A story about Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes begins with something I have written about before: I watch Colin Cowherd every day.

If I work from home, I make sure to have his TV show on in the background. If I am working in the school building, I listen to his Twitter clips while wrapping up the day or home. I agree with some things, and some I scratch my head-on, but that is my guy.

One of the things Cowherd has banged his fist on the table about has been Josh Allen's emergence.

Josh Allen has quarterbacked the Buffalo Bills to back-to-back NFL Playoffs appearances. The Bills finished with a 13-3 regular-season record and just defeated the Indianapolis Colts last Wild Card weekend this season.

Cowherd has stated that Josh Allen is in the same league as Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. I realized statically; he may have a point. The Bills finished just one game back of Kansas City, and he made tremendous jumps from 2019 to 2020.

Josh Allen threw for 4,544 yards, 37 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions on a 68.8 percent completion rate. Compare his numbers to 2019: 3.089 yards passing, 20 touchdowns, and nine interceptions on the 58.8 percent completion rate. The gains are tremendous.

We know Mahomes puts up superstar numbers (4,740 yards passing, 38 touchdowns, and six interceptions on a 66.3 percent completion rate.) However, Mahomes has put up superstar numbers since he has started in the league. So is Josh Allen ready to surpass Mahomes in the NFL Playoffs? He could, but the first step is winning Saturday's matchup against the Baltimore Ravens.

Then, if the Chiefs win Sunday, Josh Allen must lead the Bills to a victory over the Chiefs next week. Unless he meets those qualifications, then the answer is no.

Do not get this confused: Josh Allen has made the jump to stardom. The tutelage from Brian Daboll has paid dividends. But Mahomes has been a superstar since he first became the starting quarterback for the Chiefs. And he also has an MVP, a Super Bowl, three Pro Bowls, and two All-Pro's to his name.

Josh Allen has just made his foray into NFL accolade territory this year.

To surpass Mahomes, Josh Allen first needs to get the conversation started. He must start it by defeating the Lamar Jackson-led Ravens in a duel that will not be easy. If he meets Mahomes in the AFC Championship, THEN we can have a discussion. But that gives no guarantee that he will officially surpass Mahomes. On his level? Maybe.

It reminds me of when Kevin Durant and the Golden State Warriors beat LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2017. Sure, Durant was mentioned in the same vein as LeBron James, and some wondered if he was better. But the conversation stopped there: LeBron was still the king. It may play out the same for Josh Allen in the debate with Mahomes. Yes, we can talk about it. But it may not change Mahomes position.