NFL Network’s Top 100 List ranks Patrick Mahomes fourth behind Lamar Jackson and Russell Wilson
Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes proved to be unstoppable last season. Not only was Mahomes the Super Bowl MVP in 2019, but he overcame multiple injuries to get to, and win, the Super Bowl. One of those injuries knocked him out for the majority of three games. Then, in the playoffs, he overcame three double-digit deficits to come back and win all three games by double digits. He is the first quarterback in NFL history to lead three double-digit comebacks in a single postseason. In fact, he was 5-0 when trailing by double-digits this season. It was such an amazing season for Mahomes that he opened as the favorite to win the 2020 NFL MVP. Not Lamar Jackson.
However, Jackson has been named NFL’s number one player in NFL Network’s top 100-player countdown. Mahomes landed at fourth behind Jackson, Russell Wilson, and Aaron Donald. It’s the second year in a row that Mahomes has placed fourth on the list and with a one-emoji tweet, it appears Patrick Mahomes disagrees.
The list is voted on by the players and apparently, they do not take the playoffs into account, because Lamar Jackson was anything but number one in his lone playoff performance last season. He completed only 52.5 percent of his passes and threw two interceptions against the six seed Tennessee Titans at home. Give credit to Tennessee though for making him throw 59 passes, since throwing the ball isn’t his strong suit. In fact, he only threw more than 40 passes one other time in 2019 and that was against the Chiefs. Jackson lost that game too, and it wasn’t as close as the score would seem. Going into the fourth quarter, the Chiefs were up by 17 points. Jackson threw for 0 touchdowns and had a quarterback rating of 70.6. Mahomes, on the other hand, threw for 374 yards and 3 touchdowns in that game.
Mahomes proved to be the better player in the postseason and in a head-to-head matchup, but Lamar was the MVP. I guess that’s the reason he was number one, right? Well, hold on a minute. Patrick Mahomes was MVP in 2018 and he threw for 5000 yards and 50 touchdowns. He ranked fourth on the list in 2018, as well. Last year, Mahomes wasn’t able to put up the same numbers that he did in 2018 because of the injuries. Dating back to week one, Mahomes was playing with a bum ankle until week seven, when he dislocated his knee in the first quarter against Denver. He still performed at a high level with all of his injuries. I don’t think that Jackson could perform anywhere near his capabilities with the injuries that Mahomes had had, since most of his success is with his legs.
Mahomes was successful last season using his legs as well. In the AFC Championship Game, he ran for a 27-yard touchdown late in the second quarter to take the lead against Tennessee. He also scored the first touchdown of Superbowl LIV on the ground. Lamar Jackson didn’t rush for any touchdowns in the playoffs. In fact, he has never had a rushing touchdown in the playoffs. Sure he can run all day against Cleveland and Cincinnati twice a season, but when the pressure is on and it is win-or-go-home, Jackson is average at best.
Honestly, Lamar Jackson did have a great year and he deserved the MVP for the 2019 regular season. The playoffs, however, are when the games actually matter. The number one player on this list should probably win a playoff game first.
Pat won all his playoff games this season and he’s got a Lombardi trophy, too. I guess Lamar can have his list. Plus, how fun will it be to see Mahomes play with a chip on his shoulder? The 2020 season can’t get here fast enough.
