Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills and Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs are two of the best young quarterbacks in the NFL today. Many analysts believe they have the talent and potential to be the next great quarterback rivalry as Tom Brady and Peyton Manning were in the past decade.
Background
Both Allen and Mahomes were first round draft picks – Allen was selected 7th overall in 2018 by the Bills, while Mahomes went 10th overall in 2017 to the Chiefs. After sitting behind Alex Smith as a rookie, Mahomes broke out in his second season in 2018, throwing for over 5000 yards and 50 touchdowns on his way to winning NFL MVP. Allen has made steady improvement each year, culminating in an incredible 2022 season where he led Buffalo to a 13-3 record while finishing top 5 in passing yards and touchdowns.
The two faced off in one of the greatest NFL playoff games ever in January 2023, with Kansas City defeating Buffalo 42-36 in overtime. Both quarterbacks put on a show – Mahomes threw for over 400 yards and 3 TDs, while Allen responded with four touchdowns while racking up nearly 400 total yards himself. The game showcased the talent of the two superstars and only intensified the burgeoning rivalry.
Why This Rivalry Is Special
There are several reasons why Josh Allen vs Patrick Mahomes has the potential to emulate the magic of Brady vs Manning:
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They play in the same conference: Unlike other great current QBs like Aaron Rodgers or Joe Burrow, Allen and Mahomes compete directly for AFC supremacy and playoff seeding every year. This breeds familiarity and raises the stakes of their head-to-head matches.
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** Their teams are built to compete long-term:** Both the Bills and Chiefs are well-run organizations with talented supporting casts around their franchise QBs. This should translate to many meaningful, high-stakes games between Buffalo and Kansas City in coming years.
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Their styles present an intriguing clash: Allen is the athletic dual-threat playmaker; Mahomes is the creative passing wizard. Seeing these contrasting styles face off only elevates the entertainment factor.
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They have shown early playoff drama: From their instant classic 2023 playoff tilt to Allen’s heartbreaking loss to KC in the 2021 AFC Championship game, Allen vs Mahomes has already produced some all-time postseason moments in their young careers.
If Allen and Mahomes stay healthy and their talented teams continue to support them well, expect many more legendary chapters to be written in the NFL’s next iconic quarterback rivalry.
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