Madden NFL 17 Ratings Reveal One Incredible Fact

There is no sports video game more popular than the Madden series, and Madden NFL 17 is already riding the hype train at ever greater speeds.

Chiefs among the most talked about subjects is the player and team ratings. There were plenty of interesting facts to emerge including the Kansas City Chiefs being ranked 2nd in the AFC behind New England, Andy Dalton being ranked ahead of Tony Romo in the quarterback ratings and Tyrann Mathieu being the highest-rated safety despite failed to finish the 2015 season due to injury. Even actual players got into heated media exchanges over the results, including cornerback Patrick Peterson throwing shade at Josh Norman for being ranked ahead of him.

However, perhaps the most fascinating tidbit unvealed by the Madden producers has to do with who sits at the top. The final tally shows four players came away with a 99 rating, the highest the game can give out. Not surprising since there are so few genuine elite players. It’s who those four names are that draws the surprise. As it turns out, three of them are on the defensive side of the ball.

J.J. Watt

"“Watt has gotten used to his place in Madden’s 99 Club. This marks his fourth consecutive year with such a distinction. He needs two more 99s to match Peyton Manning’s record of six straight years (Madden ’06-11). Watt has a 90-plus rating in 11 subcategories, two more than any player to make this list. The ones he’s probably most proud of? Stamina (95) and toughness (94).”"

Von Miller

"“Miller’s five sacks and two forced fumbles in the Broncos’ final two games sealed his Super Bowl MVP award, his record-breaking $114.5 million contract, and his 99 rating in Madden NFL 17.”"

Luke Kuechly

"“How much better is Kuechly than his peers? Here’s one illustration: Madden NFL 17 lists 20 positions other than middle linebacker, and the top-two players at each are separated by the slim average of 2.15 rating points. And then there’s Kuechly’s position, where he is nine points ahead of the next-closest middle linebackers, Brandon Marshall and Derrick Johnson, who both are rated as 90s.”"

The only offensive player to crack that coveted milestone is New England Patriots tight end phenom Rob Gronkowski.

"“Gronkowski is one of just three players since the merger to score 65 receiving TDs in his first six seasons. The other two? Jerry Rice and Randy Moss. (And just think what Gronk could have done if he hadn’t missed 16 regular-season games during that span.)”"

Given how slanted the rules in the NFL have become towards offensive success, it’s quite an accomplishment for those on the defensive side to own 75% of the top rating in the sports’ flagship game. Not only that, but interior pass rusher Aaron Donald just missed the cut with a 98 rating. It’s incredible that not a single quarterback, for all the love they seem to get from every direction, didn’t even come close. Aaron Rodgers was nearest with a 96. Future Hall of Fame left tackle Joe Thomas had a 97.

It just goes to show that while the rules favor the offense, the best athletes are reserved for the toughest jobs in pro football, which all involve making those rules irrelevant.