Of all the scenarios I thought would play out in this game, I felt the least likely would have been a Seahawks blowout of the Broncos. Did I underestimate the Seahawk defense? Maybe. I did believe they were good, best in football this year, but we were talking about the most prolific offense in NFL history playing in an era where all the rules favor the offense.
I really didn't care who won this game...as the saying goes, "I had no dog in this fight." As a Charger fan my beef is with Eli not Peyton...even though Peyton is a Bronco now...and even though I would choose Brady over Manning in the great, who's better debate, it's not like I'm saying Peyton sucks. On the contrary, the fact that you mention Peyton in an argument with Brady is because he is that good considering those are more or less considered the best QBs in the league right now. In any event, Peyton will be a first ballet HoFer and go down as one of the best of all time despite this 43-8Superbowl loss.
That being said, I think his legacy is tarnished a bit...again not saying he's not great, he is, but when you start to look at performances in signature games, Peyton doesn't live up to his own high standards. Even the year he took the Colts to a Superbowl victory he threw 7 interceptions and 3 TDs in the post season. The Colts' defense really saved them that season, wining the Wildcard game 23-8 against the Chiefs despite Manning throwing 1TD and 3 INTs. He won the MVP for the Superbowl, but his stat line wasn't very MVP-like...25-38, 247 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT. Good, but not great. In the Saints Superbowl, the Saints came back to win after trailing 6-10 at the half. That year, Manning had Joseph Addai, Dallas Clark, and Reggie Wayne...and don't say they didn't have a good defense, because neither did the Saints. Everyone expected a shootout, but the Saints won going away 31-17 aided by a Manning 4th quarter interception that was returned for a TD.
Back to the this years Superbowl...the Seahawks did match up with the Broncos the way no other team can. They played man on both receivers (with a safety over the top) and played zone underneath. The speed of their safeties and linebackers were key to stopping the Broncos short passing game. Broncos lived all year on short passes on crossing routes and off picks. Picks didn't work against the under zone, because the defender didn't have to stay with one WR. Plays where Bronco receivers took those short passes and turned them into decent gains, if not big plays, those same routes against the Seahawks resulted in <5 yards. Also the size of the Seahawks' DBs played a big part. The other Bronco staple was the WR screen out of a bunch formation. Seahawk DBs constantly ran through those WR blocks to make stops.
With the short passing game ineffective, Peyton had to hold the ball a little longer to go down field...and the Seahawk CBs played the outside WRs tight. That gave the pass rush time to get to Peyton. Normally, Peyton would start checking down to running plays, but against the Seahawks front seven that wasn't effective either. That was another key, allowing the Seahawks to keep one safety deep.
Bottomline, the Seahawks were just a more physical team and the Broncos didn't have an answer for that. Manning couldn't make enough plays under duress and nobody else could will the team to step up to match the Seahawks physically (not even Demaryius Thomas' 13 catches, 118 yds, 1TD).
Sure, you can't give Manning all the blame, but that street goes both ways. Manning was being hailed as the greatest during the season, but he did have a lot of weapons and a good running game. The defense wasn't great, but they stepped up when they had too. I didn't hear too many people talking about their injuries on defense when they shut down the Patriots in the AFC Championship game and the defense played great in the first half keeping the Seahawks out of the end zone twice after the safety and Manning threw his first pick (score was just 8-0 at that point). Also, I don't know how many times I heard "I want Peyton to win a ring" this past two weeks, like their wasn't 52 other guys on the team. So although it isn't fair to put all the blame on Manning, he does get most of the accolades when things are going well.
Maybe not fair, but I think this ends the debate on Peyton Manning being the best of all-time. He'll be like Brett Favre, have all the passing records, but unless you're a Favre/Packer fan, than he doesn't enter in the discussion of NFL's best ever.
Couldn't have said it better. I do think the fact that Denver doesn't (or can't?) get the ball downfield that often made it easier for the Seattle defense. This is normally seen as a limitation of Manning's and I won't argue that. I think that was key. Seattle could play up on the receivers knowing, one the defensive line will get a good rush, and two that the Denver offense doesn't seem to go long in the passing game that often. I've seen stats that I think say Denver was the best team in yard after catch. Backing up the fact that they throw the ball short and much of their yardage comes after the catch. Seattle was all over the receivers meaning they went almost nowhere after catching the ball. Manning threw the ball downfield a few times but I thought it was just him hoping for a play or wanting to give Seattle more to think about. I thought they should have started taking shots downfield more often. I know everything screams that wouldn't work but they were getting nowhere with the offense as it was running.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that among the all-time great quarterbacks this does hurt him some. A second Super Bowl win would have put him right behind Tom Brady who has three. I have a well known man crush on Brady so this is always a tough call for me. I think the teams they both played on were limited in how good they were as a whole. That said I think it comes down to Brady being in five Super Bowls and having those three wins. No one comes close in the current era. I too think I'd go with Brady but that may be the homer in me speaking.
I will argue that Peyton is in the argument as best ever. I think he is one of the top five no questions asked. I can't argue that he doesn't have the wins in the playoffs other greats do. In fact He barely makes the list of top 12 of conference championships by a quarterback (4). I think Brady leads the way with eight appearances with Montana (7), Elway (6), Staubach (6) and Bradshaw (6) right behind him. While I think that is pretty telling I do think there is more to it. While he is in a pass happy era, Manning has done more at the position than anyone has in decades. Not just stats. He literally runs the offense out there. To me this is an eye test thing. Watching him for so many years has been an amazing experience and he just screams "one of the greatest of all-time". Bottom line I truly believe he is among the greatest of all-time. Top five no questions asked. Well, that came out a little more passionate than expected...Love the discussion!