Peyton Manning is one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game. He had a great career with the Indianapolis Colts and came back stronger than ever with the Denver Broncos following neck surgery. That being said, Manning has been known to have a certain reputation when it comes to the playoffs.
In regular season games, Manning is always in control and on his game. The five-time league MVP was drafted by the Colts back in 1998 with the first overall pick and has been a human highlight reel ever since. He is the definition of a true professional and an icon in the NFL, not to mention he instantly makes his team a contender.
The Sheriff spent 14 years with the Colts before being released after invasive neck surgery that caused him to miss the entire 2011 season. Manning had never missed a game in his career beforehand. It was unknown how he would perform after having level-one cervical fusion surgery, but the Broncos took a gamble and signed the veteran in March 2012. He has led the Broncos to back-to-back AFC West titles and has improved in both seasons.
Manning has started 240 regular season games in his career and has a record of 167-73. He has thrown for 64,964 yards and 491 touchdowns in regular season play. The 13-time Pro Bowler has a career quarterback rating of 97.2. Remarkable numbers for a quarterback who hasn’t always had the best players surrounding him, and has overcome serious injury.
The 2013 season in particular was a career year for number 18, as he set many NFL records with the Broncos. He now has the NFL record for passing yards in a single season with 5,477, one more than the previous record holder, Drew Brees. Manning also has the record for most touchdown passes in a season with 55, which is five more than Tom Brady who held the record before him. His career year led to a successful playoff run that got Denver to Super Bowl XLVIII.
Unfortunately for Manning and the Broncos, the Seattle Seahawks defense was too much to handle as Seattle took Super Bowl XLVIII 43-8. However, and although it’s no consolation, Manning set a Super Bowl record with 33 completions. He broke the record in the fourth quarter with the Broncos down by 35. Even when his team is getting blown out in the big game, the guy sets NFL records.
Manning has appeared in 23 playoff games in his career, and his playoff stats are drastically different from his regular season stats. He has a playoff record of 11-12 and has thrown 24 picks in 23 games, but also has 37 touchdowns in his playoff career. The Sheriff has appeared in three Super Bowls, but has only walked away with a victory once, when the Indianapolis Colts beat the Chicago Bears 29-17 in Super Bowl XLI (Manning was also named Super Bowl MVP).
There’s no doubting Peyton Manning is one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, but he just can’t seem to succeed in the playoffs. He is a great regular season quarterback, but come January and February fans don’t see the same play they saw throughout the regular season. Manning has been one and done in the playoffs eight times in his career, which is the most by any quarterback in the Super Bowl era.
The debate of statistical records vs rings is always an intriguing one when it comes to football and Manning is a prime example for said debate. He is capable of having more than one ring, no doubt, but he makes poor decisions when it matters and falls to the pressure of the big game.
If Manning were to win another Super Bowl and end his career with two rings with his name plastered all over the NFL record books, his legacy would be complete. Right now he has a bad reputation when it comes to playoff football, he’s a quarterback you’d love to have September through December, but come January there are concerns. They don’t call him The Sheriff for nothing, he is an icon in the NFL, but in order for his legacy to be complete, he has to win another Super Bowl and put the bad playoff rap behind him; and with retirement far from his radar, and a solid Broncos team, it can be accomplished.