The Kansas City Chiefs made history by landing a third straight appearance in a Super Bowl final, defeating the Buffalo Bills 32-29 in the AFC Championship Game. One player has played an influential role in helping the Chiefs push for Super Bowl immortality – Patrick Mahomes.
The quarterback has dazzled the NFL since his debut and his trajectory shows no signs of slowing down. No NFL franchise has ever won a hat-trick of Super Bowls back-to-back, but this is the opportunity ahead of Mahomes and the Chiefs in February. The Philadelphia Eagles are the only thing standing in their way, creating a rematch of Super Bowl 57, after they dismantled the Washington Commanders in the NFC Championship Game.
It’s fair to say that the traders of most online sportsbooks are siding with Mahomes and the Chiefs for Super Bowl LIX too. FanDuel Sportsbook, which is considered to have some of the most competitive promotions for the Super Bowl LIX betting markets, have the Chiefs priced as -132 favorites in the moneyline, compared with the Eagles’ +112 underdog price.
The case for greatness – can Mahomes be the NFL’s all-time GOAT?
While the Chiefs have an impressive roster, there’s something about the star quality of Patrick Mahomes which gives Kansas City an unrivalled edge in the NFL right now. His ability to stay cool under pressure and unleash clutch plays leave fans and analysts rightly in awe. Even the Chiefs’ head coach, Andy Reid, has waxed lyrical about Mahomes, describing him as being “wired the right way” for greatness. Reid has also said that Mahomes’ passion for personal development “spills over” into the rest of the locker room, inspiring his teammates too.
Mahomes has already achieved big things in his fledgling NFL career. He’s got two MVP awards, a Super Bowl MVP crown and now three appearances in the biggest game in American football. In many ways, his resume is already starting to shape up with the likes of quarterback legends of years past, namely Tom Brady and Peyton Manning.
Mahomes’ playing style is also revolutionary to the role. Whether it’s no-look passing and the opportunity to extend plays with his legs, Mahomes brings a unique athletic flair to the quarterback role.
Mahomes still has a way to go to be in Brady’s class
Tom Brady won seven Super Bowl titles in his NFL career, racking up five Super Bowl MVPs and a host of records in the process. If Mahomes and the Chiefs can win Super Bowl LIX, he would be almost halfway there to equalling Brady’s silverware.
To surpass Brady, Mahomes would have to enjoy similar durability, endurance and consistency to Brady. It’s quite possible when you consider Mahomes is still aged only 29, with another decade of NFL seasons in front of him if he keeps himself in shape. You only have to look at Tom Brady, who carried on until the age of 44, to see that there are heaps of silverware on the line for Mahomes.
He's also lucky that the Chiefs’ roster is well set for long-term success. They already have a powerful offensive line, elite-level wide receivers and a coach in Andy Reid who is Mr Chiefs. Put simply, Mahomes is probably the closest there’ll ever be to Tom Brady Mk II.
