The Cincinnati Bengals and the Buffalo Bills took the field on Sunday, the 22nd, surrounded by narratives. Primary storylines included the Bengals missing 60% of their starting offensive line, the Bengals feeling disrespected because of the NFL selling neutral site tickets to a Bills and Cheifs AFC Championship, and Damar Hamlin being back in the building for the first time since suffering cardiac arrest during their Week 17 matchup against the Bengals. The prevailing focus, however, was the matchup between Joe Burrow and Josh Allen. The question that everyone wants to be answered is: who is better?
Throughout Josh Allen’s career, many consider him one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks (QB). When watching the Bills play, you will hear the commentators gush repeatedly.“Josh Allen is the only person who could have made that throw.”He plays with so much heart.” “He excels at running the ball.” All of these things are true, and Allen is a great player. However, there is a guy many consider beneath him who has played more consistently and accomplished more in less time. That’s right; Joe Burrow is a better QB than Josh Allen.
Before the showdown between Allen and Burrow this weekend, everyone was beginning to compare them. Many were shocked by the game’s outcome; however, when one reviews each of these guys’ careers free of bias, it becomes evident that Burrow has always been better than Allen. Burrow was a higher-rated recruit coming out of high school. Burrow had one of the best seasons by a QB in his final year of college, throwing for 5,671 yards, 60 touchdowns (TD) to only 6 interceptions (INT)s on a 76.3% completion percentage, going undefeated, winning the Heisman, and winning a National Championship. In Allen’s best season, he completed 56% of his passes for 3,203 yards, 28 TDs, and 15 INTs, leading his team to an 8-6 record. Burrow got hurt in his rookie year. However, in his second year in the NFL, he made it to the Super Bowl. He lost in the infamous coin toss game in Allen’s second year.
Heading into this showdown, Burrow had every excuse not to perform well. He had to face Buffalo in the snow with a shorthanded offensive line with the surrounding drama of the NFL selling neutral site tickets to what they thought would be a Bills-Chiefs game the following week. With everything seemingly against Joe Burrow and the Bengals, they showed up and showed out. The Bengals dominated both the offensive and defensive lines. Burrow finished the game with 242 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs, and a 76.5 quarterback rating (QBR). Allen finished the game with 265 yards, 1 rushing TD, 0 passing TDs, 1 INT, and a QBR of 57.3. Joe took control of the game from the first drive. Josh Allen fell short with much on the line and much to prove.
Joe Burrow is now 5-0 in his career against Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, and Tom Brady, who are considered by many to be the best QBs in the NFL. Due to the decline in play, it is safe to say Burrow has passed Brady. Simply outplaying and outperforming Josh Allen, it is time for everyone to accept that Burrow is better than Allen. Burrow could move to 4-0 against Mahomes if the Bengals win the AFC Championship on January 29. If he moves to 4-0 against Mahomes, wins the Super Bowl, and is named Super Bowl MVP, it would not be unreasonable to deem Joe Burrow the best QB in the National Football League.