Kansas City Chiefs: Ranking all six quarterbacks in AFC playoffs

Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs - (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs - (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /
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Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) (Photo by Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) (Photo by Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

NUMBER TWO – PATRICK MAHOMES (KANSAS CITY CHIEFS)

Chiefs fans are going to be mad that Patrick Mahomes isn’t ranked number one, but in all honesty, most teams are probably more worried about the eventual 2019 season MVP than they are of Mahomes.

Yes, the reigning MVP still had a great season, but a regression was expected. It’s hard to throw for 5,000+ yards and 50 touchdowns in back to back seasons and we saw that in 2019. Mahomes still had a superb 2019 campaign despite missing two starts due to injury; He threw for 4,031 yards, 26 touchdowns, and just five picks through 14 starts.

Between injuries and some iffy starts, Mahomes wasn’t the same guy he was in 2018 and that’s okay. The Chiefs have a better shot at getting to the Super Bowl this year because of their defense. Mahomes doesn’t have to do it all and that’s why his numbers have been down this season.

Mahomes is still a very scary quarterback to opposing defenses, but when push comes to shove, it’s safe to say most teams are more fearful of this guy…

NUMBER ONE – LAMAR JACKSON (BALTIMORE RAVENS)

I know this is a Kansas City blog, but let’s give credit where credit is due; Lamar Jackson has been incredible this season and is most definitely the quarterback that teams are most fearful of in the playoffs.

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Jackson has led his squad to a 14-2 record, number one overall seed, and he’ll in all likelihood win the MVP unless something unusual occurs (though the award is based on regular season success, so that’s not likely to have any sort of impact on the voting). Jackson has been sensational and it’s going to be tough to slow him down in the playoffs.

Yes, the Chiefs were one of the two teams that beat the Ravens this season, but that game took place in week three and the following week Baltimore also lost… but that time to the inept Cleveland Browns. Point being, both of these teams are very different now, but Jackson has only gotten better since that week three defeat at Arrowhead.

The edge Jackson has over Mahomes is that he’s absolutely lethal in the run game and that’s where he’s done a lot of his damage this year. He’s improved on his passing too, so teams can’t fully stack the box against him like the Chargers did in the playoffs last year.

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I’m sure fans are going to riot in the streets because I put Lamar Jackson over Patrick Mahomes on this list, but come on.

Jackson has had the better season and as a result, will be the quarterback teams fear more in the playoffs. Does that mean he’ll go further in the postseason? That I can’t tell you, but we all know what Mahomes is capable of and when he’s at his peak, he’s hard to stop.

Next. Predicting AFC West Quarterbacks for 2021 Season. dark

So, let teams be more fearful of Lamar Jackson. At the end of the day, all that matters is winning games and getting to that final game of the season. I’m glad Patrick Mahomes is the one leading the Chiefs, but more than likely, opponents are more scared of Jackson, and let them.