On Thursday, NFL analyst Nick Wright publicly challenged Bill Simmons’ recent quarterback rankings, focusing on the placement of Josh Allen above Patrick Mahomes, sparking the ongoing Josh Allen quarterback ranking controversy. Wright took to his X account to criticize Simmons, CEO of The Ringer, for placing Allen at the pinnacle of his quarterback pyramid despite Mahomes’ superior achievements.
Wright recalled Simmons’ past stance, where he favored Tom Brady over Peyton Manning, arguing that Super Bowl victories outweighed statistical accomplishments. However, according to Wright, Simmons’ justification for ranking Allen ahead of Mahomes lacks persuasive weight.
“Mahomes has more All-Pros, more MVPs, better career numbers, five trips to the Super Bowl to zero, three rings to zero and is 4-0 in the playoffs against him,” Wright said at 0:33.
Josh Allen’s accolades include two Second-team All-Pro honors and a single MVP award, alongside 26,434 career passing yards. In comparison, Mahomes boasts two league MVP awards, two First-team All-Pro selections, one Second-team All-Pro, and 32,352 passing yards, underscoring his dominance in the league.
Simmons’ key argument centered on Mahomes’ recent Super Bowl performance, where he and the Kansas City Chiefs were defeated by the Philadelphia Eagles. Wright disputed this point by noting Allen’s inability to progress past Mahomes in critical playoff matchups.
“Why wasn’t Josh (Allen) in the Super Bowl, Bill? Because he couldn’t beat Patrick again,” Wright added at 0:51.
“For 20 years, Bill Simmons has valued doing it in the biggest spots. In back-to-back years, Josh (Allen) has gotten the ball late in the fourth quarter, down three points, they come away with zero points,” said Wright at 1:00.
In Simmons’ hierarchy, Allen was positioned in the top tier of quarterbacks, above Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, and Joe Burrow, sparking debate among analysts and fans alike.
Expert predictions on Buffalo Bills’ Super Bowl chances
Despite Wright’s disagreement with Simmons’ quarterback rankings, other NFL experts remain optimistic about Allen’s prospects. Aaron Schatz from FTN Football Almanac recently shared his Super Bowl outlook on Good Morning Football, highlighting Allen’s potential for a breakout season in 2025.
Although Schatz believes the Baltimore Ravens may present a stronger team overall, he pointed to the Bills’ comparatively easier schedule as a potential advantage during the playoffs.
“I think the Ravens are a little bit better than the Bills, but the Bills have the easier schedule, especially that game with the Ravens that’s in Buffalo that’s going to be so important for home field in the AFC.” —Aaron Schatz, NFL Expert
“I think that the Lions are going to overcome the loss of the two coordinators with better health on defense.” —Aaron Schatz, NFL Expert
Schatz emphasized Allen’s remarkable performance and the overall strength of the Bills team as factors that could lead them to finally capture a Super Bowl title. Historically, the Bills reached four consecutive Super Bowls in the 1990s, though they fell short each time. In comparison, teams like the Detroit Lions, Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans, and Jacksonville Jaguars have never reached the NFL’s championship game.
Significance of the quarterback debate and its impact on NFL analysis
The ongoing debate over Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes’ rankings highlights the challenges in evaluating NFL quarterbacks, where achievements, statistics, and clutch performances are weighed differently by analysts. Wright’s pointed criticism of Simmons underscores a broader tension in sports commentary between valuing consistent career accomplishments and postseason success.
As the NFL season progresses, playoff performances by both quarterbacks will continue to influence opinions and rankings. Fans and experts alike will watch closely to see if Allen can overcome Mahomes’ dominance in head-to-head matchups and finally secure that elusive Super Bowl appearance, potentially reshaping future quarterback evaluations.