Jalen Hurts vs. Patrick Mahomes is a 'Matchup That Everbody is Waiting to See'
If you haven't heard, Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts will be the youngest quarterback tandem to start a Super Bowl when the two lead their respective teams into the 57th version of the big game in Glendale, Ariz. on Sunday
The duo also might be 1-2 in the league's MVP voting by then when the results are released Thursday night.
That kind of rarified air is nothing new for Mahomes, the presumptive MVP who be will leading the Kansas City Chiefs into their third Super Bowl in four years after a career-high 5,250 passing yards and 41 touchdowns despite losing the dynamic playmaking ability of Tyreek Hill.
For Hurts, superstar status is a new title after evolving from capable in his second season to dominant in his third with a combined 35 touchdowns on his resume (22 passing and 13 running), as well as a gaudy 16-1 record as the Eagles' starter.
"It just shows the work he put in ever since the offseason. So shout out to him. He works hard," receiver DeVonta Smith told reporters during Tuesday's availability at the team hotel when discussing his QB. "I consider myself a hard worker, but that guy takes it to another level."
Just about everyone, even the players, are excited about these two matching up.
In Week 4 of the 2021 regular season, Mahomes threw for 278 yards and five touchdowns in a 42-30 Chiefs shootout win over the Eagles while Hurts threw for a career-high 378 and two touchdowns.
"It’s just the future of the NFL right now," said veteran edge rusher Brandon Graham. "The young guys are taking over right before our eyes," veteran edge rusher Brandon Graham said on Tuesday.
"You got the GOAT (Tom Brady) that just retired. And now you got two young quarterbacks playing against each other. And they could be playing each other for years to come and battling, one on the AFC side and one on the NFC side."
Jalen Hurts during Tuesday's media availability/Ed Kracz SI Fan Nation Eagles Today
Mahomes, 27, is already shaping up as a generational talent.
The Texas Tech product has started for Andy Reid for five seasons and the Chiefs have reached at least the AFC Championship Game in all five of those campaigns. Mahomes is 64-16 in the regular season as a starter (a gaudy .800 winning percentage) and has a 10-3 mark (.769) in the postseason against the best competition.
"We know what type of guy he is. We played against him last year," Pro Bowl cornerback Darius Slay said. "Special talent, one of the best to ever do it. He’s having a Hall of Fame career if he continues doing what he’s doing. We have to limit the explosive plays he’s making."
"He’s done some great things, from just watching film and watching him on TV. You gotta make sure you contain him," Graham added. "You gotta hit him, get him on the ground, create turnovers. Make him make bad throws. It starts with stopping the run first, then making sure you get after him and get him off his spot, and not let him get comfortable back there."
Hurts, 24, is setting his own standard based on a relentless work ethic, a high-functioning football IQ, and rare leadership skills.
"I don’t know if I know any types of leaders like him. He’s an incredible leader," tight end Dallas Goedert said. "Ever since the day he got drafted here, he didn’t say a whole lot when he first got here.
"But you could see with his work ethic, the things he did around the building. He was also the first one there, the last one out. It’s still true to this day.
"He says ‘jump,’ and everyone jumps as high as they can. He says ‘run,’ and everyone runs as fast as they can. He’s got the entire organization backing him, all the players backing him. He’s the one that when he speaks, everyone listens because he’s going to say something powerful and meaningful."
It's unfair, however, to dismiss Mahomes' own intangibles because of his enormous physical gifts but the matchup is an indication that there's more than one way to win in the NFL at the highest levels.
"I think there are a ton of different ways to achieve greatness in the NFL," said Goedert. "Patrick Mahomes does it in his own way, backyard football. He’s a thrower, he throws from different angles.
"I think Jalen throws the ball incredibly well. But I think the biggest thing for Jalen is his legs, and him being able to extend plays and make big plays off-script. Obviously, both of them are incredible quarterbacks.
"It’s going to be a matchup that everybody has been waiting to see."
-John McMullen contributes Eagles coverage for SI.com's Eagles Today and is the NFL Insider for JAKIB Media. You can listen to John, alongside legendary sports-talk host Jody McDonald every morning from 8-10 on ‘Birds 365,” streaming live on YouTube. John is also the host of his own show "Football 24/7 and a daily contributor to ESPN South Jersey. You can reach him at jmcmullen44@gmail.com or on Twitter @JFMcMullen
