Tom Brady or Peyton Manning?

[Megatron]

Alright, time to settle this debate. My brother and I were arguing last night about who has had the better career between Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. He tried to say that since Manning has 4 MVP's and 1 Ring, and that he's made receivers such as Austin Collie and Pierre Garcon, he was better. I, however, thought that Brady was better, considering his track record in the playoffs and having only the 2nd ever undefeated regular season team in the Super Bowl Era, along with having an MVP of his own. So, who's right? Me or my brother? Just to give you guys a reminder of each mans accomplishments:

Tom Brady:
3 Super Bowl Wins (1 Loss)
2 Super Bowl MVPs
5x Pro Bowler
2000s All Decade Team
1 NFL Regular Season MVP
2x Sporting News Sportsman of the Year
Most TD's in a Regular Season by a QB
NFL Record for most consecutive wins in Postseason
14-4 in Playoffs
7-1 in Overtime
Highest Completion % in single game
29 Game Winning Drives after a Patriots fourth quarter tie or defecit

Peyton Manning:
1 Super Bowl Win (1 Loss)
1 Super Bowl MVP
10x Pro Bowler
4x NFL Regular Season MVP
5x 1st Team All Pro
2000s All Decade Team
Biggest Comeback in Conference Championship Game
9-9 in Playoffs
Most Wins by a QB in decade
45 comeback/game winning drives in the 4th Quarter

So, right now, who's had the better career, as of now? Manning or Brady?

 

[People's Champ]

I always will go with Brady. Manning has had a great career and broke single season records and what not, but Brady has done it where it counts most, in the playoffs. He. Has more rings and more playoff victories than Manning. He was the leader of a dynasty, which wasn't suppose to happen in this new age of free agency. In fact, if not for a lucky catch, he would have 4 rings and would been part of the best team in football. Mannings had struggled for years in the playoffs while Brady prospered. Brady all the way for me.

 

[Slyfox696]

Here's how I always think in order to settle this debate. If you had to start with a brand new team, and you could pick ANYONE as your quarterback, would anyone really pick Brady over Manning?

I don't really think so. I think most people would rather have Manning than Brady. While I know that is not what the question asks, I think it helps frame the issue.

As far as who's had more success, in a team game, it's hard to argue against Brady and his 3 titles. However, if you were to swap Manning and Brady, do you think Brady would still have three titles? I don't, in fact, I think Manning would have 4 or 5. And so, to receive the accolades Manning has I think is indicative of a better career, even if his Super Bowl titles aren't as numerous.

So that's why I say Manning.

 

[Megatron]

Here's how I always think in order to settle this debate. If you had to start with a brand new team, and you could pick ANYONE as your quarterback, would anyone really pick Brady over Manning?

If you are talking about right now, here in 2010, I would have to agree with you in Manning. But, if it was anytime between the Pats second SB win and Brady's injury, I'd take Brady. Both men can win in the regular season, but Brady has done it on the big stage, on more then one occasion.

As far as who's had more success, in a team game, it's hard to argue against Brady and his 3 titles. However, if you were to swap Manning and Brady, do you think Brady would still have three titles? I don't, in fact, I think Manning would have 4 or 5. And so, to receive the accolades Manning has I think is indicative of a better career, even if his Super Bowl titles aren't as numerous.

While that may be the case, do you think that Manning would have the numbers that he has with Troy Brown, Deion Branch, and David Givens? Not a chance. And I still think Brady would have at least 2 SB victories with the Colts, but that's just me.

 

[People's Champ]

That's something that sometimes people forget. When the Patriots were winning, they were trading players or letting them walk and still continued to win. That's what made their run so amazing. They just swapped players and kept winning. Manning has had the benefit of having the same team pretty much, and only won 1 ring. And I agree with Papa that I'm not sure he would be the same with the WRs the Pats had a few years ago. Manning is a great QB but I would say Brady's career is better.

 

[Big Sexy]

I agree with Sly 100%

Although Manning on the whole has had the better receivers throughout his career, just look at what he did last year. Marvin Harrison was gone and Anthony Gonzalez missed all but one game. He was left with only one legit receiver and he still put up great numbers while making Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie look like a million bucks. Don't forget what he did for Brandon Stokely as well a few years ago.

Brady's Patriots teams on the whole have been better then Manning's teams because of their defenses. Since the Pats made the transition from a defensive team to an offensive team they have won 0 Super Bowls. The 16-0 season was very fucking impressive but had the Colts not sat Manning and the starters this last year the feat could very well have been duplicated. Two things, however, remain similar from the Pats perfect regular season and the Colts near perfect regular season: Both teams lost in the big game.

