On Sunday, Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen will square off for the eighth time. This will be their first postseason meeting since Kansas City’s thrilling 42-36 victory against them in overtime two years ago.Josh Allen vs. Patrick Mahomes……
The figures are truthful. Since Tom Brady and Peyton Manning’s 2015 AFC Championship game matchup, this quarterback rivalry is unquestionably the greatest. These are the other rivalries that have emerged since their previous encounter. They frequently cross paths, and their in-person fights are amazing. That satisfies the prerequisites of any significant contest. Despite not competing in the same level, they had met seven times in the previous four years! Do you recognize this? They become the only quarterback rivalry from opposite divisions to meet seven times in a four-year period, along with Peyton Manning vs. Tom Brady.
The only quarterback rivalry in history to meet three times in the playoffs before each quarterback turned 29 is Mahomes vs. Allen. Thus, as early in their careers, no quarterback rivalry has faced off more frequently in the postseason.The quarterbacks have both posted video game numbers, and the series is also deadlocked 3-3. In their six meetings, they have combined for 3,945 yards of passing and rushing. In their first six encounters, only one quarterback rivalry has ever amassed more yardage: Matthew Stafford vs. Drew Brees. Since their first head-to-head meetings in 2020, these two quarterbacks have been the greatest in the NFL, which makes their rivalry even more intense.
No one has produced as much as Mahomes and Allen have over the past four years. They are far apart in terms of quarterback victories, overall touchdowns, and yards at that time. Although Mahomes and Allen placed in the top three in the MVP voting twice, in 2020 and 2022, Allen has not yet earned an MVP award.
Additionally, Allen is the only quarterback in NFL history to have 40 touchdowns in four consecutive seasons. Regarding total touchdowns per game, Mahomes (2.4) and Allen (2.3) are the two highest scoring players in NFL history. If Mahomes retired today, he would already rank among the top five or ten quarterbacks of all time. When it comes to passing yards per game, he leads the NFL all time.
It would be difficult to locate a quarterback that performs as well as Allen does in computer games. With six seasons left, he has already eclipsed Mahomes for the record of most touchdowns (221) in NFL history.Those exaggerated figures have persisted throughout the postseason as well. In terms of quarterback postseason victories before reaching 30, Mahomes and Brady are tied with 12 victories, while Allen is the only quarterback in playoff history to average 250 yards passing and 50 yards rushing per game (minimum of 5 games). If you need a reminder, Allen and Mahomes have had some incredible matches recently. The Chiefs’ 42-36 overtime victory in 2021 stands as possibly the greatest NFL playoff game ever.
Following the two-minute warning in the fourth quarter, the Bills and Chiefs combined for 31 points, the most in the history of the playoffs.
During that time, Mahomes and Allen combined to complete 15 of 20 throws for 290 yards and four touchdown passes that decided the game.
It is the first NFL game in history—preseason or postseason—where the starting quarterbacks combined for 300 yards passing, three touchdowns, no interceptions, and fifty yards rushing.
There were 13 seconds remaining in regulation when Mahomes launched an overtime-forced drive. The latest possible start time for a game-tying or
And the rivalry would be even better if Travis Kelce’s lateral for a touchdown to Kadarius Toney in Week 14 had not been called back on Toney’s offside penalty. That would have gone down as one of the best plays in league history and added another thrilling chapter to this rivalry.
Even without it, Mahomes vs. Allen has everything an all-time great rivalry should have (besides maybe a Super Bowl for Allen). It’s a dead-locked series between the best QBs in the NFL who have met many times and delivered masterful performances on the biggest stages. Their styles of play are also absolutely electrifying and should lead to another epic showdown on Sund
