Brady vs. Manning

Submitted by mgoblue1 on

Tonight's game just furthers my opinion that Brady has had a better career than Manning. 14-4 career playoff record, 3 Super Bowls vs. 9-9 career playoff record, 1 Super Bowl.

Manning supporters will surely say something along the lines of, "Peyton is not the one who lost those games, he can't play defense, etc.".. I feel that if quarterbacks receive most of the glory when their teams win Super Bowls, they should shoulder much of the blame when failing.

I admit I'm very biased on this topic, living in Indiana but hating the Colts.. combined with loving Michigan football.

Touchdown... N…

February 8th, 2010 at 1:06 AM ^

Not on anything other than being realistic. But... Tom has had a rock star career but dont try to degrade Peyton for no reason, thats like picking apart Drew Brees cause he boilers up....

MaizeyBlue

February 8th, 2010 at 1:08 AM ^

Okay, I'm a fan of both and here is how I break it down.

Brady 3 Super Bowls and very good statistics

Manning 1 Super Bowl and more than likely the best statistics EVER.

I personally think Manning has to win another championship before he reaches that next level. Now if he finishes his career with all of Favre's records and has the Superbowl he'll be in the argument, but if he gets the 2nd Superbowl his records will carry him past everyone else. Because if you go just on Superbowls, Bradshaw is the best and Marino is as good as Joey Harrington.

MaizeyBlue

February 8th, 2010 at 1:16 AM ^

Right. Yea its a pretty equal comparison right now I think. Superbowls are no doubt very important, but as it looks Manning will have the greatest statistics EVER in a few years, as long as favre finally retires.

I feel like I remember Marino being listed as one of the best to play and thats because he held all the records. But now his records are slipping away and he obviously had no Superbowls. Manning has his championship a second one would all but end the conversation.

maiznbob

February 8th, 2010 at 9:38 AM ^

Superbowl pregame show where they were discussing both qbs? The point was that Brady should receive every bit as much money as Manning. Now that "Peyton" lost the SB by throwing a pick six, I believe Brady is the better QB (Not that I needed convincing). Hope he can win another SB before either Manning. Did anyone else notice how red he was after the pick six, standing on the sideline?

letsgoblue213

February 8th, 2010 at 1:14 AM ^

I think Manning will go down as the better player. Brady played on teams with much better defenses in the years he won. Manning still has a shot to win a couple more championships and could be in the conversation for best QB ever. I'm a big fan of both QB's but I have to say that I think Manning has been better.

Steve Lorenz

February 8th, 2010 at 12:44 AM ^

A lot of irony in your statement. I don't mean that disrespectfully either.

The one SB that Indy did win with Manning was almost completely because of their defense. In that playoff run, his QB rating cracked 80 once, and barely. He had one of the worst playoff games of all time against Baltimore with a rating of 39.6. I remember that being the year their run D was horrible during the regular season but they became an entirely different defense in the playoffs and that's the reason they were able to win it all. It's when Bob Sanders got all the hype.

Definitely agree that Brady has had better defenses surrounding him, but he also won two titles on game winning drives and played flawlessly in the third. I mean, it's great to go 30-35 and 4 TDs against Houston in Week 4 (hypothetically), but if I'm looking for championships I am going with the guy that can take my team down to win it. Today, yet again in a pressure-packed playoff situation, Manning was unable to do that. That's why he has a .500 record in the playoffs.

Not to mention that once Brady finally had some legitimate weapons offensively, he had what was probably the greatest statistical season a quarterback has ever had. Couple that with the fact that the Pats were a David Tyree miracle away from taking a perfect season and fourth championship and I don't even think we'd be having this argument right now. Not argument but you know.

Also, I don't see why Brady doesn't have a shot to win another title either.

M-Wolverine

February 8th, 2010 at 1:07 AM ^

By a guy out of the League, the only good drive of Eli's career, and that stupid drop by Moss on the final drive.

And why couldn't Plaxico shoot himself in the leg a year earlier???

They talk about Brady's defenses, but more often than not, it was the D letting him down. Even one of those shit thinks don't happen, and we're not having this conversation. We're discussing how the 4 time winning Brady who lead the first team to 19-0 is the greatest of all time.

