Super Bowl reaction: Three takeaways from the Kansas City Chiefs comeback victory over the Philadelphia Eagles
Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes are the best post-season QB/TE duo in NFL history
On their opening drive in the Super Bowl Mahomes and Kelce connected for an 18-yard touchdown. This was the 15th time in the post-season that Mahomes has found Kelce for a touchdown moving them level in post-season touchdowns with Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski.
Many consider Brady and Gronk as the best QB/TE duo in NFL history but Mahomes and Kelce are certainly making a case that its them that should be considered number one.
In 22 post season games together Brady and Gronk connected for 98 catches, totalling 1389 yards with 15 being touchdowns, whilst Kelce has caught 110 passes from Mahomes in the post season, totalling 1254 yards with the same amount of touchdowns (15). The difference being the Chiefs stars have done it in eight less games than the retired duo.
The argument will rage on for years to come with Brady (seven) and Gronk (four) having more Super Bowl wins than Mahomes and Kelce (2 apiece) but the Chiefs wont be disappearing anytime soon with both Mahomes and Kelce at the top of their game.
Patrick Mahomes proved he is the face of the NFL after Tom Brady’s retirement
Mahomes found himself in a familiar position as the Chiefs trailed the Eagles 24-14 at half-time, back in 2020 at Super Bowl 54 the Chiefs quarterback was down 20-10 entering the fourth quarter before putting up 21 points to win his first Super Bowl.
In the second half the Chiefs needed Mahomes to have a near perfect half and that’s what he did, the MVP completed 13/14 passes for 113 yards and two touchdowns, Mahomes also rushed for 33 yards.
Mahomes became only the 12th quarterback to win multiple Super Bowl’s as he orchestrated the Chief’s comeback against the Eagles. Mahomes joins Tom Brady and Joe Montana as the only three players in NFL history to have won multiple Super Bowl MVPs and regular season MVPs.
Mahomes is the only active QB with two Super Bowl wins, with Denver Broncos QB Russell Wilson the only other active QB to have played in more than one Super Bowl.
In his six years in the NFL Mahomes has been to the AFC Championship game five times and to the Super Bowl three times. He has only lost in the post-season three times with two of them coming against Tom Brady.
At the age of 27 Mahomes has plenty of years ahead of him as he looks to dethrone Tom Brady to become the new greatest of all time.
Jalen Hurts proved that he shouldn’t have dropped to 53rd in the 2020 draft
Despite the loss, Jalen Hurts proved he is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL with a stellar performance running the ball as well as passing it.
Hurts tied the record for most rushing touchdowns in NFL history and also became the first quarterback to rush for three touchdowns in the Super Bowl.
Hurts was drafted by the Eagles back in 2020 but was selected 53rd overall with 31 of the 32 teams in the NFL passing up the chance to draft Hurts, the only team who didn’t get an opportunity to draft the Oklahoma QB was the Buffalo Bills with their first pick of the draft coming a pick after hurts at 54th.
Of the teams that decided against drafting Hurts 18 of them had at least two selections before Hurts was drafted with the Dolphins having four picks before the former Alabama QB was drafted.
Four QB’s were taken ahead of Hurts in the Draft; Joe Burrow, Tua Tagoivola, Justin Herbert and Jordan Love. Of the four only one has also led his team to a Super Bowl appearance but like Hurts Burrow came up short last year against the Los Angeles Rams.
Hurts has thrown 44 touchdowns in 45 games whilst at the Eagles, but Hurts has also rushed for 26 rushing touchdowns, 16 more than any of the quarterbacks taken ahead of him in the draft.
Hurts completed 27/38 passes in the Super Bowl totalling 304 yards with one passing touchdown, he also rushed for 70 yards for a further three touchdowns.