Dan Patrick wasn't shy about where he ranks Josh Allen among the NFL's elite quarterbacks. He summed it up in just five blunt words, and that one line set the tone for his discussion with former Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett.

“He's [Josh Allen] a regular season quarterback," Patrick said on The Dan Patrick Show on July 16.

Patrick's argument was rooted in playoff success. While he acknowledged Allen's talent, he argued that playoff performances should carry more weight when evaluating the league's best quarterbacks. Garrett, however, wasn't buying that logic.

"I'd be careful of that," Garrett replied (YouTube @TheDanPatrickShow). "For years, they said John Elway is a regular season quarterback, but you and I both know that John Elway put that city of Denver on his shoulders and he carried them there."

The crux of Patrick's argument was that Allen's regular-season numbers stack up with anyone's. But when the game is on the line in the playoffs, the edge still lies with Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes.

"I know, but game on the line. You're not taking Josh Allen over Patrick Mahomes… Allen is wonderful. But I'm saying there's a different list. If I look at a game on the line and it's a playoff game…"

Patrick doubled down on those five words by explaining why playoff performances separate Allen from Mahomes in his rankings.

Garrett wasn't ready to write that narrative in stone. He brought up other all-time greats who heard the same criticism early on, guys who eventually flipped the script. Allen, he argued, still has time to do the same.

Allen has played in seven playoff seasons, in 15 games, and he has a record of 8-7. He recorded 3,915 yards for 29 touchdowns and 66.5% pass completion.

To support that belief, Garrett pointed to another Hall of Fame quarterback who faced similar postseason criticism early in his career.

Why Jason Garrett believes Josh Allen's playoff narrative can change

Garrett further added in the same show by comparing Allen's situation to NFL legend Peyton Manning's early career, recalling how Manning was not able to win the biggest games, once a frequent talking point, before he ultimately silenced those doubts.

"You know, and that's a story that's been a story for a long time in a lot of different sports," Garrett said. "How the guy can't break through, the guy can't break through, the guy can't break through… and then he breaks through. The circumstances around him are better, and then he's able to do that."

Garrett then made it clear he expects Allen to follow a similar path.

"So, Josh Allen will win a Super Bowl, and I believe he's going to win multiple Super Bowls, and he's knocking on the door," Garrett said.

Allen, the 2024 NFL MVP, is coming off another solid season after starting all 17 games for the Bills last season. He threw for 3,668 yards and 25 touchdowns while completing 69.3% of his passes as Buffalo finished 12-5.

Across eight NFL regular seasons, the former No. 7 overall pick has totaled more than 30,000 passing yards and 220 touchdown passes.

Patrick's five-word comment reinforced how Allen's playoff games continue to shape the conversation around him, despite Garrett's belief that the narrative can still change.

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Written by

Rudra Dubey

Edited by

Aadesh Dhote