Former Pro Bowler likens Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes to Neo in ‘The Matrix’
For people of a certain age, it may seem odd to know the USA basketball team at the Olympics once was comprised of amateur players.
But starting with the 1992 Games, the United States fielded its first team with NBA players, including Bulls stars Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, Celtics forward Larry Bird, Lakers guard Magic Johnson and Spurs center David Robinson.
With Charles Barkley, Clyde Drexler, Karl Malone, Patrick Ewing and other stars, the U.S. squad was dubbed the Dream Team.
NFL Network analyst Shaun O’Hara, a three-time Pro Bowl center who won a Super Bowl with the New York Giants, called the Chiefs offense the Dream Team after Kansas City thumped Baltimore 34-20 on Monday night.
“We watched on Sunday (Seattle’s) Russell Wilson throw five touchdown passes, then (Green Bay’s) Aaron Rodgers go off as well, and you say, ‘Man is anybody playing better at the quarterback position than those two guys?’ And then (Chiefs quarterback Patrick) Mahomes comes in on Monday night and lights it up,” O’Hara said. “Yeah he looked like Superman, he looked like the Man of Steel. Mahomes, I mean everything that he does, it just feels like the game is in slow motion for him. He’s like Neo in ‘The Matrix.’”
Unfamiliar with that reference? Well, Neo seemed to defy gravity and move at amazing speeds in “The Matrix.”
“His ability to throw the ball before the receiver is even breaking open, I mean that ball’s coming out and Tyreek Hill is on the 10-yard line and it’s dropping in the bucket at the back of the end zone, just like that,” O’Hara said. “He’s making Anthony Sherman, the fullback, a viable option with a little underhand creative throw. I mean even threw a touchdown pass to his left tackle Eric Fisher, so I don’t think anybody’s having more fun while playing that position any better than Patrick Mahomes right now. And this offense is ridiculous, it’s not even fair. It’s like a dream team right now. You went out and pluck the best player at every single position. They seem to have it.”
While O’Hara praised the Chiefs offense, DeAngelo Hall, a three-time Pro Bowl cornerback with Atlanta and Washington, was impressed with the defense. Hall said defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo should be considered for a future head-coaching job in the NFL.
“Hats off to just Steve Spagnuolo,” Hall said. “You talk about a guy who put a hell of a game plan together ... I tell you what, it seemed like every time the Ravens brought in a different package, Kansas City was subbing out guys, subbing in guys. ...
“I don’t know why he’s not mentioned as being the next head football coach somewhere because I mean those guys were playing. We’re used to Baltimore coming out physically intimidating people on defense and the Kansas City Chiefs from the moment that game kicked off, I mean, they came to play. ...
“So the Kansas City Chiefs, you know that offense is explosive and we know who they are. But I tell you what, if that defense keeps playing like that, they’re gonna be unstoppable.”
Here is the clip of Hall and O’Hara talking about the Chiefs:
