Kansas City Chiefs superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes was a difference-maker in Sunday's 25-22 Super Bowl LVIII overtime victory over the San Francisco 49ers. Debates will begin raging about whether or not Mahomes has already established himself as the greatest quarterback of all time. Mahomes hasn't surpassed Tom Brady yet, but he appears well on his way.
Mahomes completed 34-of-46 passing attempts for 333 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. Mahomes also led the Chiefs in rushing with 66 yards via nine scrambles. In overtime, Mahomes received the ball down three. He led the Chiefs offense on a 13-play, 75-yard game-winning drive. Mahomes completed all eight of his passing attempts in overtime, ran for eight yards on a critical 4th-and-1, ran for 19 yards into the red zone on 3rd-and-1, and threw a walk-off touchdown to Mecole Hardman. It was greatness at its finest.
THE CHIEFS ARE BACK-TO-BACK SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONS! pic.twitter.com/ZzfhTyUXg9
— NFL (@NFL) February 12, 2024
Mahomes and the Chiefs have officially reached dynasty status and the end doesn't appear near. They've won three Super Bowls in five years, including back-to-back titles, and appear fully capable of three-peating next season. Mahomes has captured Super Bowl MVP honors in all three triumphs.
Mahomes has been a starting quarterback for six campaigns, winning the AFC West each year. He's qualified for four Super Bowls, compiling a stellar record of 3-1 on the biggest stage. The Chiefs have qualified for the AFC Championship Game in every season with Mahomes at the helm, who owns an insane playoff winning percentage of 83%.
Mahomes' resume extends beyond postseason success. He's a two-time NFL MVP winner, three-time All-Pro, two-time passing yards leader, and owns the NFL record for passing yards (5,614) in a single season. The Mahomes versus Brady argument gets particularly interesting when analyzing their careers head-to-head through seven completed seasons.
Both Brady and Mahomes played 96 games through seven seasons, making it a fairly honest comparison. Mahomes (66.5) has completed 4.6% more of his passing attempts than Brady (61.9%), thrown for 6,860 more yards (28,424 vs. 21,564), 72 more touchdowns (219 vs. 147), 15 fewer interceptions (63 to 78), qualified for three more Pro Bowls (six to three), and won two more MVPs. Mahomes also has a significantly better quarterback rating, and yards per attempt (and per game) average. Both Brady and Mahomes won three Super Bowls through seven campaigns.
There are caveats to consider. The game is significantly pass-happier now than when Brady was in the early portion of his career. Brady was also a late bloomer statistically, with most of his most impressive single-season showings occurring eight years or later into his illustrious career. Brady also stood the test of time, playing 23 incredible years. It's fair to question whether Mahomes' physical skill set will age like Brady's did.
And of course, there's the winningest argument of all. Brady won an NFL-record seven Super Bowls, making 10 overall appearances. Brady also holds various NFL records, including quarterback wins (251), touchdowns (649), and passing yards (89,214). Mahomes isn't even halfway there, which is astounding to consider. Mahomes' current run would be unprecedented if Brady didn't exist, but he does.
Mahomes took another step toward greatest-of-all-time status on Sunday. Comparing careers indicates Mahomes may one day surpass Brady. Continued and sustained success is required before he officially gets there.
