Football fans
around the world should say an extra prayer and thank God for blessing us to
see this kind of a game so many times in this era of football. Tom Brady and
Peyton Manning are two of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play. In a time
where many talk about the transition to mobile quarterbacks, these two pocket
passers dominate in the big picture. Let’s check out the scenarios that can
happen on Sunday and the impact it can have on the legacies of these two.
Before I start
this off, I want to say my top 3 quarterbacks of all time go in this order: 1)
Joe Montana 2) Tom Brady 3) Peyton Manning
Patriots win- If
the Patriots win this game, the Brady and Manning debate will further become a
one-sided conversation rather than a debate. I already believe that Brady’s
legacy is stronger than Manning’s without a doubt…RIGHT NOW. If Brady finishes
off Manning in a game that is played in Manning’s home and in which Manning has
all four superstar pass catchers and a decent running game and a rising
defense… The debate will be over. Brady is playing without his top 5 targets
from last year. He has lost Brandon Lloyd, Rob Gronkowski, Wes Welker (with
Broncos), Aaron Hernandez, and Danny Woodhead. His defense is badly depleted in
the middle. Special teams is taking a hit to the point where Brady is now the
holder for the first time in his career. If Brady wins this game, he cements
the number 2 spot at least and could make an argument for best ever for taking this
particular team to the Super Bowl. If he wins it all this year, there is no
doubt he will become the single greatest quarterback in the history of the
National Football League.
Broncos win- If
the Broncos win this game, which they should, Manning does help his case
plenty. Manning fans would have a legitimate argument to place him ahead of
Brady. I wouldn’t go that far personally. The reason for that being is because
Manning really SHOULD win it all this year. He is playing with a dream team
offense and has shattered records. Never in Manning’s career has he had to play
with mediocre talent. He has always played with multiple superstars around him
at skill positions. But still, the debate would be a much better one and a
solid case could be made for Manning. However, if they win this game and lose
the Super Bowl, Manning is back under .500 in the playoffs and still with just
one ring. He would still be a solid number 3 to me. If Manning wins out, I
think he enters the debate with Montana and Brady. I still wouldn’t give him a
hands-down edge over either one, but the debate would be a reasonable one.
From my
perspective, this game is one that Manning has a lot more to lose than Brady.
Brady has built that cushion with consistently great play, three Super Bowl
rings, five appearances, and a 10-4 edge over Manning thus far. If Manning wins
a couple more rings, I think he solidifies himself as the greatest. If Brady
wins one more, I think he stands alone at the top. But for right now, I think
its Joe Montana. That just goes to show how much nitpicking this really is and
for most fans, it’s just whom you may prefer and your opinion. But the debate
is never a dry one.
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