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Patrick Mahomes and Joe Burrow have proven themselves to be two of the NFL's best quarterbacks. Both will face off for the second consecutive season for a spot in the 2023 Super Bowl in Glendale, Arizona.
Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals got the better of Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs last season 27-24 in the AFC championship game. In that game, Burrow threw for 250 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Meanwhile, Mahomes threw for 275 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions.
The question is, which of these two young signal-callers deserves to play in the biggest game of the season? A strong case can be made for either.
Taking a look at Joe Burrow, he finished the regular season throwing for 4,475 yards, 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. It was his second straight season with at least 4,000 and 30 touchdowns. So far in the playoffs this season, the former LSU star has 451 yards and three touchdowns.
More specifically, Burrow has accomplished something that only one quarterback has done: defeat Mahomes in the playoffs. The only other one who can say that is arguably the greatest quarterback of all-time: Tom Brady. Brady has beaten Mahomes twice, once as a member of the New England Patriots and then in the Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Patrick Mahomes has had another successful season as he led the NFL in both yards (5,250 yards) and touchdowns (50). The 2018 MVP is looking for his third Super Bowl appearance in four seasons, but the Bengals star has been his Achilles heel. Overall, the Chiefs star is 0-3 against Burrow.
Nonetheless, Mahomes has thrived in the playoffs in his career, throwing for 3,576 yards, 30 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Does Patrick Mahomes or Joe Burrow deserve to represent the AFC in Super Bowl 2023?
It may sound like a cop-out answer, but both quarterbacks are worthy of a spot in this season's Super Bowl.
Patrick Mahomes has been to the big game twice in his career, while Burrow went last season. All in all, the edge might go to Joe Burrow because of the Cincinnati Bengals' history in the Super Bowl.
The franchise has lost in all three appearances in the Super Bowl. It would make a great story to see them raise the Lombardi Trophy and get Burrow his first Super Bowl.
We'll find out soon enough whether the Bengals or the Kansas City Chiefs will play in Super Bowl 2023. Either way, expect both Joe Burrow and Patrick Mahomes to put on a show in the AFC championship game.