Give Manning those Patriot defenses from their 3 Super Bowls and Manning wins those years no matter who his receivers are.

 

[Megatron]

And if you put Brady on those Colts teams he has at least 3 MVP's and 2 SB's. Look at what happened when he finally had some weapons with Moss and Welker in 07, he won his first MVP award. Tom has always been a better postseason player then Manning, hell, he's one of the top 5 postseason QB's of all time. I honestly think that Brady would've at least won 2 Super Bowls because of how he can perform in the clutch, and that he wouldn't of let the Colts lose in some of those playoff games that they lost. No offense to Manning, he's a great regular season QB, but you don't win championships by playing well in the regular season.

 

[Davi323]

Tom Brady. As a Michigan fan, I am honor bound to pick Brady, but at the same time, he has 3 Super Bowl rings to Manning's 1. Stats are great, but at the end of the day, the object of the game is to win the Super Bowl. Brady has been more successful at that than Manning has.

 

[daddyJ_t]

im from indy so of course im choosing manning, but i wont discount bradys accolades either. the *undefeated* season and yes it was tarnished due to spygate was under clout due to said fact. regardless it happened. as for alot of his success(bradys) some of his feats are because of his kicker adam v, not brady himself, jus like some of manning failures are due to the same in mike v. if adam would have missed some of those kicks and mike would have made some of his, alot of those stats would possible be reversed if not erased

 

[Little Jerry Lawler]

Tom Brady. As a Michigan fan, I am honor bound to pick Brady, but at the same time, he has 3 Super Bowl rings to Manning's 1. Stats are great, but at the end of the day, the object of the game is to win the Super Bowl. Brady has been more successful at that than Manning has.

So guys like Trent Dilfer and Brad Johnson are better than guys like Dan Marino and Donovan McNabb because they've never won a Superbowl. Terry Bradshaw has four rings but his name rarely gets brought up when talking about the greatest quarterbacks of all time.

I'll go Manning over Brady. Manning is more prepared at the quarterback position than anyone I've ever seen in terms of running an offense. He never gets hurt and can make the most difficult throws out there.

 

[jmt225]

I would go with Tom Brady. Why? Simple...

I can trust Tom Brady at the end of the game way more than I can trust Manning. You know why Peyton Manning doesn't have as many Super Bowl rings as Brady? It's not because those Patriots teams were that much better than those Colts teams... it was because Manning is a choke artist, whereas Brady has been able to keep his cool all throughout the game. Doesn't matter if it's the first drive, or the last drive... you're going to get the same cool, calm, collective Tom Brady the ENTIRE game; whereas Peyton goes into panic attack mode whenever the Colts need a great drive from him (not every single time of course, but definitely the majority). It's as simple as that.

So, that's why as a GM I would take Brady over Manning. But when comparing careers, when saying who has the better one... I still take Brady. Brady has the rings, and that's all that matters. I'm sure Manning would give up all his stats and records for 2 more Super Bowl wins.

 

[Megatron]

So guys like Trent Dilfer and Brad Johnson are better than guys like Dan Marino and Donovan McNabb because they've never won a Superbowl. Terry Bradshaw has four rings but his name rarely gets brought up when talking about the greatest quarterbacks of all time.

I'll go Manning over Brady. Manning is more prepared at the quarterback position than anyone I've ever seen in terms of running an offense. He never gets hurt and can make the most difficult throws out there.

No, that's not even thinking logically. Peyton Manning is regarded (by some) as one of the top 5 QB's in the NFL's History, but, in order for a QB to be considered the 'best' in history, that man has to have had some jewelry on his hands. That's why I think Brady has had a better career then Manning, and that Joe Montana and John Elway were better then Dan Marino. Yeah, it's a team sport, but the QB is the leader, and a QB's job is to win when the spotlight is the biggest, which is what Tom has proven time and time again, unlike Peyton.

Peyton can have all of the MVP's he wants, because I'm certain that the Super Bowl rings mean 1000000X more then MVP awards.

 

[Stormtrooper]

First, let me preface my opinion with 2 facts. First, I think everyone would agree that if we were starting a franchise, we would be thrilled to have either one. Second, my pick has nothing to do with my being a "bias" homer.

If I were choosing one QB to start a franchise with, I would choose Peyton Manning, without hesitation. Lets look at he numbers, presented earlier by Papa Grande.


