10 Reasons Why Tom Brady Is Better Than Peyton Manning

Being mainly a Motorsports fan, I can tell you that the biggest arguments in the sport are always "if X in 1958 and Y in 2004 were in the same car, who would have won?".  In consummate team sports, the biggest argument usually is "Who was the best team of all time?"  

The best player, however, is difficult to judge, as there are so many positions with wildly varying responsibilities.  But once in a while, a rivalry amongst players in the same era comes along, such as Staubach and Bradshaw, or Bird and Magic.  The biggest in this category for the past decade is Tom Brady and Peyton Manning.  

The Manning camp will argue that Peyton completely crushes Brady in all aspects of statistics.  This is true.  Except the Brady camp can argue that Tom crushes Manning in the only statistic that counts—winning.  One must remember that the task of a quarterback is to lead his team to a win.  It is not to accumulate amazing statistics for the record books.  It is a position which has a job description of motivating the team at hand and putting a "W" in the box at all costs.  We will now look at who does this best.  

Note: I am a long-time 49ers fan who just loves statistics, so I'm trying to write this as objectively as possible.  Manning to me is too cocky, and Brady has done things in his life that I sincerely hope neither I nor anyone in my family would ever do.  I have no allegiance.  

There are four aspects that I feel must be thought of throughout this article. 

- For Manning:    

#1 Team: Brady has had a better team overall.  

- For Brady:    

#2 Receivers: Brady has thrown to many more receivers over the decade than Manning, who has been throwing to Reggie Wayne and Marvin Harrison over the time frame.  This shows much more versatility for Brady.  

#3 Pointless Wins: although Manning has 7 Seasons in a row with 12 wins or more (a record), he is only 9-6 in the playoffs in those 7 seasons, with just 1 Super Bowl, and 2 NFC Championships.  

#4 Should Have, Could Have, Would Haves: although Manning could have had maybe three Super Bowls, Brady could have won 2006, 2007, and even 2005.  Making five or maybe six Super Bowls.  

#10: Game-Winning Drives

Chris McGrath/Getty Images

PITTSBURGH - NOVEMBER 14: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots waits in the tunnel to lead his team onto the field against the Pittsburgh Steelers on November 14, 2010 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images

Game winning drives are always cited as an aspect of football that truly shows off the great quarterbacks.  The factor that's forgotten is that in many ways, the best quarterbacks don't need to have a game winning drive.  This is very common in racing as well.  Although I am an Ayrton Senna fan, too many people say that Senna was far better than Michael Schumacher because Senna always drove through the field to win, where Schumacher never did.  He would start on Pole (1st position) and win the race easily.  The fact of the matter is that Schumacher didn't need to go through the field to win.  He was just that much faster than everyone else, and would have dominating wins rather than exciting ones.  I could go into how good the cars were for the respective drivers, but that is for another time, and you get the point.     

Although, the same problem, exists here.  

Brady: 30 Game winning drives in 118 Wins

Manning: 45 Game winning drives in 146 Wins  

This means that 1/4th of Brady's wins, and almost 1/3rd of Manning's, included a comeback.  This means Manning needs to compile a comeback almost 1/3rd of the time.  Brady only has 35 losses* and has a win percentage of 77%, as opposed to Manning, who is at 67%.  If they were closer in that statistic of win percentage, you could argue that Manning wins the game-winning drive stat.  But not with those numbers.  Brady simply doesn't need to compile a game-winning drive as much, but if he has to, he can.   

*The first game of 2008, where Brady started but went out with his year ending injury in the first quarter, was not counted for obvious reasons.  

#9: Head to Head Games

Travis Lindquist/Getty Images

FOXBORO, MA - NOVEMBER 07: Peyton Manning #18 of the Indianapolis Colts shakes hands with Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots after the Colts defeated the Patriots, 40-21 at Gillette Stadium on November 7, 2005 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo

Regular Season:  Patriots Lead Colts 6-4    

Post-Season:  Patriots Lead Colts 2-1          

#8: Touchdown to Interception Ratio

Donald Miralle/Getty Images

MIAMI GARDENS, FL - FEBRUARY 07: Tracy Porter #22 of the New Orleans Saints intercepts a ball and thrown by Peyton Manning #18 of the Indianapolis Colts and returns it for a touchdown in the fourth quarter during Super Bowl XLIV on February 7, 2010 at Sun

Brady: 2.35 Touchdowns Per Interception  

Manning: 2.06 Touchdowns Per Interception  

#7: Championship Games

Marc Serota/Getty Images

JACKSONVILLE, FL - OCTOBER 03: Quarterback Peyton Manning #18 of the Indianapolis Colts throws while taking on the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field on October 3, 2010 in Jacksonville, Florida. The Jaguars won 31-28. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Ima

Brady: In 8 Seasons, Brady has taken the Patriots to 5 Conference Championship Games (63%), and Won 4 of them (50%).  

Manning: In 12 Seasons, Manning has taken the Colts to 4 Conference Championship Game (33%), and Won 2 of them (17%).  

