“I’m trying to catch Tom. But Tom’s a long ways away, you can ask me when I’m like 38 years old.” – Patrick Mahomes
Who to place your money on Sunday comes down to one key decision:
Are you willing to bet against the GOAT in waiting?
Patrick Mahomes isn’t the GOAT just yet but he’s on a fast track to possibly replacing Tom Brady. If the Chiefs beat the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII, and Mahomes wins MVP, he will have two Vince Lombardi and two Pete Rozelle trophies. Brady has seven and five, respectively.
We’re not saying Mahomes must match those numbers. He plays the position in such a brilliantly unorthodox manner that five rings and three MVPs will create a Michael Jordan-LeBron James-like debate. For what’s it worth, Lawrence Taylor, the greatest outside linebacker of all time, recently chose Joe Montana over Brady.
But let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves (too late).
The Eagles (14-3) have dominant offensive and defensive lines. That allowed them to lead the league in sacks (70) and rushing touchdowns (39), a new single season record. They have two game-breaking wide receivers and a tight end who would be getting a lot of attention if not for the fact that his counterpart on the Chiefs, Travis Kelce, is arguably the best to ever play the position.
The Chiefs (14-3) have Mahomes.
“He’s definitely the GOAT because he’s already won one and you can see he’s been here a lot of times already,” Eagles DE Brandon Graham told reporters. “And he’s young.”
No wonder why the line – Eagles giving 1.5 points – is so small and has remained steady.
Mahomes, 27, is young. Many times, he’s seemed unstoppable. But he’s not unbeatable, the Chiefs lost Super Bowl LV, or invincible, he suffered a high right ankle sprain in the Divisional playoff win over the Jaguars and was clearly hampered and in pain in Kansas City’s 23-20 win over the Bengals in the AFC Championship Game.
Mahomes has had two more weeks of treatment, but high ankle sprains are notorious for need 4-6 weeks minimum to heal. He will not be at his best, depriving the Chiefs of the biggest advantage they have.
“I don’t think you’ll know exactly until you get to game day,” Mahomes said Wednesday. “I’m definitely in a better spot.”
Mahomes has been in this spot before, winning Super Bowl LIV. His counterpart, Jalen Hurts, has not. Hurts was terrific during the regular season, scoring a record 15 touchdowns rushing. But he was pedestrian (15-of-25 for 121 yards) in Philly’s 31-7 drubbing of the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game.
If the Chiefs win, Mahomes will join Troy Aikman, Tom Brady, Terry Bradshaw, Bob Griese, Joe Montana and Ben Roethlisberger as QBs to win two Super Bowls before the age of 30. It’s a GOAT thing.
Super Bowl 54 (2019): Patrick Mahomes (24)
Super Bowl 27 (1992): Troy Aikman (26)
Super Bowl 28 (1993): Troy Aikman (27)
Super Bowl 36 (2001): Tom Brady (24)
Super Bowl 38 (2003): Tom Brady (26)
Super Bowl 9 (1974): Terry Bradshaw (26)
Super Bowl 10 (1975): Terry Bradshaw (27)
Super Bowl 7 (1972): Bob Griese (27)
Super Bowl 8 (1973): Bob Griese (28)
Super Bowl 16 (1981): Joe Montana (25)
Super Bowl 19 (1984): Joe Montana (28)
Super Bowl 40 (2005): Ben Roethlisberger (23)
Super Bowl 43 (2008): Ben Roethlisberger (26)
Hurts can’t get caught up in trying to match Mahomes just as the Chiefs’ QB can’t get absorbed with surpassing Brady as the GOAT. Mahomes is well aware of the chase.
“It’s gonna be tough,” Mahomes told reporters. “I mean, seven Super Bowl victories, 10 Super Bowls. There’s a reason why he’s so far ahead of everybody else. It’s hard to do, but I’ll do my best to chase it. But I’ve got to start off with trying to win this one this week.”
That’s the question each of us must answer. Do you bet against the GOAT in waiting?