I have never seen anyone play quarterback as well as he did and this was back in 2004, 2005, etc. He scared the shit out of me when my teams faced him. Tom Brady didn't scare me until around '07 and even then there were periods where he wasn't scary -- http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201209160nwe.htm. Now Brees(though he didn't used to at SD) and Rodgers scare the shit out of me every time at a Manning level.
It's hard to put it into words but he does so much before the ball is even snapped is incredibly accurate w/ lightning quick release. I remember 2003, Denver had the #9th pass D (Denver just beat them easily two weeks prior so I suspect there was some smoke & mirrors) and Peyton torched them for 377 yards, 14.5 YPA, and 5 TDs for a 41-10 victory. No one came anywhere close to making it as easy as Manning did. They played New England in a game they had to start Danny Kannell and if he wasn't so inept at moving the ball that would have been a 'W'. Daunte Culpepper was probably the QB that had their best game against them in the regular season.
Now Denver had an opportunity to avoid Manning, all they had to do was beat Green Bay and move up the seeding face Baltimore. In 2003, I knew enough to be scared of him. Shannahan basically said we begin the playoffs on the road no matter what so he rested his starters.
2004 - they bring in Champ Bailey and have the #8 pass defense. They were pretty solid, only black marks were getting burned by Vick for over 350 total yards and Trent Green on the road. Same story as last time except I it didn't happen as quick, I vividly remember the Colts punting on their first possession but Manning did even better with 457 yards, 13.8 YPA, 4 TDs-1 Int.
In 2006, I remember this well, the Broncos were 5-1 and hosting the Colts. It was one of the most back-and-forth games I ever saw, in the 3rd and 4th quarter Denver would take a lead, Colts would answer back, Denver scored a TD and just when I think I can relax Manning moves 80 yards in 3-minutes to take a 3-point lead. Denver answers with a FG of their own but left Manning too much time.
I've been clicking on recaps for stats and came across this quote "Remember when [Michael] Jordan was playing and he came into town and people stood outside the arena just to see him? That's him," Broncos defensive lineman Ebenezer Ekuban said. "He's a phenomenal quarterback. The best quarterback I've faced in my eight years in the league."
I remember watching the game with an obnoxious Gator fan, we'd mess with each other he predicted Denver wouldn't make the playoffs, I was like no way. He even stuck with his prediction when they were 7-2. I think they lost something in that game, I gave up on the Broncos after that season or never rooted for them as passionately as I did.
There was 2009 when the Colts faced the Cardinals in Arizona after a Monday Night game in Miami where Manning hit Garcon with a game winning pass. He was hitting receivers in the perfect spots, he hit Garcon for a 53-yard pass when Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie peaked in the backfield for just a second. "He knew what plays to call at the right time," Arizona defensive tackle Darnell Dockett said, "and we couldn't stop them."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I never seen anyone scorch my teams at an already high level but doing it consistently. Back in '04 when I was naming him best QB of all time. He's just as good if not better. Some say Brady's rings mean he is better but I think starting with his third Super Bowl he is a better QB than when he won his first 2. When the Patriots won the second one, they had the #1 pass defense. With the third one they turned in another great defense and great running with Corey Dillon. Also Belichick is probably the greatest coach of all time with how many parts he moves around and his team is always hanging around late in the season and his defeats are almost always narrow. Someone said teams win Super Bowls not individuals.
I don't play in scenarios in which we will never see happen but with below average running and defense the majority of his career and he still had 11 out of 12 10+ win seasons, 8 division titles, 2 conference titles, 1 Super Bowl. Give him a Corey Dillon and a Randy Moss and there is no telling what he would have accomplished.
Manning had a couple of early exits due to defenses allowing late touchdowns against San Diego and Baltimore. Brady or NE was 10-0 in first 10 playoff starts(his numbers aren't great in most of those), he goes 8-8 afterwards, experiencing the same win-some-lose-some Manning took heat for.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bottom line, whether he throws 20 interceptions in a row, I don't think there has ever been anyone better at knowing, studying, and understanding the game. Reading defenses, making pre-snap adjustments, getting the ball to the target, footwork to buy time, scan the field. Deception, everything. He is everything a QB can possibly and also leads like a coach.
It's just my opinion and if it isn't Manning then the greatest QB of all time is either Otto Graham or Bart Starr. But if there is a better QB, I haven't seen him with my own eyes
= new reply since forum marked as read
