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There is a 17-year age hole between Drew Brees (R) and Patrick Mahomes (L) as two quarterback generations collide within the NFL playoffs this season
There’s a altering of the guard happening proper now within the NFL on the quarterback place.
Tom Brady, at 43 years previous, continues to defy the doubters as he goes in the hunt for a seventh Tremendous Bowl, whereas 42-year-old come Friday, Drew Brees, is matching him nearly stride for stride – and will knock him out of the playoffs this weekend.
In the meantime, the subsequent era of gamers on the place is rising and already starting to take the league by storm; the defending Tremendous Bowl champ Patrick Mahomes is simply 25, and the reigning league MVP Lamar Jackson 24.
All of them have made the divisional spherical of the NFL playoffs this weekend, so right here we take a better have a look at the league’s previous guard at QB and the younger weapons taking on…
Patrick Mahomes (Kansas Metropolis Chiefs)
We begin with the Tremendous Bowl MVP from 12 months again; Mahomes is extensively thought-about the perfect of the bunch on the subject of quarterback play – not simply from the youthful era, however league-wide.
1:46 British working again Jay Ajayi tells NFL Time beyond regulation a Patrick Mahomes-led Kansas Metropolis Chiefs have likelihood of profitable back-to-back Tremendous Bowls
Mahomes, taken with the tenth choose of the 2017 NFL Draft, was held out for many of his rookie yr solely to then launch himself into superstardom a season later when throwing for five,097 yards and 50 touchdowns! His 2018 tally was simply the third time in NFL historical past a QB introduced up a half-century of scoring strikes and it was sufficient to see him named league MVP.
In 2019, Mahomes proved it was removed from a fluke. A knee harm noticed him miss a few video games and restricted his play just a little – simply the 4,031 yards and 25 TD tosses in a supposed ‘down’ yr – however Mahomes fired at simply the proper time, taking his staff to the Tremendous Bowl.
If Mahomes was to repeat the trick this season, it could see him grow to be the youngest quarterback ever to win back-to-back titles.
Lamar Jackson (Baltimore Ravens)
Jackson took Mahomes’ MVP crown from him after a exceptional 2019 season during which the dual-threat quarterback threw for 3,127 yards and 36 TDs, including an additional 1,206 and 7 scores on the bottom.
Jackson’s efforts had been adequate to encourage Baltimore to a league-best 14-2 document, however they had been unceremoniously bounced out of the playoffs with a shock defeat at house to the Tennessee Titans and, unfairly, numerous the blame was laid at Jackson’s door.
1:04 Watch as Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson scores an epic 48-yard run landing run in opposition to the Tennessee Titans of their Wild Card Weekend win
His document within the playoffs learn 0-2, having additionally misplaced to the Chargers in his rookie yr, and questions had been being requested whether or not he may carry out on the most important stage, whereas those self same folks questioned if he had the truth is been ‘discovered’ because the Ravens slipped to 6-5 halfway by this season.
However Jackson has turned a nook, main his staff to five-straight wins to finish the season after which to a revenge win over the Titans final Sunday to lastly get that postseason monkey off his again.
Josh Allen (Buffalo Payments)
Internet hosting Jackson’s Ravens this Saturday are the Buffalo Payments, lead by their very own rising expertise on the quarterback, Josh Allen, who was picked in the identical 2018 Draft as his upcoming opponent.
Baker Mayfield, taken No 1 total from that draft class, can also be in motion this weekend – going up in opposition to Mahomes’ Chiefs – and, of the bunch, he was the standout from their rookie marketing campaign, throwing a then-record 27 landing passes. The 2019 season then belonged to league MVP Jackson, however 2020 has very a lot been Allen’s yr.
0:45 Josh Allen reveals off his improvising abilities as he tries to run the ball, solely to then throw it as much as Dawson Knox for a landing within the Buffalo Payments’ Wild Card win over the Indianapolis Colts
The Payments quarterback threw for 4,544 touchdowns and 37 touchdowns this season, including an additional eight scores on the bottom, in inspiring his staff to a 13-3 document and the No 2 seed within the AFC behind solely the Chiefs.
An important measurement during which Allen has improved, although, is together with his ball placement. He’d by no means logged a completion proportion of higher than 59 per cent in faculty or his prior two years as a starter within the NFL. This yr, he was touching nearly 70 per cent, combining his gun of an arm with elite accuracy to devastating impact.
