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Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen receives an honor he deserves, but it might actually be a curse

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Zach Ragan | Last updated May 8, 2025 10:42 AM ET

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen received some much deserved recognition this week, but it's a bit of a double edged sword.

On Wednesday, CBS Sports revealed its post-draft 2025 NFL quarterback rankings.

The rankings themselves can be debated plenty -- Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels comes in at No. 1, for example -- but what's notable is that Allen is ranked at No. 5, one spot above arch rival Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs.

From CBS Sports: On Josh Allen : The reigning MVP is coming off his most efficient season while operating with a new-look receiving group. Like Lamar Jackson, another AFC superhero, he's just yet to escape the Chiefs' shadow.

On Patrick Mahomes: Was Mahomes' ugly Super Bowl showing an anomaly, or clear evidence his increasing dependence on last-minute heroics isn't as sustainable as it once was for Kansas City? A healthier pass-catching corps should help, but his leaky O-line still has questions. There's no denying No. 15 is still the most trustworthy signal-caller in the game, but he's now proven vulnerable twice on the big stage.

JOSH ALLEN. MACK HOLLINS.@BuffaloBills get a big TD before the half

: #BUFvsKC on CBS
: Stream on @NFLPlus and Paramount+ pic.twitter.com/VR8GOkUP3c
— NFL (@NFL) January 27, 2025

Allen was fantastic last season, nearly leading the Bills to the Super Bowl while throwing a career-low six interceptions. The soon-to-be 29-year-old quarterback seems to be entering the prime stage of his career (as is often the case for elite quarterbacks in their late 20s/early 30s).

While Allen certainly deserves to be ranked above Mahomes based on last year's play, it's not like Mahomes is trending downward. The former Texas Tech standout is still an elite player that's viewed by many folks as the best quarterback in the league. And he tends to take things like this personally.

Between the blowout loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl and these rankings, I'm sure Mahomes will be looking to make a statement in 2025 -- especially when the Chiefs visit Orchard Park this fall.

Allen deserves to be recognized for what he's accomplished. But every piece of recognition Allen gets over Mahomes is only going to serve as motivation for the Bills quarterback's top rival. And that could be dangerous.

Getting ranked above Mahomes is an honor, but it's also a curse.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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