Eric Williams
NFL Reporter
San Francisco 49ers edge rusher Nick Bosa mentioned it finest: What makes Patrick Mahomes the highest quarterback within the NFL is his capacity to place groups away, whereas making tough performs look simple.
“He is in a position to get the ball far distances actually quick, so you do not want that a lot separation,” Bosa informed reporters, when requested what makes Mahomes the most effective. “After which the way in which he creates performs. He is in a position to pump faux folks and run for first downs when you actually need them.
“His working capacity is form of underrated. He is stout, so he is powerful to convey down. And he makes good selections.”
Bosa can be one of many principal gamers on protection liable for slowing down Mahomes as San Francisco hosts the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs in a nationally televised contest on FOX this Sunday (4:25 p.m. ET), with Tom Brady set to supply the evaluation for the sport — the primary time he’ll name a recreation that options Mahomes.
It will likely be a rematch of final yr’s Tremendous Bowl, through which Mahomes’ clutch gene was on full show, as he led Kansas Metropolis to an extra time win. However it is going to be greater than that, significantly with Brady in attendance within the broadcast sales space. In a approach, it is going to be a passing of the torch, as Mahomes has clearly assumed Brady’s title because the NFL’s finest nearer.
Brady is likely to be the GOAT, however in relation to the clutch gene, Mahomes is true there with him. Each QBs are recognized for his or her capacity to shut out video games within the fourth quarter, each within the common season and the postseason. Simply take a look at the information, courtesy of FOX Sports activities analysis.
Fourth-quarter comebacks: Mahomes not solely has the most effective document in NFL historical past (13-10) when getting into the fourth quarter trailing, he is the one quarterback with a successful document in that state of affairs (minimal 10 video games).
Nonetheless, Brady’s complete of 31 common season wins getting into the fourth quarter when trailing is essentially the most in NFL historical past. Much more spectacular, Brady has 19 regular-season wins when trailing with two minutes left, the second-most of any QB since 2000. He has three two-minute comebacks within the playoffs, essentially the most since 2000.
Late touchdowns: Mahomes has eight landing drives within the playoffs when trailing at any level. That is tied for seventh since 2000 and the third-most amongst energetic QBs (Russell Wilson has 13, Aaron Rodgers has 11). He additionally has six TD passes within the playoffs when trailing at any level within the fourth quarter, third-most amongst energetic QBs (Rodgers has eight, Wilson has seven).
Recreation successful drives: Brady’s 14 game-winning drives within the fourth quarter within the playoffs are essentially the most of any quarterback in NFL historical past. Mahomes is tied with John Elway for the second-most, with six).
So it is clear that each males carry the clutch gene, and time will inform which signal-caller finally ends up having extra of it. However is there any approach Mahomes is already surpassing Brady?
“The one factor I might say may presumably make him (Mahomes) higher than Tom Brady ultimately is that he can lengthen performs to a complete different diploma,” mentioned Rob Gronkowski on his “Dudes On Dudes” podcast with former New England Patriots teammate Julian Edelman. “However he is by no means going to be higher than Tom. And even when he’s, I am going to by no means say that as a result of I really like Tom.
“However the way in which he can lengthen performs, that is what makes the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs so good. He is about to be sacked, after which he simply rolls out, spins off a defender and throws it to Travis Kelce, or Tyreek Hill, when he had him, or a no-name seventh rounder.”
Very similar to Brady owned the NFL, Mahomes and the Chiefs have equally dominated San Francisco. Mahomes is 4-0 in opposition to the 49ers in his profession, together with two Tremendous Bowl wins. He has accomplished 68% of his passes for a median of 364.5 yards per recreation, with 11 touchdowns and 4 interceptions for a 104.5 passer ranking in these video games.
“Fifteen is a heck of a participant,” San Francisco receiver Deebo Samuel acknowledged this week on his podcast. “At any second he’ll do something potential. I do not like referring again to Tremendous Bowls, however my rookie yr we had been up, and Pat Mahomes simply goes and does issues that Pat Mahomes does.
“And the two-minute drill this previous Tremendous Bowl, it is simply Pat Mahomes doing Pat Mahomes issues. You have to give him his flowers.”
Whereas Mahomes has been a beast with the sport on the road, this season statistically has been his worst via 5 video games in any season in his profession. Solely Will Levis (seven) has extra interceptions than Mahomes (six), and his 88.9 passer ranking is the bottom at any level of his seven-year NFL profession.
However do not inform that to San Francisco defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen.
“Nonetheless many occasions that you’ve got gone in opposition to Mahomes, it is nonetheless going to be arduous,” Sorenson mentioned. “It helps slightly bit since you perceive the preparation for him. However he is so tough as a result of he does not all the time do the identical factor.
“The arm angle is rarely the identical. He does not all the time set his toes, however generally he does. He is actually good at studying the protection and throwing it the place he must. So, it helps you perceive who he’s, however it does not essentially imply you are simply going to robotically have success as a result of he is so good.”
Eric D. Williams has reported on the NFL for greater than a decade, protecting the Los Angeles Rams for Sports activities Illustrated, the Los Angeles Chargers for ESPN and the Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma Information Tribune. Comply with him on Twitter at @eric_d_williams.
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