2⁄3 of fans would rather have Patrick Mahomes for a comeback drive than Tom Brady

My dad may be a man of few words, but occasionally he’ll still crank out an all-time knowledge bomb like this:

“Yes, everybody can have their own opinion, but that doesn’t mean your opinion can’t be wrong.”

(This line was also dropped on me when I was maybe in second grade, so in hindsight that might explain a lot)

That’s today’s relevant dad quote because on Friday, SB Nation ran the following hypothetical that’s normally settled over brews and a giant shared plate of something deep-fried and covered with enough cheese to make sure American cheese never dies despite millennials trying to kill it:

Would you rather have Tom Brady or Patrick Mahomes leading a game-winning drive in 2018?

Like any good “would you rather?”, we need to set some terms here.

So after Mahomes’ hot start and Brady’s sudden re-entry to the orbit of merely good quarterbacks, it’s no longer such a stretch to ask which player you’d rather have in 2018. But let’s take it a step farther. Your team is trailing by four points. There are 90 seconds on the clock. They’ve got two timeouts and the ball at their own 8-yard line.

Who would you rather give the ball to: Mahomes or Brady?

So, same as we’ve been arguing for the last 15 years with Brady & Manning, got it.

I still have a few questions though. Since we’re talking present-day Brady and Mahomes, does that also mean they’re throwing to their current respective wideouts and tight ends and running backs? Or are they both throwing to the same hypothetical skill position players, like a fantasy team or Madden Ultimate Team type situation? Same thing for the offensive line. Are they playing in the cold? Am I overanalyzing this? Is this why Tinder DMs are so hard? Do I sound like Bill Simmons right now?

Anyway.

Here’s how it shook out, and at about 1300 votes and counting, this looks like a wrap:

Yes, that is what it looks like: almost two-thirds of the voters are picking Patrick Mahomes.

Now, we’re not here to roast anybody or anything, but let’s just take a look at this one little bit of I’m-not-saying-I’m-just-saying from why SBN’s Adam Stites on why he’d roll Mahomes:

Brady was on the sideline as Nick Foles orchestrated a 14-play touchdown drive that took about seven minutes and gave the Eagles a 38-33 lead. The GOAT of comebacks was given 2:21 to do his trademark magic and he promptly fumbled on the second play. The Patriots defense held the Eagles to a field goal and he got one more crack at it with 58 seconds, but he couldn’t quite get it done.

Does that mean he’s washed? No. But is Brady the comeback wizard he was 10 years ago? It’s only logical to assume he’s not quite the same guy.

Ten years ago? Man, if only Brady had a significant comeback win since 2008. Brutal.

Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

That would really make this discussion much easier. You know, something Team Brady could point to and be like “THIS!”

Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Especially if Brady had set a record of some kind for deficits overcome in a championship game and then broken his own record recently. Man, that would really be a big ol’ check mark in the Brady column here.

Alas. The people have spoken.

There is good news, though! With Sunday’s primetime showdown over/under currently sitting at 58.5, there’s a good chance we’ll have this exact situation settled right around the same time the Red Sox are hopefully wrapping up a 2-0 series lead against the Astros.