On Sunday, Patrick Mahomes will play in his a hundredth NFL recreation – and what a resumé he has constructed already.
In six full seasons as a starter, the quarterback has gained three Tremendous Bowls, two MVPs and is a two-time All-Professional.
He is acquired 224 passing touchdowns since 2018 (his first yr as a starter) – at the least 49 greater than everybody else.
And naturally, there have been numerous clutch moments alongside the way in which, like his walk-off rating to Mecole Hardman in final yr’s Tremendous Bowl vs. the 49ers.
Mahomes – whose 77 common season wins by 99 video games are a document – is taken into account by many to be the perfect participant within the sport at this time.
Patrick Mahomes will play in his a hundredth recreation this Sunday – and already has a tremendous résumé
However how does he stack up traditionally?
As he prepares for a centurion of NFL appearances, Mail Sport appears to be like on the arguments for and towards him already being the GOAT.
Mahomes IS the GOAT
With the third-most Tremendous Bowl wins of any quarterback ever already at 29 years previous, it is honest to check Mahomes to a different quarterback who’s extensively thought-about the GOAT: Tom Brady.
After all, Mahomes isn’t but close to Brady’s ridiculous seven Tremendous Bowl rings or the counting stats he accrued in his 23 seasons.
However we’re not simply speaking about who performed the longest – we’re discussing expertise.
And whereas Brady was a part of some nice Tremendous Bowl-winning groups, he hasn’t at all times been the centerpiece.
In his first Tremendous Bowl run with the Patriots in 2001, Brady threw only one landing, and on two different events (2003 and 2020), he accomplished lower than 60 p.c of his passes on a Tremendous Bowl-winning run.
In the meantime, Mahomes has already produced an 11-touchdown Tremendous Bowl run – one thing Brady has by no means completed – and has put collectively a extra compelling postseason popularity so far (extra on that later).
Then there’s his otherworldly capacity.
Patrick Mahomes brings an unimaginable mixture of throwing capacity and arm energy to the sphere
Tom Brady, who retired with an unimaginable seven Tremendous Bowls, is extensively thought-about the GOAT
Brady thrived as a extra conventional pocket passer for the Patriots – and have become a shining instance of that archetype.
However Mahomes has much more to his recreation.
He is a greater rusher and scrambler, his cannon of an arm is stronger and his capacity out of the pocket has produced some really jaw-dropping moments, like his traditional sidearm throws.
However the numbers again up Mahomes too.
As SportsNet beforehand identified, Brady’s postseason stats have been 3,217 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, 9 interceptions and three Tremendous Bowls earlier than turning 30.
Mahomes, 29, has the identical quantity of rings, however far more passing yards (5,135), extra touchdowns (41) and fewer interceptions (8) within the playoffs.
Brady was, at instances, an essential cog in nice defensive groups earlier in his profession. Mahomes has at all times been the primary driver of his staff’s success.
Moreover, it is value noting the per-game averages of Brady and Mahomes (so far.
Mahomes has a better completion proportion, extra yards per try, extra passing yards per recreation and a better passer score.
Mahomes has seen a loopy quantity of postseason success in simply six full seasons as a starter
With respect to the likes of different multi-Tremendous Bowl winners like Joe Montana, Terry Bradshaw and Troy Aikman, Mahomes is taking part in towards what many would take into account essentially the most athletic defenders within the historical past of the game.
And with respect to Aaron Rodgers, one other participant generally held up as essentially the most gifted quarterback ever, Mahomes has already surpassed his postseason achievements.
Finally, the Chiefs star has the accolades and the flexibility to already be thought-about the perfect.
Mahomes is NOT the GOAT
A part of being the GOAT is consistency and longevity – two issues Mahomes has not but proved at the moment.
Let’s begin with consistency.
Whereas Mahomes has put collectively some outrageously good seasons, he is quietly been struggling a bit for over a yr now.
In his final 19 common season video games, he is been reasonably bizarre by his requirements: a passer score of 92.2, 32 touchdowns and – crucially – 18 interceptions.
We all know he can flip it on when crucial, as he led the Chiefs to a second-straight Tremendous Bowl final yr after laboring by the common season, however GOAT requirements ought to stipulate that he is reaching his finest degree on a nightly foundation.
That hasn’t been the case for a short while now.
On longevity, a part of what made Brady (and others within the dialog, like Peyton Manning) so nice was their success over such lengthy intervals of time.
Brady’s finest passing season by yards got here in his age-44 season with Tampa Bay, and his first and final Tremendous Bowl wins got here 19 seasons aside.
Extra broadly talking, he largely acquired higher with age, and his his excessive ranges all through his uncommonly lengthy profession set the bar for GOAT standing.
Mahomes will wrestle to get higher, as he is beginning at a better level from Brady, however being the GOAT requires extra than simply six full seasons of greatness.
Mahomes has had a tricky final yr or so within the common season for the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs
Lastly, we’ll throw a wild card in: how a lot of Mahomes’ success does he owe to Andy Reid’s genius?
Mahomes in fact deserves loads of credit score for what he is been capable of obtain in Kansas Metropolis, and it is value remembering that this was a franchise that would by no means recover from the hump with Alex Smith earlier than he acquired there.
However Brady silenced numerous skeptics when he left New England for Tampa Bay after 20 years and instantly gained a Tremendous Bowl exterior the confines of ‘the Patriot Manner.’
Mahomes’ greatness should not be doubted one bit, however maybe we have to see him win some place else earlier than GOAT standing is anointed.
