We all know that as far as competitive gaming in Madden this year, the Patriots and Chargers basically run the show. In major tournaments, almost 90% of the field is running with these two teams. Today I'm going to show you how to give Patriot and Charger users a rough time using a mediocre Madden team.

Going up against teams such as the Patriots and Chargers requires a lot of know how on the game, as well as a heavily constructed strategy. You have to know what you are going up against and how you can use your personnel to weaken the opposing team's strengths. For example, lets look at New England. Moss is the most dangerous receiver on team. He has the ability to do it all. Rocket catch, Spectacular catch, strafe catching, it's all under his belt. You have to be able to quarantine this side of the field and force your opponent to beat you elsewhere. As for the Chargers, LT is a absolute machine. Every single play he's liable to take it to the house for six. Limiting him to 2-3 yards per carry will have your opponent putting the ball in the air.

Now I know you are wondering, "How am I going to do all of this?" The solution is simple, your best defense is your offense. Use the clock to your advantage on the offensive end. Run the ball, throw some 3-7 yard passes, and run the ball some more. Never try to attempt a deep bomb or a trick play unless you believe the hole is going to be there. This is exactly what the opposition wants you to do. So remember, take what the defense gives you and follow the gameplan you set out earlier. Not only does this run the clock down, but your opponent will start to get frustrated if he can't stop you. Picking your way down the field is bound to open some holes later in the game in which you can capitalize off of.

Defensively, you need to find a way to force your opponent into bad decisions. Mix up your coverages without sacrificing the big play. If he likes to go deep, I recommend a good zone blitz to force a bad throw into coverage. I like to mix up man coverage on one side of the field, while playing zone on the other. By doing this, my opponent can't make his reads properly and avoid the pass rush. Stopping the run can be a little more difficult. You don't have to spend all day searching for the ultimate play that blows up the run. Just find one that limits your opponents yards per carry and makes him think twice about coming out in a run formation. Remember you want to force him into making bad decisions. You never want your opponent dictating the pace of the game, especially when you are the underdog.

To sum things up, clock control as well as being unpredictable on defense can lead to a huge upset. Just remember to never stray away from your gameplan and force your opponent into making the mistakes. Practice can't be stressed enough when being the underdog. Against an elite team, you have to be as close to perfect as you possibly can. Failure to do so can result in a large margin of victory for your opponent. So hit up the practice field and prepare to turn heads next time you play an elite team.