Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson won’t be one another’s direct opposition Sunday during the AFC championship game. But they know that when Mahomes’ Chiefs travel to Baltimore to play Jackson’s Ravens – despite the quality defenses on both sides – the competition between each other is juicier than the matchup at large.

On Wednesday, Jackson used familiar imagery to illustrate what is at stake – beyond a Super Bowl berth – in the first postseason edition of Mahomes vs. Jackson.

“I believe just two greats – up-and-coming greats – just going toe to toe, like a heavyweight fight. Heavyweight matchup,” Jackson said. “That’s just what I see.”

Except this is something historic. These are two quarterbacks who have both had roles in revolutionizing the position. They are firmly in the prime of their careers. When Mahomes played Tom Brady in the AFC title game and then the Super Bowl, it was the last of the old guard going against the new star. Jackson turned 27 earlier this month. Mahomes is 28. There is no generational divide.

Never before has a conference championship game featured two former MVP winners at quarterback under the age of 30. Jackson is about to match Mahomes with two such trophies. Once that happens, they’ll have captured four of the past six MVP honors.

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“He’s going to be the MVP for a reason,” Mahomes said this week. “He goes out there, he leads his team, he scores, he runs, he throws, he does whatever it takes to win, and that’s what the greats do.”

Jackson was equally effusive of Mahomes.

“Definitely a Hall of Famer – it’s a no-brainer,” Jackson said, “he’s definitely a Hall of Famer.”

And no, Jackson does not necessarily look forward to playing against Mahomes.

“I don’t like competing against him at all,” Jackson said followed by a laugh.

Their words explain why Sunday’s game has the making of an all-time classic. If both Mahomes and Jackson play to their ceiling – and we are to believe the law of human nature that special people rise to the occasion – then football fans are in for the sweetest treat.  

“I think the biggest thing you like to see in another quarterback is how they improve every single year,” Mahomes said. “Obviously, everybody has talked about his running, but you can see how he’s developed as a passer. Throwing from within the pocket, arm angles, making the accurate throw in big situations and big moments. That’s what the great quarterbacks do.”

In front of them are the two toughest tasks each of them will face this year. Mahomes has yet to face a defense like Baltimore’s. Jackson has yet to battle a unit quite like Kansas City’s.

They have both brought out the best in each other before. The first meeting, in 2018, was a 27-24 Chiefs overtime victory. Mahomes’ completion to Tyreek Hill on 4th-and-9 for 41 yards was one of the earliest signs of his greatness. Kansas City tied the game with less than two minutes remaining and then won it in OT.

Reaching an AFC championship game has proven to be the norm for Mahomes and the Chiefs, who have done it six years in a row. They neutralize the randomness each NFL season because of No. 15. For the seedings and results to have worked out so that Jackson could take a shot at his contemporary on this stage is special. And it will be memorable.

“Obviously, I don’t want (Jackson) to play great this weekend,” Mahomes said. “But I am glad to see where he’s gotten to.”

In 2021, Jackson and the Ravens won a nailbiter, 36-35. Jackson had two fourth-quarter rushing touchdowns to erase the 11-point deficit the Ravens faced entering the fourth.

“I knew we were going to play in a lot of games like this as our careers go,” Mahomes said, “and I’m sure this will be the first of many.”

Sign us up.