If Brady doesn't get credit for that, because hey, they lost, then Manning doesn't get to say it's not his fault when they lose. We'll see how Peyton recovers the first time he's injured too.

How I hate that game. It shows the flaws of a playoff system that's one and done. The best team doesn't always win. Ugh. Let's speak of it no more. :-P

Tshimanga Cowabunga

February 8th, 2010 at 1:50 AM ^

Glad someone else recognizes that 70 yard bomb to Moss was as perfect as any throw could be and it went right through his hands. You forgot to mention Asante Samuel dropping an interception thrown directly at him about 5 plays before the Plax td. Tyree's helmet catch could be his last professional catch I believe.

CWoodson

February 8th, 2010 at 11:13 AM ^

I don't think you guys are bitter enough about this. The Pats and Brady struggled to move the ball the entire game. Feel free to chalk the Giants win up to luck if it makes you feel better, but Eli plays that well half the time.

Brady has three rings and is a top 10 all-time QB - he didn't need the win. Get over it.

M-Wolverine

February 8th, 2010 at 11:18 PM ^

History says he needed that win...to move from "Top 10" to "Top 1".

It was a great upset, but no Giant on that team "needed" that win, because no one on that team is going to be thought of that much greater or worse for having a ring. And a fanbase that wasn't exactly Saints like...they've been there multiple times before. A team that got hot at the right time, but not a great team. SI ranked the teams of the decade in all the Sports. NFL? That Pats team, that lost. That's how history looks upon those teams.

PurpleStuff

February 8th, 2010 at 1:15 AM ^

I can't think of a single time in Peyton's college or pro career where he went into a game against an impressive opponent and put up good numbers and came out with the win. Brady was a huge underdog against the Rams and is a miracle catch away from having 4 Super Bowl rings. He's also won a major bowl game (unlike Peyton).

Rampage9

February 8th, 2010 at 1:15 AM ^

Peyton Manning is a better quarterback than Tom Brady.

Can anyone here tell me they really disagree with this statement? I don't see how anyone still believes Brady is better than Manning. All I think when I hear that is you're a homer (I understand this is a Michigan blog but c'mon) or you haven't been watching football this season.

Yes, Brady has won more championships, but this is a team sport, not individual. Yes, quarterbacks receive a lot of the praise for winning as well as most of the blame for losing, but at the end of the day this is still a team sport.

Rampage9

February 8th, 2010 at 1:20 AM ^

I don't think you can say either quarterback has had an advantage throughout their careers when it comes to receivers. Harrison and Wayne were obviously great, but look at what Manning is doing now with the likes of Garcon and Collie.

And only looking at this year, Brady's receivers were far superior to Manning's.

MaizeyBlue

February 8th, 2010 at 12:26 AM ^

These are always so hard to decide. Personally I think both Offensive lines give both guys all day to throw.

As for WRs, look at a guy like Brandon Stokley, he was a stud in Indy and now its like he doesn't exist. The two young guys this year replaced Harrison like he was an average WR.

Moss struggled in Oakland, and instantly is a success again in New England. I think both Quarterbacks are so good they make their teammates so much better.

Say the lions had Branch, Colley, and Welker... I go out on a limb and say we finish 2-14 again.

EZMIKEP

February 8th, 2010 at 9:19 AM ^

Brady plays in in Fox, its cold as hell there. Manning has always played indoors, with better receivers. This plays with the stat sheet. It's a different game.

I am not saying Peyton isn't one of the greatest ever because he clearly is, BUT as stated by many on here there are reasons why TB is the better QB and this isn't my bias Michigan Football opinion.

In 2007 before they lost the SB everybody was chatting up the greatest of all time rhetoric. Countless sports writers/announcers etc. were talking about how it is clear now who the better QB is. Brady. Then they lose the SB in which a miracle helped bail out a Giants team from a VERY VERY clutch Brady end game performance, and then the injury. Boom. He misses a year and it goes right back to a landslide opinion about how Manning is the best ever. The sportsworld is very fickle.

Tom Brady might not have looked very sharp in the playoff exit they had this year & in many games during the regular season, but from my POV he looked damn good for his first year back after an injury like the one he suffered. It took Palmer 3 years to get back to being good again and he was younger. I expect Tom Brady to have a very good game for many years to come because of the type of game he plays. His days as a winner are far from over.

