Super Bowl 59 Quarterback Comparison: Who has Edge in Mahomes vs Hurt?

This will mostly depend on the two men in the forefront: quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts. What has changed since these QBs last met in Super Bowl 57?

Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts know how to win in January 😤 https://t.co/4xSyZEsFA4 pic.twitter.com/EagzjGoypx

— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) January 27, 2025

Super Bowl 59 Quarterbacks Analysis

Patrick Mahomes: The Michael Jordan of His Era?

Mahomes is already seen as the greatest quarterback of his era. But can he do what no other quarterback has done and lead his Chiefs to a third straight Super Bowl title? In sports, this is known as the “Three-Peat” that was popularized by Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls in the mid-90s. No team has pulled this off in over 23 years.

The NFL odds say “yes” but not too emphatically. The Chiefs are one-point favorites. Mahomes, on paper, has a significant edge over his Eagles counterpart. He is a three-time Super Bowl MVP, two-time NFL MVP and so on. Additionally, he’s coached by Andy Reid, who may hold all the notable records when he retires.

“There’s regular season Mahomes and there’s Mahomes in the playoffs. He absolutely elevates”@colincowherd & @JohnMiddlekauff discuss how @PatrickMahomes reminds them of Michael Jordan & Tiger Woods pic.twitter.com/OmuXLNCA0u

— The Volume (@TheVolumeSports) January 27, 2025

Most notably, Mahomes has proven he can win games and championships in various ways. His first title came when the Chiefs were an offensive powerhouse. Mahomes was putting up obscene stats as Kansas City led the league in scoring.

But in the past few seasons, Mahomes’ stats have declined considerably. The Chiefs are no longer scoring 30+ points and blowing out opponents. Now, the Chiefs are winning by the skin of their teeth. Per NFL betting trends, they are 8-1 in playoff games decided by one score (eight points or fewer).

This is what makes Mahomes and the Chiefs enticing NFL picks. Should this Super Bowl rematch come down to the wire, as it did in 2023, put your purse on Mahomes. The Chiefs have been money when it comes to these types of games, winning 17 straight one-score matchups, including 12-0 this season.

Jalen Hurts: Underdog Seeks Redemption

Like many quarterbacks before him, Hurts was this close to beating the Chiefs. Alas, he and his Eagles were one play short of winning Super Bowl 57. And after an arduous past two years, they are back to where they were. And while Hurts may not be as prolific as Mahomes, he arguably has the better team. This makes betting on this Super Bowl more intriguing.

Winning a Super Bowl is a team effort. Quarterbacks may get all the attention but many great QBs were not Super Bowl champions while average ones have won titles. Hurtis is better than an average quarterback, though he is not a superstar like Mahomes.

He’s posted a solid 93.1 passer rating in the postseason and had 13 total touchdowns against four turnovers, per Chiefs vs Eagles stats.

Jalen Hurts CURSE BREAKER pic.twitter.com/vioDxQk9dv

— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) January 26, 2025

Most interestingly, Hurts only averages 199 passing yards in eight playoff games. But against Kansas City two years ago, he threw for a playoff-high 304 yards. While he did have a costly fumble, the Eagles were almost the right bet online.

This season, Hurts hasn’t had to do too much. Philadelphia has the second-best scoring defense (17.8 points allowed per game) and the best rushing attack, led by Saquon Barkley. This team boasts six All-Pro players, which is two more than Kansas City.

Two seemingly contradictory statements can be true with Hurts. He doesn’t have to do as much as Mahomes, but he also has plenty to shoulder as this game could ultimately boil down to his choices. Of course, it could be a blowout in favor of his team. But that’s a bold NFL prediction for another discussion.

Question of the Day