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Being mainly a Motorsports historian, I can tell you that the biggest arguments in the sport are always "if X in 1958 and Y in 2004 were in the same car, who would have won?" In team sports of course, the biggest argument usually is "Who was the best team of all time?" The best player, however, is difficult to judge. There are so many positions with wildly varying responsibilities and thousands of aspects and variables. But once in a while, a rivalry among players that play the same position in the same era comes along. Staubach and Bradshaw, or Bird and Magic, or my favorite of Senna and Prost. Maybe we are even seeing the beginning of Trout vs. Harper. But the most intriguing rivalry of this century in football, and really all of American sports, is Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. The Manning camp will argue that Peyton completely dominates Brady in all aspects of regular season statistics. This is not entirely true seeing as Peyton has played 45 more games than Brady and has had better receivers over the years as he most certainly does right now by a wide margin. They will also argue that Bradys first 3 Super Bowls came when the defense mattered more than the offense for the Patriots. This is true, except A. Brady didnt screw any of those 3 Super Bowl runs up, and B. if it was the defense that mostly mattered those 3 years, then you the Manning camp are saying Brady was just a mediocre Quarterback that got lucky to Be the Quarterback. Except, since there has been not much of a defense in New England, and the Patriots had to rely on Brady to win for them, Brady has been a prolific statistical Quarterback, and taken them to 5 more AFC Championship Games. The Brady camp can argue that Tom crushes Manning in the only statistic that counts winning the game. One must remember that the task of a Quarterback is to lead his team to a win. It is not to accumulate amazing statistics for the record books (Alla Drew Brees and Dan Marino). It is a position which has a job description of motivating the team and putting a "W" in the box at all costs, and Tom Bradys competitiveness is unquestionable. Peyton Mannings Knowledge of the position is probably better than anyone in history, and his pure mechanics are probably better than anyone in history. But those 2 traits dont make you the Greatest. They make it easier for you to Be the Greatest; but Peyton has not gotten the job down when it matters. Let's look at how the argument is almost no longer "Is Tom Brady better than Peyton Manning?". It is how much more does Tom have to accomplish to be The Greatest of All-Time. You Will see how many Records Tom Brady already holds over Joe Montana and others. Note: I am a long-time 49ers fan who loves Joe Montana like a God and who just loves statistics. Tom Brady has done things in his life that I hope I nor anyone in my family will ever do. I have no allegiance; but I will say the more and more I researched this, the more I realized how obvious the answer was. I am sure you will too.
I thought this section needed to be added from my original report as so many people are recently (during 2013 into 2014) commiserating about how Tom Brady has apparently not been clutch as of late, and has had terrible games with the outcome of going 8-7 in his last 15 playoff games. But when you analyze each game carefully, he has only had 2 truly atrocious games. The only fact involved, is that they have been of recent times. I would consider an atrocious game to be one where you can almost solely put the blame of the loss on the Quarterback, though I looked at games where Brady and Manning won the game as well (for example: Bradys performance in the 2012 AFC Championship win was not even good):
Tom Brady has only 2 Atrocious Games in his playoff career The 2009 Divisional Playoff Game against Baltimore, and the 2012 AFC Championship Game against Baltimore. Many of his games could be considered mediocre, but you would have to dive very deep into which games were mediocre because he was being a game manager (such as in the 2013 Divisional game against Indianapolis) or because he was in fact mediocre. The other 5 losses in his career were as much about things Out of his hands as it was In his hands. In 25 playoff games he has only had 6 Late Game / Critical Interceptions and 2 of those 6 were in garbage time when the Patriots were behind by two scores and he was just trying to sling the ball and get something to happen. Thats only 4 truly bad passes in 25 games.
Furthermore, one could make an argument for both of those games, that it wasnt entirely Bradys fault either, as in the 2009 game, Baltimore was up 14-0 within fewer than 2 minutes, and in the 2012 game, 8 starters were out of the game with injury about halfway through the game.
