NFL
Before this week, I asked my friend three questions.
First I asked him, do the Colts have a better offense than the Saints?
He said, "no."
Technically he's right because the Saints had the No. 1 offense in the league while the Colts were No. 9.
I then asked him, do the Colts have a better defense than the Saints?
He said, "they're pretty even because the Saints defense creates a lot more turnovers even though they give up more yards than the Colts."
Technically he's right because although the Saints had the 25th ranked defense compared to the Colt's 18th, the Saints were ranked third in interceptions and fifth in fumbles recovered, while the Colts were 15th in interceptions and 25th in fumbles recovered.
I then asked him, Why are you choosing the Colts then?
He said two words, "Peyton Manning."
This way of thinking can work if for example we were choosing the Bulls in the 1990s because they had Michael Jordan.
However, since when has Peyton Manning been reliable in the playoffs.
Even the year he won the Super Bowl, the defense arguably carried the Colts to the Super Bowl more than Peyton Manning.
Peyton Manning before this game had a mediocre record of 9-8 in the playoffs.
His numbers of 27 touchdowns and 17 interceptions appear much better than they really are considering nine of his touchdowns came in two first round games against the Broncos.
The other day I was looking at Manning's top ten Playoff moments on NFL.com and it was sad to see that most of his moments were not really legendary in the slightest bit.
His top ten Playoff meltdowns on the other hand was actually a much better list.
This year for some reason people seemed to think that Manning's playoff choking was a thing of the past. Even though the Colts had no trouble with the Jets or the Ravens, they were both 9-7 in the regular season. Should we really have assumed based upon Manning's games against the Jets and Ravens that he was different this time around?
Although besides Peyton Manning's abilities there were other reasons to choose the Colts, everyone's main reasons still centered on Peyton Manning.
Other arguments centering on Peyton Manning were that the Colts didn't lose a game Manning fully played in all season. Manning and the Colts had been extremely clutch in close games all season and were no strangers to fourth quarter comebacks.
However the truth is that, "Peyton Manning," the main reason people chose the Colts to win should have actually been the reason not to choose the Colts.
People seem to forget who Peyton Manning really was. We live in a “what have you done for us lately world” and Manning up until the Super Bowl had been legendary.
In reality though, if we looked at Manning's past playoff performances, the Saint's great team, and the Colts schedule, we probably should have seen this coming.
I believe that the Saints were always the better team. What true contender had the Colts beat all season?
The argument for the best team the Colts beat was between the Patriots, Jets, Cardinals and Ravens.
Were any of these teams really elite teams?
The answer is an obvious no. If Nate Kaeding didn't have a meltdown, the Chargers would have likely been the first elite team the Colts played against all season. Just like they lost to an elite team in the Saints, they likely would have also lost to the Chargers.
Peyton Manning needed this Super Bowl victory to cement his legacy. At the age of 33 years old, time is running out for Peyton Manning. Although, He'll likely own every quarterback record by the time he's done playing the game, he can't even be considered the best quarterback in his own generation until he gets more than one Super Bowl.
I don't believe that Manning needs to tie Tom Brady in championships or surpass him because obviously Manning has been more important to the Colts than Tom Brady has been to the Patriots, especially when the Patriots had an elite defense.
However, Manning still needs one more Super Bowl to surpass Brady in my opinion and put him in the exclusive list with two time Super Bowl Champions Bart Starr, Bob Griese, Terry Bradshaw, Roger Staubach, Jim Plunkett, Joe Montana, Troy Aikman, John Elway, Tom Brady, and Ben Roethlisberger.
Although Manning hasn't had teams as good to win with that a guy like Tom Brady has, the truth is that Manning still had the teams to win with.
Regardless of what you want to say, if Manning played in the playoffs like he generally plays in the regular season, he would have more than one Super Bowl.
When people make arguments that Wilt Chamberlain is the greatest ever because of his statistics, I just laugh because he was 1-3 in game sevens in the NBA finals. Just like Chamberlain, Manning has the statistics. Ultimately though, they both should have more championships, and their playoff choking, despite how much they carried their teams, were the reasons they didn't win more titles.
Manning had the chance to put himself in the argument for not only the greatest quarterback ever, but greatest player ever, but instead, as it stand now, he isn't even the greatest quarterback of his own generation.
3/5/10 | namvet6963113 | 21 respect
I don't think people in New Oleans will miss you much....... may help the air down there....don't need no stinkers there with the smell of losers.