As stated by several on this thread, i'll take a healthy Tom Brady in the 4th quarter any day over Manning.

PurpleStuff

February 8th, 2010 at 1:21 AM ^

I think Manning has had better skill players throughout his NFL career in James, Harrison, Wayne, etc. His teams have been great in the regular season but he has a .500 record when it counts. He never won a big game in college either. Brady took an average team under Drew Bledsoe and turned them into perennial contenders and he's a miracle catch away from 4 Super Bowl rings and the only 19-0 season in NFL history. He's also never thrown a pick-six to lose the Super Bowl.

There is no doubt in my mind that he is a better quarterback than Peyton Manning and every single meaningful fact supports this claim.

MadtownMaize

February 8th, 2010 at 12:28 AM ^

The Patriots have had better defenses than the Colts, but lets look at skill players they have had to work with:

Colts:
RB: Faulk (of the Marshall variety), James, Addai
TE: Clark
WR: Harrison, Wayne, Stokley, Gonzalez, Garcon

Pats:
RB: Faulk (of the Kevin variety), Maroney, Dillon
TE: Watson
WR: Patton, Branch, T. Brown, Moss, Welker
***Moss and Welker came on board after the 3 titles

It is hard to say that Brady has had near the talent to work with at any of the offensive skill positions. Also, look at the big losses in Mannings career and you will see a pick six in most of them (tonight included).
All in all, I would say they are pretty close to equal, and they are both incredibly good.

Also, starting any comment with "you people" is an automatic neg in my book.

Rasmus

February 8th, 2010 at 10:19 AM ^

Brady has won more championships, but this is a team sport, not individual.

You do see the problem with this statement, right? The ultimate individual accomplishment in team sports is to be integral to the team's success. Winning is a measure of that.

Brady is a better quarterback because he is a better leader. In a close game under pressure, Brady handles the offense better. Fewer mistakes are made. He's been doing it his whole career.*

Manning has improved in this area (leadership) -- he was not good at it when he first came into the league -- but he simply can't compete with Brady, who is a natural.

* Note that I'm not saying Brady would've beaten the Saints yesterday. But I am saying I'll take Brady over Manning on the risky drive to tie the game. His peers in NFL history are players like Joe Montana and John Elway (though Elway's arm was an unfair advantage in this category). Manning's peers are players like Dan Marino.

lbpeley

February 8th, 2010 at 7:42 AM ^

"Peyton Manning is a better quarterback than Tom Brady.

Can anyone here tell me they really disagree with this statement? I don't see how anyone still believes Brady is better than Manning."

I feel like I'm watching Zoolander here. "But what do male models have to do with it?" Did you just not read the eighty posts prior to yours? I'm gonna say there's been about twenty people so far that are claiming Brady's better. Count me as one of them, too.

Dark Blue

February 8th, 2010 at 1:17 AM ^

That being said, the way that Peyton Manning manages the game, all of the check offs he makes at the line of scrimmage, the way he always seems to know where the blitz is coming from, in my eyes he is the best quarterback to ever play the game. And I love it because he couldn't beat Woodson for the Heisman.

chitownblue2

February 8th, 2010 at 12:38 AM ^

Manning has so much more on his plate than Brady - he is, essentially the OC.

Look, I hate Manning. He is one of my two or three least favorie players in the NFL. I like Brady - he is one of my favorites.

But Manning, when I'm being honest with myself, is one of the 5 best QB's of all time. Brady just isn't. I mean, Terry Bradshaw has five rings and was never particularly good in any of those seasons - rings aren't the entire story.

M-Wolverine

February 8th, 2010 at 9:49 AM ^

..not to be a correction nazi, but because it was just that...one...game...that Brady was away from moving himself to the rare air of Montana and Bradshaw as a 4 time winner...

Sambojangles

February 8th, 2010 at 12:39 AM ^

Manning is probably the better player in a vacuum, but I'd rather have Brady any day. He has won 3 Super Bowls, nearly won a fourth (not to mention 19-0) and almost always performs best under pressure. Yeah, his defense was probably better most of the time, and he had Belicheck's genius to help, but there is a reason that Manning has ended 9 seasons with playoff losses, and Brady only 4.

