Josh Allen or Joe Burrow? Ja'Marr Chase sparks debate

There is a clear hierarchy among quarterbacks in the NFL. Four QBs stand above the rest as not only the faces of their franchise but the faces of football. 

Those quarterbacks are the Kansas City Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes, the Buffalo Bills' Josh Allen, the Baltimore Ravens' Lamar Jackson and the Cincinnati Bengals ' Joe Burrow.

EA Sports recently unveiled player ratings for "Madden 26," highlighting the top four as the best. Jackson and Allen landed in the 99 club, while Burrow (97 overall) and Mahomes (95 overall) were right behind them. 

Burrow’s top weapon in Cincinnati, wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase, earned a spot as a 99 overall after a dominant 2024-25 season in which he had 127 receptions, 1,708 yards and 17 touchdowns, per ESPN stats. Burrow and Chase have been a dynamic duo for years, stemming from their college days at LSU and now in the pros. 

On Tuesday, Chase was interviewed by NFL media personality Kay Adams on the "Up And Adams Show" and was asked why his quarterback is deserving of a 99 rating. His comments caught some fans' attention. 

"Honestly, I feel like he has it all," Chase said. "The timing, the accuracy, the placement, the speed, the awareness, the field recognition, audibles in the backfield. When you turn on Joe's tape, it's different from Josh Allen's tape, completely different, you know what I'm saying? So, people game plan against Josh Allen, not Joe Burrow. They plan against his game weapons."