Madden NFL 13 Top Rated Defensive Players

by pastapadre
Posted August 20th, 2012 at 9:30 am

EA Sports showed a bit of disrespect towards defensive players, offensive lineman, and special teamers by lumping them all together at the end of their Madden NFL 13 ratings reveal process. The end of this week will bring the ratings for the entirety of the league – but today is about the top players on defense as a whole. Two players, Jets CB Darrelle Revis and Cowboys LB DeMarcus Ware, come in with the coveted 99 overall rating.

Continue on for the list of the top 10 players on defense by overall rating in Madden NFL 13 and leave your thoughts in the comments!

Darrelle Revis – 99
DeMarcus Ware – 99
Patrick Willis – 98
Jared Allen – 98
Justin Smith – 98
Julius Peppers – 97
Haloti Ngata – 97
Troy Polamalu – 97
Ed Reed – 97
Mario Williams – 97

Tags: latest news, ratings

Keith.

Is there any way to make playing defense fun in Madden? Without the player lock defense cam, I find defense to be a real snore fest in the demo.
- http://pastapadre.com/ pastapadre
  
  I think the Ball Hawk feature helps some…but I agree that’s probably an area that EA needs to focus on going forward.
  - Keith.
    
    It’s a third of the game. Blows my mind that Tiburon has let 8 years go by without doing much of anything to make playing defense fun.
    - http://pastapadre.com/ pastapadre
      
      Another third of the game, special teams, has been neglected forever too.
      
      I guess the question is how do you make defense more “fun” without introducing something that you’d just chalk off as a gimmick?
      - peejay
        
        I think they sort of tried ”making it fun with the fumble thing a couple years back, where you had to break your thumb mashing x to pick up the fumble in the pile
      - Keith.
        
        I agree with you about special teams being neglected forever.
        
        So that’s 2/3 of the game that are represented miserably by Madden.
        
        A defensive player lock camera in Madden would at least be a start. After all these years, I can’t believe they still haven’t put that in Madden.
- http://profile.yahoo.com/347YHMUIUNY3H74G3PWPXUSY4I Brian
  
  So even though you bash EA in every EA posting, you’re buying the game? It’s like rewarding a dog for ripping to shreds your wife’s $60 pillow. Though in my case that would totally be worth it to.
  Defense is overrated in the eyes of EA. I don’t know of one improvement they made to the pass rush since the first generation days.
  - Keith.
    
    Who said anything about buying the game? If there really is only one available gameplay camera, I doubt I’ll even bother renting it. But I’m still interested in reading if anyone has figured out a way to make playing defense fun.
    - http://www.facebook.com/mike.query.3 Mike Query
      
      Be better at it? I love shutting people down online on D.
    - McLovin2397
      
      There should be at least a camera angle for playing defense, like the normal one just flip it so its behind the safties. they should add a first person view like that 2k football game had a while back. is it that hard to make that camera with the tech these days or r they just been lazy?
      - Keith.
        
        Lazy gets my vote. That, or just a plain old lack of development talent.
- McLovin2397
  
  They need to add player lock or some different camera angle for when u r on D.
James

Wish they would just release all the ratings. Top ten list are stupid and I lose respect each day for this stupid company
- McLovin2397
  
  if they want to do top ten list they should at least release the rest of the stats tomorrow and not make us wait till friday.wtf
http://twitter.com/toiletting Conrad

These ratings aren’t too bad. I could see Ed Reed being at 98 and Polamalu and Williams being slightly lower though.
July 4 1776

So Jared Allen has more tackles, assisted tackles, sacks, interceptions, and forced fumbles than Ware and yet Ware is a point higher? Shame on you EA, you cowboy lovers you
- July 4 1776
  
  And more solo tackles and fumbles recovered. I might be a Vikings fan and a little biased but still……
- http://pastapadre.com/ pastapadre
  
  Not to say its right or wrong, but a 4-3 DE is different than a 3-4 OLB, can’t just compare stats for two guys when they are playing in different schemes.
  - RandomGuy
    
    You’re right but in a 3-4 defense. Ware should have more tackles, sacks, and INTs. Considering he’s in coverage more and has to do more as a linebacker. I’d say that’s still impressive for a DE to have more tackles than a linebacker.
    - Cheeber
      
      Idk about more sacks. A 4-3 defensive end rushes the passer 95% of the time, where as, as you said, a 3-4 outside linebacker plays coverage more often.
  - Well_I_have_no_Idea
    
