Mark Madden: Too early to anoint Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes the G.O.A.T.

Patrick Mahomes put 21 fourth-quarter points on the board to rally Kansas City from a 20-10 deficit and win the Super Bowl. He was a worthy MVP.

He also threw two interceptions and fumbled twice. Mahomes’ performance was clutch. But besides the final 15 minutes, it was hardly vintage.

That hasn’t stopped the post-Super Bowl ballyhoo from being unbearable.

Nick Wright of Fox Sports went off the deep end, saying, “Patrick Mahomes is a Frankenstein’s monster at quarterback. He’s got Rodgers’ arm, Elway’s toughness and escapability, with Brady’s clutch gene … the best arm I’ve ever seen, the best sense of the moment and toughness I’ve ever seen, and the most clutch player I’ve ever seen.

“Mahomes does every single thing you want a quarterback to do at an all-time high level. He’s the most complete quarterback, without a single limitation, we’ve ever seen.”

Wow. Give Mahomes five loaves and two fishes, and he could cater a celebration for all of Kansas City. Give him a slingshot, and he could stop the police chase.

Mahomes is real good and has the qualities listed by Wright. Just perhaps not yet in the mass quantities perceived.

Mahomes has won one Super Bowl. Twelve quarterbacks have won more. A second would tie Mahomes with Jim Plunkett. Perhaps Mahomes should achieve that before he’s crowned the G.O.A.T. (I do concede he already is better than Plunkett.)

Don’t assume too much with Mahomes. Dan Marino reached the Super Bowl in his second season but never returned. Aaron Rodgers and Ben Roethlisberger haven’t been back since 2011, Drew Brees since 2010. “Next big things” like Cam Newton and Matt Ryan reached one Super Bowl, lost, then faded.

Is Mahomes special? Right now, yes. The potential for long-term greatness is there. But let it play out. It often doesn’t.

Kansas City’s championship mostly confirms the NFL has no great teams. The Chiefs are a very good team but not great. Great teams don’t trail by double digits in each of their three playoff games. The Chiefs were resilient above all else.

The bad news locally: It’s tough to imagine the Steelers even competing with the Chiefs, let alone beating them.

Wright wasn’t alone in praising Mahomes to an embarrassing level. It’s media hype, nothing more. You wonder how many of its purveyors really believe it.

On the other side of the coin, Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com boiled down San Francisco’s loss to one missed pass by quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo: namely when he overthrew Emmanuel Sanders late with the Niners down 24-20.

Garoppolo should have made the throw. He had a bad fourth quarter, going 3 for 11 for 36 yards, tossing a pick and taking a sack on fourth down when trailing by four.

Said Florio, “Opportunity knocked loud and hard and clear, and Garoppolo didn’t answer.” Also: “The brass ring is within reach. Do you grab it?”

Wow. Drama much?

Florio suggests the Niners should consider making a change at QB based on Garoppolo’s fourth-quarter failure. Garoppolo went 13-3 and got San Francisco to the Super Bowl in his first full year of starting. Now Florio wants him cut.

Can Florio really believe that? Or is it more media hype? (I bet he believes it.)

It’s too often ignored that in every game played, half of those participating lose. That doesn’t mean analysis after the fact is unneeded or incorrect. But nor are the losers necessarily choking dogs while the victors are covered in glory.

Mahomes threw two interceptions and fumbled twice. After three quarters, Mahomes was the goat, not the G.O.A.T.

Here’s betting Mahomes doesn’t win the Super Bowl next season. Wright will absurdly immortalize somebody else. Florio will kick somebody else when he’s down. That’s not criticism. This is the business we’ve chosen.

One thing is certain: None of next year’s Super Bowl commercials will top this year’s Jeep spot featuring Bill Murray. That groundhog is the G.O.A.T.