We were treated this past weekend with another classic Colts/Patriots game. These two franchises have set the bar of excellence in the past 12 years, and we can look forward every season, and sometimes postseason, and they never disappoint.
This season, just like last season, the Patriots had a 17-point lead going into the 4th quarter. This year, however, Bill Belichick decided to punt the ball when up by three points instead of going for it in his own territory. We didn't hear much about that, but that was clearly an admission that he made a mistake last year leading to the Colts' eventual comeback.
Manning drove the Colts down the field on Sunday, into field goal range with a chance to tie the game and send it to overtime. Instead of going for the tie, however, Manning kept the foot on the pedal going for the win on the road. Most of the time, as a Colts fan, we see this end up in our favor. Every once in a while, however, and mostly against the Patriots, it ends badly. This week, it ended badly for Manning and the Colts.
That play, though, where Manning went for it and threw the interception, begins the argument for him as the best quarterback of our generation. No other quarterback, including Brady, has the combination of skill and drive that Manning has. Favre had the drive (though I'd argue it isn't there this year). No one has the skill. Brady would have knelt on the ball and gone for the tie. And thus, begins the argument, because every time Brady beats Manning, we hear again how Tom Brady is the best quarterback in the NFL. I plan on outlining the truth.
If you go entirely on Super Bowl wins, Tom Brady is the best quarterback of our generation. Of course, if you go on Super Bowl wins, Doug Williams was better than Dan Marino. Let's make Super Bowl wins a part of the equation, not the entire deal. Brady has three, Manning has one. Point in Brady's favor.
That's where it ends, though. When all is said and done, Peyton Manning will have most of the important records in NFL history. He has started every game he has been a part of in the NFL. Thus, he is more durable than Tom Brady. Manning, until 2006, never had a defense to support him. He had always been responsible for leading the offense to victory. Brady, on the other hand, played on a team built around defense. All Brady had to do was not make mistakes. In fact, when you look at 2008 and 2009, when the Patriots' defense was not as good, Brady couldn't get it done. Even with Randy Moss to throw to, he couldn't get it done.
Statistically, it's not even close. Again, as long as Manning has the drive to keep going, he will hold all of the records in the book eventually. Brady, on the other hand, didn't start putting up great numbers until he had the most explosive receiver of our generation at his disposal. Notice this year, with all of the injuries the Colts are dealing with, Peyton Manning is still putting up the numbers. He doesn't have his #3 or #4 receiver, he doesn't have his #1 running back and he doesn't have the best tight end in the league. Yet, the numbers keep coming.
So where did the myth of "Brady the Great" get started, you ask? The answer lies with Ben Rothlisberger. Both quarterbacks started their careers with Super Bowl victories. Neither had to be the star on their respective teams in order to get a ring. They both just needed not to screw it up. So, since they were champions right out of the gate, they were proclaimed as the best quarterbacks in the league. Rothlisberger doesn't even come close to passsing the eye test, yet the media wanted to proclaim his as a "great" quarterback because his team won a Super Bowl champion early in his career. Peyton Manning, on the other hand, started his career on a team that went 1-15 the year before he came into the league. His first season, he had nothing to work with. He got hit hard and often. He took the hard road to success. He had to earn the titles and recognition. And he has.
So, in the end, Tom Brady is a very good quarterback. He doesn't make a lot of mistakes. He is a very good field general. All he does is win. But be honest with yourself. If you don't listen to what the media says (based mostly on the east coast, I might add) and you watch these two quarterbacks operate for a 16-team season, who would you choose to start your franchise with? Do you want the quarterback who can win when he's surrounded by the best talent in the league, or do you want the team that can take a team of no names on his back and literally carry them to victory?
I know who I choose. Of course, I bought his jersey when he was drafted, so I may be a little biased. Who would you choose?
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