Manning is officially second fiddle to Pats counterpart
Bill Burt
FOXBORO | You give Tom Brady a break, especially during crunch time, and you might as well shut off the lights, because the party is over.
Among many examples, see the end of the Patriots-Ravens game on Dec. 3, in Baltimore for exhibit No. 1.
You couldn't say the same thing about Peyton Manning, a player I've argued is the best quarterback in the National Football League, even with fewer Super Bowl rings.
Manning was given more chances than he deserved on Sunday against a San Diego team, with injuries to their star running back and starting quarterback, that was inferior by at least two touchdowns and at least three head-shaking calls by the referees.
Thus, after this past weekend my summation is this: Brady is better.
That's right, Brady is not the same as Manning. The 1 and 1A argument is gone.
Right now, Brady is alone at the top. He is No. 1 and Manning is No. 2.
Of course, these things seem to change from month to month and season to season, and if the Patriots lose to the Chargers Sunday millions of people would revert back to the 1 and 1A argument, but this one appears to be engraved in stone.
And I'm not just referring to Brady's MVP trophy | 50 TD passes and only 8 interceptions | and the Patriots perfect season (thus far).
We've seen what each has been able to do with the other guy's goods.
Brady was given a great, a very good and a good receiver, after three ordinary ones a year ago, and Manning had to make due with a great receiver and two average ones.
The roles were somewhat reversed this fall and winter.
Brady had the lesser receivers and often times an inferior running game his entire career before this season while Manning had two potential Hall of Famers at wide receiver | Reggie Wayne and Marvin Harrison | and one of the league's best tight ends (Dallas Clark), not to mention a very good running back (Edgerrin James and now Joseph Addai).
With all that changed this season, Brady couldn't be stopped and Manning looked like a fish out of water.
Manning's Colts ended the regular season 13-3, which would have been 14-2 if they cared in the finale against the Titans, and that is considered a great season.
But it wasn't "Brady" great.
Manning threw 14 interceptions in 2007, not including the two he threw on Sunday, which is the most he had thrown since 2002. His 31 touchdown passes rank as his third highest total.
Those numbers aside, Manning just didn't seem like Manning, especially in the few really big games he played this season. He was a pedestrian 16 for 27 with a TD in a loss to the Patriots, but it was his interception with the game on the line that finished the Colts off.
Back to Brady.
He showed that with a little help | can you imagine his No. 1 receiver last year was Reche Caldwell? | or really a lot of help, he is even better than we first thought.
Brady's performance on Saturday night was maybe the best ever from a quarterback. He completed 26 of 28 passes.
His 53-yard pass to Donte Stallworth, setting up the field goal to put the Patriots ahead 31-20, was maybe the best of his incredible season. Brady looked left, nearly throwing a short pass over the middle to Wes Welker, but he was covered.
Instead, Brady pulled the ball back and rolled to his right, not sure of what was going to happen. Running away from a Jaguars lineman, Brady somehow saw Stallworth on the right sideline and he motioned for him to go long, which he did. Brady hit him in stride.
See ya, Jaguars.
The fact that Brady did it is one thing. The fact that he did in a playoff game, well, that's a little different.
Brady is 13-2 in playoff games. Manning is 7-7.
But team records have always gone in Brady's favor. That is nothing new.
What's new is Brady putting up Manning-like numbers and still winning; in fact, winning all the time.
Right now, in 2007 and early 2008, for the first time in his career, it's all but official: Brady is the best.