Super Bowl Wins: Completely a team accomplishment. Edge to New England/Brady
Super Bowl MVPs: Individual accomplishment, with a lot of Team influence (getting there). SLIGHT edge to Brady
Regular Season MVPs: Mostly Individual accomplishment. Over a 16 game season, he needs receivers to get him gaudy numbers, and great protection to keep him vertical. BIG edge to Manning
Pro Bowl: Individual accomplishment. 10-5 in favor of Manning. BIG Edge to Manning
Sporting News Sportsmen of the Year: Brady has 2 of them. Manning was named NFL Athlete of the Decade. Decade=10 years. Edge to MANNING
Most TD's in a Regular Season: Used to be Manning (thanks to Harrison, Wayne and Clark), now Brady (thanks to Moss, Welker, etc). Edge to Brady
Playoff Record: Completely team accomplishment. Edge to New England/Brady
4th Quarter Game Winning Drives: Team/individual accomplishment. Brady has 29, Manning has 45. Edge to Manning.

Tom Brady:
NFL Record for most consecutive wins in Postseason: Complete team accomplishment.
Highest Completion % in single game: Individual accomplishment.

Peyton Manning:
Biggest Comeback in Conference Championship Game: Against Tom Brady
Most Wins by a QB in decade: Team accomplishment.


Brady's accomplishments are mostly team based, while Peyton's are individually based. I'd rather have the guy who, if needed, has been able to do it by himself, which is Peyton Manning.

 

[Undertaker09]

THIS IS EASY PEYTON MANNING HE COULD MAKE ANYONE LOOK GR8 HIS ACCURACY IS SIMPLY AMAZING TOM BRADY NEEDS WEPONS TO PUT UP NUMBERS & WIN & BRADY NEEDS EVERY THING TO WIN JUST LOOK AT LAST SEASON THE PATS DEFENCE WAS OK AND HAD A GOOD RUN GAME THE PATS ENDED UP BEING 10-6 THE COLTS HAD NO RUNNING GAME AND A LOAD OF ENGERIES ON THE DEFENCIVE SIDE & A NEW HEAD COACH THEY ENDED UP 14-2 RING DONT MAKE YOU BETTER THAN SOME 1 ELSE IF IT DID THEN ELI IS BETTER THAN DAN MARINO (GO G-MEN)

 

[Megatron]

I'm not trying to criticize anyones decision, but if you look at most of Manning's accomplishments, they were done in the regular season where he was able to put up giant stats. Partially because of the type of offense that he plays in (heavy pass/little run) and mainly due to him being a great QB. Not that there's anything wrong with that, mind you, but Brady never was a heavy stats guy early in his career. Especially with the system that they run in, which was more of a mix run/pass until he got Moss/Welker.

However, when you look at the playoffs, not only does Brady have a better record, but he also has more rings. While you can say that's because of Brady's great defenses, here's another important stats for you guys to see:

Of Brady's 14 career playoff victories, Brady has had 6 Game winning drives in them. 41.3%

Of Manning's 9 career playoff victories, Manning has had 1 Game winning drive in them. 11%

Fact is, Brady is able to come out in the clutch more consistently then Manning has. And that's what a top QB has to do: win on teh big stage. While Manning has, Brady has done it more often and more consistently.

 

[Davi323]

So guys like Trent Dilfer and Brad Johnson are better than guys like Dan Marino and Donovan McNabb because they've never won a Superbowl. Terry Bradshaw has four rings but his name rarely gets brought up when talking about the greatest quarterbacks of all time.

I'll go Manning over Brady. Manning is more prepared at the quarterback position than anyone I've ever seen in terms of running an offense. He never gets hurt and can make the most difficult throws out there.

And both Dan Marino and Donovan McNabb would trade in all their stats for one Super Bowl Ring.

Oh, and there is that little Tom Brady was a single he couldn't do again in a thousand tries miracle catch by David Tyree away from a perfect season. Tom Brady was a SINGLE PLAY away from 19-0. Peyton Manning is a gunslinger. He is incredibly smart. I love Peyton Manning as a QB. But if I had to pick just one of those two guys, I am gonna go with Tom Brady.

Papa Grande wrote the magic word...clutch. Clutch is a word that doesn't apply to too many players in the NFL. Joe Montana is probably the pinnacle of the word, nobody can possibly exemplify what it means to be clutch like Joe Cool. But, Tom Brady plays the same way. Tom Brady is clutch.

 

[LikeSheamusLoveOrton]

Im going to have to go with Manning. Yes, Super Bowls are what it should be about. But can you tell me with QB in history has the most super bowl rings right off hand? On the same account, can you tell me who has the most wins as a QB in NFL history? Most likely you will know that. You will know the stats after a QB is gone long after how many rings they have. Also, had the Colts not went dumbass and sit Peyton, the Colts would have went 16-0. The Jets werent going to beat them in the 15th, and we all damn sure know that the Bills werent gonna pull it off in the last game. I also believe that chemistry loss betweent Manning and the YOUNG recivers was a key factor in deciding the Super Bowl. They just didnt look right in the first playoff game, AFC Champ, or the SB. So all in all, when we look back on this 20 years from now. People will say Manning over Brady.

