NFL

Super Bowl LVII: All The Reasons Patrick Mahomes Is Better Than Tom Brady

Darren - February 13, 2023

NFL

Super Bowl LVII: All The Reasons Patrick Mahomes Is Better Than Tom Brady

Darren - February 13, 2023

Iconic Year

Drew Brees spent years setting passer ratings as the most accurate quarterback in the NFL. Eventually, Brady overtook him with the most completions but that’s only because he played for several more seasons. But Mahomes is on course to overtake both men in the charts. In 2023, he broke the NFL single-season record for total yards from scrimmage with 5,614.

He also became the second quarterback in history to record multiple 5,000-yard seasons with at least 40 touchdowns. Mahomes has ludicrous productivity and there isn’t another player in the NFL like him. The records keep piling up for him and they don’t seem to be stopping anytime soon. Even on one leg, Mahomes can win the biggest games in the world as we saw in Super Bowl LVII (via KSHB).

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Inflated Statistics

First, let’s caveat this by saying it’s to Tom Brady’s credit that he played for so long. He maintained his body into his mid-40s and continued operating at a high level. That’s incredible but also true that his longevity inflated his statistics. Many of his records came because he played for longer than his counterparts instead of outperforming them.

However, Mahomes is better than Brady because he’s already shattering records. He’s also showing that he’s the best quarterback of his generation by beating his rivals. The Kansas City star is doing his job in the regular season and the playoffs. He is already an incredible player who may be the greatest of all time following his jaw-dropping win at Super Bowl LVII (via Time).

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Better Competition

We are living in the NFL’s golden age of parity. The college game has a lot of flaws but there’s no denying that the draft keeps the NFL competitive. Look at the Jaguars and Bengals because they enjoyed resurgences after smart draft decisions. It’s tougher to build a dynasty these days because teams surge into contention.

Nobody expected Brady to throw a ball when the Patriots picked him in 2000. Drew Bledsoe was the embedded, highly-paid starter and the Patriots had a decent roster. But the Chiefs built this team around Mahomes and made him a more important figure. Meanwhile, he’s playing against elite talent every year in the AFC (via Bleacher Report).

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Mobility

There’s also just one category where Mahomes beats Brady every day. Nobody can pretend that Brady was the most mobile quarterback, even during his prime. Most people rave about Mahomes’ arm but he’s also a sneakily good running quarterback who picks up the tough yards like he did in Super Bowl LVII. He might not be as quick as Lamar Jackson but he’s a better overall player than his Baltimore rival.

Bill Belichick and Brady recognized his lack of pace so they built their game around his strengths, keeping Brady in the pocket. He never lost what he never had and this acceptance enabled him to play longer. But Mahomes will be better than Brady if he stays fit because of his physical abilities. He’s also very elusive and agile on the field (via CBS Sports).

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Super Bowl Runs

It’s improbable that anybody will ever match Brady’s amazing total of seven Super Bowl rings. In another life, he might have one for every finger and thumb on his hand. However, Mahomes is playing in an era when it’s even tougher to win a Vince Lombardi Trophy. But somehow he has led his team to three Super Bowls in only five years as starter, with his second win coming last night at Super Bowl LVII.

Brady enjoyed a dream start to his career but he landed in a better situation. The Chiefs’ unprecedented success came out of nowhere too. If Mahomes maintains his momentum he could potentially lead Kansas City to more finals. Brady’s record might be out of reach but Joe Montana’s is within touching distance after Super Bowl LVII (via Sportskeeda).

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No Cheating

One of the reasons why the Patriots enjoyed so much success was because they were ruthless. Belichick and Brady did everything that it took to win even if they broke the rules. Multiple scandals including Deflategate directly implicated Brady. However, nothing has tarnished Mahomes’ wins.

There’s no evidence to suggest the Chiefs cheated during their runs to the Super Bowl in 2019 or 2022. They outperformed everybody in the AFC and won by merit. Some people hate them because they’re successful but they don’t stimulate the same inherent loathing of the 2010s Patriots (via Sporting News).

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Tougher Opponent

Several of the NFL’s established defensive linemen agree that Mahomes is a tougher opponent than Brady. They point out his unbelievable mobility combined with the threat of his arm. Most quarterbacks possess one dominant attribute but Mahomes has both of them. That’s another reason why he is better than Brady (via The Star).

The Panthers’ Efe Obada said: “For me personally, it’s definitely harder to play against a mobile quarterback because once they’re able to expand plays and then got explosive receivers, that can be dangerous. Mahomes has an arm that can get it deep while on the run.” Brady offered a different type of threat and nous but Mahomes is a better athlete.

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Stronger Arm

Most accept that Mahomes has a stronger arm than Brady. The former’s father was an MLB pitcher and he handed these genes to his son. That’s why Mahomes has an extraordinary range of angles and throws passes nobody else can see. It’s also why he will be better than Brady one day in the history books (via CBC).

Nonetheless, Brady deserves immense respect because he played for 23 years with average physical attributes. There’s no overstating his achievements or willpower because they are beyond anything we’ve ever seen. However, if an NFL scout wanted to create a perfect quarterback they’d probably clone Mahomes.

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Weaker Defense

Brady also enjoyed better defenses than Mahomes throughout his career. There’s no overstating how important that was to his longevity. Look at players like Andrew Luck and Joe Burrow who struggled with injuries. That’s because their teams didn’t protect them and keep them on the field.

This also puts more pressure on Mahomes because the team depends on his productivity. We’ve seen average quarterbacks like Joe Flacco and Nick Foles win Super Bowls because the defense stood firm. Brady is far beyond them but enjoyed more balanced teams during his time in New England (via Sporting News).

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Clutch Quarterback

Arguably, Mahomes is the most clutch quarterback in the NFL. After Super Bowl LVII, he has a record of 15-10 in games where the Chiefs trailed at halftime. This made him the only QB since the NFC-AFC merger in 1966 with a record above .500. It’s a ridiculous statistic and shows how much the Chiefs need him (via New York Post).

We’re not going to say that the Patriots did fine with Matt Cassel as their starter in 2008. But they went 11-5 and narrowly missed the playoffs. Nobody else received a chance because of Brady’s consistency. That’s why they traded Jimmy Garoppolo to the Niners. But Mahomes defines the way the Chiefs’ success in a way Brady never did for New England.

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