Super Bowl LIV: The NFL’s Next Chapter

As the dust fully settles on the playoffs and we steel ourselves for the Super Bowl, it truly feels for the first time in nearly two decades like the dawn of a new age. The big game will feature two teams lead by up and coming quarterbacks. The match up between Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes and San Francisco’s Jimmy Garoppolo will provide the NFL with a desperately needed breath of fresh air. 

These playoffs have seen legendary quarterbacks Tom Brady, Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers eliminated in what feels like a passing of the torch. For years these three men have been touted as the cream of the crop so far as their position goes. For Brady this has translated to successful playoff runs, less so for his contemporaries. While Brees and Rodgers each have one title to their name, Brady has made playing for a championship a near yearly tradition, winning six of nine trips to the big game. Undoubtedly these three have provided their teams each year with at the very least hope for a title. Which is more than most franchises have. For the better part of two decades they have been at the top of their profession, but each year is borrowed from Father Time and sooner or later, even for icons the bill comes due. 

While Garapplo’s 49ers defeated Rodgers’ Packers it had very little to do with the passing game. He posted a stat line of 6 completions on 8 attempts for 77 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions. Instead the defense and running game lead by Raheem Mostert's 220 yards and 4 touchdowns carried San Francisco to an NFC title. Mahomes on the other hand had no part in the demise of Brady from the AFC bracket. Instead he dispatched another up and comer in Deshaun Watson, then defeated Ryan Tannehill the definition of a frustrating prospect. A man who feels like he is perpetually one season away from putting it all together. In these two playoff games Mahomes' stat line has been nothing short of ridiculous 46 of 70 for 615 yards 8 touchdowns and 0 interceptions.

So on paper the Quarterback duel is a mismatch. However Garappolo should not be counted out, while his stats don't jump off the page he hasn't played poorly. Instead the match ups haven't called for heroics from number 10, but when push comes to shove Garapplo is capable of stepping up. In his short career he has compiled a record of 21-5 with 7 come from behind wins. Mahomes is the better quarterback but Garappolo may surprise.

To conclude, now these two men will meet in the final game of the season. I know it’s reductive to view the match as Mahomes vs Garapalo. Neither man would be there without their team. In Jimmy’s case many would argue it’s entirely his teammates that got him there. However in football that’s how it is. Tom Brady is a legend for his six Lombardi trophies, the names of his supporting cast maybe forgotten to all but the most diehard fans in time but everyone will know about the GOAT. So fair or not the credit for victory will go to the quarterback first and foremost. As such I believe it will be Patrick Mahomes the man who is redefining what QBs are, who will walk away victorious Sunday. In turn Mahomes will start the first chapter of this new era.

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