    When you watch the Cowboys, they don’t run a TRUE 3-4 they use a 4-3 defense quite a few times a game where Ware and Spencer line-up at End. but yeah you can’t just compare stats for two guys that play different positions.
- ajfgiants2627
  
  because ware has way better speed ratings so thats obviously gona put him a point higher, and its just one point whats the problem. 98 is still gonna dominate
  - july 4 1776
    
    Because that one point says that Ware is a better player, and the 09 Cowboys/Vikes playoff game showed thats not the case lol. Im not mad though more so just joking
- ajfgiants2627
  
  because ware has way better speed ratings so thats obviously gona put him a point higher, and its just one point whats the problem. 98 is still gonna dominate
Mike Jones

Ware gets sacks, that’s it…he can’t play zone, he doesn’t get to the RB on run plays. He just gets sacks. Jared plays with his hand in the dirt and still put up better stats…
- ajfgiants2627
  
  so wait to see when the attributes come out and see what his zone coverage is because you cant just assume because he has a 99 overall that his zone coverage is phenominal. Jared allen and demarcus ware play 2 very different positons. they are both pass rushers, but a pass rushing linebacker with speed is gona be very different than a bull rushing defensive end with strength. i hate the cowboys, i am a giants fan but demarcus wares 99 overall is what he deserves. Jared allen is gona be just as dominating as ware is.
- $evere
  
  Yeah I agree the love affair between the Cowboys and EA continues. Ware should be a 97. He’s a Linebacker who does nothing but pass rush. Willis can sover and stop the run and blitz.
  - NYG
    
    You’re right about the Cowboys and EA, but Willis? sure he’s the best MLB in the game but tell me again how he shut down passing attacks with his 2 sacks? tell me again how he erased Eli Manning from the NFC Championship game?
    - $evere
      
      What I’m saying if asked to cover he can to a degree of course that’s not his first fort, but he is skilled enough to do so. All Ware does is rush.
- $evere
  
  Exactly, and you got dudes on here getting emotional calling names, it’s not that serious. I don’t even own a PS3 or Madden. I just play it at friends and family house. But commons sense is common sense. Suggs and Willis are better defensive players that Ware. They are more complete
http://www.facebook.com/mike.query.3 Mike Query

There are two defensive players better than Patrick Willis? Thats news to me. Not even a Niners fan.
- ajfgiants2627
  
  darelle revis is a cornerback so that doesnt count. the only LB better rated is demarcus ware whos a 99. i dont have any preferance how to rank ware and willis but they should be in that 98-99 area. honestly i dont care because theres no difference between 98 and 99 there still both gona dominate. and demarcus ware is an outside LB in a 3-4 defence so hes gona be blitzing almost every play. Pat wllis is a MLB in a 3-4 Defence so hes gona cover mostly. ware at a 99 doesnt mean hes better than pat willis
- J.T. campbell
  
  yeah thats bullshit
- NYG
  
  Willis plays a position that isn’t as important as it used to be, he’s not even the best defender on his team, he might not even be the best linebacker on his team.
  
  But it doesn’t matter because Eli still went through you on the way to the SB.
Chaos744

This is such bullshit.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/10455/patrick-willis

http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/1680/london-fletcher

London Fletcher smokes Willis in stats, but because he’s humble and doesn’t act like an asshole on the field, he gets snubbed once again.

Fuck you EA and your perpetual Redskins hate.
- Guest
  
  You saying Willis is not humble and acts like an ass? You ever see a WIllis interview? Dude, Fletcher would be the 3rd MLB on the 49ers team alone and you think he should be the best in the NFL? Not very realistic.
- Dave H
  
  You saying Willis is not humble and acts like an ass? You ever see a
  WIllis interview? Willis is one of the most humble, most polite and well-mannered kids in the league. Dude, Fletcher would be the 3rd MLB on the 49ers team
  alone and you think he should be the best in the NFL? Not very
  realistic.
  - Chaos744
    
    Did you even compare the stats? I mean, that is what these ratings are based upon right?
    - Anon
      
      Oh man, he got more tackles than Willis. That MUST mean he’s better, right?
      - Chaos744
        
        LOL – you’re obviously a child who seeks to do nothing but argue with me. I just want to know how they place rudimentary ratings on the players that have a substantial impact on how they perform in the game. Fletcher is the heart of the Redskins defense – I think leading the league in tackles at 36 years old last year and being extremely reliable would place him in the upper echelon of defenders. But according to how you see things, having better stats doesn’t indicate a better player / performance – it just means he made more tackles.
        
