Patrick Mahomes is in a rare spot this season and NFL fans are not used to seeing it. The Kansas City Chiefs are slipping in the playoff race, and the usual confidence around Mahomes is starting to shift. That created the perfect moment for Cam Newton to drop a take that instantly grabbed attention. On his show, he suggested that Josh Allen might actually be the game changer the league should be watching this year.
Newton did not stop there. He also questioned whether Mahomes would even have a chance to be Allen’s kryptonite if the Chiefs continue to fall out of the postseason picture.
Cam Newton’s Sharp Comparison Hit A Nerve With Fans Already Questioning The AFC Power Shift
Newton’s comparison struck fans because it came at a moment when the AFC race already felt unsettled. With the Chiefs slipping and the Bills climbing, his comments added a new layer to an already tense conversation about who actually controls the conference. Newton pointed directly at the changing landscape and used Josh Allen as the example of a quarterback rising at the right time.
“Josh Allen’s kryptonite might not have an opportunity to impact him,” Newton said on ESPN’s “First Take” on Monday. “And that’s been Patrick Mahomes.” The line hit instantly because it suggested something few were willing to say out loud. Mahomes might not get the chance to knock out Allen if Kansas City cannot steady itself.
Newton then doubled down by pointing to what makes Allen so dangerous in the postseason. “If he (Allen) has to go to Denver, if he has to go to any other team outside of Arrowhead,” Newton said. “I’m putting my money on Josh Allen because he’s the game changer we all know he can be.” His point was simple. Allen does not need the perfect setup to win and might thrive in tougher environments.
Newton also widened the lens and talked about the league shifting around Mahomes. “Patrick Mahomes has been playing elite ever since he got the starting nod for Kansas City,” Newton said, adding, “Guys around those other teams are picking up their level of play, which will point the finger back at the Kansas City Chiefs to say, ‘Are you guys going to keep staying ahead of the game?’ And that’s going to be the biggest question.”
How One Mahomes Allen Comment Sparked A Debate About NFL Power
Newton’s take opened up a fast and messy debate. Fans jumped in right away with their own read on the AFC, and the reactions were all over the place. Some agreed with him, others said he was reaching, but most agreed the conference suddenly feels wide open.
Plenty of fans backed Newton right away. One wrote, “I agreed with everything Cam said,” while another added, “Interestingly enough he’s right… but we’ll see.” Others felt the AFC has become unpredictable. “In the AFC its anyones year… with that being said incoming Jaguars vs Rams Super Bowl 😂.” But not everyone was convinced that Allen has cleared his biggest obstacles. One fan reminded everyone, “Absolutely not lol did you not just see what the Houston Texans did to him? 😂”

Another tried to clarify the larger point by saying, “Correction: the kryptonite for Josh Allen has been the Chiefs’ defense, not Mahomes. Mahomes has been kryptonite for the Bills defense, in the postseason only. Close.”
Newton’s comments did more than spark a quick argument. They tapped into a larger feeling that the AFC is shifting in real time and that nothing is guaranteed for Mahomes or Allen. Fans may not agree on who holds the power right now, but they agree on one thing. This race feels different, unpredictable, and ready for a surprise.
Published: Dec 9, 2025 07:04 pm