3/5/10 | namvet6963113 | 21 respect
Just proves my point. You have to use insults to prove a point . Manning still lost to a better team it happened get over it!!!
3/5/10 | das3cr | 288 respect
Trying your best to prove you are a simplistic little twit I see .. of wait, you accomplished that. Score !
2/11/10 | namvet6963113 | 21 respect
You make a fine Manning fan,just like Manning he did'nt even have respect from the team that beat him.... Just give the Colts a Trophy and end the NFL there is no better team in Football than the Colts so everyone lay down so Manning can win.Just quite footbal no use to playing cause Manning is the best......Dream on loser!!!!
2/11/10 | das3cr | 288 respect
I don't care if the Colt's lost. They are still the better team. New Orleans is officially off my vacation list for the next 5 years. So there ya go. They won and lost all at the same time.
2/10/10 | namvet6963113 | 21 respect
Blame Wayne for failing to run the3 proper route and leaving Peyton hanging. the Colts offense is devised (as are many other offenses in the league on timing - and Wayne failed to run the route correctly and failed to get inside of Porter. 4th and goal, the pass went right through Waynes hands to turn it over on downs.
that blames falls directly on the recievers - Peyton did all he could, and I give the man propr sofr a hell of a game.
The Colts where just out played by a better teem. The best won and there are no excuses. Good defense was the key to the Saints big win over Manning and the lack luster colts. Out played and out classed where the Colts.
2/10/10 | namvet6963113 | 21 respect
Manning lost my respect with poor sportsmanship after the game. I think Manning got the big head and has not lived up to being a four time MVP with only one superbowl it's crazy. There are other QB's that have better than Manning. I think he is over rated. Poor loser,bad for kids to see him act like a spoiled brat.
2/10/10 | mrtriplesix | 1160 respect
"However, since when has Peyton Manning been reliable in the playoffs.
Even the year he won the Super Bowl, the defense arguably carried the Colts to the Super Bowl more than Peyton Manning".
all i had to do was read that and made me think............ hmmm you are right.
2/10/10 | DeeRigga | 5703 respect
I concur. I just want folks to understand that the MEDIA has Manning as the "Last All - Be All" QB there is because of his on-field abilities...I think he's good, but as many others on this list, he's GOOD...not great. I'm not using this to bad-mouth him or you, but he's being placed on a pedestal too soon, and I think it will hurt him because if he doesn't live up to the media hype, he will crash and burn. We see it in all great QBs...Jim Kelly, D McNabb, Cunningham, Tarkenton...all very good, but media-shredded. So in this case, I agree with you...just felt it was needed to go looonnnnng!
2/9/10 | chevleclair | 366 respect
People need to get off the "badmouth Peyton" bandwagon, because you'd better believe some of these same people will be singing his praises very soon in the future. The Saints made fools out of nearly all the elite QB's this season, and believe me: Brady, Warner, and Favre are going to be Hall of Famers. It was just meant to be, and Peyton's time being "limited"? Six years, barring something truly tragic. Everybody who is badmouthing Manning now will join the "We love Dan Marino" choir, and he doesn't even have a ring! So, stop and think about this, folks. Manning will be a Hall of Famer, and will take his place among the best of all time, I mean, just look at this list above this post, do any of these fellows have the same numbers that Maning has? Not even close. Brees comes the closest, but you'll not see anyone who is that good all around.
2/9/10 | DeeRigga | 5703 respect
Just because you are a good passer doesn't always get you a championship...but it helps.
I just found this list, and honestly...Peyton is good, but he's not all that great, and to prove it, look who at his positioning on this list (I even have the site so you can all go look for yourselves: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NFL_career_passer_rating_leaders)
PS... John Elway is NOT closer than Troy Aikman, Jason!!
NFL career passer rating leaders
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Quarterbacks in the National Football League are often compared using a number derived by using a formula called passer rating. The higher the number, the more proficient the quarterback is often considered. This rating ranges from 0 to 158.3. Traditionally, quarterbacks must throw at least 1,500 passes before their rating is listed among NFL career statistics.
Players in bold and green are currently active in the NFL. Red rows indicate members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Updated through the 2009 season. [1]
Never had a LONG-azz comment before, but it was a "need-to-know" moment...
2/9/10 | heelfan811 | 12286 respect
I'm RICH BIIAACHHHH! I'm still going to CANTON!!