        Have a good night.
      - Fool
        
        Chaos lol. Are you really comparing London Fletcher to Patrick WIllis ? 5 years 5 pro bowls, 4 first team ALL PRO selections. Log off and watch some football this season.
      - Chaos744
        
        When Willis is 37 years old, let’s see if he still leads the league in tackles.
      - tdoggy57
        
        You’re an idiot. It’s not unheard of for a good defensive player to lead a defense in tackles when they’re not very good. Patrick Willis plays next to another ILB that’s also better than Fletcher, so it’s hard for him to hog all of the tackles. And just about every other player on the Niners D is better.
      - Chaos744
        
        Yes. Ratings are based on STATS. So a player should be rated according to their on field performance, not some smoke and mirrors bullshit that Donny Moore believes on how they SHOULD perform.
- ToolBag
  
  I guess pat angerer ought to be a 99 he had a lot of tackles too. I remember back around 07 mike maslowski with kc led the league in tackles he should be in the h.o.f.
  - Chaos744
    
    You name fits you well. That will be my response.
  - Chaos744
    
    Considering Mike Maslowski ended his career in 2003, you are hereby no longer allowed to participate in any football related discussions.
- WCombs
  
  It’s not Willis who acts like an asshole, he’s humble. It’s the 49ers fans who act like assholes because they built a good defense and their team had a winning season.
Footballforever

How in the world is Tuck or P.Paul on that list…SMH WTF
- ajfgiants2627
  
  JPP should be like a 98 and justin tuck is a 93, i thought he should be 94 or 95 but 93′s aightt i guess
  - Mike99
    
    How many sacks did Tuck get last year? the guy is wearing down. And JPP needs to prove he’s not a fluke.
    
    You’ll be glad to hear JPP has a 99 in the asshole rating.
    - ajfgiants2627
      
      JPP’s the real deal trust me
      - Mike99
        
        a real bully too.
      - ajfgiants2627
        
        there were more people involved, its not like its something he just did soley by himself, you saw the video and most of the team was involved hes just the one to do the action. Plus im talking about him on the field, what he does off the field is on him, but on the field hes one of the best
http://www.facebook.com/people/Gary-Freeland/187600196 Gary Freeland

Both Polamalu and Reed are too high. Both still strong players but not the players they used to be. Definitely not 97
- NinoMarley
  
  Wish i could just edit this rating
- http://www.facebook.com/drekelly100 Dre Kelly
  
  when u talk about prime time players in the game who is more valuable to their team on D, then troy and ed reed??? not alot of ppl can single handedly change a game on defense like these 2 can
http://www.facebook.com/drekelly100 Dre Kelly

U guys complain to much. i have no problem with this list of ratings
Huejac2

How can you special teams have been neglected? Madden 12 is huge up grade over 11. Madden I gave a special team touchdown every other game. It was like everybody had Deven Hester on there team & you flat out could kick or punt in bounds. I think 12 has been more realistic and I am hoping the same from 13 despite the complaints.
jrh687

This list makes sense. I bet Jon Beason is right on the outside of the top 10 with a 96 or 95; at least he should be.
- 49ersfan1
  
  no
  - sammyw22122
    
    ^ haha he just mad beason called out his qb for talking smack on cam
Huejac2

Pasta how can you say special teams has been neglected? Madden 12 was a huge upgrade over 11. On 11 I gave up a special team touch down ever other game. It was like everybody had Deven Hester on their team. Hell some guyas you couldn’t kick or punt in bounds. I don’t miss that at all. If you ask me Madden 12 was way more realistic and hope the same from Madden 13 dispite the complaints.
- fireflyjam
  
  Tedd Ginn …. Madden 11
- BeastMode
  
  You must suck at special teams because I gave up maybe 5 kick returns in hundreds of games on Madden 12 and no punt returns. If you have a good kicker they didn’t even get out the endzone so I don’t know whats up with you.
  - Huejac2
    
    I suck dick because I think as you do about special teams? You must be gay
GKage

Where do you guys think Chris Long(Rams DE) belongs? He had an excellent season(4th most sacks for DEs). I’d say a 93-4
- http://www.facebook.com/people/Brett-Farthing/1365428918 Brett Farthing
  
