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Drew Brees Puts Joe Burrow, Josh Allen on Notice With Patrick Mahomes Reality Check 1
Patrick Mahomes has established a historic era of success with the Kansas City Chiefs, cementing his status as one of the greatest quarterbacks of the decade. His resume already boasts three Super Bowl championships, three Super Bowl MVPs and two regular-season MVP awards.
As the 2026 season approaches, the entire AFC is fighting for a chance at the Lombardi Trophy. But Mahomes is being hyped as the man to stop them. Legendary quarterback Drew Brees recently predicted that despite Mahomes recovering from a serious knee injury that cut his 2025 season short, his best football is still ahead.
Drew Brees praises Patrick Mahomes as ultimate barrier in AFC
Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees recently addressed the AFC’s top young quarterbacks during an appearance on the Fox Sports Radio show Covino & Rich. He started by naming Buffalo Bills’ Josh Allen, Baltimore Ravens’ Lamar Jackson, and Cincinnati Bengals’ Joe Burrow as the young quarterbacks that have a chance to win a Super Bowl next season.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick MahomesKansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes
Dec 7, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) looks on during the third quarter against the Houston Texans at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
He said, “I’ll start with Josh Allen. He’s certainly a fan favorite. I’m a huge fan of him. I love the way he plays the game. I love the way he’s evolved. I was then going to go to Lamar Jackson [and] Joe Burrow. I feel the same way about those guys as far as what they mean to their teams and to those franchises.”
However, he added that one veteran quarterback will be in all of their paths: “The problem has been they all got to go through Mahomes and the Chiefs.” Mahomes is certainly the most accomplished quarterback in the NFL right now, with five Super Bowl appearances in the last decade.
Brees compared the situation to Peyton Manning and Tom Brady, adding, “It’s just like Peyton had to go through with Brady, right? How many Super Bowls does Peyton Manning go to if it wasn’t for Tom Brady, right? So there’s always those epic battles.”
Allen and the Bills have repeatedly suffered postseason losses to Kansas City. While Burrow and the Bengals defeated the Chiefs in the 2021 AFC Championship Game before losing Super Bowl LVI, they fell to Kansas City in the conference title rematch the following year.
Despite his ability and talent, Mahomes will first have to become fit to play next season as soon as possible. His injury-shortened season already caused him to fall outside the top 15 in the player-voted NFL Top 100 rankings for the first time in years, landing at No. 18
Patrick Mahomes says he is ready to play
With the preseason winding down and the 2026 regular season approaching, Patrick Mahomes has yet to take a game snap for the Chiefs. The franchise signal-caller underwent major surgery to repair a severe ACL and LCL tear in his left knee last season. While Kansas City held him back from the first two preseason games out of caution, Mahomes has made it clear he is ready to play.
In an interview during the third quarter of the second preseason game with KSHB 41, he said, “I really wanted to play today, but they would not let me.” He continued, “I feel great. I’m getting more and more athletic every single time I’m on the football field, and that’s all you can ask for. … It’s been good to go through training camp and get that full training-camp experience and so I feel great.”
Pat made it clear he wants to get back out there, adding, “I’m always trying to play. If he’d (Chiefs coach Andy Reid) put me in the game in this fourth quarter, I’d play right then.”
He will now turn his focus toward making his official return in time for the regular-season opener against the Denver Broncos on Sept. 14 at Arrowhead Stadium.
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