Every year when EA Sports unveils the newest game in its Madden NFL franchise, a plethora of customer complaints accompany it. Whatever you can think of, including poor graphics, a dearth of desired features, and dubious player evaluations, EA Sports has probably drawn criticism from consumers. Most people believe that within the last ten or so years, the series’ quality has declined, and the business is now more concerned with making money through in-game purchases than with creating a fun product.
Not to get on the “dunk on EA Sports” bandwagon, but the firm sometimes makes things too simple. Play-testers may now get an early look at Madden NFL 25, the newest game in the franchise, thanks to the recent opening of the closed beta.
Before proceeding, it’s important to note a few things: the game being discussed is still a work in progress, therefore player ratings may change prior to its final release. It’s also a possibility that the ratings currently in place are placeholder ratings borrowed from Madden NFL 24.
With that said, the initial player ratings for the Buffalo Bills are less than favorable.
The focus isn’t on the team’s overall rating, which sits at 90, but rather on the individual player ratings which seem to lack logic and objectivity.
Quarterback Josh Allen leads the team with a 92 overall rating, ranking him as the fourth-best quarterback in the game. Linebacker Matt Milano and defensive end Von Miller share the second-highest rating on the team at 87 overall. Milano’s rating seems appropriate, but for Miller, who had a lackluster performance in 2023, it’s hard to justify him being the team’s top defensive end or second-best player.
The ratings for Buffalo Bills players in Madden NFL 25 are questionable, with nickel cornerback Taron Johnson and defensive end Greg Rousseau rounding out the top five with 87 and 85 ratings, respectively. Some lower ratings are also puzzling, like defensive tackle Ed Oliver with an 82 despite a strong performance last season. Additionally, running back James Cook and tight end Dawson Knox are rated lower than expected. One significant oversight is middle linebacker Terrel Bernard’s rating at 74, below two other players despite his standout performance in the previous season. These ratings appear to be based on last year’s data and could potentially change before the game is released.