  Somewhere in that range, he plays the run very well too
- $evere
  
  EA only focuses on 3 team mainly: The Pats, Cowboys, and Packers.
- RandomGuy
  
  Logic agrees with you. EA is going to rate him 89-90.
http://www.facebook.com/david.moore.50 David Moore

http://youtu.be/ZYGRQ1K0HGQ Please help me win an iPad by viewing this video. I am in a contest. I just need you all to look at it. Thanks in advance.
49ersfan1

ngata and peppers too high. and demarcus ware shud be 98.
- $evere
  
  Yeah I have a problem with ware being a 99. Willis is the top defensive player in the league. He can cover and stop the run and blitz well. Ware is a pass rushing linebacker. If he was a DE, he wouldn’t be that great.
  - NYG
    
    Willis isn’t the top defensive player in the league he’s the best middle linebacker in the league. Does he take over games by himself and shut down passing attacks by himself?
    
    But hey, congratulations on your defense finally dominating the most pathetic division in football.
    - $evere
      
      When did I ever say he shuts down the pass. Willis can cover if he needed in a scheme, Ware can’t. He impacts games just like Suggs, who also is better than Ware.
- $evere
  
  I think Ware should be a 97. He doesn’t cover it’s just the fact that he is a pass rushing linebacker. Is he dominate yeah but not perfect at his position, and what sucks is that the Cowboys will play better than the Giants on their. All of their players will feel and move more swiftly than the Superbowl champs. They will have a defense better than the 49ers on their. They always do that. They just can’t fight off the urge to overrate the Cowboys some way, shape, fashion, or form.
  - jmbrew420
    
    quit crying just cuz u hate the boys u whiny lil bitch
    - $evere
      
      He’s just a one dimenisonal pass-rusher at linebacker. He can’t cover nor stop the run. That’s what linebackers do primarily and whatever else is asked of them. 99 means perfection and that’s not so. 97 means dominate. 98 means close to perfect. So what’s up with the name calling homey.
    - $evere
      
      It’s not that serious to call names like kids. Opinions are just that we all have them. Crying over a video game, please. I compare commeon sense with football knowledge and Ware isn’t perfect at his position. Eli lit them up twice and Ware couldn’t take over the game. The Eagles lit them up twice too. So what are you saying?
      - Mason Drews
        
        Crying over a video game?… speak for yourself. Ware is arguably the most dominate defensive player in football today!
        
        The Eagles game? He had 4 sacks the first Eagles game along with a forced fumble and 11 tackles (10 solo). That game he arguably had the best defensive performance of anyone all year? The team got trounced but Ware had an amazing game. The second Eagles game he had 2 sacks?
        
        The first Giants game he didn’t have a sack but he did force a fumble and had a stop for a loss. The second Giants game he had a sack and a half
      - $evere
        
        He is still a one trick pony at Linebacker. If he was a DE, he wouldn’t be that great. I am not saying he isn’t great but he is not better than Willis. Willis can do it all. Ware can’t.
      - Mason Drews
        
        You’re just a bitter 49ers fan, plain and simple. Ware doesn’t get interceptions, but he does defend screen passes/holds down the flats well. I remember he interrupted a dink and dunk pass by Alex Smith last year when we played you. Yes he is better than Willis. Bowman proved how easy it is to replace a guy like Willis last year?
        
        Are you that dumb? Ware was a DE coming out of Troy in 2005? He reeked havoc there and has his hand in the dirt 200+ snaps a year for Dallas and you think he wouldn’t be a good DE? LOLOLOLOLOLOL
        
        Willis can do it all huh? When’s the last time he’s had a 20 sack season? Let alone an 8 sack season? You’re delusional, and a cry baby. What are you mad just because Willis is a 98??? Who cares! He’ll still be a beast on Madden regardless.
      - $evere
        
        What makes you think I am a 49ers fan/ I am not. I like Ware he isn’t a 99 though. All he does in rush the QB from a linebackers in a 3-4 scheme. There are other better defensive players to me; Suggs and Willis.
http://twitter.com/NgShoTTa Nigel Graham

Ummmm Champ Bailey???
- ajfgiants2627
  
  NO
Henry

Ratings are based on attributes given to a specific position, not so much who’s better on defense.
- http://www.facebook.com/drekelly100 Dre Kelly
  
