Manning is the MVP of
the 2013 Regular Season
Manning has had an astonishing 2 years with the Broncos.
This year he racked up 5,477 passing yards, giving him 64, 964 for a career. 55
TD passes in a single season is remarkable benchmark. For a 37 year old QB to play
at this high of level is unheard of. I don’t think there is any question that
Manning may be the most talented, intelligent and hardest working QB in the
history of the sport.
His tireless analysis of film and his 100% commitment to
refine and perfect his game on the practice field is legendary. His execution
of the hurry up offense, his ability to get rid of the football in less than 3
seconds and his vision down field are second to none. If Manning wasn’t playing
QB in the NFL right now he’d have to be considered a great candidate to be an
Offensive Coordinator and even a Head Coach for any NFL organization.
Historically Manning
isn’t the same QB in the Playoffs
But… as I’ve said numerous times before, Manning has to
finish the deal for the Broncos by helping the team win a Super Bowl. All the
regular season success, the records, and the MVP awards are impressive but if a
Super Bowl isn’t on his resume after having such a notable regular season the
shine on his individual accomplishments will lose its luster. The Super Bowl is
forever. I don’t care what other Broncos Fans may think of my opinion and I
know it’s a team game but if he doesn’t play competently and help the team win
it his tenure in Denver has to be considered a heartbreaking disappointment.
Despite Manning’s tremendous achievements this season he
does have inadequacies. If you look closer at the 5,477 passing yards most of
them have been of the dink and dunk variety, short passes, screen passes and
the run after the catch padded that stat.
Manning can still throw a deep ball if he has time and an open
Receiver but he doesn’t have the arm strength he once had. If he feels pressure
or has to leave the pocket to throw he’s not as consistent a passer short or
long.
The other part of his game that still is an uncertainty is
his capacity to play in a cold and windy environment. Denver and East
Rutherford can be extremely cold places to play football in January and
February. In the cold of Denver last year against the Ravens, Manning had 2
Fumbles and 2 Interceptions. The 2nd INT was a very costly one
because it ended any chance of the Broncos winning the game.
Then there is the most significant of Manning’s statistics
which is his past performance in playoff games. In his 16 year career Manning’s
teams have been to the playoffs 12 times prior to this year and he has a 9-11
record. In 20 playoff appearances Manning has 21 INT’s and 32 TD’s, that’s only
a plus 11. His career passing rating in the playoffs is a pedestrian 88.4 which
is 10th all time.
In 2005 and 2006 when he blew out the Jake Plummer led Broncos
in the 1st round of the playoffs both years as a Colt he lost to
Brady and the Patriots (the odds on favorite team to face him in the AFC
Championship this season) both years ending his Super Bowl run. Manning has
4-10 career record against Brady and 1-2 record against him in the playoffs.
Rivers thus far owns
Manning and the Broncos
This weekend the Broncos face the Chargers in the second
round of the playoffs. The Chargers have won 5 in a row going in and beat the
Broncos AT HOME 27-20 on Dec. 12. Rivers career record against the Broncos is
10-4 and he has a 5-3 record against Manning, and 3 of those losses came last
year when Manning became a member of the Broncos.
The Chargers after having a mediocre regular season have all
the earmarks of being another team like the Ravens last year that got hot at the
end of the season and made an improbable run at the Super Bowl. The big difference
between the Ravens and the Chargers is that the Chargers have a much better QB in
Rivers.
The time is NOW
Despite the statistical deficit that Manning and the team have
against the Chargers NOW is the time to rise up and kill the failures of the
past. Manning’s individual 2013 regular season stats will have less meaning if
the Broncos are one and done. Manning must play well but it won’t be enough.
The real test in the Chargers game and the playoff games to
follow will be if the Broncos Defense can play opportunistic football, tackle
and cover better, get pressure on the QB and make plays in the 4th
quarter. The Broncos must be able to run the ball with Moreno and Ball consistently.
The Offensive Line that’s played excellent football this season must protect Manning and his great Receivers must haul in the catchable balls.
The Offensive Line that’s played excellent football this season must protect Manning and his great Receivers must haul in the catchable balls.
I’m convinced that Offense won’t be a problem but if the Broncos
have to play a shootout game going into the 4th Q against the Chargers they
could be in real trouble. The table is set, the road to the Super Bowl will go through Denver and I can’t wait to see what happens. I pray to the football Gods that Manning can
exercise his playoff ghosts and lead the Broncos onto a Championship.
1 comment:
Simply put, Manning knows of his past record in the postseason. He seems to have played many of these games on the road so he needs to step up and win this one. I do not agree with all the dinks and dunks as defenses respect him enough as he throws the long one many times in a game. His game is precision timing and the yards after the catch are very impressive.
Glad to see you have seen the light on Luck and admit when you are wrong. Baby steps.
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