SINGLE-MINDED PATRICK MAHOMES has a second successive Super Bowl win in his crosshairs as the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback prepares to face the great Tom Brady’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
All eyes will be on the Raymond James Stadium this Sunday as the reigning champions roll into town looking to prevent the record-breaking 43-year-old former New England Patriots star winning a seventh ring.
The sight of Brady hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy aloft would bring a sense of familiarity at the end of a strange NFL season, but Mahomes is determined to flourish in Florida and build on last year’s triumph at Super Bowl LIV.
“The goal is to win as many Super Bowls as possible and be playing this game every single year,” the supremely talented 25-year-old said.
“So, I’m going to have that mindset every single time I hit the field as I’m trying to win it.
“We don’t look that far ahead. I’m focused on this game right now, trying to win this second Super Bowl and be able to hold that Lombardi Trophy and have that second ring.
“But if I’m at the end of my career and I had a lot of Super Bowl rings on my hand, I’ll be happy.”
Mahomes attempted to brush aside any focus on one day being put in the same bracket as Brady, who is widely considered the greatest to have played the game as he prepares for his 10th Super Bowl appearance.
The Chiefs quarterback understands the fascination with his clash with the Bucs veteran on Sunday but is not getting wrapped up in it.
“I mean as far as the chatter goes, you understand why the talk is that’s all here and you understand how great Tom Brady is that it’s a big game to play in a Super Bowl against him,” Mahomes said.
“But at the end of the day, this is another football game.”
Asked if he played the game to be greatest ever and what role this Sunday could play in his long-term legacy, the Chiefs quarterback said after a pause: “Yeah, I mean, it’s a big question.
“For me I focus on the now, what I can control, and that’s going out there and being the best player, and the best team-mate that I can be on Super Bowl Sunday.
“That’s going to take great practices during the week and that’s going to take the best effort I could possibly give on Sunday. It’s going to be a great game with two great teams. If I leave everything I have on the field for my team-mates at the end of the day I’ll be happy.”
The Chiefs are attempting to become the first team to win back-to-back Super Bowls since the Brady-led Patriots in 2003 and 2004.
Few teams in history have achieved the feat but there is a drive for excellence within the locker room that complements the talent driving Andy Reid’s team forwards.
“I think the thing I’m most proud of is that no one has become satisfied,” Mahomes said. “No one’s become happy with winning one Super Bowl championship.
“I mean, everybody’s trying to make themselves better every single day and not trying to take a day for granted.
“You don’t have that in every single organisation and every single locker room, and I think that’s just come from the culture that Brett Veach (Chiefs general manager) and coach Reid have kind of instilled in us and that’s to get better at least one per cent every single day.
“That’s why I think we’re in this game, and we have a chance for another Super Bowl championship.”
The Chiefs’ third ever Super Bowl victory would be an great way to start what is shaping up to be quite a month or so for Mahomes as his fiancee Brittany is expecting their first child.
“We’re extremely ready, we’re excited,” he said. “We have all the things planned out and every single gadget and toy you can have to be great parents.
“But at the same I’m trying to tell her to hold off until after the game!
“But whenever it happens it happens but if we can wait to maybe a few weeks after the game that would probably be ideal.”
In other news: the laws around the breakdown, lineout and offside line have been abolished.
Saracens win then! Him and Barnes are in a league of their own for blinkers.
@David Coyne: get your excuses in early
@David Coyne: Barnes is actually one of the best out there these days.
@Bungee Aky:
Did not expect to see you on here after Jim took your head off the other day ?? Did you Email him and say sorry !! You know he is having a good laugh at you !!
Has not been kind to irish teams so far this year
Not sure who this suits more but I suspect that the more cynical team at the breakdown will be rewarded.
@Jim Demps: suits Sarries I’d say as Garces as red means no offside and free for at rucks
@Conor Sexton: have you watched Leinster recently? Furlong and Fardy haven’t been legal at rucktime in an age. The only ruck I remember furlong staying on his feet for this season was the one he put Cloete on a stretcher at. Saracens are no angels at the ruck but neither are Leinster.
@Jim Demps: I don’t know whether to laugh or to pity you when I see how bitter you are towards Leinster. Read Nietzsche and set yourself free!
@Andrew Hurley: yawn. Not bitter at all, I’ll be supporting them in Newcastle. You going?
@Jim Demps: No, why?
@Andrew Hurley: thought you might make the effort to actually go to a game. You’re a leinster fan right? Or are you just anti munster?I could have pointed out all the finer points of the sport to you that you wouldn’t know having not played it.
@Andrew Hurley:
Ask him if he played ::and to what level since he is making fun of your participation in the game, he is having a go at you.
