Patrick Mahomes’ Kansas City Chiefs Outlast Drew Brees And The Saints

The all-time chief in passing yardage, 41-year-old New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, returned from a rib damage to face off towards the reigning Tremendous Bowl MVP, 25-year-old Patrick Mahomes.

Mahomes-Brees I, if you’ll, went to the youthful mannequin.

It was a battle of stars from the Lone Star State. The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ Mahomes grew up in Tyler, Texas on the jap a part of the state; Brees was born in close by Dallas earlier than rising up in Austin.

“You need to go up towards these nice quarterbacks that have executed it for a very long time and one other Texas man,” Mahomes stated, “a man that I’ve met a few instances and is an important man.”

Mahomes bested the person he regarded as much as, however neither Texan had their greatest efficiency.

It was really a Louisiana native who stepped up early.

Rookie cornerback L’Jarius Sneed, who hails from Minden, La. and performed collegiately at Louisiana Tech, picked off a first-quarter go after which sacked Brees within the second quarter.

Since getting back from a collarbone damage, Sneed has successfully performed a variety of slot cornerback, releasing one other Louisiana product and former LSU star, Tyrann Mathieu, to roam the sphere, although Sneed did give up the final landing of the sport to Lil’Jordan Humphrey.

Mathieu and the protection performed effectively, however the 32-29 victory could have come at a price — particularly, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, one other former Louisiana product.

The rookie again, whose final sport on the Mercedes-Benz Superdome was when he helped LSU defeat Clemson, 42-25, to win the nationwide championship, appeared to significantly damage his leg late within the fourth quarter, although X-rays had been unfavorable.

The Superdome is the place Brees has dominated so many opponents.

However he struggled Sunday.

Whether or not it was a results of rust from not enjoying since Week 10, being lower than a 100% wholesome, having a depleted large receiver corps, the Chiefs protection placing in a suffocating efficiency or a mixture of all of the above, he began the sport finishing 1-of-10 passes. The Saints didn’t file a primary down within the first quarter.

Brees completed 15-of-34 for 234 yards with three touchdowns.

Mahomes struggled at instances too. Partially due to an injury-plagued offensive line, Mahomes completed along with his second worst completion share of the season, connecting on 26-of-47 passes for 254 yards and three touchdowns.

He was hit 11 instances, together with 4 sacks. One in all them got here on a third and 10 with 11:04 left within the sport. Trey Hendrickson sacked him and compelled a fumble on a success that regarded prefer it might’ve damage Mahomes’ ribs, the illness that had sidelined Brees.

Regardless of finishing fewer passes than typical, Mahomes nonetheless showcased his Showtime magic.

On a 3rd and eight with 2:57 left within the first quarter, Mahomes scrambled away from the protection earlier than sidearming a 23-yard completion to Sammy Watkins. Whereas avoiding stress he turned on breaks, inflicting the pursuing Cam Jordan to cease in his tracks.

On a second and purpose with 8:31 left within the third quarter, he rolled out left and threw a landing go in an extremely slim window within the very nook of the tip zone to Mecole Hardman.

The gifted passer almost ended up with the Saints within the 2017 NFL Draft.

Saints head coach Sean Payton raved about Mahomes’ draft exercise with the crew, however the Chiefs traded as much as the tenth general choose earlier than the Saints’ choose at 11, the place they ended up with Marshon Lattimore in a loaded class that additionally netted them Hendrickson and Alvin Kamara.

“It is simply loopy how stuff works out,” Mahomes stated. “I did not sense that they had been going to choose me clearly with Drew nonetheless being there and the success that he nonetheless has to at the present time. And so on the similar time, I feel they bought an important participant in Marshon Lattimore.”

The query is whether or not the quarterback, who almost succeeded Brees, will face him once more.

Brees has one 12 months left on his two-year, $50 million contract, however many have speculated he might retire at 12 months’s finish. 

In the meantime, the Chiefs have locked up the brand new face of the league, Mahomes, into the 2030s with a contract that might pay him half a billion {dollars}.

The 2 embraced after the primary and — probably — final assembly between the 2.

Or maybe the sequel is to come back. Some have predicted that Mahomes’ Chiefs and Brees’ Saints might meet once more in simply over a month in Tremendous Bowl LV.