The Great Debate: Why Peyton Manning Edges Tom Brady

Almost a week has passed since the super-hyped Patriots-Colts matchup—but the Peyton Manning-Tom Brady debate is still very much unsettled.

Which star QB is better?

Both are future Hall of Famers who've earned the respect of teammates and coaches. Brady's lifetime quarterback rating is 92.2; Manning's is 94.7.

Choosing between them would seem to be almost impossible.

But that won't stop me from trying.

To his credit, Brady is a commanding presence in the huddle—you get a sense there's never any doubt about who's in charge. Though his arm strength has been questioned, I've seen him go deep with great success.

I suppose it helps when you have an offensive line like New England's—Brady at times  seems to have a force-field around him on Sundays.

Manning, on the hard, has a good line that's still developing. OT Tony Ugoh in particular still has some learning to do.

Both the Patriots and the Colts have superb skill-position players on offense. You could certainly make an argument that Indy has the best one-two receiver punch in the league—but Randy Moss, Donte Stallworth, and Wes Welker aren't too shabby themselves. 

In the end, I'd go with Manning if a game were on the line—based on his arm, his footwork, and his ability to succeed with a less-talented offensive line.

It's also worth noting that Manning is effectively Indy's offensive coordinator. When you watch him make those hand signals at the line scrimmage, you have to believe he's already figured out where the holes are in the defense.

All told, Brady and Manning are both outstanding quarterbacks. Wherever your sympathies lie, you'll find plenty of fodder to support your position—and plenty of naysayers ready to argue against you.