While Patrick Mahomes and Joe Burrow are both young, talented quarterbacks leading their teams to success, their playing styles have some key differences. However, they also share important qualities that have made them elite at such an early stage in their careers. Let’s take a closer look at what makes these two quarterbacks special and how their approaches to the game differ.
To start, Mahomes and Burrow both have a clutch gene that allows them to thrive in pressure situations. Time and time again, they have demonstrated the ability to elevate their play in the fourth quarter and lead game-winning drives. Just last season, Burrow led the Bengals on four separate drives in the final two minutes of regulation or overtime to either tie the game or win it. Mahomes, meanwhile, has a long history of late-game heroics including his overtime touchdown pass to Travis Kelce in last year’s AFC Championship that secured the Chiefs’ spot in the Super Bowl.
Their ability to rise to the occasion when the stakes are highest is a testament to their mental toughness and confidence in their skills. Neither the moment nor the defense across from them seems too big for these young quarterbacks. With the game on the line, their teams trust that Mahomes and Burrow will find a way. This clutch performance is a quality that is extremely difficult to teach and speaks to an innate ability to thrive under pressure that both possess.
Another trait they share is an incredibly strong and accurate throwing arm. Both Mahomes and Burrow can make throws that few other QBs in the league are capable of. Their arm strength allows offenses to take more deep shots and really stretch the field both vertically and horizontally. It also keeps defenses honest, as safeties cannot solely focus on stopping the short and intermediate routes for fear of getting beat over the top. This opens up more opportunities for big plays in the passing game.
Their arms are consistently measured among the most powerful in the NFL. In 2021, Mahomes averaged over 9 yards per attempt through the air—an astounding number that highlights how effectively he can attack all levels of the field. Burrow’s arm talent was on full display during the Bengals’ playoff run last season as well, where he connected on several deep touchdowns including a classic bomb to Ja’Marr Chase in the AFC Championship. Having the ability to make any throw asked of them is a huge advantage for Mahomes and Burrow as they continue to develop.
Beyond their on-field skills, both quarterbacks also share an insatiable competitive desire to win. They have a natural leadership ability to will their teams to victory and inspire confidence in those around them. After games, it’s common to see Mahomes and Burrow in the locker room rallying their teammates and emphasizing what they need to improve. This winning mentality is infectious and goes a long way in building a championship culture.
For the Chiefs and Bengals, who were both AFC representatives in the last two Super Bowls, the leadership of Mahomes and Burrow has been paramount. They hold themselves and their teammates to the highest standards. Even when facing adversity, their teams believe in them to find a way. This type of resolute, competitive spirit is something that cannot be taught and separates the truly elite quarterbacks. It’s no coincidence that these young QBs have found so much team success already given their drive to come out on top.
While Mahomes and Burrow share many attributes that have made them stars, their actual styles of play differ in some key ways. Most notably, Mahomes has established himself as one of the most creative improvisers the league has ever seen. He thrives outside the structure of the play design in a way few others can match. Mahomes has an uncanny ability to extend plays with his feet, evade would-be sacks, and still deliver pinpoint throws downfield.
Plays that seem dead to rights somehow turn into big gains for Kansas City because of Mahomes’ extraordinary talent for making something out of nothing. He racked up over 1300 rushing yards over the past three seasons primarily by scrambling to buy more time. This threat of extending plays outside the pocket is a nightmare for opposing defenses to prepare for. It also opens up more explosives plays as Mahomes can launch throws on the run just as accurately as from within the pocket.
Burrow, on the other hand, is more of a traditional pocket passer. While he is certainly mobile enough to pick up first downs with his legs when needed, Burrow prefers to go through his progressions and deliver from within the structure of the play design. He excels at reading pre-snap alignments and post-snap coverages to determine where the ball should go. Burrow gets the ball out of his hands quickly and accurately, often hitting the hot read or check-down option if the primary target is covered.
This style, while less flashy than Mahomes’ backyard football approach, has proven highly effective for Burrow and the Bengals. He completed over 70% of his passes last season thanks to his decision-making and timing. Burrow gets the ball to the right place, whether that’s a deep shot or a dump-off, allowing the Bengals offense to thrive within the system. Whereas Mahomes can bail out broken plays, Burrow is more about executing the design to perfection.
Both approaches have merits, but they play to the inherent strengths of each quarterback. Mahomes’ otherworldly athleticism and arm talent allows him to do special things in improvisational situations. Burrow, meanwhile, relies more on his processing speed and accuracy to consistently move the ball down the field systematically. Their differing styles are a testament to utilizing their individual skills within their respective offenses.
In terms of stats, Mahomes and Burrow are neck and neck early in their careers. Over the past two seasons, Mahomes has averaged over 4,800 passing yards and 38 touchdowns per year. He is completing over 65% of his attempts during this span as well. Burrow, who missed six games in 2020 with a knee injury, put up over 4,600 yards and 34 scores over the past two years. His completion percentage of over 68% trails only the most accurate passers in the NFL.
Both are averaging close to 300 passing yards per game and have posted triple-digit passer ratings consistently so far. While Mahomes has a slight edge in traditional stats given his longer tenure in the league, Burrow is quickly closing the gap as he gains more experience. Their production speaks to how effectively they have operated their respective offenses from Day 1 as starters in the NFL.
Looking ahead, the future remains incredibly bright for Mahomes and Burrow. At just 27 and 26 years old respectively, they figure to be anchoring their franchises’ hopes for Super Bowl contention for many seasons to come barring any unforeseen setbacks. Their skills, leadership qualities, and winning track records to this point suggest they are only going to get better with more time in the league. Both appear poised for Hall of Fame careers if they can sustain their early success over a full career.
As the faces of the AFC for the next decade, Mahomes versus Burrow is a rivalry that should provide many epic battles. Their January showdown in the AFC Championship last season only gave a small taste of what is to come. With differing styles but equal abilities to impact games in the clutch, these two young stars make for must-watch television every time they square off. Football fans should feel lucky to be able to witness the heights they will continue reaching in their prime.
In summary, while Patrick Mahomes and Joe Burrow share the clutch gene, strong arms, and winning mentality that have made them stars, their actual playing styles differ in notable ways. Mahomes thrives as the ultimate playmaker outside the pocket, while Burrow executes precisely within structure. But however they go about it, both QBs look primed to dominate the AFC for years with their special talents and driven mindsets. As their careers progress side by side, Mahomes and Burrow are ensuring their legacies as two of the best of this generation.