  EXACTLY!!!
chambro5988

How is Peppers, Polamalu and MARIO WILLIAMS on this list yet I don’t see JPP who had one of the most dominating seasons a DE has ever had with the blocked fg, 16.5 sacks and lead his position in tackles. I can understand Allen being ahead of him and everyone else on the list I didn’t say earlier but JPP has ridiculous attributes and had ridiculous production last year. when has mario williams ever had a season like jpp
- Julius
  
  It’s tough to just look at stats, you also have to look at scheme and the other players around them. JPP wasn’t getting double teamed as often as Peppers, that’s just a fact, largely because of the other players that must be accounted for on the Giants D-Line vs. the Bears D-Line. Would JPP have done the same had he been on the Bears in place of Peppers last year? Probably not, but nobody can say for sure, you also have to look at blitzing schemes, if you don’t rush the passer as often you are less likely to get sacks. And comparing players who don’t even play the same position is like comparing apples and oranges in the case of Polamalu. Polamalu deserves to be the best SS in the league, that rating is irrelevant to the LB’s ratings and DE’s ratings.
Chrsn

I have to ask: What the hell is Polamalu DOING in that picture?
DeVion Hinton

Mario Williams is way too high.
Alexander

Only 2 people I have a problem with that Justin Smith whos 1 point under a Sack machine D-Ware. And Williams. Smith is consistant so he should be in the 92-94 region but williams got a severe injury for his position. Like manning he should be dropped to a low 90 until he proves he’s back.
- tdoggy57
  
  you must not watch much football, Justin Smith is one of, if not THE most dominating DL in the game
  - ajfgiants2627
    
    JPP
  - ajfgiants2627
    
    JPP Nuff Said
Cash

Really? No Karlos Dansby? He’s the best linebacker out there. I hate Madden. These ratings suck. Nah I’m kidding. But this is how some of you sound. Just don’t buy the game. Sheesh.
- ajfgiants2627
  
  truuf
http://www.facebook.com/drekelly100 Dre Kelly

in madden rating dont mean too much of anything in madden… my fav corner back on madden is sean smith and hes only a 77 something overall but to me he plays like a 90 something plus i have a outstanding user : )
MoneyMayweather

are you freaking kidding me right now ED reed at 97?
- ajfgiants2627
  
  YES
ewwww

Jared Allen had more sacks, tackles, picks, safeties, and forced fumbles than demarcus ware last year. Jared is a 98 and ware is a 99. Oh and everyone know that being a 99 OLB means your like a 105 DE and being a 98 DE is like a 92 olb. horrible
JJ

Terrell Suggs won DPoTY last year because he impacted every game and dominated in all three areas. Call me crazy but they seem to have the wrong Ravens in there.
- $evere
  
  Of course they have, and it’s just a video game, but its supposed to be a reflect real life, but Defensive Player of the Year Supposed to mean something.
AM570

Wilfork not rated at least a 97? Wow.
- ajfgiants2627
  
  NO
Thagoat2302

The fact T sizzle is not on here is a travesty, hands down best player last year yet no love. So many people complaining Ed reed Is too high you’re crazy, sure he didn’t have the best statistical season, but he still is feared, you can’t get any INTS if nobody throws to your side of the field, the fact he makes team gameplay around him shows why he should still be one of the top rated players in madden and the nfl.
sammyw22122

why tf is demarcus ware rated a 99 every damn year??
- $evere
  
  Amazing huh. Suggs isn’t even on here. EA sports is funny. I know it’s just a game, but anyone with common sense can see something is wrong if the defensive player of the year isn’t even on the list, but EA hates certain teams like the Bucs, Giants, and Ravens.
  - JJ
    
    Giants get it rough too, winning 2 Superbowls isn’t enough apparently.
Cheever

Is Mario WilliAms rate that high as an OLB or did Buffalo bounce him back down to DE?
- ajfgiants2627
  
  either way its too high
Keith

Is it me or does it seem like Madden has made it a lot easier to get a high ranking this year? I’m not debating who should be about whom here, just that it seems like Madden views too many players as superstars. It feels cheaper to get a player that 90+ rating when just about every above average starter is right there.
Cody

Where da fuck is Ray Lewis!- Coming from a Steelers fan
Mike

Troy P should be like a 85 tops.. So overrated
big al

Peirre-Paul? did he retire or something? why do i not see his name on this list he should definitely be in the top 10.
blizinU

Willis isn’t the best MLB Fletcher is and EA hasn’t showed him any love since he been playing football