 

[The Crock]

It's hard to argue against Brady and his championships, but I really think that Peyton Manning has had the better career. I think that Peyton Manning is one of the best quarterbacks in the history of the game, maybe THE best. He's won one Super Bowl, 4 MVP trophies, and he is a 10 time pro bowler. He takes control of the game and is the best field general around. Peyton Manning has had the better career.

 

[Big Sexy]

Peyton Manning has played in 15 playoff games since 2003 (the first year the Colts were good enough to actually make some noise). Of those 15 games he has only played poorly in 4 of them and the Colts won 2 of those 4 games, so I don't know where this "choke artist" bullshit has come from. Let's not forget the come back he led against Brady's Patriots in 2006 when they won the Super Bowl.

The whole Tom Brady has more playoff comebacks is a stupid stat as well. Number one, he has had more opportunities because the Colts usually blow teams out when they win in the playoffs. Number two, Brady's supporting cast (defense and special teams) helped him a lot with the comebacks and Manning wasn't so lucky. Two example are 2005 against the Steelers, Manning leads a come from behind drive only to have Mike Vanderjact miss a kick BADLY that he has easily made multiple times in his career. Then there was 2007 against the Chargers when Manning led a 4th quarter drive to give the Colts the lead only to have the Colts defense turn around and allow the Chargers offense led by Billy fucking Volek go the other way and score a touchdown themselves.

And if you put Brady on those Colts teams he has at least 3 MVP's and 2 SB's. Look at what happened when he finally had some weapons with Moss and Welker in 07, he won his first MVP award. Tom has always been a better postseason player then Manning, hell, he's one of the top 5 postseason QB's of all time. I honestly think that Brady would've at least won 2 Super Bowls because of how he can perform in the clutch, and that he wouldn't of let the Colts lose in some of those playoff games that they lost. No offense to Manning, he's a great regular season QB, but you don't win championships by playing well in the regular season.

I believe this is false. If you put Brady on those Colts teams he has ONE Super Bowl at the most. I don't care if he had Harrison and Wayne, there is no way Brady and that soft Colts defense would have been able to take down Peyton manning and the mighty Pats D. If the roles were reversed I believe Manning would have been a better qb legacy wise and Brady would have been worse.

You also Bring up Brady putting up huge numbers when he finally got Moss but remember Moss is easily a better receiver then both Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne. Also for the type of offense the Pats run an argument can be made that Moss and Welker was a better receiving combo then Harrison and Wayne.

 

[ThePeoplesChampion]

That's something that sometimes people forget. When the Patriots were winning, they were trading players or letting them walk and still continued to win. That's what made their run so amazing. They just swapped players and kept winning. Manning has had the benefit of having the same team pretty much, and only won 1 ring. And I agree with Papa that I'm not sure he would be the same with the WRs the Pats had a few years ago. Manning is a great QB but I would say Brady's career is better.

And we finally agree on something! Live in Indiana have to hear this all the time and 9 times out of ten im in the minority....Brady has had One count them 1 Hall of Fame type reciever in Randy Moss in his career and what did he do with him? Threw a record 50 TDs (previously held by Manning at 49), gave moss his best season in his career, went 16-0, beat every team they ever played (they did beat NY in the regular season), went to the Super Bowl....Manning has had Harrison and Wayne and has 1 title to show....Brady has won 3 titles with no names at wide reciever....Manning has his chance to do that last year with Garcon and Colle and fell short....Yes Manning has records...but Brady has titles and in the end thats what you want...put it in these terms...Dan Marino one the greatest QBs ever...Joe Montana ice cold when the game matters....one has many titles the other none...who do you say had a better career Montana or Marino?....also look at some of the competition the Pats have played in the Super Bowl...Eagles, Panthers, and Rams.....Eagles had T.O. and McNabb in there or just a lil past there prime and a very good defense...Panthers had Steve Smith and Jake in there prime and defense lil man named Julius Peppers ....Rams were defending Champs were huge favorites...Brady lead this teams to game winning drives over all three...Manning played Da Bears....lead by Rex Grossman? yes they had a good defense but Grossman and the Offense couldnt put up points....against a team its equal in the Saints manning did what he did Best choke!....Manning can lead many game winning drives over teams he is expected to beat but how bout teams that are as good as his team?

People will say also Manning numbers are better...well of coarse for one manning been in the league 2-3 years more than Brady...and Brady had one year off due to injury so essentially Manning has 3-4yrs up on Brady....Brady if he had the talent manning had at wide reciever would put up numbers at or better than manning and win titles.