Staubach vs. Bradshaw, Manning vs. Brady, Mahomes vs. Hurts? NFL history is filled with hyped-up quarterback battles. Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes are building the next great quarterback rivalry. While the quarterbacks are really playing the opposing team’s defense and not directly facing each other, it’s in the fabric of NFL history to want to see how the leaders of each team stack up against one another head-to-head.
The Philadelphia Eagles dominated the Kansas City Chiefs in every phase of the game in Super Bowl 59, winning 40-22. The score in Super Bowls between the Eagles and the Chiefs was evened. The Eagles avenged their Super Bowl 57 loss two years earlier. The score has now also been evened at 2-2 in the budding rivalry between Mahomes and Hurts.
Jalen Hurts and Patrick Mahomes Are Building The Biggest Rivalry in the NFL
Big Games
Mahomes had high praise for Hurts after he was named number three on the list of the NFL’s Top 100 players of 2023. “I expect to play him in a lot of big games as my career goes on,” Mahomes said.
That statement by Mahomes was prophetic as they met again just two years after their first Super Bowl battle. In those two Super Bowls, Hurts has largely outplayed Mahomes. In two games, Hurts has 525 passing yards, 142 rushing yards, seven touchdowns, and a 73.7% completion percentage. Mahomes has put up 477 total yards and six touchdowns. Two of those touchdowns occurred after the Eagles had already dumped Gatorade on head coach Nick Sirianni’s head.
Nearly every top quarterback in the league has been a victim of Mahomes. Only Tom Brady and Joe Burrow have been able to conquer him in the playoffs. Now, Jalen Hurts can add his name to that list.
Teams Built to Last
The Eagles and the Chiefs have proven to be perennial contenders, with the Eagles appearing in their second Super Bowl in three years and the Chiefs appearing in five out of the last six Super Bowls. On offense next season, the Eagles will be returning nearly all of their starters, with guard Mekhi Becton being the only question mark to return. Defense offers more questions as Milton Williams, Josh Sweat, and Zack Baun are free agents. However, Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell have already emerged as a premiere cornerback duo in their rookie years. Moro Ojomo, Nolan Smith, and Jalyx Hunt are also preparing to step up next year after the leaps they have made this season.
If the Chiefs have Mahomes, Andy Reid, and Steve Spagnuolo, they will always have a chance to compete for a title. Over the past few years, general manager Brett Veach has also built through the draft. Veach has been diligent in selecting immediate impact players such as Trent McDuffie, Rashee Rice, and Xavier Worthy.
They Play Next Season
What can create a rivalry is the frequency with which you play an opponent. Hurts and Mahomes will play once again next season. The match-up will mark the fourth consecutive season that the Eagles will play the Chiefs. The next game will be at Arrowhead Stadium. Between the beating that Mahomes took at the hands of the Eagles’ defense and Sirianni chirping at fans his last time at Arrowhead, the stadium is sure to be a hostile environment for the Eagles.
Mahomes and Hurts are writing the opening chapters of what could be a storybook rivalry, and there are many more pages to be written.
Main Image: Mark J. Rebilas – USA Today Sports
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