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SPORTS Friday 18 January 2019
Pats' Brady, Chiefs' Mahomes achieve success different ways

By DAVE SKRETTA week against Indianapolis
AP Sports Writer — but is just as dangerous
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — in the passing game, where
One of them is a sixth-round his knack for keeping his
pick who married a super- eyes downfield makes him
model, became one of a constant threat.
the greatest quarterbacks "The play is never dead. He
in NFL history and is still go- can find new ways to get
ing strong well past his 41st you the ball," Chiefs tight
birthday. end Travis Kelce said. "It
The other is a first-round may look like a screwball, a
pick who is still dating his slider here or there, but it'll
high school sweetheart, get to you eventually."
has exactly one season as It's edge-of-your seat view-
an NFL starter on his resume ing, unless you're on de-
and just turned 23 earlier fense.
this season. "I mean, on film you see him
Indeed, few similarities ex- not even looking where
ist when it comes to Patri- cards. He moves around More valuable than Brady's Chiefs' first-year starter, and he's throwing," Patriots line-
ots quarterback Tom Brady when he's under pressure physical ability, though, he eclipsed 5,000 yards backer Dont'a Hightower
and Chiefs counterpart but rarely takes off running, may be his mental acuity. though the air, something marveled, "and he's able
Patrick Mahomes, whose and he's as likely to chuck He has an uncanny gift for his counterpart has ac- to hit it, too. He's a very ac-
teams will meet for the AFC the ball into the third row dissecting a defense, find- complished just once. curate quarterback."
title at Arrowhead Stadium on a broken play as take a ing the right matchup and But perhaps most impor- And his arm strength is the
on Sunday. risk downfield. exploiting it to the Patriots' tantly, he led the Chiefs to stuff of legends.
Brady is the suave star with It's an approach that has benefit. a better record than the "His skillset alone is (unique),"
the polished skillset and served him well. Brady's "I haven't seen any de- Patriots to secure home- Hightower said. "He's not as
more postseason experi- never thrown more than 14 cline," Chiefs coach Andy field advantage, and that crafty as Aaron Rodgers,
ence than any QB in his- picks in a season. Reid said. "He sees things means Mahomes will have but Aaron does a great job,
tory, while Mahomes is the He also has one of the fast- even better than when he 80,000 fans behind him with as well, as far as extending
sling-it-anywhere standout est releases in the NFL, and was younger. I'm wearing a shot at the Super Bowl on plays and not looking to
who just one day may take run, but looking to get guys
over the mantle as best in uncovered or moving with
the game. their eyes. There's not a lot
Both get the job done, of quarterbacks that have
even if they do it in very dif- that in their skillset."
ferent ways. There's another skill that
"I don't know about com- Brady and Mahomes share,
parisons," Patriots coach and it's one that might be
Bill Belichick said. "Look, rather unexpected given
Mahomes is an outstand- the vast difference in age
ing player in every facet of and experience: leader-
the game. He's got a strong ship ability. Brady has de-
arm. He can throw the ball veloped it through success.
the length of the field. He Mahomes has established it
has great touch. He has with his demeanor.
the ability to read cover- Different approaches, simi-
ages and extend plays, lar results. "We play against
make good decisions and great players every week.
make explosive plays with- They come in different
out taking too much of a shapes and sizes and dif-
risk or putting his team in ferent skillsets, but they're
jeopardy. all good in their own way.
"He does all of those things They all can create prob-
well," Belichick said, "and lems for us or the oppo-
that's a credit to him." nent, us in this case," Belich-
Brady has a strong arm, ick said. "Again, we'll do the
too, even if it's not what it At left, in a Sept. 23, 2018, file photo, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady throws during best we can this week to
the first half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, in Detroit. At right, in an Oct. 7, 2018,
once was. He still has great file photo, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) throws a pass during the first half try to defend what we can
touch and his ability to of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, in Kansas City, Mo. defend."q
read coverages may be Associated Press
the best in the game, help-
ing him lead the Patriots to
their eighth consecutive Chiefs linebacker Justin glasses and he isn't. The the line.
AFC title game. Houston said Wednesday age hasn't hit him. He's just He's given them plenty of
But that is just about where that getting Brady in third- an amazing guy." thrills already this season.
the similarities end. and-long is perhaps the Then again, so is the kid with Unlike Brady, Mahomes
Brady prefers to stand in most crucial point in stop- the moppy Mohawk stand- thrives when everything
the pocket and deliver the ping him. ing across from him Sunday. collapses around him. He'll
ball the same way a black- "Because if it's third-and- Mahomes matched Brady's throw caution to the wind
jack dealer stands behind short," Houston said, "the best season by throwing 50 and run for a first down — or
his table and distributes ball's coming out fast." touchdown passes as the a touchdown as he did last