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Tom Brady Destroys Peyton Manning in All-Time Debate

By Dan Salem

Jan 16, 2016; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) signals to the sideline during the second quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Divisional round playoff game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 16, 2016; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) signals to the sideline during the second quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Divisional round playoff game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports /
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Tom Brady versus Peyton Manning is the greatest show on turf, but in terms of the all-time quarterback debate, there’s no competition. Brady wins and wins and wins some more. Dan Salem and Todd Salem debate in today’s NFL Sports Debate. Two brothers from New York yell, scream, and debate sports.

TODD:

For the fifth time, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady will be squaring off in the playoffs. That is the most any pair of quarterbacks have faced off in the postseason in NFL history. It will be the two’s fourth AFC Championship game against one another.

This 2016 game doesn’t have quite the lure or luster of the past matchups because of how bad Manning has looked this season. But if Manning were to win this game, even if it was mostly because of his team’s defensive performance, that would mean something significant.

Would it be enough to propel Manning above Brady in the all-time quarterback discussion?

People have different views of John Elway, Joe Montana, Dan Marino and all the historically great quarterbacks. But just in terms of Manning versus Brady, who is ahead if the Broncos advance to Super Bowl 50?

I think we can agree Brady has the upper hand if the Patriots take care of business here and make another Super Bowl. But things shift slightly if Manning and the Broncos are the ones to advance. And what if Manning wins his second Super Bowl title? Suddenly, he’s in that elite class of multiple Super Bowl winners, not to mention his unparalleled domination of regular-season football.

But I would still have to go with Brady as having the all-time upper hand.

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He isn’t all that far behind in regular-season excellence, especially if he continues for another few years at a reasonably high level. Plus, the postseason advantage goes beyond the Super Bowl rings. Manning has been too shaky in the playoffs overall, losing too many times when his team had been favored.

A Super Bowl title after this 2015 season for Manning would be monumental. It also seems highly unlikely. The offense isn’t any good, specifically because Manning isn’t the same quarterback he once was. Brady has the edge here as well.

Jan 17, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) reacts as he calls a play against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the AFC Divisional round playoff game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 17, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) reacts as he calls a play against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the AFC Divisional round playoff game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

DAN:

The outcome of the AFC Championship game doesn’t matter. Tom Brady wins the all-time quarterback discussion over Peyton Manning either way. This is Brady’s fifth straight Championship game. He’s an incredible 22-8 in postseason games, with a 4-2 record in Super Bowls. Manning’s numbers just don’t compare.

While I respect the statistics that Manning has put up over the years, in terms of wins and losses Brady has always been better. Both in the regular season and playoffs, its Tom Brady who’s done more. When it’s an all-time quarterback discussion, I care about winning first and everything else second.

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Peyton Manning has 186 career regular season victories, with two losing seasons (3-13 in 1998 and 6-10 in 2001, both with the Colts). Brady is a few wins behind, with 172 career regular season victories. He also had only one season with fewer than double-digit wins, but the Patriots still had a winning record that season (9-7 in 2002).

Shall we talk playoffs now?

Brady has nearly twice the playoff victories (22) as Manning (12), with four times as many Super Bowl trophies on his mantle. I love the prospects of Peyton winning his second title, because I want him in this discussion. I want Manning to join the all-time debate, because with only one Super Bowl championship, he is constantly left on the outside looking in. If Peyton can retire on the top of the sport, having won his second Super Bowl, he will be vaulted into Tom Brady’s world of greatness. But until that happens, he’s unfortunately the best quarterback to struggle to close the deal.

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Peyton Manning is on top of that list. But Tom Brady? He’s on top of nearly every list. With a fifth ring he practically closes the door on the Brady versus Joe Montana debate as well. He’s simply won way too much.

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