Josh Allen won Monday night’s game the way you win a game when nothing is going right: ugly, loud and on his own legs. By Tuesday, he had his NFL QB rankings throne back.
NFL.com’s Nick Shook put the Bills quarterback at No. 1 in his Week 6 QB Index. That is a four-spot jump, and it knocks 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy down to No. 2.
Here’s the thing: this is a list of opinions, and every outlet runs its own. CBS Sports, for example, ranks the position differently. Still, the NFL.com index is one of the most-read in football, so the move matters, and it hands you fresh ammunition for the next group-chat argument.
Why Allen Tops the NFL QB Rankings Again
The case starts with Buffalo’s 37-34 overtime win over the Rams on Monday Night Football. According to ESPN, it was Allen’s first career overtime win. Before that, he had been 0-7, including three season-ending playoff losses.
Seven tries. That is a long time to wait for an extra-time win.
He did it with his legs. Allen ran for 121 yards, the second-best rushing game of his career. Next Gen Stats credits 107 of those yards to scrambles, the most by any player this season and the third-most in a game since 2016.
The passing line was modest at 210 yards, one touchdown and one interception, per 49ers Webzone. The Bills also committed 13 penalties and two turnovers. In other words, it was a mess, and Allen won anyway.
That is the Allen pitch in one game. His eight rushing touchdowns lead every NFL player this season, and he has 1,249 passing yards on 65.9% completions. The one blemish is four interceptions. Even so, the best quarterbacks win ugly sometimes, and Allen just did.
Purdy Slides in the Quarterback Rankings, but Only One Spot
Purdy had held No. 1 for two straight weeks. However, he is hardly collapsing. He has 13 touchdown passes against two interceptions, with a 69.0% completion rate and 1,196 yards through five games.
So this is less a demotion than a leapfrog. Patrick Mahomes holds steady at No. 3, and Jared Goff climbs two spots to No. 4. Together, those four form the top tier of Shook’s list.
Elsewhere around the league, quarterback slumps get plenty of attention. For instance, we broke down why Jalen Hurts and the Eagles’ offense fell apart through four games.
The Love and Maye Jumps
The headline mover in the index is Jordan Love, and he earned it. The Packers beat the Bears 31-7, and Love went 25-of-31 for 367 yards and two touchdowns. Green Bay also piled up a season-high 428 yards of offense.
Elsewhere, the biggest climb I can confirm is Drake Maye, who jumps nine spots to No. 8. Meanwhile, Bryce Young rises three to No. 6. Dak Prescott goes the other way, dropping five spots to No. 7.
Which brings us to a very convenient Sunday night. Love and Prescott meet at Lambeau Field in a Week 6 showdown on NBC and Peacock, with kickoff at 8:20 p.m. ET. Love has 1,408 passing yards this season, third in the league. Prescott has 1,381, fifth. The Packers are 3-2 and the Cowboys are 2-3.
What Happens Next in the NFL Quarterback Power Rankings
Allen’s Bills head to Las Vegas to face the Raiders. Purdy’s 49ers, meanwhile, get Washington on Monday Night Football. Both have a chance to move the NFL QB rankings again.
If you want more league-wide context, the 2026 NFL schedule release shows how quickly these storylines can flip. A top spot in any index lasts exactly one week. Allen just found that out the hard way, and so will whoever holds it next.
