Four NFL Players with the Most to Gain Going Into Championship Sunday
As we get one day closer to Championship Sunday in the NFL, players across all four teams are looking to advance their legacies to new heights. Whether it's Patrick Mahomes trying to get to his fifth straight Super Bowl, or Jayden Daniels trying to do things a rookie has never done, Sunday will give us storylines that will define NFL history. With a division rivalry in the NFC and a playoff rematch, with arguably the two best at their position, Sunday couldn’t come faster for the avid NFL fan. So, as we will look at both games, who has the most to gain? Who can increase their legacy the most, and who won’t be affected by a loss this weekend?
Jayden Daniels
If you’re looking at both games on Sunday, nobody can gain more than the Washington rookie quarterback. Last year, C.J. Stroud was in the discussion for being one of the best rookie quarterbacks ever after winning one game, and this year, Jayden has already won two and has the chance to get to the Super Bowl. If Daniels somehow can put up the MVP numbers he has throughout the playoffs and take out the Eagles, we may be looking at not only the best rookie season ever but with the potential to be the best quarterback ever. The Commanders struggled last season, going just 4-12 on the season, so the 12-5 record would’ve been enough, considering many thought getting any farther would be impossible. Every week, Daniels continues to impress, outplaying Jared Goff in last week’s upset over the Lions and Baker Mayfield the week before. I don’t know how many people will say it, but if Jayden manages to win this game and the Super Bowl, people might start discussing the best in the league, with Daniels going one-on-one to start his career.
Jalen Hurts
When talking about the success of the Eagles this year, almost no credit has been given to Jalen Hurts. Every time the topic is brought up after their funk last year, people talk about Vic Fangio and their defense or the re-emergence of Saquon Barkley. People seem to forget Hurts’ season from two seasons ago when Jalen almost managed to beat Mahomes in the Super Bowl after outplaying him on the NFL’s biggest stage. Even though Hurts’ stats haven’t been near what they were then, a huge performance by Jalen in this weekend’s game and the Super Bowl could vault him back into the top five conversations we saw him in previously. Hurts was more blamed for last year than almost anyone besides the defense, so being able to play through his injury at a high level this weekend would definitely vault the respect for him as a player back to where it used to be.
Josh Allen
When we talk about the ability to overtake Mahomes as the best quarterback in the league, Josh Allen has by far the best chance to do so. Allen has been in constant close battles with Mahomes over the past couple of years, and while he is ahead in the regular season matchups, he has yet to beat the Chiefs star quarterback in the playoffs. While the two quarterbacks have had some of the best playoff matchups we can remember, Allen has always come up short. It isn’t a debate this year who has had the better season between the two, as Mahomes’ off-season to his standards doesn’t even compare to the MVP-caliber season by Allen. Josh’s new maturity to not make the errand throws has decreased his stats as out late, but it’s led to winning, so I doubt he cares. If Allen can manage to keep winning and surpass Mahomes in this game, it would almost certainly lead to in-depth discussions on the league’s best quarterback, even without the MVP.
Patrick Mahomes
Going into this weekend, Mahomes has only one thing to gain, a chance at a three-peat, and one of the few quarterbacks ever to make five straight Super Bowls. Mahomes honestly might have more to lose than win, but a win and another Super Bowl appearance definitely wouldn’t hurt a legacy. Mahomes has already separated himself in terms of legacy as the Chiefs star is chasing Tom Brady and Joe Montana, not the best quarterback in the league discussion. No matter what happens in these next couple weeks, people are still gonna say Mahomes is the best in the league, and have a valid argument for it. No quarterback in NFL history has ever three-peated though, so if Mahomes can give himself the opportunity while beating the one quarterback people say might be better than him, Mahomes will once again silence any doubters who criticize his regular season as he will just keep winning in KC.
