After three epic games, Patrick Mahomes’ fourth inning against Tom Brady could be his last

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  • Adam teicher

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    ESPN Editor
    • Chiefs covered for 20 seasons for Kansas City Star
    • Joined ESPN in 2013

  • Jenna Laine

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    ESPN Editor
    • Covered Buccaneers since 2009
    • Joined ESPN in 2016

It’s the 43-year-old GOAT against the 25-year-old Wizard. Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs will meet for the fourth time in three years on Sunday (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS). They also meet for the first time since Mahomes was anointed Super Bowl champion last year and since Brady found a new home in Tampa Bay.

They’re not just two of the best in the league with a penchant for big times and big games – they’re generational icons who have gained universal recognition that transcends their sport.

With Brady, it’s always been a chess match. His success came from the methodical division of defenses and adjusting the ball in the tightest spaces – although he takes a lot more risk in Bruce Arians’ offense as he tries to challenge Father Time.

Mahomes, on the other hand, appears to defy the laws of physics and human anatomy on a weekly basis, twisting his arm in impossible angles to make equally impossible throws. As Brady brings will and determination – which propelled him from a seventh-string quarterback in Michigan and from the 199th draft pick to a six-time Super Bowl winner – Mahomes brings the “wow.”

They’ve already had three gripping confrontations, all decided by a score or less. With Brady now in the NFC South and only seeing NFC West every four years, this could mark their last showdown, unless both teams reach the Super Bowl before Brady retires.

Here’s a look at those clashes and what fans can expect when the two face off on Sunday.

What it meant: The Chiefs were 5-0 and Mahomes, in his first year as a starter, was already setting the NFL on fire with 1,513 yards and 14 touchdowns. The Patriots were 3-2, but on a two-game winning streak.

The game, appropriate for a Mahomes-Brady game, was a high score. It featured nearly 700 passing yards, split almost evenly between the two, and five touchdown passes, four from Mahomes. Mahomes threw a 75-yard touchdown pass to Tyreek Hill with three minutes left to tie the game at 40, but Brady then led a practice that ended in the winning basket and a 43-40 Patriots victory. The Chiefs went on to a 12-4 record and the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs with the Patriots 11-5 immediately behind.

Best moment / pivotal play for each QB: Brady’s three longest assists of the game came in the fourth quarter. None was bigger than a 39-yard throw to Rob Gronkowski who put the Patriots in position for the winning basket. Mahomes had two long touchdown passes, 75 yards to Hill and 67 yards to Kareem Hunt.

What they said: “[Mahomes] had a lot of big throws – the one at the end of Tyreek was a great throw, and he had other good throws. So hard to slow these guys down. They have scored a lot of points all year round. They’re going to be pretty hard to stop, so happy that we had our last shot and happy to have enjoyed it. ” – Brady

“I have the utmost respect for Tom and everything he’s done in this game and his entire career. He’s been successful in this league because he’s won games with last minute practices like that. For us, you just have to find a way to win games like this. If you want to get to where you want to get, you have to win games that are going to be close and they are going to be against some really good opponents. ” – Mahomes

Who won this round: Mahomes and the Chiefs rang their presence, but Brady established an early supremacy in the rivalry.

What it meant: The stakes were higher this time around as Mahomes and Brady met for the AFC Championship. The first half looked very different from the first game between the quarters. Mahomes and the highest-scoring Chiefs were frustrated with the Patriots man-to-man coverage and trailed 14-0 at halftime. But the expected shootout developed in the second half.

Behind three touchdown passes from Mahomes, the Chiefs were close to qualifying for the Super Bowl when Brady threw an interception late in the fourth quarter with the Chiefs ahead 28-24. But the game was wiped out by a penalty and the game eventually went into overtime. The Patriots won the toss and scored the winning touchdown for a 37-31 victory. Mahomes never touched the ball in overtime.

Best moment / pivotal play for each QB: Brady was at his best on the overtime-winning drive, completing three assists in the third and 10 to help the Patriots convert. Mahomes threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Damien Williams in the fourth quarter to give the Chiefs their first lead.

