Super Bowl LV is a battle between two of the most dangerous teams in the NFL, not only because of their presence in the NFL’s season finale, but also because of how they got there. The Kansas City Chiefs, who won everything after the 2019 season with one of the league’s most explosive offenses, face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who coach it with as much spirit as anyone under the leadership of Bruce Arians. Although the teams themselves have all sorts of intrigues, we all know the biggest reason why people are going to vote in this Super Bowl Sunday: the quarterback. It is rare that we have such a sensational showdown: Tom Brady vs. Patrick Mahomes, the six-time champion against the reigning champion.
As we prepare tonight under the bright lights of Raymond James Stadium in Tampa for Brady versus Mahomes, we have everything you need to know about their game, from every QB’s post-season resume and Super Bowl record to how it goes with them danger has -head matches. Bend down and get ready for surely the most exciting showdown of the year.
Super Bowl LV is almost here, and you can watch it for free in the CBS Sports App.
The basic
|
Patrick Mahomes |
25 | 4th | 6-3 |
230 |
Texas Tech |
1st round (10th overall) |
|
Tom Brady |
43 | 21st | 6-4 |
225 |
Michigan |
6th round (199th overall) |
Physically speaking, Brady and Mahomes are not too different in size; none are particularly large, while Brady is a bit leaner. However, their physical similarities are likely to end there. Mahomes is not a surfer on the ground and is looking at a 40-yard line of 4.8 seconds coming out of college, but the beautiful Brady has never been a remote threat to run the ball. Similarly, Mahomes has made a name for himself as a reactionary big game machine, using his agility, effortless arm strength and unmatched penchant for acrobatic throws to place beautiful numbers. Brady, on the other hand, lasted more than two decades, mostly because of his talent between the ears – a masterful attention to detail that kept him in shape, in command, and rarely as a ‘point guard’ -style QB.
Neither Brady nor Mahomes entered the NFL with particularly elite expectations. The Chiefs traded up to Mahomes’ tenth overall position, but his Texas Tech resume was not the thing of superstars, with many scouts worried about seemingly reckless handling of balls in a favorable offense. Mahomes also spent almost his entire rookie year on the bench behind Alex Smith. Brady, meanwhile, was another afterthought and started his rookie season as a No. 4 QB, playing just one game and only seeing the field very well the following year due to a serious injury to starter Drew Bledsoe. Now, 20 years later, Brady is the farthest thing from an underdog thanks to his record-breaking, future Hall of Fame career, and Mahomes is unanimously one of the best QBs in the game today.
Occupational numbers
Brady has a clear nod at all times because of his service, but the reason these two are such an interesting Super Bowl game is because they were both one of the best, if not the best. passerby of their time. It’s hard to find a bad performance for the full season of any of the QB.
|
Patrick Mahomes |
4 |
46 |
38-8 |
14,152 |
114 |
24 |
108.7 |
|
Tom Brady |
21 |
301 |
230-69 |
79,204 |
581 |
191 |
97.3 |
Brady’s numbers look monstrous here, and that’s because it is; he ranks second in the career passing only behind Drew Brees and the first time in all times passing. But to see in perspective how unprecedentedly good Mahomes was early on, he is well on his way to surpassing Brady’s career TD mark in his late thirties. Mahomes averages 2.47 TD throws per game, meaning he ‘only’ needs about 189 games, or just twelve more seasons of this kind of production, to catch TB12. This is much, much easier said than done – especially given the unpredictability of injuries and other circumstances – but it proves that these two QBs are either legends or legends in the making.
Play-off numbers
Just note this if you are looking for QBs who know how to show up when the lights are brightest:
|
Patrick Mahomes |
6-1 |
2 |
2,054 |
17 |
2 |
109.8 |
|
Tom Brady |
33-11 |
10 |
12 248 |
80 |
38 |
89.9 |
Best season
Both QBs boast MVP-caliber career years, which is no surprise given that they collectively have five MVP awards between them:
- Patrick Mahomes (2018): 5,097 yards, 50 TDs, 12 INTs, 8.8 YPA, 113.8 QB rating, 272 rushing yards, 2 rush TDs, 12-4 record
- Tom Brady (2007): 4,806 yards, 50 TDs, 8 INTs, 8.3 YPA, 117.2 QB rating, 98 rushing yards, 2 rush TDs, 16-0 record
Worst season
Again, not some anger from any of these guys. For the elimination of shortened injury seasons or those spent on the bench, we only include years in which Brady or Mahomes played / started at least two matches:
- Patrick Mahomes (2019): 4,031 yards, 26 TDs, 5 INTs, 8.3 YPA, 105.3 QB rating, 218 rushing yards, 2 TDs, 11-3 record
- Tom Brady (2002): 3,764 yards, 28 TDs, 14 INTs, 6.3 YPA, 85.7 QB rating, 110 rushing yards, 1 TD, 9-7 record
Super Bowl resumes
This is not a fair comparison, as Brady has 17 seasons on Mahomes, to speak of eight more Super Bowl appearances. But in the interest of reviewing their performances on the NFL’s biggest stage, we have the division below, thanks to our Super Bowl forward at CBS Sports.
