Super Bowl 2012: Will a Super Bowl Win Make Eli Manning an All-Time Great?

One of the biggest subplots leading up to the Super Bowl is the legacy of New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning.

After beating the San Francisco 49ers 20-17 in OT, he has a 7-3 postseason record and an NFL record five consecutive playoff road wins. Stuck beneath the crater-like legacy of his older brother Peyton, the tables are beginning to change. Peyton has amassed a 9-10 postseason record and the same amount of Super Bowl rings as his lil' bro. It’s hard to argue who has had more success in the postseason.

While Peyton sat out with a severe neck injury all season, Eli tossed eight TD passes and only one INT in three playoff wins. He also had a career year in the regular season, throwing for 4,933 yards, 29 TDs and 16 INTs.

How ironic is it that Manning will be playing for his second Super Bowl in Lucas Oil Stadium at his brother's home stadium in Indianapolis?

ESPN’s Sportscenter started the debate on Monday morning, and it’s incredible that both Merrell Hodge and Trent Dilfer were able to make strong points.

Hodge went with the whole “If Eli has two rings, he is better” stance, while Dilfer immediately claimed the Colts' 2-14 season without Peyton is proof that he is everything to the team. He goes on to talk about all of the deficiencies that Peyton has been able to mask over the years and how big of a burden is placed upon his shoulders every week. He is, essentially, the offensive coordinator of the team.

It’s an argument that will be raging on for the next two weeks, but let’s make one thing clear: Eli has to win the Super Bowl for this debate to continue. With all of the regular-season accomplishments of Peyton, Eli is not on the same level from that perspective. If Eli loses to the Patriots in the Super Bowl, he is 1-1 in the big game just like his brother.

Advantage Peyton.

Yet if Eli is somehow able to pull off yet another Super Bowl win over Tom Brady (Peyton’s nemesis), the meter will tilt in favor of the younger brother, who officially would shed the shadow of his older brother.

It’s simple math: two is better than one.