A new era of quarterbacks is taking over championship Sunday and that could include a change at the very top of the charts.
Patrick Mahomes has been the undisputed top quarterback in the league for a few years now, but there are a few contenders that could knock him off his throne.
Joe Burrow beat the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium to advance to the Super Bowl last year and it’ll be a rematch on Sunday with a trip to the big game on the line.
Then there’s also Jalen Hurts, who was in the MVP conversation all year and has led the Eagles to the NFC Championship Game.
Eliot Shorr-Parks of the Audacy Original Podcast “The Best Football Show” discussed if Mahomes’ time as the best quarterback in the league is coming to an end.
“I know that in a year where he’s going to win MVP and he was first-team All-Pro, led the league in touchdowns, yards, quarterback rating, all those things. I understand that now is not the time where you would think ‘OK, this guy’s reign is coming to an end,’” Shorr-Parks said. “But I think if you look at the quarterbacks in the championship this weekend and some of the quarterbacks that he has to come up against over these next few years, even just next year, I think that by the time even Sunday’s over, but definitely by the time the Super Bowl’s over, the days of saying Mahomes is the guy you automatically take number one or the guy that is clearly the best quarterback might be coming to an end.”
Mahomes won the Super Bowl in 2020 but has taken a step back every year since. The Chiefs lost to Tampa Bay in the following Super Bowl and lost to the Bengals in the AFC Championship Game last year.
While Mahomes’ trajectory has plateaued a bit, Joe Burrow is on the rise. Burrow is already 3-0 against Mahomes and the Chiefs, and turned the Bengals from one of the worst teams in the league to a true contender with two-straight AFC Championship Game appearances – and quite possibly Super Bowl appearances.
“If Joe Burrow goes into Kansas City on Sunday and beats Patrick Mahomes, Burrow should be ahead of Mahomes in every single ranking no matter how you rank them,” Shorr-Parks said.
It’s not just Burrow, though. In the NFC Championship Game, the Eagles have one of the best young quarterbacks in the league.
“Now the other quarterback that is going to be playing championship weekend: Jalen Hurts,” Shorr-Parks said. “Right now, if I had to pick for this weekend who I would pick, I would take Burrow and Hurts over Mahomes because of the injury but also what he brings to the table. But the other thing to consider is Jalen Hurts is only 25. He’ll be 25 when next season begins. Joe Burrow, 26. Mahomes, 28.”
Mahomes is still going to be in the conversation for the best quarterback in the league as his track record speaks for itself, but Burrow and Hurts are breathing down his neck and could surpass him as soon as this weekend.
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