Peyton Manning has had 6 Atrocious Games (Please Note that we will go into greater details of Peytons playoff
games later) - 1999 against Tennessee (6 three / four-and-outs when the Colts only needed 1 FG anywhere in the game to tie) - 2002 against the New York Jets (The Colts scored 0 points. Thats Zero points) - 2003 AFC Championship Game against the Patriots (Peyton had 4 Interceptions, 2 of them late) - 2007 against the Chargers (Peyton had 2 Interceptions closing in on a Touchdown, and had 2 chances with under 5
minutes left in the game to score a Touchdown and win the game, but failed both times)
- 2009 Super Bowl against New Orleans (Critical Interception for a New Orleans Touchdown on the drive to tie the game.
A Pick 6 late in a Super Bowl on game-tying or game-winning drive is the single most unclutch thing a Quarterback can do)
- 2012 against Baltimore (The MVP for the 4th time that year, but even with not 1 but 2 Special Teams Touchdowns to
help him, Peyton can only manage to keep the game a tie by the end of regulation, in part, because of a Pick 6 Interception he threw during the game. In Overtime, Peyton threw another Interception which sealed the loss. Manning also decided to run out the clock near the end of regulation with a timeout still in hand instead of trying a few plays)
In only 21 playoff games he has had 8 Late Game / Critical Interceptions while 2 of those 8 were in garbage time when the Colts were behind by two scores and he was just trying to sling the ball and get something to happen. Thats 6 truly bad passes in 21 games: to Bradys 4 in 25.
A. In 45 Less Games, Tom Brady has 9 less 4th Quarter Comebacks, and 9 less Game-Winning Drives. Hence theyre pretty much dead even. B. In the Postseason, Tom Brady has 4 4th Quarter Comebacks and 7 Game-Winning Drives while Peyton has ONE of EACH!? Both stats coming from the 2006 AFC Championship. One?? Well there it is again. The Regular Season Peyton Manning vs. Postseason Peyton Manning rearing its ugly head again. That old trick for the Manning camp didnt work out at all. Off to the n ext argument. Though it is amazing for all the media talk concerning these 2 statistics in Peytons favor, that they are actually Not in Peytons favor. And you certainly never hear about 7/4 vs. 1/1. If I hadnt written this article, I would have never realized that.
**Note that Joe Montana had 4 One-and-Done's in the 11 times he brought his team to the playoffs. Brady has only 2 One-and-Done's in the 11 times he has brought his team to the playoffs. Better than Joe Montana.
Before one even thinks about how many records Peyton has in the Regular Season, remember that he has 8 one-anddone's in his playoff career. Eight. What's the point of bringing your team to the playoffs 13 times out of 15 years when 8 of the 13 years you don't make it past the first game?
**Tom Brady has the RECORD for the Highest Regular Season And Overall Winning Percentage among Any Quarterback in NFL History. Higher than Roger Staubach and Joe Montana, and he's played more games than them as well, so it is 100% relevant.
Despite playing in 3 less seasons (45 Less Total Games), Tom Brady has only 11 fewer wins than Manning, and 34 fewer losses. Talk all you want about Peyton Manning's Regular Season Prowess, which is about all Peyton fans have to hold on to, even though as we have said, what is the point of being good when the games don't mean everything; but Tom Brady still trumps Peyton Manning for Career Winning Percentage. Again, the Best All-Time, and we're just getting started.
**1999 Colts Record: 13-3 Playoff Game: After leading the Colts to their first 13 win season since moving to Indianapolis, the Colts had its third lowest output of the season, while Manning completed only 19 of 43 passes for 227 yards and 0 TD's. His 60.9 passer rating was his lowest of the season and the offense has 6 Three / Four and Outs even though they just needed 3 mor e points to tie. Colts Lose - 16-19
2000 Colts Record: 10-6 Playoff Game: Manning went 17 of 32, with 194 yards and 1 TD. The Colts put up 10 fewer points than their regular season average, and it was their second lowest scoring output of the season. Colts Lose - 17-23, in Overtime.