2/9/10 | Yosefederation | 110 respect
You hit the nail squarely on the head. Peyton is not sole reason they lost the game, but he's equally resonsible as anyone else on the team. Everyone (well mainly ESPN) talking about a couple of drops being the difference. My opinion is that his 8-10 check-off audibles at the line of scrimmage, resulting in dump off underneath passes sort of 1st downs, along with one ill advised pick six, contributed as much to their loss as the D's inability to stop NO offense and Jim Caldwells inability to foresee an on onside kick to start the 2nd half.jmo
2/9/10 | MIKA_06 | 39 respect
Blame Wayne for failing to run the3 proper route and leaving Peyton hanging. the Colts offense is devised (as are many other offenses in the league on timing - and Wayne failed to run the route correctly and failed to get inside of Porter. 4th and goal, the pass went right through Waynes hands to turn it over on downs.
that blames falls directly on the recievers - Peyton did all he could, and I give the man propr sofr a hell of a game.
I blame Reggie Wayne for that interception, he was not coming back for balls all game he is looking for catch and run to end zone, you could see it all game Manning was trying to get him involve, but he should have stick with the rookies Collie and Pierre they were working there ass off with the little play call they got..and Big respect to Dallas Clarke and Addai, Freeney you all earn your paychecks, keep your head up Manning this just fuel you for next season
2/8/10 | Drummer99 | 4016 respect
How could I forget the Thomas catch and run for TD. Yeah, the Saints came prepared, even with their 1st QTR jitters, they stayed in the game with a couple Hartley FGs, came back in the second half and kicked a onside kick, wild, a gamble, but, it paid off. After that the Saints never looked back. Great game.
2/8/10 | DarkSexy | 56 respect
Payton had a good season he just need to keep his head up because he will be back next year. He have a young team that is playing with him.
2/8/10 | maddhatter6691 | 7908 respect
The Saints Played A Better Game, Manning Did His Best But Just Not Good Enough. Luv It {Saints Super Bowl 44 Champs}
2/8/10 | Drummer99 | 4016 respect
I believe Peyton played a great game, only that interception was his only flaw, maybe couple a bad judgments. This game coulda been so different without that interception. Without it, you possibly have OT, maybe even a Colts onside kick and they coulda won the game. Most of the Saints won the game, but, in my book, Brees, Porter, Colston, Shockey and Hartley won the game.
2/8/10 | arihoring1 | 41 respect
This article isn't blaming Manning for the loss because the Colts would be nothing without him. It's simply saying that those who picked the Colts because they had Manning were ignorant and that Manning needed this Super Bowl to cement his legacy.
2/8/10 | chevleclair | 366 respect
Strangely enough, the Saints won by keeping the ball out of Manning's hands. In reality, I rest it on Sean Payton just making these brilliant calls and Brees managing the game(he did more than that) than any bad play on Manning's part.
2/8/10 |
kantwistaye
|
3954 respect
Just blatantly misleading. Yes, the Colts defense stepped up in 2006 and that is why the Colts won that Super Bowl. However, he has consistently had incomplete teams. Its revisionist history to say or pretend otherwise. Its a shame few people want to recognize his greatness. He carried the worst rushing offense and 18th best defense all the way to the Super Bowl. In the past thirty years, only Kurt Warner, Peyton Manning (again), Drew Bledsoe (I realize this one hurts my point a bit) and Dan Marino have led a defense and rushing attack that both rank in the bottom half of the league. Of those, most had both rushing and defense hovering right below the mid point. The only QB comparable was Kurt Warner. All of those QBs also lost in the Super Bowl, with the exception of Peyton Manning in 2006. All of this is just further proof that judging playoff success based on team wins is moronic. Only the greatest of great QBs can overcome their team's shortcomes and few can do it as often as Peyton Manning has.
2/8/10 | gdmjrcr | 345 respect
I think Manning did a good job, he had only one interception, and he needed the defense to play the whole game, instead of just the first half.
2/8/10 | Captain_Chaos | 287 respect
great article - but i think a lot of the blame is being heaped on Peyton - just as it was in the NCF game with Favre. neither QB played a horrible game - in fact it was the oposite - Peyton played a hell of a game - if the blame is to be placed on anyone - blame Garcon for dropping the pass that hit him in the numbers.
Blame Wayne for failing to run the3 proper route and leaving Peyton hanging. the Colts offense is devised (as are many other offenses in the league on timing - and Wayne failed to run the route correctly and failed to get inside of Porter. 4th and goal, the pass went right through Waynes hands to turn it over on downs.
that blames falls directly on the recievers - Peyton did all he could, and I give the man propr sofr a hell of a game.