitting for one of the youngest rosters in the league, this playbook is built for those ready to showcase their potential and plenty of pre-snap movement.
Otherwise, the Dolphins #1 OVR player, Aaron Brewer, has a unique history with the Madden NFL franchise: undrafted out of college, Brewer was a 54 OVR six years ago after making the Titans 53-man roster. Since then, he’s jumped up 36 OVR points by proving he’s an elite run blocker, clearing the lanes for the likes of De’Von Achane to become one of the league’s best running backs.
A similar underdog story can be told about the Raiders and their star, Maxx Crosby. Thirty overall points separate his rookie version in Madden NFL 20 to the top-three Edge Rusher he is today, earning his Relentless X-Factor through his tenacious ability to rip through offensive lines. In Madden NFL 27, Raiders fans can see how #1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza develops under the tutelage of Cousins; see how you can develop him in Franchise and we’ll be ready to see all those posts about future Raiders Super Bowls to come.
There’s also still time to pick up the Raiders Center, Tyler Lindenbaum, in MUT as an upgradable Season 1 Player Item. Across all game modes, his Agile Archetype makes him a solid choice for zone blocking (think Stretch run plays, Inside Zone, and Play Actions) with solid Run Block, Run Block Finesse, and Lead Block attributes.
Arizona Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Chargers
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ARIZONA CARDINALS
76 OVR / 77 OFF / 74 DEF
TOP-3 PLAYERS:
Trey McBride, TE, 99 OVR
Budda Baker, SS, 90 OVR
Paris Johnson Jr. LT, 86 OVR
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
82 OVR / 85 OFF / 79 DEF
TOP-3 PLAYERS:
Derwin James Jr., SS, 93 OVR
Rashawn Slater, LT, 92 OVR
Justin Herbert, QB, 90 OVR
The host of Super Bowl LXI is ready for its first regular season contest between their resident dark horse Chargers and a Cardinals team that could play spoiler for several favorites in the NFC West.
The Cardinals’ first test, however, will be proving their offense is a threat with 99 Club member Trey McBride and a playbook that the community gravitated towards due to plenty of RPO and QB run plays. It definitely fits the profile of their veteran signal-caller Jacoby Brissett, who could easily climb up from his 72 OVR rating if he can show continued improvement. This is the same franchise that had a 37-year-old Kurt Warner lead them towards a Super Bowl run, and when you have a Hall of Fame Quarterback’s endorsement, anything is possible for Brissett and the Cardinals, especially in Madden NFL 27.
In what could be a shootout, the Chargers have their own supercharged offense led by Justin Herbert, whose career stats and Madden NFL ratings history eerily echoes that of his SoFi Stadium co-inhabitant and 99 Club Member Matthew Stafford. However, they could also clamp the Cardinals with a defense led by the game’s best-rated Strong Safety Derwin James Jr. and Edge Rusher Khalil Mack consistently performing above an 85 overall over the past decade
Washington Commanders vs. Philadelphia Eagles
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WASHINGTON COMMANDERS
79 OVR / 81 OFF / 77 DEF
TOP-3 PLAYERS:
Laremy Tunsil, LT, 94 OVR
Terry McLaurin, WR, 91 OVR
Sam Cosmi, RG, 87 OVR
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
88 OVR / 88 OFF / 87 DEF
TOP-3 PLAYERS:
Lane Johnson, RT, 97 OVR
DeVonta Smith, WR, 92 OVR
Saquon Barkley, HB, 92 OVR
No love is lost between these two NFC East Rivals, and after their star running back was on the Madden NFL cover, Eagles fans should know how much brotherly love are in these ratings:
Returning all five of their starting offensive linemen, this team has one of the best units in the league with Lane Johnson as the game’s #1 Right Tackle by ten whole overall points. Saquon Barkley is still an X-Factor and the lone Phenom in Madden NFL. And, in a bit of a fun fact we somehow left out of the Ratings Reveal, the Madden NFL team remembers Cooper DeJean’s high-school Quarterback career with the best Throw Power, Short Accuracy, Deep Accuracy, and Throw on the Run among all defensive backs in the game.
