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- To execute a lateral pitch, press LB on Xbox or L1 on PlayStation.
- Ideally, there’s another offensive player close by.
In Madden 25, you may find yourself in a situation in which you need to make a lateral pitch. Maybe it’s the end of the half or game and you just can’t be tackled, so it’s your last-ditch effort. Maybe you want to throw the defense off and find someone in space to get a few more yards. Whatever the situation may be, you need to know how to lateral pitch.
How to lateral pitch
To execute a lateral pitch, you must, as the ball carrier, press LB on Xbox or L1 on PlayStation. Ideally, you have someone on offense nearby. The pitch will target someone close by on your team, but that might be the offensive lineman eight yards behind you. That wouldn’t be ideal. Press that button down firmly and your player, whether it’s the quarterback, wide receiver, running back, or someone else, will toss the ball backward. The ball has to travel backward, otherwise it is a penalty.
Start a play before lateraling. Image captured by VideoGamer
Press LB on Xbox (L1 on PlayStation) to pitch. Image captured by VideoGamer
The pitched ball has to travel backwards. Image captured by VideoGamer
When to lateral pitch in Madden 25
Lateral pitches are generally a last resort. They usually don’t end well, often resulting in a fumble or a pitch to the lineman who can’t go any further than catching the ball. Thus, you lost some yards by even attempting the pitch and that’s not even the worst-case scenario.
You may be running an option play from your playbook, in which case the lateral pitch is planned and much safer. Otherwise, it brings a huge risk. That’s not to say it won’t ever work, but there are major downsides. Half the time, a lateral results in a fumble as there was no one close enough to catch it. That’s a turnover waiting to happen.
The best time to use this move is when you’re running out of time. When you just can’t afford to let the play end, this might be your only option. You can only juke or break tackles for so long, so eventually, the ball may have to change hands. The placement of your offensive teammates determines the success of the move, but there’s nothing you can do prior on a normal play to set them up to receive one. You can, however, try to run near them.
The general idea is to run to the sideline, but teammates might not follow behind you there. In this case, you can run to the middle of the field and try to keep offensive players near you, but they are CPU-controlled and go where they want.
About the Author
Madden NFL 25
- Platform(s): PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
- Genre(s): Simulation, Sports, Strategy
