In the realm of the NFL, Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs have reigned supreme with an iron grip, securing three Super Bowl triumphs within the last five years. It’s a dominance that hasn’t gone unnoticed, as evidenced by Cincinnati Bengals’ quarterback Joe Burrow recently hailing them as “the gold standard right now.”
Burrow’s admiration for the Chiefs is understandable given their impressive track record. As he noted in a conversation with ESPN’s Ben Baby, the Chiefs have made six consecutive appearances in the AFC championships and have clinched four out of the last five Super Bowls.
For the Bengals, their journey intersected with the Chiefs’ dynasty when they defeated Kansas City in the 2021 AFC Championship, briefly halting what could have been a five-year streak of AFC titles for the Chiefs.
Despite a formidable challenge the following year, the Bengals narrowly missed out on another victory in the conference title game, with the Chiefs ultimately securing a win with a last-minute field goal.
The anticipation of a potential trilogy between the Chiefs and Bengals in the AFC championship game was palpable, but Burrow’s preseason calf injury put a damper on those hopes. Although he displayed flashes of brilliance during the season, a torn wrist ligament prematurely ended his campaign after just 10 games.
However, with Burrow poised for a healthy return, the Bengals are primed to reclaim their spot in the AFC hierarchy. While the Chiefs may currently hold the mantle as the gold standard, they face formidable competition from a slew of teams and elite quarterbacks eager to dethrone them.
Indeed, Mahomes has established himself as a nearly insurmountable force on the field. His playoff losses have largely been at the hands of legendary figures like seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady and the exceptional talent of Burrow. Yet, aside from these rare setbacks, Mahomes has guided his team to Super Bowl glory.
Another Super Bowl victory would cement Mahomes’ legacy among the NFL’s greatest quarterbacks, placing him alongside luminaries such as Brady, Joe Montana, and Terry Bradshaw, who have all won four or more Super Bowls as starting quarterbacks.