#6: Super Bowls

Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 06: Quarterback Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots celebrates after defeating the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX at Alltel Stadium on February 6, 2005 in Jacksonville, Florida. The Patriots defeated the E

Brady: Won 3, Lost 1  

Manning: Won 1, Lost 1  

#5: Winning Percentage

Rick Stewart/Getty Images

PITTSBURGH, PA - OCTOBER 21: Quarterback Peyton Manning #18 of the Indianapolis Colts stands on the sidelines in the fourth quarter of a losing effort during the Monday Night NFL game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylv

Brady: 118 - 35  /  77%  

Manning:  146 - 73  /  67%  

#4: Playoffs

Chris McGrath/Getty Images

PITTSBURGH - NOVEMBER 14: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots gives instructions against the Pittsburgh Steelers on November 14, 2010 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

Brady: 14-4 in the Playoffs      

Manning: 9-9 in the Playoffs  

#3: Overtime Games

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

19 Jan 2002: Quarterback Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots runs in for a touchdown over the defense of Regan Upshaw #91of the Oakland Raiders during the AFC playoff game at Foxboro Stadium in Foxboro, Massachuesetts. The Patriots came from behin

Brady: 8-1, Also 1-0 in the Playoffs.  

Manning: 3-4, Also 0-2 in the Playoffs.      

Note: The first seven of those eight overtime wins came in Brady's first three seasons.  Talk about the start of your career.  Wow.  

#2: The Choke Factor

The Ultimate Choke. Game-Winning Drive Goes Down In Flames

This page is for those who have said that the reason Manning does not have the playoff and Super Bowl statistics/win percentage that Brady has, is because of the team, and not Manning.  This page will show you that Manning has played a major role in these important losses.  His stats during these important games is anywhere from bad to atrocious.  

1999 – Colts Record: 13-3  

Playoff Game: Team had its third lowest output of the season, while Manning completed only 19 of 43 passes for 227 yards and 0 TD's.  His 60.9 passer rating was his lowest of the season.  Colts Lose - 19-16.  

2000 – Colts Record: 10-6

Playoff Game: Manning went 17 for 32, and had just 194 yards with 1 TD. The Colts put up 10 points fewer than their regular season average, and it was their second lowest scoring output of the season.  Colts Lose - 23-17, in Overtime.  

2002 – Colts Record: 10-6

Playoff Games: Got through the 9-7 Jets. Manning then played the single worst statistical game of his entire career, going 14 for 31, with 137 yards, 0 TDs, 2 INTs and a career-low 31.2 passer rating.  Colts Lose - 41-0.  

2003 – Colts Record: 12-4  

Playoff Games: Got through Denver and Kansas City.  Then at the Conference Championship, Manning threw 4 interceptions and posted the third lowest passer rating of his entire career at 35.5.  Colts Lose - 24-14.  

2004 – Colts Record: 12-4  

Playoff Games:  They can't lose here.  Manning entered the playoffs with an unstoppable offensive unit that posted the fifth most points in NFL history.  Manning set the record for the most touchdown passes in a season with 49, while shattering the single-season passer rating record with a mark of 121.1.  The Colts defeated Denver easily.  But when the Colts came to New England, the team with the historical quarterback and offense statistics put up one field goal.  One field goal.  Amazingly, it was their lowest offensive output since the 2002 playoff loss to the Jets, when as just mentioned, they lost 41-0, under Manning.  Furthermore again, Manning played his worst game of the season in the playoffs, completing 27 of 42 for 238 yards with 0 TDs and 1 INT, for a passer rating of 69.3, the lowest of the year.  Colts Lose - 20-3.  

2005 – Colts Record: 14-2  

Playoff Game: After going 13-0 to start the season, the Colts lost to the #6-seed Steelers in the first game of the playoffs, after scoring just 3 points in the first three quarters.  Manning tried to mount a comeback in the 4th quarter, but it was too late.  Colts Lose - 21-18.    

And Of Course 2009 - Colts Record: 14-2  

Super Bowl: See attached YouTube video for the ultimate in chokes.  This was almost solely Manning's fault, on a drive that would have been a game winning sensation, and would have been a phenomenal argument for Colts/Manning fans had he marched down the field and scored a touchdown.  

#1: Out of the Gate

Brian Bahr/Getty Images

3 Feb 2002: Quarterback Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots speaks with sports commentator Terry Bradshaw, left, at the podium after Super Bowl XXXVI between the New England Patriots and the St. Louis Rams at the Superdome in New Orleans, Louisian

Brady's First 4 Seasons:

48-16 in the Regular Season  

Won all 7 Overtime games he played  

Got into the Playoffs 3 times  

Went 9-0 in the Playoffs, and Won 3 Super Bowls.  

Manning's First 4 Seasons:  

32-32 in the Regular Season  

Got into the Playoffs 2 times, but lost both games.         

That is just astounding.  Tom Brady had quite possibly the greatest beginning to a career in sports history.  

Final Thoughts: Now (Not Sarcastic) What Do the Manning Fans Have To Say?

What I Actually do, outside of Motorsports and Statistics and Meteorology and FreeSledding

That is what I have to say on the Brady vs. Manning argument.  I would like to hear from Manning's side, especially in the comments, and I say this in a non-sarcastic manner.  

      Musically -

                Cory Pesaturo  

http://www.CoryPesaturo.com      

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cory_Pesaturo