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NFL QB rankings put Joe Burrow above hated rival in stunning upset
Cincinnati Bengals v Pittsburgh Steelers Justin K. Aller/GettyImages

For your longterm benefit, it's probably wise to pick and choose which NFL internet rankings you digest. Every day we're served a buffet of new, slightly-different versions of the same conversation – best new head coach, biggest rookie impact, Tom Brady is the GOAT, etc – and it's up to us to choose, on a daily basis, whether or not we have the personal bravery to indulge it. I'll be the first to admit that some days, I just don't have it in me. I wish I was stronger.

RELATED: NFL insider shows how Bengals have made little progress with Shemar Stewart

Other days? Other days are great. Some days, you get an absolute doozy that makes spending all your free time on the internet almost worth it. Like, for instance, ESPN's latest Top QB list that dropped this week. ESPN source a bunch of anonymous NFL coaches, scouts, and executives about who the best QBs in the league are right now, and the only important thing you need to know about said list is that the NFL thinks Joe Burrow is better than Lamar Jackson. So I guess that debate's over!

The NFL seems to think that Joe Burrow is better than Lamar Jackson, and I won't disagree

ESPN rank: #3
"Prolific is the best way to describe Burrow's 2024 campaign, leading the NFL with 4,918 yards and 43 touchdowns on his way to a second Comeback Player of the Year award. Burrow makes a compelling case as the game's most accurate quarterback. His 70.6% completion rate against the backdrop of a league-high 652 attempts in 2024 is impressive. His 11.0% off-target rate is also the lowest among starting quarterbacks ... Last season, Burrow became the first player in NFL history with 250 passing yards and three passing touchdowns in eight straight games. And similar to Mahomes, he had much to overcome last year. "I get the guy has two elite wideouts, but their run game was average and the offensive line was not very good either," an AFC executive said. "On top of all that, their defense was porous and he kept them in every single game for the most part. I thought it may have been his best year, but it didn't get the same pub because of the other high-profile teams."

I am not going to step one toe into the Burrow vs. Jackson debate, because there's no winning that one. Honestly, most QB debates are really just mental cardio disguised as football conversations. It certainly beats debating a bunch of other stuff in the news right now. But anonymous sources think that Joe Burrow is better than his AFC North rival, and who am I to doubt anonymous sources?! You see? Sometimes Logging On isn't so bad.


This article first appeared on Stripe Hype and was syndicated with permission.

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