Heading into Super Bowl LIX, all of the attention was on Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. Could the Arrowhead outfit make history by completing the first three-peat in NFL history, thus confirming their iconic quarterback status as perhaps the greatest to have ever played the game? Well, that question was answered inside the first quarter.
The Philadelphia Eagles had the league’s best defense heading into the New Orleans showdown, but nobody could have predicted just how dominant that D-Line would be. The reigning champions were mauled from the get-go, managing just one first down in the entirety of the first half and only making it into Philly territory deep into the third quarter. The Chiefs found themselves 24-0 at halftime, and at one point, they trailed by 40 points to six before the Eagles began to sub out their starters.
Ultimately, the contest – if you can even call it that – was a blowout 40-22 victory for Philadelphia in perhaps the most shocking Big Game of all time. But what does this result mean for the current top-five quarterback rankings in the league? Can Mahomes still be considered number one after a disastrous display in which he was sacked six times and threw two interceptions? Let’s take a look.
Jalen Hurts
Jalen Hurts had critics at the start of the season. Some doubted he could perform at an elite level due to the underwhelming numbers he posted throughout the first few years of his career at the Linc. Those critics looked as though they would be proved right when the former Oklahoma Sooner had a stinker in a week two defeat at home to the Atlanta Falcons.
But under the brightest lights, Hurts has shone before. He delivered an all-time great performance in the Super Bowl two years ago before ultimately coming up short against Mahomes and the Chiefs. This time around, both he and his team would make no mistake, silencing any remaining skeptics with an MVP-winning performance that culminated with the Lombardi.
In Louisiana, Hurts threw for over 300 yards, scored three total touchdowns, and displayed his dual-threat ability with some powerful rushes when it mattered most. Admittedly, he had plenty of support from the best offensive line and perhaps the best-receiving corps in all of football, and that is something that online gambling sites feel could lead him to another championship next season. The latest odds from the popular Bovada online gambling site make the Eagles a +550 favorite to defend the Lombardi next year, and if they do that, Hurts could rise even further in the rankings.
Joe Burrow
Joe Burrow’s position among the league’s elite quarterbacks remains steady following a blistering personal year in 2024. The Bengals star led the league in terms of both throwing yards and passing touchdowns last season, picking up 4,918 and 43, respectively. But perhaps what was even more impressive was the fact that Joey B managed to rack up those numbers despite being in perhaps one of the worst teams in the league.
Despite their quarterback’s scintillating displays, Cincy missed the playoffs for the second straight year in 2024. They lost four of their first five games and had a record of 4-8 through 13 game weeks, with all but one of those defeats coming by less than one score. Burrow put the team on his back and delivered one blockbuster display after another throughout the latter weeks of the campaign, reeling off five straight victories to take his team within a whisker of the postseason.
Unfortunately for him, the Chiefs had other ideas on week 18. They started their practice team in their clash against the Denver Broncos and were duly thumped 38-0 for their troubles, handing the Mile High City outfit the seventh and final spot in the playoffs. At least KC were brutally punished for their sins by the Eagles.
Lamar Jackson
After years of being criticized for his ability to pass from the pocket, Lamar Jackson has put up back-to-back MVP-caliber seasons that answered many doubters. He was rewarded with the top solo prize in the sport in 2023 before finishing runner-up in 2024. The Ravens superstar has always been known for his electrifying running ability, but his growth as a passer over the last two campaigns made him even scarier to defend against.
The former Louisville Cardinal’s ability is now unquestionable. However, the one thing that stops him from ranking any higher at this point is his record in the postseason. Jackson now has a paltry record of just 3-5 in the playoffs. Last year, he was eliminated by Mahomes and the Chiefs in the conference championships, while this year, he was eliminated in the divisional round. He needs to lead his side to a Super Bowl appearance, at the very least, before he can climb higher in the rankings.
Josh Allen
Josh Allen put together a thrilling season as he led his team to the AFC Championship game, made all the more impressive because he lost his number one target, Stefon Diggs, to the Houston Texans in the preseason. Many had expected the Bills to struggle as a result of that, but not on Allen’s watch. The 28-year-old had a career year, winning the MVP award and performing better than his team had any right to.
But still, despite his heroics, he wasn’t able to lead Buffalo to the Super Bowl. Allen had the chance to take his team to New Orleans and had the ball in his hands with two minutes on the clock against the Chiefs in the conference championships at Arrowhead. Unfortunately, though, he went three and out, and that is the difference between being the best quarterback in the league and being number two.
Patrick Mahomes
Perhaps we should have seen the Chiefs’ mauling coming. They were continuously one of the most backed teams against the spread last season but very rarely delivered, picking up one razor-thin victory after another despite being heavy favorites. But even though they were weaker than they had been in recent years, they still finished with a 15-2 regular season record and made the Super Bowl.
That speaks to Patrick Mahomes’ greatness, and despite this brutal loss, his legacy is already secured. The one question that was hanging over him at this point was whether he was already the greatest of all time at the age of just 19. If he’d completed the three-peat, very few would have been able to argue that face.
Unfortunately, as we all saw, he was mauled. Mahomes practically handed 14 points to the Eagles in the first half after throwing back-to-back interceptions. He was sacked six times and couldn’t lead his team down the field until deep into the third quarter. But despite delivering perhaps his worst-ever performance on the grandest stage of them all, he is still, without question, the best quarterback in the league.
Mahomes’ stats speak for themselves. He already has two MVP awards and three Super Bowl rings. Even in a weaker team than in prior campaigns, he was still able to lead his side to the Big Game and onto the brink of history. He will be back next season, and until an Allen, Jackson, or Burrow eliminates him from the playoffs, he will remain number one.
