It’s a premise that’s formed the basis of many a Hollywood movie over the years. So much so that it’s almost become cliche. The young up and comer, destined for greatness is pitted against the living legend whose not quite ready to ride into the sunset. When journalists, talking head pundits, and bloggers alike have a full two weeks between the conference championships and the Superbowl, you tend to see the same 4 or 5 angles covered ad nauseum leading up to the big day. Often, in an effort to give a “unique perspective”, you’ll see figures from days long passed emerge as centrepieces of articles, soundbites and clips. Who is consuming this content I have no idea. But year after year great sporting minds like Tom Brady’s highschool math teacher will be interviewed about what he was like in the classroom as a teenager in an attempt to show how he tackles film study the same way he took on 11th grade calculus. Or Andy Reid’s mechanic will talk about how his curious mind always asks questions about the repairs being done which is why he’s such a great coach.
This year the storyline that will be beaten into the ground will be Brady vs. Mahomes. The GOAT vs. Showtime. The Wiley Vet vs. The Kid. And while the concept itself isn’t new, what we’ll be seeing on Feb 7th, actually is.
For the first time in the 55 year history of the Superbowl, we’ll be seeing the winning quarterbacks from the two previous Superbowls pitted head to head against each other. We’ll also be seeing the first occurence that a host team has made it to the Superbowl when Tampa takes the field. It marks the first time there have ever been two QB’s from the 50+ TDs in a single season club square off in the Superbowl as well. And those are just the ridiculous firsts I can think of off the top of my head!
A lot will be made about the age difference in the days leading up to the game. You’ll see god knows how many highlight packages of how when Tom Brady entered the NFL, Patrick Mahomes was a tyke watching his dad throw bullpen sessions for the Mets. But for all the hoopla and “show around the show” storylines that will be thrown up on the internet like a Jackson Pollock painting, don’t forget that what we’ll bear witness to at Superbowl LV is a special moment in sports history.
There’s a lot of praise being heaped upon Tom Brady and what he was able to accomplish in his first season with the Bucs. After all, he’s been in the NFC for all of one year and already has as many conference championships under his belt as Brees, Ryan and Rodgers. Andy Reid had a great quote about TB12 when he said “He’s playing at an extremely high level. And for somebody his age, it’s unbelievable. I mean it’s unbelievable for a 25 year old to be doing what he’s doing, let alone a 43 year old”. This Brady renaissance is not only making Alex Guerrero richer by the day, but has also forced even his staunchest detractors (looking at you Max Kellerman) to give credit where credit is due.
On the other side of the ball you have Patrick Mahomes who is having arguably the best start to a professional career in any team sport. At age 25 Mahomes is one of only 13 players ever to win a regular season MVP & Superbowl MVP. If he wins at Superbowl 55 he’ll take down two of Brady’s current NFL records (youngest QB to win 2 Superbowls & youngest QB to win 2 Superbowl MVPs). He’s a ridiculous 38-8 in regular season games (good for a .826 win %), and is setting the foundation for a long and storied career.
Tony Romo is no stranger to hyperbolic statements. But when he said “Talk about your all-time matchups. This is literally going to be like LeBron and Jordan playing in the Finals”, he wasn’t wrong. The list of comparable matchups across the major sports in North America in the finals isn’t long, because this kind of thing rarely if ever happens. You’d have the 1984 Stanley Cup Finals where the Oilers and a young Wayne Gretzky FINALLY dethroned the dynastic New York Islanders who had just finished a fourpeat. Michael Jordan and the 1991 Bulls winning against an aging Magic Johnson and the Lakers (which would be Magic’s last full season in the league). And maybe you could squeeze in the 1969 NBA finals which saw Bill Russell get the better of Wilt Chamberlain one final time. That’s about it, and the reason is simple: unlike individual sports like tennis or golf, there are so many things that can go wrong in a team sport (locker room drama, injuries etc.) that it isn’t often that the league’s best players make it to the finals. Just ask poor Connor McDavid how his time in Edmonton is going for proof of concept.
I’m also a big fan of the comparison because Mahomes seems destined for the Lebron treatment in terms of MVP voting (i.e. you could make the case that he’s deserving to win it almost any year, but because of voter malaise, they’ll sprinkle in some others), and the 6 rings for Brady, 6 rings for Jordan is almost poetic. Yet even though there were a few times where the best of the best squared off in the finals against one another, it still doesn’t compare to Superbowl 55. Why? Simply put, a one game winner take all event and a 5 to 7 game series just doesn’t compare.
So enjoy the spectacle for all it’s worth. Whether you’re a Chiefs fan, a Buccaneers fan, or just a fan of witnessing the best at their craft duke it out on the biggest stage, come Superbowl Sunday, you’re in for a treat. One that, as illustrated above, comes around maybe once a generation. At the very least you can take solace knowing that after 20 years of running roughshod over the league Patriots fans are probably feeling like they’re watching their ex-wife and her oversized but loveable party animal friend remarry, move to a semi tropical destination, and win the lottery. Meanwhile, they’re stuck in a wintery climate, with an aging roster, and just had to endure one of the worst Quarterbacking performances they’ve seen since 1992. While they’re busy digesting what emotion to feel, you can enjoy what’s sure to be one heck of a show.
-Kyle Skinner
Twitter @dynessports