Patrick Mahomes
|
2019 |
XLIV |
W against 49ers, 31-20 |
26-42, 286 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs, 78.1 rating |
Funny enough, one of Mahomes’ worst statistical matches of an otherwise Pro Bowl 2019 season comes in the Super Bowl, his first – and record-breaking – championship, in which he throws two picks of the season and his second place. lowest rating (78.1) of the year. His second interception initially seems to condemn the Chiefs, who fell 10 points behind San Francisco in the third quarter, but it was then that he finally turned off course, returned to the MVP form and hit several major plays. to lead Kansas City to 21 unanswered. points and the victory. His performance so far has been a pretty good microcosm of his career: even if he does not start well or the numbers do not look good (admittedly, they often do), Mahomes’ predilection for acrobatic throws and timely attacks makes him a constant threat to steal a victory.
Tom Brady
|
2018 |
LIII |
W teen Rams, 13-3 |
21-35, 262 meters, 1 INT, 71.4 rating |
| 2017 | LII | L against Eagles, 41-33 | 28-48, 505 meters, 3 TDs, 115.4 rating |
|
2016 |
LI |
W vs. Falcons, 34-28 |
43-62, 466 meters, 2 TDs, 1 INT, 95.2 rating |
|
2014 |
XLIX |
W vs. Seahawks, 28-24 |
37-50, 328 meters, 4 TDs, 2 INTs, 101.1 rating |
| 2011 | XLVI | L vs. Giants, 21-17 | 27-41, 276 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT, 91.1 rating |
| 2007 | XLII | L vs. Giants, 17-14 | 29-48, 266 yards, 1 TD, 82.5 rating |
| 2004 | XXXIX | W vs. Eagles, 24-21 | 23-33, 236 meters, 2 TDs, 110.2 rating |
| 2003 | XXXVIII | W Teen Panthers, 32-29 | 32-48, 354 meters, 3 TDs, 1 INT, 100.5 rating |
| 2001 | XXXVI | W teen Rams, 20-17 | 16-27, 145 meters, 1 TD, 86.2 grading |
John Elway, who played in five, is the closest to any other QB (10, including this Sunday). It’s no surprise that Brady holds almost every major Super Bowl record in the book, from all-time passing to combined titles. He was not yet immune to the turnover of big games, and to date he has thrown an interception in five of his nine Super Bowls, but he was also pretty good and never lost more than one score and scored a 6 -3 record on the NFL’s biggest stage. . Most importantly, Brady was always notorious for being efficient at the end of the game, leading the Patriots to a win, despite a 28-3 hole in Super Bowl LI, which trailed by 10 points to Seattle overcame in Super Bowl XLIX and took the Eagles to the wire. in Super Bowl LII.
Head-to-Head results
Aha, the one you’ve been waiting for! Brady and Mahomes have clashed four times in the past three seasons, and it is fitting that they enter the Super Bowl LV in their everyday series, with Brady scoring two wins and Mahomes the other two:
- Week 12, 2020 (Chiefs 27, Buccaneers 24): Mahomes took the lead with 462 yards and three TDs, though Brady was just as active through the air and fired 345 yards, three TDs and two INTs in a tight loss that began with a 17-0 lead in Kansas City.
- Week 14, 2019 (Chiefs 23, Patriots 16): No QB was at his best in this one, with Mahomes throwing 282 yards, one TD and one INT; and Brady finishes with just 169 yards, one TD and one INT for a lifeless Pats offense.
- AFC Championship Game 2018 (Patriots 37, Chiefs 31): In this overtime thriller, Mahomes had 295 yards and three TDs to tackle an MVP season, while Brady stole the “W” despite two INTs to go with 348 yards and one score.
- Week 6, 2018 (Patriots 43, Chiefs 40): Early in Mahomes’ MVP season, he threw 352 yards, four scores and two INTs, while Brady went on to pick up 340 yards and one TD.
Fun facts
What are these QBs that are cooked for food after the day? Who raised and idolized them? Here are some farewell nuggets:
- The most important foods: Ketchup (Mahomes), avocado ice cream (Brady)
- Children’s sports hero: Tiger Woods (Mahomes), Joe Montana (Brady)
- Career earnings: $ 24.5 million (Mahomes), $ 263 million (Brady)
- Orphanage: Tyler, Texas (Mahomes), San Mateo, California (Brady)