Playbooks

PA X Burst Heavy

Singleback·Wing Pair·13

Play Action Pass Play

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This play belongs to no NFL team or scheme playbook, so it may not appear in the in-game builder.

Play diagram for PA X Burst Heavy from Singleback Wing Pair in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationSingleback

SetWing Pair

Personnel

131 RB · 3 TE · 1 WR

Breakdown

PA X Burst Heavy is a play-action shot play out of Singleback Wing Pair that sells the run fake before attacking the deep middle and boundary. The backside X receiver runs a deep post/burst route off the play fake, while the two inline tight ends work an over route and a corner route to the flag, and the remaining slot runs a shallow drag underneath to clear space. This is a man beater built to exploit aggressive safety rotation and linebacker run bite, with the primary read progression going from the deep post first, then working down to the corner breaking route, and finally checking down to the underneath drag if both are covered.

Defensive Reads

Identify single high safety looks pre-snap, this play is designed to attack Cover 1 and Cover 3 shells where the post route can split the deep defenders. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if they bite hard on the run fake it opens a throwing lane to the post and corner routes before the safety can rotate over. Beware of Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells with two deep safeties, since the post route into a deep half defender becomes a much tighter throw and the corner route may get squeezed by the flat defender. Look for a user lurking underneath in the middle of the field, since the drag route can get jumped if the defender reads the play fake and sits in the passing lane. Against man coverage, watch for a slot corner or nickel defender pressing the drag route receiver at the line, which can disrupt your checkdown option and force you to rely solely on the deep routes.

Usage Tips

Sell the play fake by holding the ball on the fake a beat longer to freeze linebackers before dropping into your throwing motion.

Use this on early downs like first or second and short to medium yardage when defenses are keying run based on personnel and formation tendencies.

Check the safety alignment pre-snap, if you see a single high safety cheating toward the box, the deep post will have a soft window against man coverage.

Hot route the drag route into a deeper crossing route against zone heavy shells to give yourself an extra intermediate answer.

Pair this play with 26 Duo or HB Inside Zone earlier in a series so the defense respects the run action, then hit them with this shot play once linebackers start creeping up.