**2002 Colts Record: 10-6 Playoff Games: After beating the 9-7 Jets in the first round and with 4,200 passing yards during the regular season, Manning played the single worst statistical game of his entire career, going 14 for 31, with 137 yards, 0 TDs, 2 INTs and a career-low 31.2 passer rating. The Colts score 0 Points. Colts Lose - 0-41.
**2003 Colts Record: 12-4 Playoff Games: Got through Denver and Kansas City. Then at the Conference Championship playing Brady and the Patriots, Manning threw 4 interceptions and posted the third lowest passer rating of his entire career at 35.5. 2 of the Interceptions were late in the game. Colts Lose - 14-24.
2004 Colts Record: 12-4 Playoff Games: They can't lose here. Manning entered the playoffs with an unstoppable offensive unit that posted the fifth most points in NFL history. He set the record for the most touchdown passes in a season with 49, and shattered the single-season passer rating record with a mark of 121.1. The Colts defeated Denver easily, but when it came time to face New England, Manning and his offense put up one field goal. One field goal. It was their lowest offensive output since the 2002 playoff loss to the Jets, as just mentioned, where they lost 0-41. Furthermore, this was Manning's worst game of the season, completing 27 of 42 for 238 yards with 0 TDs and 1 INT, for a passer rating of 69.3. Colts Lose - 3-20.
**2007 Colts Record: 13-3 Playoff Game: Manning was 33/48, 402 yards, 3 TD's, 2 INTs, and a 97.7 passer rating, but failed when it mattered. Both interceptions were before potential Touchdowns. Late in the game down by less than a touchdown, Peyton had a 1st-and-goal at the Chargers 9, but failed with 4 downs, all with 2:06 remaining. The Chargers went three-and-out and Manning got the ball back. But the Colts went four-and-out again to end the game. 2 chances, no results. Colts Lose 28-24.
**2009 - Colts Record: 14-2 Super Bowl: Video Above. This occurring on what was going to hopefully be a Game-Tying Drive. Something Great Quarterbacks do. Well, Peyton threw a Pick-6. This exact thing in this exact moment is most Un-clutch thing a Quarterback can do in the sport of Football.
**2012 - Broncos Record: 13-3 2012 AFC Divisional at Denver: Peyton came into the playoffs riding an 11 game win streak and having beaten the Ravens during the season, were also playing at home after a week off. Peyton had a miracle present as there were 2 Special Teams Touchdowns in the game. 14 Bonus Points. Manning did not help matters with a Pick 6 Interception during the game. Yes the Broncos blew the coverage on the Flacco airball that is now known as the Rocky Mountain Rainbow, but Peyton's Interception in Overtime was the reason they lost in the end. He knew it. An across the body / Brett Favre-ian throw. He did set a record with that game, the Most Playoff Losses in NFL History: 11. Broncos Lose 35-38 2OT
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#6: Playoffs
Tom Brady is 18-7 Peyton Manning is 10-11, still a losing record after playing 15 Seasons. How big of a sample size do you
need before making up your mind on who he is?
**Tom Brady has the most Playoff Wins in History, more than Joe Montana. He also has the Better Record: 18-7 to 16-7 for Montana.
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#5 Championship Games
. Brady: In 12 Seasons, Brady has taken the Patriots to 8 Conference Championship Games (67%) Manning: In 15 Seasons, Manning has taken the Colts to 4 Conference Championship Games (27%)
*That is just astounding. Tom Brady had quite possibly the greatest beginning to a career in sports history. Say what you want about the defense. They will all tell you Brady did his job, and executed the plays he needed to; and by the 3rd Super Bowl run, he was in full command of being an Elite Quarterback (however you want to define that word) on top of it all. Like Joe Flacco in the 2012 playoff run, Brady didn't screw up, and he lead his team with 11 TD's and 3 INT's in those 3 Super Bowl Playoff Runs. Did Joe Flacco win 3 Super Bowls with that incredible defense of Baltimore? Most greatness is more of a flash in the pan. Brady did this 3 times in 4 years. I dont want to hear about the defense. They did this in the Free Agent and Salary Cap era; the first and only dynasty of its kind. How many facts does it take to push this argument across? The argument that actually holds water is the Tuck Rule situation in the first Super Bowl run. Without that, maybe Brady doesnt win the other 2 Super Bowls in the following years. But why go down the train of ifs when we have a 13 year sample size?