“The only ruck I remember furlong staying on his feet for this season was the one he put Cloete on a stretcher ” he must have said that at least 10 times over the last Month. Then he says” I’ll be supporting them in Newcastle.” not a chance will he !!
@Jim Demps: I go to plenty of games of rugby dear Jim. You’re such a fanboy, and so typical of a Munster fan (but I don’t think you see why).
Another insult to genuine rugby followers from the powers that be. This guy should have been put out to grass a long time ago. I hope Leinster can cope with Saracens illegal tactics because Garces will let them away with everything.
@Peter O’ Dowd: it’s up to both teams to play the referee. While Saracens have the advantage of already experiencing him and his interpretation of the laws already, the onus is on leinster to figure out what they will and will not be allowed get away with – which was a lot – I’m sure they have the experience to adapt accordingly
@Norris Kevin: fair point and it’s not as if Garces has never refereed any of the Leinster lads before. Stu and Leo will do their homework on the ref and what they need to watch out for!
@Norris Kevin: The ref should be fair and impartial & should apply the laws of rugby. It should not be up to the contestants to figure out what laws the ref will not apply n the day. If Saracens continue to cheat at the breakdown Leinster should take the law into their own hands.
@Locojoe: all very true in theory but referees are human and the laws can be ambiguously interpreted at times (e.g – deliberately weeling a scrum, clearing out etc) All you can ask from a referee is that he applies his interpretation of the laws consistently to both sides. In this day and age, teams prepare for games and also for the ref.
If he referees the final the way he did the semi then the ruck is going to be a free for all again. At least Leinster now have a template to work off and can plan accordingly.
@Eddie Hekenui: He’s a great referee, the best team always wins when he refs. Only Barnes close to him at a world level.
@Andrew Hurley: I’m guessing by that you mean Saracens were the better team and his performance had no impact on the result and if so that would be correct. Saying the best teams always win when he refs is a nonsense statement. The best team tend to win 99% of games. But he has made bad decisions in big games that have cost teams. Ask Gloucester fans for their opinion on him after he cost them a European title last season.
He is a very good referee but like all referee’s they have flaws. He doesn’t take full advantage of the tools at his disposal (namely the touch judges and TMO) and he can let the breakdown turn into a mess.
@Eddie Hekenui: I think he’s excellent and doesn’t try to be the headline in a match (like Barnes years ago and Owens throughout his career). Matches always better to watch when he refs, I think Ge’s an absolute treasure.
Very disappointing! A compensationary token to French Rugby? Could ruin the game as a spectacle as synical play will dominate.
Not good news about Garces, he does not see the offside, Itoge is off most of the time
Ah facksticks, it was going to be hard enough
Irish rugby football fans have to accept that Nigel Owens can’t referee every match involving the national team or a provincial franchise.
@Treaty Bhoy: just as well, Owens has been poor for a while now. While he is decisive he is often factually wrong. Would have preferred Poite or Raynal myself.
@Kevin Colman: Agreed, I don’t rate Owens as a ref either.
It’s just certain elements within Irish rugby football think the sun shines out of “Nigel.” I know he gives the Irish national and provincial sides plenty of decisions so that’s why they idolise him but I think he makes it more about him than the two teams, the stupid attention seeking gags about soccer etc.
@Treaty Bhoy:
I would be very happy with him as my ref, still one of the best in the world. Also Billy would be stopped from all that illegal running over players ::he would stop him from doing that (with a smile on his face)
He let’s a good contest at the breakdown. So we need to be on the sarries ball and commit numbers to defend our own properly. Not overly worried as Sarries dont have an out and out 7 but the do have an effective back row
@Dean Soady:
Players going in off their feet and from the side is a common occurrence in top14 rugby, at least we know what to expect from him and can be prepared
It was always going to be a Frenchman, but I would have preferred to see Poite in charge. Is Raynal injured?
Would you every all stop with your complaining, he’s a consistent ref, it’s up to the teams to play within his approach of the game, and they have plenty of time to get ready, he is not as prone to a howler as other refs are and won’t be the reason any particular team loses the game.
His approach to the breakdown is more lenient than other refs, but he always favors the team with the ball so whoever wins the possession game will also win the penalty count and in a final which will be a super tight affair that is huge.
@Bungee Aky:
Are you OK Bungee Aky ?? Jim is not a nice person and he should not be laughing at you. I don’t agree with you much of the time but you are a Rugby man and that is enough for me !!
Well another Irish side for a roasting – he clearly impressed Saracens
Is there a dictat to referees from the authorities to keep games flowing at any cost? Watching both semi finals I couldn’t help but think that is the case. The rules regarding the breakdown are not being enforced. Side entry, clearing beyond the ruck, offside at the breakdown are not being policed at all. Has there been a rule change or are the ref’s just not policing it anymore? It’s bloody infuriating!