Tom Brady and Peyton Manning had one of the most memorable rivalries in NFL history. Although they are still on the path to matching these two legends, Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen are building one of the most interesting and perhaps the most spectacular rivalries in the NFL today.
Brady and Manning faced each other 17 times in the 16 years in which their careers coincided. During this time, the New England Patriots quarterback won 11, while Manning, with the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos, won six times. Mahomes and Allen will collide for just the sixth time this Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium. The Kansas City Chiefs signal-caller has won three of the previous five matchups, including two in the postseason, while the Buffalo Bills star has two wins. Why is Mahomes-Allen such an attractive rivalry?
CBS analyst Douglas Clawson cited five reasons why the matchups between Mahomes and Allen are among the most attractive in the NFL since the Brady-Manning rivalry. First of all, he recalled that between them they lead the category of most touchdowns per game with 2.5 for Mahomes and 2.4 for Allen. Likewise, the Chiefs quarterback is the all-time leader in yards per game (297.5) and rating (104.3), and Allen is the quarterback with the most touchdown passes (209) in a six-year period. Secondly, Mahomes and Allen are the best quarterbacks in the last four years. In this timeframe, Patrick has 48 wins, 163 passing and rushing touchdowns, and 19,334 all-purpose yards. Josh is second in the same categories with 43 wins, 146 touchdowns, and 18,736 yards.
His confrontations usually raise sparks. In the five times they have faced each other, they have accumulated 3,401 yards and 38 touchdowns. Even though they are in different divisions, their teams are so dominant that the NFL’s scheduling system pits them against each other frequently. Finally, their postseason confrontations have been epic. From the numbers, which are impressive, to the heart-stopping finishes, like the last-second tie in the 2021 postseason, which forced overtime in which the Chiefs won 42-36. Other modern rivalries to consider. First, Clawson cited Mahomes’ head-to-head against the Cincinnati Bengals’ Joe Burrow. However, this rivalry has less time, and its duels tend to give less emotion than those of Patrick against Josh. Since the last duel between Brady and Manning, in 2015, there have been other great rivalries, such as those of Brady himself against Aaron Rodgers or Ben Roethlisberger. “Big Ben” had great confrontations with Philip Rivers and Joe Flacco. Drew Brees against Brady or Matt Ryan were also epoch-making duels, however, none of them have the appeal and charisma that Allen and Mahomes currently bring to the game. On Sunday, the Arrowhead will see a new episode in a sports feud that could mark an entire generation of NFL fans when Mahomes hosts Allen, with their teams looking to secure a postseason berth.