What they said: “I think we have overcome a lot this year. Down but not on the sidelines, and we’ve found a way to play our best in the last four games – Buffalo, Jets, got off, played great against the Chargers, and played great today. . We’re going to need another great game. It was a great way to end it. I was probably as excited as I have been in a long time. A lot of things, a game here or a game there could change everything, but that’s football. I’m just proud of our team. ” – Brady

“That’s just how the toss, I guess you would say. It’s one thing where he’s had a good practice. He’s had a lot of third-down conversions. In the big moments, guys have made big catches for [Brady]. It’s one thing where all you can do is support your teammates, trust your teammates, and when you get the chance, go ahead and try to play. ” – Mahomes

Who won this round: Brady walked away with the prize, a trip to the Super Bowl, which he won to earn his sixth ring. Mahomes & Co. left motivated for next season.

What it meant: The Patriots were 10-2 and the Chiefs 8-4. After making slow starts in his first two games against Brady and the Patriots, Mahomes had 226 yards, one touchdown pass and a 20-7 lead after the first 30 minutes. Brady and the Patriots rallied in the second half, but fell short when a fourth pass into the end zone was knocked down by the Chiefs just over a minute to go. Mahomes eventually secured his victory in the rivalry as the Chiefs won 23-16.

Best moment / pivotal play for each QB: Mahomes threw a 48-yard touchdown pass to Mecole Hardman in the second quarter to give the Chiefs a lead they wouldn’t give up. Brady lost what would have been a touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter when officials incorrectly judged the receiver to be out of bounds before reaching the end zone.

What they said: “Every game takes on a little different feel and the situations are a little different, and it’s also a different team every year. So maybe I have some experience doing things, but this particular team as a whole hasn’t been through different situations. So you just try to work with them throughout the season, and we have three big games to go, and we have to start winning football again. ” – Brady

“First of all, I don’t think it will be [Brady’s] last season. He still plays at a high level. But yes, you want to beat the best, you want to play against the best and do your best. But it’s a team game, your team has to beat their team. It’s a really good football team, it’s a really tough environment to play in, and so for us to find a way to win a game – it wasn’t good all the time, it was just a win difficult and contested. . ” – Mahomes

Who won this round: Mahomes. Both teams finished the season 12-4, but the head-to-head victory earned the Chiefs a playoff pass, which forced Brady and the Patriots to play the weekend wild card, when they had lost 20-13 to the Tennessee Titans.

Round 4, November 29, 2020

What this means for Mahomes: Unless the teams end up in the Super Bowl, that’s probably it for Mahomes-Brady. A win would see Mahomes one day tell his kids that he was even against Brady in four games. Brady would no doubt be proud of a 3-1 record against Mahomes, if the Bucs won.

What this means for Brady: Bucs are battling for a playoff berth after losing first place in the NFC South with a loss to New Orleans in Week 9 and falling to sixth in the NFC after losing to the Rams in of week 11. They know it then game will define the course of their season. This attack has generated some big numbers, but it is still extremely inconsistent and has struggled with the deep ball in recent weeks which has impacted their ability to play. Coach Bruce Arians thinks it has less to do with Brady’s arm and more to do with their lack of continuity with so many new pieces.

The Brady Challenge presents chefs: Brady looked his age when the Bucs lost Monday night to the Rams. The challenge for the Chiefs is whether they can pressure him as well as the Rams. The Chiefs’ pass rush has not been productive this season. The Chiefs need big games from Chris Jones and Frank Clark.

Challenge Mahomes present at Bucs: Todd Bowles’ defense is high risk and high reward. If offenses can beat the blitz, they can get block games – and Mahomes is one of the best in the league at beating the blitz. Andy Reid also does a fantastic job of intriguing his receivers and finding those vulnerable spots in zonal defenses for Mahomes.

Who has the advantage in one sentence?

It’s tough to pick against Mahomes, who could be on his way to the second MVP award in his young career. – Teicher

Mahomes has it. The Bucs’ pass defense has been shaky in recent weeks and looks even more vulnerable without Jamel Dean (concussion). – Oldest boy



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