Peyton Manning left Metlife Stadium on Sunday on the short end of the stick in the Super Bowl losing it 43-8.
Many said that if he won this game that he could be or would be the greatest quarterback that has ever played the game. Well I would safely say that conversation is over, because he has shown in the playoffs that he comes up short. His playoff record is 11-12 (1-2 in Super Bowls), and has 8 one and dones in the playoffs.
This is not to take away from his legacy, he constantly puts up MVP numbers ever year, but when it comes to crunch time in the playoffs he has not shined. The 2006 season was the season he got the monkey of no title off his back when he lead a comeback against the Patriots in the AFC title game to go the Super Bowl. Manning was able to help lead his team to victory over the Chicago Bears, but since he has lost 2 Super Bowls, and in both of those games he has thrown a pick-six.
While this recent Super Bowl was probably not largely affected by the pick-six (score says it all) the game against the Saints where he threw one was costly. Manning cannot be faulted for everything this past one either, that pass protection was not up to par and Manning was trying to hit his targets but had to move around.
While his playoff failures are well documented it is unfair to say that he is not one of the all time greats regardless. People consider Dan Marino one of the all time greats and he never won a Super Bowl, in fact he only went to one of those. So to say Manning does not have credentials to be an all time great is a slap in the face to him.
However the playoff failures will follow him in his legacy, and much like Tom Brady and the Patriots record setting bunch in 2007 the 2013 Broncos fell victim to a tough defense that took Manning and his offense out of their comfort zone.
I said in my Super Bowl prediction that I did not have confidence in the Broncos being able to win because of Seattle's defense. I made a reference to the 2007 Patriots who as I mentioned lost in the Super Bowl to the Giants ending their bid to do 19-0, that is one example of how top offenses have failed in big games. Manning also knows how that works because in 2004 he and the Colts only scored 3 points in the AFC Divisional round game against the Patriots, that year Manning threw a then record 49 touchdown passes.
Manning's class and love for the game should also detract those who attack his credentials, after the Super Bowl was over Sunday Manning found Sherman and asked if he was okay. I have to say Manning is a true sportsman for this, and I love to see when players do this sort of thing.
I have in the past been a critic of Manning, and part of me still is because he cannot come up in big spots in the post season, and this year he did that again and came up short big time.
Regardless of that he is still one of the best players in NFL history, every year his team will be in contention, every year he will put up MVP and video game numbers and every year he handles himself with class. Manning may not be clutch, but he is great, I just hope that one day people will look back at him and think of him as a pioneer for the game of football.
I say that because of his feats, Manning beats most people with his head and can make all the throws, the only thing he lacks in mobility and also arm strength, but he used his brains and adapted to make it work for him.
And one last thing.... he also came back from four neck surgeries, yes FOUR to make two trips to the playoffs, a Super Bowl appearance and oh yeah the greatest regular season a quarterback has ever had setting the touchdown passing record and the passing yard mark for the regular season.
So has Manning's legacy taken a huge hit? No, but it did take some, Manning will be regarded as the best regular season quarterback of all time and his playoff record may tarnish him, but we cannot forget the great regular seasons he has had.
Manning will be back next year with a bigger chip on his shoulder, I look forward to seeing how he does next season.
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