Manning is 1-1 in Super Bowls, he beat the Chicago Bears in the 2006 season super bowl and lost to the New Orleans Saints in the 2009 season. Manning now faces the number one defense which features the legion of boom lead by corner back Richard Sherman. This to me will present the biggest test for Peyton and his offense that they have faced this season, and will also be a challenge to Manning and his legacy.
Manning has been known for great regular seasons and also for post-season failures, if he cannot lead the Broncos to a title this season many will consider the season a failure for someone who has played well his whole career. While this may seem unfair his post-season record speaks for itself, he is 11-11 in the playoffs including 8 first game exits, for someone so decorated that is sub-par.
So here is how I think his legacy will be affected in both winning and losing situations:
Wins the super bowl:
Peyton Manning will silence critics that he is not clutch in the post-season and will cap off the best regular season any quarterback has ever had with a championship which means he will have the best season of any quarterback ever. The past has shown it is not always easing setting a record and winning it all that same season, Dan Marino and Tom Brady could not do it and Manning came up short when he threw for 49 touchdowns in 2004 when he lead his offense to only 3 points in a divisional round loss.
Manning will also have a 2-1 record in the Super Bowl and will have lead 2 different teams to a title as a starter, that will also add to his already impressive resume as it pertains to quarterback play. This season will be something that will always be remembered if he wins.
Loss:
Peyton Manning will receive criticism for coming up short in a big game again and will also fall to 1-2 in the big game and the only win will be against Rex Grossman who is now the third string QB on the Washington Redskins. It will also show as I have mentioned above that setting records does not lead to super bowl wins. He will also not have as many rings as his younger brother Eli, I am sure he wants to be even with him. This will also keep him largely in the conversation as the best regular season quarterback ever but his post-season failures will hinder opinions as him being a top 5 QB of all time.
This could be one of Manning's last chances if not his last to win a Super Bowl so he needs to make it count.
Come Sunday night we will see how his career legacy will be affected.
.
No comments:
Post a Comment