Tom Brady vs. QB gauntlet: TB12 set to face Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes subsequent two video games

The “Godfather” film franchise got here out a half-century in the past. One of many well-known traces — “hold your pals shut and your enemies nearer” — rings true for Tom Brady at the moment. I ponder if he circled Weeks 3 and 4 on the calendar when he unretired, as he is scheduled to face rivals Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes in consecutive video games, a set of matchups anybody would salivate over. That could be very true, although, for Brady. No person can contact his GOAT standing, however this might be his closing probability to cement his bragging rights over his contemporaries, two quarterbacks constantly talked about within the “greatest QB within the league” debates.

QB royalty

Earlier than we get to Brady’s domination in these rivalries, let’s experience the truth that the three most adorned quarterbacks in at the moment’s recreation are about to go toe to toe.

Brady, Rodgers and Mahomes are the one three lively gamers within the league with an NFL MVP and Super Bowl ring. No person is falling off both: they’ve received 4 of the final 5 league MVP awards. Additionally they personal three of the highest 4 touchdown-to-interception ratios all time. There are lots of famous person QBs in at the moment’s recreation, however this trio ranks 1-2-3 in landing passes since Mahomes grew to become the Chiefs starter in 2018. 

You will have heard they’ve additionally etched their names into the historical past books:

• Brady is the NFL’s all-time chief in championships received (7), Tremendous Bowl MVPs (5), video games received (245), landing passes (626) and passing yards (84,922), amongst a billion different information.

• Rodgers will be the best QB of all time, holding the most effective touchdown-to-interception ratio ever, whereas rating second in MVPs (4) behind Peyton Manning.

• Mahomes has the very best passer score in league historical past and is the youngest QB to win Tremendous Bowl MVP.

Backside line. They could go down as three of the best quarterbacks ever and so they all tango within the subsequent two weeks. Buckle up!

Brady’s bragging rights

This units up a close to unprecedented QB double-dip. It is going to be the second time in NFL historical past a QB with an MVP and Tremendous Bowl MVP begins consecutive video games towards an MVP and Tremendous Bowl MVP QB. 

And would not you already know it, the opposite occasion concerned the identical trio in the very same order, the final time all of them performed one another. Within the 2020 postseason, Brady and the Buccaneers beat Rodgers and Co. within the NFC Championship Recreation, adopted by Mahomes and the Chiefs. 

You would need to think about each are champing on the bit for a bit revenge towards Brady. You would possibly bear in mind Rodgers did not have the ball in his palms when it mattered most within the 2020 NFC Championship Recreation. The Packers elected to kick a area purpose with roughly two minutes left on fourth down, down eight factors, moderately than put the ball within the palms of the league MVP. Inexperienced Bay by no means obtained the ball again after all. The next week, Mahomes was seemingly working for his life on each play within the worst beatdown of his profession. He posted the worst passer score, and what was on the time the most important lack of his profession (31-9) in that Tremendous Bowl.

The fantastic thing about each wins for Brady: he bolstered his personal trophy case whereas denying a second ring to each of his counterparts. He is truly now 3-0 within the playoffs towards Rodgers and Mahomes. He beat Mahomes within the 2018 AFC Championship Recreation en path to his sixth ring. So, actually, each time he is confronted these two within the playoffs, he is gone on to additionally hoist the Lombardi trophy. And the kicker, in true Brady trend, all three wins got here as an underdog.

Brady’s total resume towards the pair makes him one in every of one. Between the common season and playoffs, 30 quarterbacks have began a recreation towards each Rodgers and Mahomes. Guess who’s the one one with a profitable report towards each? TB12, after all. He is 3-1 towards Rodgers and 3-2 towards Mahomes.

If all of that wasn’t sufficient, Brady has as many rings in his 40s as Rodgers and Mahomes have of their mixed careers (two).

Brady vs. Rodgers: Spherical 5

Rodgers will get the primary crack at TB12 on Sunday. Maybe the one factor he has on Brady is MVPs, which additionally embody the final snicker. He received his fourth in 2021, edging out Brady within the voting, 39-10. 

Additionally they have lots of mutual respect for one another. Rodgers was requested in regards to the problem going through Brady following Inexperienced Bay’s win towards the Bears on Sunday, answering “Clearly, Tommy’s a legend.” Brady returned the respect on his podcast, Let’s Go!. “They’ve one of many biggest quarterbacks of all time in Aaron main them.”

Collectively, their seven MVP awards tie for essentially the most all time in a quarterback matchup. Every of the earlier three matchups concerned both Peyton Manning towards Brady or Rodgers.

QB matchups with 7 NFL MVP awards

• 2022: Aaron Rodgers (4) vs Tom Brady (3)

• 2015: Tom Brady (2) vs Peyton Manning (5)

• 2015: Aaron Rodgers (2) vs Peyton Manning (5)

• 2014: Peyton Manning (5) vs Tom Brady (2)

Like most issues, after they’ve gone face to face, it is benefit Brady. He has higher numbers in each main class. Rodgers’ solely win got here of their first matchup in 2014, a Packers’ 26-21 win in Inexperienced Bay. There might be a lot at stake on Sunday as each groups conflict in a possible NFC Championship preview.

Brady vs. Rodgers: By the numbers

	Brady	Rodgers
Wins	3	1
YDS/ATT	7.4	6.9
TD-INT	8-3	7-3
Passer score	94.3	86.8

Brady vs. Mahomes: Spherical 6

Whereas Brady and Rodgers will meet for the fifth time, the Brady-Mahomes rivalry will truly surpass that with matchup No. 6 the next week. Each gamers have crammed up the stat sheets in these video games, however Brady has the all-important 3-2 benefit within the win column, together with a blowout victory in Tremendous Bowl LV after most anticipated a passing of the torch from Brady to Mahomes. Mahomes could have an opportunity to even the collection in Week 4 of their final potential assembly.

Brady vs. Mahomes: By the numbers

	Brady	Mahomes
Wins	3	2
Comp pct	64.7	62.4
YDS/ATT	7.5	8.1
TD-INT	9-5	11-5
Passer score	92.2	95.6

Chasing Brady

When Brady lastly decides to retire, Rodgers and Mahomes should still be chasing his ghost. Mahomes is clearly the largest menace to Brady’s all-time information, however neither are out of vary.

• Assuming Brady continues at his profession tempo but additionally retires after this season, he would end with 656 passing TDs and 88,981 passing yards.

• Together with 2022, Rodgers would wish to play one other six seasons, to age 44, to achieve these marks.

• Mahomes would wish to play one other 12 seasons, to age 38, to achieve these marks, that are each attainable.

Signal me up for all of it! The quarterback debates, the narratives, the hype, the speculative information speak and the video games themselves. 

It is a suggestion I can not refuse.