Patrick Mahomes told he has Tom Brady like impact ahead of Super Bowl clash

On Feb 10, 2023

Iconic NFL commentator Mike Carlson believes Patrick Mahomes’ understanding with Kansas City Chiefs team-mate Travis Kelce is similar to that of Tom Brady.

The Chiefs are sweating on the fitness of Mahomes coming into their Super Bowl clash against the Philadelphia Eagles. Both Mahomes and Eagles quarter-back Jalen Hurts have been injury doubts heading into the contest in Phoenix, but they are both expected to be involved.

Mahomes has been an injury doubt ever since he awkwardly fell on his ankle during KC’s victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. And Carlson believes Mahomes’ fitness would be particularly crucial for the Chiefs due to his understanding with Kelce.

“His whole repertoire with Travis Kelce is based on their mutual understanding that Kelce is free to break off patterns and react to what the defence is doing,” Carlson told Daily Star Sport, on behalf of Betway. “Most teams have routes which are option routes for receivers.

“With Mahomes and Kelce it’s like they have their own private option plan. If he sees a soft spot in a zone, if he has his man shading him to the outside and he wants to pivot back and come inside, Mahomes sees the same thing and knows that is what he’s going to do. Brady has been like that with receivers, brains are the most important thing for a quarterback. I think Mahomes’ vision off the field is such that he can process it really well.”

Mahomes has been given the 2022 NFL MVP for the second time in his career. He has thrown 5250 yards and recorded 41 touchdowns this season. Additionally, his 358 rushing yards and six receiving yards has also seen him record a NFL single-season record of 5614 all-purpose yards.

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Carlson believes Mahomes’ understanding with his teammates is similar to the way Tom Brady struck up relationships
(Image: Getty Images for Paramount Pictures)

Considering his brilliance and injured ankle, all focus has naturally gravitated towards the 27-year-old. However, Carlson also believes the fitness of Eagles quarterback Hurts, who has been sweating on a shoulder injury sustained in Week 15, will also have a huge bearing on the contest.

“The same applies to Hurts, because they are a different team when Hurts is running,” Carlson added. “[Eagles running back] Miles Sanders and Hurts had the two highest yards per carry in the NFL and they are a factor of each other.

Hurts has also been facing a race against time to be fit for the weekend
(Image: Matt York/AP/REX/Shutterstock)

“The option of Hurts being a ball carrier switches the maths of defence vs offence by one player. Instead of taking your runner and your quarterback out of the game, you are only taking the runner out of the game which gives you an extra blocker.

“Teams have to factor that in. If he is effective as a runner, it makes the rest of their run game more effective and his pass game. The difference between Hurts and Justin Fields is that Hurts is more like Lamar Jackson in that he can actually throw from the pocket, [as] he has a stronger arm than Lamar Jackson which means he can get to the sidelines. Those two injuries do impact the whole game.”