The Only statistic that is worth talking about (since QB Rating and QBR you can take with a grain of salt, but Tom Bradys QB rating in the Super Bowl is well better than Mannings so I can drive down that route too) where Manning and Brady are similar, is the plain game record for the past 15 Playoff Games. They are both 8-7. But that is a sample size statistic. If you really think the outcome of the 2013 AFC Championship could change the legacy of either Brady or Manning, I want what youre on, cause its clearly strong. Manning would be going to his 3rd Super Bowl against Bradys 5, would have a 0.500 record in the playoffs (Greatest of All-Time ha?) and would have beaten Brady 1/3 of the time. And thats only if he wins; which he Should with a better team at home in nice weather. Wake me up when Manning gets to his 8th Conference Championship Game.
Speaking of Luck, I shouldn't need to remind folks that the Colts threw their 2011 season away so they could replace Manning with Mr. Andrew Luck. After reading this article, it's not difficult to see why they lost faith in #18. I would still rather have the incredibly inconsistent Eli Manning, who is clearly clutch, over Peyton. I would rather have Colin Kaepernick after watching him these past 2 seasons. But there is No way, No shape, and No form, that is going to put these Brady and Manning close to each other. The only argument now, is if Tom Brady is the Greatest Quarterback of All-Time. Currently, its Montana, Unitas, Brady in my book. Peyton Manning is a Great Quarterback. He is at times an Amazing Quarterback. He is of the best Quarterbacks of the past decade and as I said already probably the greatest ever in terms of knowledge of the position and his pure mechanics. But Peyton Manning is most certainly not One of the Greatest Quarterbacks of All-Time; he is nowhere in the vicinity of The Greatest Quarterback of All-Time; and he is most certainly not better than Tom Brady. -I thought to put this in even better perspective, I would find a Quarterback that no historian would put in their Top 3 and most would never put in their Top 5 All-Time and put his numbers against Peytons. The Quarterback I chose (who will be called XYZ until the end of the article) is known for his late game chokes, and someone who is routinely Not in peoples Top 10 List of All-Time Quarterbacks. The similarity between this Quarterback and Peyton Manning is shocking, considering All his postseason statistics are Better. Yet, I feel like no one in their mind would put this Quarterback ahead of Peyton Manning. A famous sports writer did once, and now I understand why. I would too.
XYZ has had about 1 or 2 less Atrocious Games than Peyton Manning but unquestionably has a few more Truly bad passes. We will call this even for now until we see more Playoff Statistics.
XYZ had a longer career and less 4QCs and GWDs than Peyton so Manning wins there. But Peytons still currently has less 4QCs and GWDs in the Playoffs.
Peyton Manning: 3-6, Also 0-3 in the Playoffs (Peyton did not get the ball in one of these playoff games so the
record is essentially 0-2).
Considering that XYZ won the overall battle here slightly, and that XYZs many errant throws and bad losses were at the end of his career when he should have retired already, and furthermore that the first 5 years of his career were at a completely different level of success (especially the TD-INT Ratio and the Playoff Record of 7-3 vs. 0-3) than Mannings was, I would confidently say that XYZ is a tick better than Manning. Again, Mannings regular season success was more consistant and better, but everything else is fairly even.
Yes Ladies and Gentleman. There is a very strong case that Brett Favre is currently a tick better than Peyton Manning.
So let us stop the Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning argument. Please, for the love of God.