Peyton Manning: Is He Slumping, Injured or on a Rapid Decline?
After nine interceptions in his last four games and a 1-3 record, people are beginning to get very worried about Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning.
The model of consistency and complete control for years, Manning is having what many have declared the worst stretch of his career.
Given that he's only in a four-game slump, you get the idea what his career has been like.
But in the last four games, Manning has looked lost in a way that's not Peyton-like, and he's recently been getting a serious amount of (unwanted) attention.
So, we at Bleacher Report ask: Is Peyton Manning officially on the decline?
5. Yes: He's Getting Older
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Peyton Manning is now 34 years old.
NFL players, despite being able to smash through brick walls and dunk on goal posts, are human, too.
Around this age, the game can start to wear on them, mentally and physically.
Just ask Brett Favre (oh, you cold, Ryan, you cold).
5. No: Injuries on Colts Taking Their Toll
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Peyton Manning has been without his No. 1 running back, Joseph Addai, No. 3 running back Mike Hart, and No. 2 running back Donald Brown has been battling injuries, which has stunted the young player's growth in the league.
Not to mention wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez is nowhere to be found. Neither is 2010 sensation Austin Collie.
Throw in Peyton's No. 1 tight end, Dallas Clark, and you have a lot to make up for.
Tight end Jacob Tamme has filled in nicely for Clark, but as far as the running game goes, it's very much hurting, which forces the Colts to throw more...which the defense is already expecting.
4. Yes: Peyton's Numbers Are Down
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In Peyton's last four seasons, he has never thrown fewer than 31 touchdown passes.
He is in danger of breaking that streak this year.
He has 22 TDs so far, meaning he would have to throw nine in the last five games to match his previous years' numbers.
Possible, but, with the way he's going, probably not likely.
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4. No: Peyton Still Has Very Good Numbers
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Despite a dropoff so far, Peyton Manning still has very good numbers on the season, throwing for 22 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. That's a 2:1 ratio for all you math wizards out there. Not bad.
He is tied for sixth with his brother Eli in completion percentage, also, at 65.2 percent.
And he still has a QB rating of 90.8.
3. Yes: Peyton Played Poorly Against The Cincinnati Bengals
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That, more than anything, really scares me. The. Cincinnati. Bengals.
The Bengals have been horrid against the pass this season, but Peyton only thew for 185 yards against them, with a 55.6 percent completion rate, and no touchdowns.
How does that happen?
3. No: The Chargers Are Peyton's Worst Enemy
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Sure, Peyton played horrible against San Diego last week, but that's nothing new.
In seven career games against San Diego, Peyton now has 72.5 QB rating, the lowest against any other team.
San Diego is also the only team besides Cleveland that Peyton has thrown more interceptions than touchdowns against, throwing 16 interceptions to 12 touchdowns.
Some say it's the 3-4 defense. I just say it's San Diego.
2. Yes: Peyton Can't Take the Tom Brady Comparisons Anymore
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After nine-and-a-half seasons of being compared to Tom Brady, it can start to wear you down a bit.
Oh, Peyton just threw three touchdowns...but Brady threw four.
That kinda back-and-forth media blitz can send any sane person completely over the edge.
He's simply tired, and wants everyone to just leave him alone.
2. No: He Has to Hurry Throws Now More Than Ever
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After the game against San Diego on Sunday, Peyton admitted that he was hurrying throws, in that the offensive line was not giving him enough time.
Sure, this has happened every once in a while to the Colts, but as a whole they generally have a pretty good offensive line that gives Peyton time to throw.
He is starting to get the feeling of what quarterbacks on horrible teams have to face week-after-week.
It's not the sign of a decline, it's the sign of uncharted territory he needs to adjust to.
1. Yes: He Isn't Superhuman Anymore
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Peyton has been playing at such a high level throughout his career, even a minor four-game blip seems like the end of the world to everyone, including him.
But he's not superhuman, he's not God, he's a quarterback that has played at a Hall of Fame level for years, and he simply might be declining like all quarterbacks eventually do.
Even so, you can't think he's not going to be a legitimate starting quarterback for at least a couple more years.
1. No: It's Four Games, Get Over It
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I don't know if I've ever heard so much hub-bub over four games.
First of all, the game in New England wasn't all that bad.
Yes, he threw for three interceptions, but he also threw for four touchdowns and 396 yards. He completed 38-of-52 passes, good for a 73 percent completion rate.
And people seem to already forget what Peyton did in his first seven games of the season, throwing for 15 touchdowns to two interceptions, going 5-2.
Even if he is declining, it's hard for me to imagine he will decline at such a fast rate as this.
He is still one of the best quarterbacks in the league, hands down.
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