Consider this, FWIW--people knew Manning was going to be great after college--he was drafted No. 1 and hasn't missed a start since. Brady was doubted and denied until the sixth round. He was obviously missing something (physical, mental, who knows?) the "experts" thought Manning possessed. If that's true, Brady has done much more with less.

I really hope Brady wins another Super Bowl soon, so there will be no doubt he is the best QB of this generation.

Gustavo Fring

February 8th, 2010 at 12:39 AM ^

I've been watching Super Bowls for a long time and this guy was absolutely tremendous tonight. That Colts' pass rush is no joke. He was quick when he needed to be, was 32/39 and made big plays when they were needed. Extremely accurate. If Tate becomes half the qb Brees is I'll be happy.

MadtownMaize

February 8th, 2010 at 1:05 AM ^

has its perks. I could never look at one stupid thing that management has done as being the thing that took away our best chance of winning a Super Bowl. We are so inept that we were never even close. On the other hand, can you imagine how Charger fan must feel after drafting Eli, and trading him for Rivers whom they decided to keep over Brees. Let me go out on a limb here....bad choice.

M-Wolverine

February 8th, 2010 at 1:15 AM ^

"
I wonder how Archie is feeling...his son loses to his former historically downtrodden team...

How do Purdue Fans from Indiana feel?

I wonder how Vol Nation is feeling? (Is Travis on suicide watch?)

I wonder how the San Diego Chargers are feeling...now not only the quarterback they had to trade to New York has won a Super Bowl, but the QB they got rid of so the QB they drafted instead of the one who won a Super Bowl has won a Super Bowl too.

And yes, that was fun to type."

Though technically the Lions passed on Brees too...

allezbleu

February 8th, 2010 at 1:21 AM ^

i give manning a slight edge over brady.

the no. of superbowls won argument is so overrated and should be only a small aspects of this discussion. the way people talk about it these days its like trent dilfer was a better quarterback then marino.

Both are about as perfect as you can get when given the weapons - Brady got Welker/Moss and went onto lead the greatest offense in NFL history in '08, Manning has had similarly dominant seasons with Wayne/Clark/Harrison/James/Addai. It's not fair to compare Brady's years with Branch/Brown/Patten/etc with Manning's season with Wayne/Clark/Garcon/Collie as a) Wayne and Clark are all-pro caliber players and b) those Brady offenses were extremely balanced offenses where Brady averaged about 20 passes a game.

Both have yet to win a superbowl without a dominant defense. Brady won 3 rings with classic Belicheck Patriot defenses. When Manning won his ring, it was behind a defense which ignited by the return of Bob Sanders was one that was shockingly dominant once the playoffs started.

The reason I give the edge to Manning is that he's been asked to do more than Brady has. While we didn't find out how great a quarterback Brady truly was until he was given the weapons of Peyton's caliber, the Colts have always relied on Manning the way the Pats have only had to rely on Brady since '08. But basically, I consider them to be equally brilliant.

Tater

February 8th, 2010 at 7:12 AM ^

Manning lost his in the fourth quarter last night. Manning had a chance to put himself in the catagory of one who had won multiple Super Bowls and blew it. He had a chance for a stirring comeback and blew it. I'm beginning to think Manning has more in common with the late Linda Lovelace than he does with Brady.

Rasmus

February 8th, 2010 at 9:50 AM ^

I wouldn't say he "didn't want to be on the field" -- he (fumble and two picks, leading to 17 points) put his team in an even bigger hole after Baltimore scored on the first play of the game. As for losing his poise -- sure, momentarily. He was angry. You'd be pissed, too. So would Manning or anybody else.

But they outscored the Ravens 14-9 the rest of the way. It wasn't enough. This was a Patriots offense that had lost its primary receiver and a legitimate league MVP candidate the week before. Give Tom a break. This was the exception, not the rule.

M-Wolverine

February 8th, 2010 at 9:51 AM ^

Is there a long list of teams that have won the Super Bowl without any defense...?

I mean, well reasoned post, but the idea that a QB hasn't been able to win without a good D...neither did Montana, Bradshaw, Aikman, Favre, etc., etc.