Column: Wild and Wylie – Patrick Mahomes, the best quarterback ever?

Forty-five minutes into the Super Bowl on Sunday, Patrick Mahomes was playing his worst game ever as the Kansas City Chiefs starting quarterback, down 20-10 late in the game.

He threw two interceptions, one directly to San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner, a misread almost unrecognizable from Mahomes. On the very next Chiefs possession, Mahomes threw a pass behind receiver Tyreek Hill, who reached back, the ball tipping off his hand, to be intercepted by Tarvarius Moore. Mahomes misread his receivers and failed to deliver the ball where it needed to be.

But football games last for 60 minutes, and when the confetti began falling from the sky, it was Mahomes who, at 24 years old, became the youngest player to win a league MVP, a Super Bowl and a Super Bowl MVP, throwing two touchdowns in the final quarter to secure the win. 

The Chiefs 31-20 victory turned Mahomes’ most disappointing display into his ultimate crowning achievement. And now I have the confidence to say out loud what I’ve been thinking for most of this season: Patrick Mahomes is the best quarterback in NFL history.

Yes, Tom Brady has six rings to Mahomes’ one. And yes, two seasons is not enough to call him the greatest ever. That’s why I’m not calling him the greatest – I’m calling him the best.

“Greatest” is a legacy word for the most decorated career. “Best” is entirely different. The best player is the one who does more to help his team win than anyone else.

Let me put it this way. Answer the question, “Who is the most accomplished player in history?” and that’s the greatest. The best player is the solution to this hypothetical: if my team is in the Super Bowl and I can pick any quarterback from any season to win that one game, who do I pick? I pick 2019 Patrick Mahomes.

Mahomes’ 2018 season was one of the greatest regular seasons in history. He threw 50 touchdowns (the second-most of all time), recorded 5,097 yards and ranked top 10 in single-season yards, with only 12 interceptions. He won NFL MVP and advanced to the AFC championship where he outplayed Brady until a pre-snap offside penalty allowed
Brady to win in overtime.

In 2019, Mahomes’ stats dropped, as he battled an injury and missed two games. But he still scored 26 touchdowns with only five interceptions while throwing 96 less passes than he did the year before, guiding the Chiefs to a 12-win season.

But even beyond the stats, Mahomes passes the eye test as the best. Physical talent can’t be seen through stats. Watching Mahomes play displays his superior talent, like in Kansas City’s regular season game against the 49ers in September 2018. 

In the second quarter on third-and-goal, Patrick Mahomes took the snap at the 5-yard-line, and when the defensive line collapsed on him, he scrambled all the way back to the 25-yard-line before sprinting to his right and rifling a pass to the back corner of the endzone. Look it up and watch it. And the crazy part is – that might not be his best pass.

The only quarterback even remotely comparable to Mahomes, combining physical talent with decision making, is Aaron Rodgers. But Mahomes is more mobile and has a stronger arm than Rodgers. Mahomes has thrown completions with his non-dominant hand, throws from both the traditional arm angle and sidearm and has completed a no-look pass. Who else can do that?

Most importantly, Mahomes shows up in the biggest moments. The Chiefs trailed by double digits against every team they played against in the playoffs: 24-0 against the Texans, 17-7 against the Titans and 20-10 against the 49ers. 

Mahomes used his arm and legs to bring his team back to victory in each game. His 2019 postseason ranks top 20 in total passing yards and No. 1 in total touchdowns. No quarterback in any season in history was responsible for more playoff touchdowns than Mahomes’ 12 in 2019.

In the divisional round against Houston, the Chiefs trailed by 24 points with 11 minutes left before halftime. Mahomes threw four touchdowns before the break, taking the lead 28-24 on the way to a 51-31 victory.

Through three quarters in the Super Bowl, Mahomes threw two bad interceptions, no passing touchdowns and had a 49.2 passer rating (on a scale of 0-158.3). With 7:23 remaining in the game, Kansas City was still losing by 10, and according to ESPN’s Football Power Index, the 49ers had a 95.4% chance of winning.

But just like clockwork, Mahomes inevitably elevated his game again. On the final three Chiefs possessions, he threw for 114 yards and two touchdowns with a 130.2 passer rating.

In those 7 minutes, Mahomes proved what makes him the best. His execution was near perfect, but his determination was even greater. Forgetting his previous mistakes, he continued to fight with the belief that he could still win. And ultimately, he did.

Patrick Mahomes is 24 years old. He’s still maturing physically and mentally. And that is the scariest part of all.

The best quarterback in NFL history is still getting better.

Wylie is the assistant sports editor. Follow his work on Twitter.

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