As Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs prepare for their third consecutive Super Bowl appearance, NFL fans are expressing sympathy for the Buffalo Bills and their star quarterback, Josh Allen.
The Chiefs have a chance to make history in New Orleans on February 9 by winning their third straight Super Bowl, a feat that has come at the expense of Allen, who has faced Mahomes and the Chiefs four times in the postseason without a victory.
Despite being an MVP frontrunner alongside Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson this season, Allen has struggled to lead the Bills back to the Super Bowl for the first time in over 30 years.
His postgame interview following the Chiefs’ nail-biting 32-29 victory was filled with raw emotion, as he appeared dejected and offered short responses.
Former NFL star Brandon Marshall analyzed Allen’s challenge of facing Mahomes, comparing it to legendary athletes in other sports. “Sometimes you run into a Michael Jordan. Sometimes you run into a Tiger Woods in their prime, and you got to deal with it,” Marshall remarked while discussing his new venture with “I Am Athlete,” in partnership with Revolt.
“If these guys can pull off one or two, then that’s what they can do. But [Mahomes] has been in the league for eight years and has been to the Super Bowl five times,” he added. “Great job, Josh Allen, but this is the wrong era to be a quarterback.”
Marshall clarified that his comments were not a slight against Allen, Jackson, Joe Burrow, or even C.J. Stroud, whose Houston Texans fell to the Chiefs in the divisional round.
He drew parallels to other sports, noting that even the great Karl Malone could not overcome Michael Jordan and the Bulls in their two NBA Finals matchups. Similarly, during Tiger Woods’ prime, many golfers accepted that finishing second was an accomplishment given Woods’ dominance.
Marshall characterized Mahomes and the Chiefs as a “once-in-a-lifetime” sports phenomenon, emphasizing that their success is not solely due to Mahomes. “It shows Andy Reid’s greatness, and they both need to be in the conversation of the greatest quarterback and coach of all time, alongside Tom Brady and Bill Belichick,” he stated.
Marshall also highlighted the impact of defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, who transformed a previously struggling defense into a top-10 unit since joining in 2018. “He’s still spectacular and magical, but he doesn’t need to go out there and put up 40 points,” Marshall explained. “He doesn’t even need Tyreek Hill.”
Despite Allen’s impressive postseason statistics against the Chiefs—931 total yards, nine touchdowns, and no interceptions—he has yet to secure a victory in those matchups.
Marshall’s insights reflect the unfortunate reality of sports: greatness often comes at the cost of others. As Mahomes and the Chiefs aim for history against the Philadelphia Eagles, the spotlight remains on the formidable challenge that Allen faces in his pursuit of a Super Bowl title.
PUSHING BOUNDARIES WITH REVOLT
Marshall is excited about the potential of his “I Am Athlete” platform, especially with its partnership with Revolt, a Black-owned multimedia platform that recently launched Revolt Sports. Together with media personality Kayla Nicole, he will co-host Revolt Sports Weekly, featuring unscripted discussions on sports and cultural topics.
The inaugural episode showcased Marshall’s former UCF teammates, Josh “Beezo” Bellamy and Mike Sims-Walker, who discussed the NFL’s conference championship matchups and broader cultural issues, including community reactions to rapper Big Meech’s upcoming welcome back party after 16 years in prison.
Marshall believes in the importance of authentic conversations about sports and culture that resonate with the community. “’I Am Athlete’ lives at the intersection of hip-hop and sports,” he said, promising engaging discussions on the hottest topics in sports and pop culture.