In Defense Of Peyton Manning, The Best Quarterback In The NFL

A disclaimer: I acknowledge that arguing for Peyton Manning as the best quarterback in the NFL might be a complete no-brainer.  After all, the stats are there. I'm not the first to say it. And his only realistic competition for the title would be Tom Brady, who probably either repulses you on a personal level, or concerns you on a purely practical one post-injury.

Or there's Eli Manning, which, well, too soon.

But my argument for Manning as the Best QB Out There has been modernized. It has to do with how his performance in last night's Monday Night Football game against the Miami Dolphins might be the most terrifyingly efficient use of almost no time of possession in a half of football since Joe Montana.

Manning knows his playbook like Bible-thumpers know the Good Word. Noticing a linebacker beaten in man coverage against Dallas Clark, Manning hits his tight end in stride for twenty, thirty yards. Seeing a blitz come up the middle, Peyton audibles for the wide receiver screen.

A supposedly beaten Colts team scores twice in the fourth quarter, with the second drive requiring forty seconds.

Peyton is, all-around, the most complete quarterback, in the best rapport with his receivers, in the prime of his career, on a solid team on both sides of the ball.

Against a more dangerous team than the Miami Dolphins, giving the ball away with three minutes to go might have directly lead to the loss, and Peyton would've been blamed. But I'm sure he was aware that the Miami passing game posed no legitimate threat even to the Colts' gassed defense, and his confidence was a clear motivator.

Owning time of possession is the way many analysts and critics say teams beat other teams. Miami's running game controlled the clock, wore down the defense, and scored late. Peyton was supposed to be cold, sidelined, off the field, out of rhythm, in a hostile environment, getting too old to pull out another late drive.

Instead, well, you saw what happened.

Manning is scary good, especially when he's supposed to be down. That's what makes him the Best.