We’re getting close to the beginning of football season, which means we’re also approaching the release of Madden 26. The game usually gets criticized for not evolving year-to-year and features numerous gameplay bugs. But we don’t have to wait for the game to drop to begin complaining about this year’s version.<\/p>\n
EA Sports released their beta Madden ratings this weekend. The Vikings<\/a> received an 83 overall rating, tied for 15th with the Atlanta Falcons<\/a>. It’s probably a fair rating as we await J.J. McCarthy’s first season as the starting quarterback, although the Vikings should have a strong supporting cast on both sides of the ball.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n However, the quarterback is the most important position, so it is what it is.<\/p>\n The rest of the ratings are baffling. The Cowboys<\/a> are rated 88 overall, tied for 5th in the league with the Lions<\/a>. Philadelphia, fresh off a Super Bowl victory, is tied for 9th with an 86 overall rating. Further perplexing is that they’re tied with the Jets<\/a>. To cap it all off, the Washington Commanders<\/a>, who went 12-5 and reached the NFC Championship Game, are 78 overall, third-worst in the league.<\/p>\n So once again, EA Sports and Madden are upsetting fans, but it is early in the process, and the game hasn’t even dropped yet. Let’s hope the Vikings are near the top as the season progresses. That would probably mean McCarthy is showing that he is the quarterback that the Vikings envision.<\/p>\n