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

Comeback King

As previously mentioned, Mahomes is a quarterback who arguably plays his best when he’s challenged with a deficit. That was the case against the Eagles at Super Bowl LVII last night when Mahomes earned his second double-digit comeback on football’s biggest stage. To put that in perspective, there have been only six total double-digit comebacks in Super Bowl history and Mahomes now has two of them.

People will rightfully point to Brady’s record 25-point comeback against the Atlanta Falcons as the all-time Super Bowl comeback, and they’re not wrong. Mahomes may not have 28-3, but he already has a third such victories in only five full seasons as the Chiefs’ starter following Super Bowl LVII. Again, you could argue he’s simply more talented than Brady after Mahomes’ latest 10-point comeback in Super Bowl LVII. This was all following a season before which many thought Mahomes and the Chiefs were supposed to take a step back because of the following reason…

Over the Hill

Many believed that Mahomes would struggle in 2022 after Tyreek Hill’s departure. The wideout was traded to the Miami Dolphins after years of success in Kansas City. He was one of Mahomes’ most important weapons and they didn’t sign an obvious replacement. Then Hill spent the offseason explaining why Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa was a more accurate quarterback than Mahomes.

But the former Texas Tech man proved his brilliance with a series of excellent performances. The Chiefs cruised through the regular season with Mahomes providing a consistent presence under center. Brady’s charisma and example brought the best out of his teammates. Mahomes has raw talent on his side and that’s why he’s better than the legend (via The Mirror).

Two Early MVP Wins

Brady won three MVP awards during his career. Peyton Manning and Aaron Rodgers have more but we won’t hold it against the Patriots’ icon. However, Brady didn’t win his first MVP award until 2007. That’s seven years after New England selected him with that infamous sixth-round draft pick (via Sportskeeda).

Meanwhile, Mahomes won his first MVP in 2018 in his first year as the Chiefs’ starter. Andy Reid redshirted him for his rookie year and played Alex Smith. This was an inspired decision because Mahomes settled and flourished as a sophomore. It’s incredible that he won this prize at such a young age and arguably more difficult than a Super Bowl ring, but what’s more impressive is that Mahomes repeated the feat after his league-dominating 2022 season. He now has two MVP awards, one away from Brady. And it seems like he’s just getting started.

Winning On One Leg

Another reason why Mahomes will be better than Brady is that he drags his team through adversity, both in terms of deficits and how own personal injuries. His performance against the Bengals in the 2023 AFC Championship game was extraordinary because Mahomes entered the game with a high ankle sprain. Most analysts didn’t expect him to start but Mahomes showed amazing character.

He threw for 326 yards with two touchdowns in one of the most important performances of his career. Furthermore, he helped seal the Chiefs’ spot in his third Super Bowl. He then repeated the feat in Super Bowl LVII when he aggravated the ankle injury yet again late in the second quarter. Brady had countless fantastic moments too, but his game was more relentless than dramatic. He never seemed to be hurt enough to need to fight through injury. Mahomes makes all the the difference in exciting ways (via ESPN).

Record Passer Rating

The legendary Bart Starr retired in 1972 but held records for decades. He had the highest postseason passer rating in history until Mahomes entered the picture. Starr’s rating was 104.8 but Mahomes shattered this with a high of 106.6. Tom Brady’s overall postseason passer rating was just 89.8 but he has a massive sample size.

Mahomes also broke the regular season career passer rating when he went 108.7. This took him to heights that nobody imagined and showed the world how good he could be. Perhaps it’s inaccurate to say that Mahomes will be better than Brady. He already is but he doesn’t have the longevity or medals to support it (via The Sports Rush).

Eager To Learn

Mahomes is the best active NFL player and a high-profile figure. Despite this, he possesses remarkable humility and keeps his head down. He also has a lot of respect for Brady and revealed that he asked for his advice before the 2023 AFC Championship Game. This is important because it shows Mahomes doesn’t have a significant ego.

“I talked to Tom a little bit. I’ve a good relationship with him now and he gives me a lot of advice,” Mahomes said (via Sporting News). “Why would you not want to learn from the GOAT? Anytime anybody like that wants to give me advice, I’ll take it in. And it’s cool to see the guys that you watched growing up your whole life be able to talk to you on that type of platform.” Would Brady have done the same if the roles were reversed? We’ll never know, but Mahomes’ humility only adds to his already legendary resume.

True Leader

According to Andy Reid, Mahomes is always leading by example at practice and in the weight room. He also revealed that the quarterback played a crucial role in revitalizing team spirit after the Kareem Hunt arrest scandal in Mahomes’ first year as starter in 2018. Few players have this impact on their teams but Mahomes learned from the best.

Brady told Mahomes to treat his preparation every day as the most important thing. Mahomes listened to him and now he is reaping the rewards. Mahomes will be better than Brady because he’s following the legend’s example. But the Kansas City star has more natural talent so it is a devastating combination (via The Cold Wire).

More Momentum

Another reason why Mahomes is better Brady is that he has more momentum on his side. The Chiefs are in a powerful position in the AFC West because of the dysfunctional teams around them, just like Brady’s Patriots enjoyed beating up on the weak AFC East of their heyday. Mahomes has led his team to the AFC Championship game in each of his five seasons as a starter and he doesn’t look like he’s slowing down after Super Bowl LVII.

He’s a multiple-time regular-season and Super Bowl MVP before 30 and now has a couple of Super Bowl rings after Super Bowl LVII. That takes him above the likes of Aaron Rodgers and even Peyton Manning in the achievement charts. And Mahomes has so much time to add even more to his incredible legacy (via The Ringer).

Youth Factor

Mahomes is the youngest quarterback in history to play in three Super Bowls. He won his first attempt and broke the Chiefs’ 50-year drought. There’s no reason why Kansas City won’t return because they have Mahomes for most of the next decade. If he stays fit, he could take the franchise into unknown territory after their win in Super Bowl LVII.

Anybody who doubts Mahomes’ personality or character should look at his house. It’s not a gigantic mansion like Brady’s Florida residence. Mahomes appears to love football more than anything and has a lot of motivation. He’s already achieved so much despite his relative youth (via The Sports Rush).

Consistency

It says a lot that Mahomes’ worst season saw him throw for 4,031 yards and 26 touchdowns. This is a testament to his ridiculous consistency and productive output. Some analysts suggested that Mahomes was in decline and that fans had already seen the best of him. However, sometimes we should stop and look at the numbers because they don’t lie.

Tom Brady’s consistency was arguably his biggest attribute because he provided the Patriots with a stable base. Bill Belichick knew exactly what Brady offered and used him perfectly. Now Andy Reid is doing the same with Mahomes but the latter has more talent. That’s why he will be better than Brady, and may already be (via The Ringer).

Generational Star

Brady was a brilliant player but he was never the most talented quarterback of his generation. Peyton Manning and Aaron Rodgers had more physical gifts than Brady. We’re not trying to rewrite history but it’s true. Brady was in the right place at the right time and had an incredible work ethic (via NFL.com).

His self-belief and drive helped him to become the most successful quarterback ever. He also was an excellent player as his time in Tampa Bay showed because he brought them to the next level. But Mahomes is the standout quarterback of the modern era. Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, or Lamar Jackson can’t lay a glove on the Texas Tech product.

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).

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).

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).

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).

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).

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).

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.

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.

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).

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.