Year three of Jayden Daniels under center makes this Commanders team a fun Franchise candidate as this franchise searches for their fifth total league championship (two pre-NFL). With an unfortunate injury to Laremy Tunsil (94 OVR) in mind, the Commanders’ top-three includes new signing Stefon Diggs, who is slated to slot into this receiving room and complement a deep threat in Terry McLaurin.
Sunday Night Football: Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants
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DALLAS COWBOYS
84 OVR / 87 OFF / 84 DEF
TOP-3 PLAYERS:
CeeDee Lamb, WR, 93 OVR
Quinnen Williams, DT, 92 OVR
Dak Prescott, QB, 91 OVR
NEW YORK GIANTS
79 OVR / 80 OFF / 78 DEF
TOP-3 PLAYERS:
Andrew Thomas, LT, 93 OVR
Brian Burns, REDG, 89 OVR
Malik Nabers, WR, 86 OVR
Our weekend ends with a classic NFC East rivalry scheduled for Sunday night… Football is truly back.
The New York Football Giants boast exciting offensive potential across Mailk Nabers, Cam Skattebo, and Jaxson Dart, all of whom could be Franchise names both in real life and in the game. Even the two top players anchoring their trenches, Andrew Thomas and Brian Burns, are well under 30-years-old; those backing Big Blue will of course want their team to be some of the fastest ratings risers through the first weeks of the season, but even before a single snap gets played, this team is a Franchise experiment in developing elite talent.
But how ‘bout them Cowboys? Outside their top-three, as pointed out by the fans after his best season yet, is George Pickens at 89 OVR. With plenty of early season matchups that, per last season’s ratings, feature defenses that tend to give up more passing yards than average, this is his opportunity to get his ratings adjusted.
And for those on Ultimate Team, you’ll see two of your Season 1 Pass choice picks - the Cowboys’ SS Jalen Thompson and Giants’ MIKE Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds - in action here.
Monday Night Football: Denver Broncos vs. Kansas City Chiefs
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DENVER BRONCOS
87 OVR / 86 OFF / 88 DEF
TOP-3 PLAYERS:
Patrick Surtain II, CB, 97 OVR
Garett Bolles, LT, 96 OVR
Quinn Meinerz, RG, 95 OVR
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
84 OVR / 90 OFF / 80 DEF
TOP-3 PLAYERS:
Creed Humphrey, C, 95 OVR
Chris Jones, DT, 94 OVR
Patrick Mahomes, QB, 93 OVR
Monday Night Football season begins with an AFC West contest featuring, who else, but Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.
As one of two Bazooka X-Factor Quarterbacks (the other being 99 Club Member Josh Allen), former cover athlete Patrick Mahomes showed a slight progression from a three-year ratings slide. Although his 2025 season unfortunately ended prematurely, his 93 OVR rating reflects a campaign where he had his most rushing yards in a season yet while making it eight straight seasons throwing over 3,500 yards and for 20 TDs. Returning from injury, we expect Mahomes to make magic with a top offensive line led by two Superstar veterans in Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith, as well as second-year tackle Josh Simmons, whose rookie season earned him a six point OVR boost since Madden NFL 26 Launch.
The Broncos, however, have the offensive line advantage on paper, returning all five of their league-leading unit last year with the game’s best Right Guard Quinn Meinerz and a top-two Left Tackle Garret Bolles. That kind of protection will hope to give Bo Nix plenty of time against Defensive Tackle Chris Jones whose X-Factor, Momentum Shift, represents his veteran presence that can rattle offenses after a few great plays. Denver has their own X-Factor in Patrick Surtain II, whose hard-hitting in the pre-season is unsurprising given his Shutdown nature. He also knows Mahomes' offense well: through his last five games against the Chiefs, Surtain II and this defense held them under 20 points (and in the game he missed in 2024, it was a 38-0 shutout).
Play Your Whole Season Now
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You don’t need to stop at Week 1 in Madden NFL 27; through Franchise and Superstar mode, these games are only the beginning of your team’s Super Bowl LXI campaign.
As we all watch the kickoff to the 2026 NFL season, make sure to keep visiting the official Madden NFL Ratings page to see all the risers and fallers based on how they play on Sunday