There’s always a lot of debate amongst NFL experts, analysts and fans as to who is the best quarterback. In this article, I’m going to consider the Indianapolis Colts Peyton Manning.
Manning is one of three premiere NFL field generals that include the New England Patriots Tom Brady and the Pittsburgh Steelers Ben Roethlisberger.
Manning’s Stats
Manning, the older brother of Eli, has been in the league 10 years and has never missed a start. Simple stats reveal that he is a quarterback of the first tier. His completion rate is 64.2-percent. He has thrown for 4000-plus yards in eight of 10 seasons, while over the decade averaging 4,162.6 yards per season. He has tossed 306 touchdowns, which is 30.6 per season. He’s been picked a total of 153 times, making that average 15.3 each season. His average QB rating is 94.3. In three of 10 seasons it has been 100-plus and in two others it was 98.0 and 99.0.
Scouting Report
Manning, who stands at six-foot-five and is 230 pounds, possesses a sturdy and mobile frame. He’s got good pocket sense and when the game is on the line can make things happen. Over the years, he had a tough time winning the big one, but that monkey got off his back when he led the Colts to victory in Super Bowl XLI. He was the MVP of the game. As a field general, he’s shown excellent leadership skills, and he is especially adroit at instantly analyzing defensive schemes and adjusting the offense just prior to the snap. In the past, he has been prone to making a mistake on a big play but that tendency has diminished over the past few seasons.
Awards, Achievements and Concerns
In 10 years, he’s been selected to the Pro Bowl eight times. He’s been the league MVP twice and is a six-time All-Pro. Unfortunately for the Colts, it was recently announced that their first-string QB will have surgery to remove an infected bursa sac from his left knee. He will be out for up to six weeks. Although there’s concern that Manning may miss the opener, chances are that he will be ready to play when the Colts host the Chicago Bears at 8:15 PM on Sunday, September 7. The medical procedure he will undergo is simple and commonly done.
The Big Question and Answer
Let’s try to answer the big question—who would you rather have start the big game of the season? Would it be Big Ben Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers? He’s a Super Bowl winner too. How about Tom Brady? Although Brady has not had the same numbers as Manning, over the past few seasons he has started to put up impressive stats. He even beat Manning’s single-season touchdown record last season. He did it by one on a throw to Randy Moss. Brady has quarterbacked the Pats to three Super Bowl wins.
When it comes down to it many would choose Brady. He’s been involved in some of the biggest, closest victories in NFL history and no one moves a team down field with the clock ticking away and the game on the line than the Pats’ QB. But things change and certainly Brady’s star may dim while Peyton Manning’s or Ben Roethlisberger’s could start to brighten even more.
One thing that Brady has that neither of the other two possesses is the best wideout in the business—Randy Moss. Brady also has a receiving corps that is one of the deepest around.
Still, whatever the case, Peyton Manning is simply one of the finest around and a future Hall of Fame inductee. Expect uge numbers from him again this season.