Tom Brady (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Highlighting the age hole between quarterbacks within the divisional spherical even additional is the truth that the kids are all battling it out within the AFC, leaving the old-timers (apart from 26-year-old spring rooster Jared Goff of the Los Angeles Rams) to fly the flag for the NFC.
Main the way in which, like ordinary, is 43-year-old Brady, who continues to defy father time, and who has arguably had one in every of his best-ever seasons – even when making an allowance for his storied profession which has earned him a document six Tremendous Bowl rings already.
3:26 Watch Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady’s finest throws from his 381-yard recreation in opposition to the Washington Soccer Group on Tremendous Wild Card Weekend
Brady’s 4,633 passing yards is the fifth-highest mark of his two-decade-long profession, whereas his 40 touchdowns is second solely to his 2007 season tally of fifty when the New England Patriots had been chasing an undefeated season earlier than being shocked by the New York Giants in Tremendous Bowl XLII.
After his offseason exit from New England for the sunnier shores of Tampa Bay, Brady and the Bucs had been middling at finest on the halfway level of the season, posting a 7-5 document, with the veteran QB serving up 11 interceptions.
Since, Brady has received sizzling down the stretch, averaging 342.8 yards per recreation, 14 TDs to at least one choose, as they’ve gained 5 straight – together with their Wild Card win over Washington final weekend, during which Brady turned the oldest QB in NFL historical past to throw a landing cross.
Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints)
Going up in opposition to Brady this Sunday, trying to take him down for the third time this season is Brees, whose profession is so usually linked with that of his reverse quantity.
3:12 Relive a few of Drew Brees’ finest performs as he helped the New Orleans Saints beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers earlier this season
Brady and Brees are comfortably the NFL’s all-time passing leaders, with Brady topping the desk by way of touchdowns thrown (581-571), however Brees presently having the sting in profession yardage (80,358 vs 79,204) – although, admittedly, these stats skew extra in Brady’s favour when you issue of their respective postseason information.
Brady additionally dwarfs Brees within the Tremendous Bowls column, with the latter profitable his solitary championship again within the 2009 season. Seeking to cement his legacy with at the least a second trophy is the motivation behind Brees persevering with to play at his age – and he’ll by no means have a greater likelihood at bowing out on prime than this season.
Brees has seemed just a little his age this yr, unable to power the ball downfield to the diploma he used to in his prime, however with a range at offensive weapons at his disposal, his dink and dunk strategy has confirmed mightily profitable, steering the Saints to a 12-4 document and the NFC’s No 2 seed.
The protection can also be serving to him out, taking part in to an elite stage, rating within the prime 5 of all main statistical classes, and it was they who did a job twice in opposition to Brady this season in a few convincing victories, during which Brady threw a mixed two TDs to 5 interceptions.
Aaron Rodgers (Inexperienced Bay Packers)
Coming in at a sprightly 37 years of age evaluate to the grizzled previous vets of Brady and Brees is Rodgers, extensively thought-about the league MVP of the 2020 season.
3:23 Brian Baldinger joins Neil Reynolds and Jeff Reinebold on Inside The Huddle to debate whether or not it ought to be Patrick Mahomes or Aaron Rodgers who wins league MVP in 2020?
Rodgers has been in really ridiculous type this season, throwing for 4,299 yards, with a completion proportion above 70 for simply the second time in his profession (70.72), a 121.5 passer ranking and posting a career-high in landing passes, with 48 to simply 5 interceptions.
These marks have been adequate to fireplace the Packers to a 13-3 document on the yr and the No 1 seed within the NFC, seeing the street to Tremendous Bowl LV run by Inexperienced Bay – by no means the best of duties for street groups come January, even with no followers this yr.
May that show pivotal as Rodgers too goes in the hunt for his second Tremendous Bowl ring? With a view to make that dream a actuality, although, first he should overcome the Rams and their No 1 protection on Saturday, with Brady or Brees mendacity in wait within the Convention finals.
Safely negotiate each of these obstacles, one of many younger upstarts from the AFC will probably be all too prepared and prepared to knock him off his perch come Tremendous Bowl Sunday in Tampa on February 7.
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