Since Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, never has there been a better individual rivalry in sports than the rivalry between the Broncos’ Peyton Manning and the Patriots’ Tom Brady. They are both arguably top five quarterbacks in the history of football and chances are you’re either a ‘Manning guy’ or a ‘Brady guy.’ Manning is the good ole classy southern boy with a knack for funny commercials while Tom Brady is a California pretty boy who marries supermodels and wears Uggs. They couldn’t be more different than each other.
Both are Super Bowl winning quarterbacks but have very different reputations by critics. Manning will be a five-time NFL MVP after this season but has a reputation of a choke artist with many under-whelming playoff performances and first round exits. Brady, a two-time NFL MVP, has three Super Bowl rings in his dresser drawer compared to Manning’s one, and has had a reputation of being clutch — like Joe Montana — yet has since declined a bit due to two Super Bowl losses in six years.
On Sunday, the football world will get to see the 15th and perhaps final postseason meeting between Manning and Brady when the Broncos take on the Patriots for the AFC Championship. To try and predict how this finale will play out between the two gun-slingers, let’s examine the past:
*Based on the 14 previous meetings*
Team Points Per Game:
Patriots 30.0
Colts/Broncos 24.6
Passing Yards Per Game:
Brady: 243.1
Manning: 283.6
QB Completion Percentage:
Brady: 67.0 %
Manning: 61.8 %
Touchdowns/Interceptions:
Brady: 26 TDs, 12 INTs
Manning: 29 TDs, 20 INTs
Head-to-Head Wins:
Brady 10
Manning 4
Although the two have met 14 times during their careers, Sunday’s championship game will be only the fourth time they have met in the postseason. Brady holds a 2-1 record in that category as well. In fact, Manning has not beaten Mr. Uggs since 2009 when the Colts came back from a 17 point fourth quarter deficit to beat the Patriots.
The numbers don’t lie. Brady owns Manning. History is telling us to bet on Brady and the Patriots advancing to the Super Bowl.
But Peyton Manning needs this win and another Super Bowl ring to define his legacy. He needs to match John Elway’s total and more importantly, his brother Eli’s total to silence the critics. Heck, we need this! Manning is just so darn likable in those SNL sketches and Papa Johns commercials.
Unless you’re from the Boston area or really into fashion, you probably favor Manning over Brady as well.
So here we go…one last time. Let’s soak it up and appreciate the greatness of these two legends and this once in a generation type rivalry.
Joshua Caudill is a writer for CraveOnline Sports, a surfing enthusiast, an unhealthy sports fanatic, and an expert on all things Patrick Swayze. You can follow him onhttps://twitter.com/JoshuaCaudill85or “like”CraveOnline Sports on Facebook.
Photo Credit: Getty
