Eli Manning has not started his career better than Peyton

by shake n bake on Oct 8, 2008 1:17 PM EDT Comment 9 comments

Eli Manning has been playing well. Great for him, I root for him and him stepping up his play prevented the 19-0 apocalypse and gave us the gift of 18-1. Unfortunately whenever a guy is doing well the media starts with the hyperbole. TMQ made the claim that Eli has been better through the corresponding part Peyton's career. There is a problem with this.

You have to compare the Mannings apples to apples. Peyton started from day one of his rookie year. Eli didn't start until week 11. Here are their passing stats from season 2 through 4 games into season 5.

Peyton 1118-1789 62.5% 13,675 93 57
Eli 976-1740 56.1% 11,374 77 56

yards per attempt Peyton 7.64 to Eli 6.54
yards per completion Peyton 12.2 to Eli 11.7
INT% Peyton 5.1% to Eli 5.7%

Peyton was significantly better in every category. Peyton had an awful start to his career. Peyton threw 18 picks and completed over 60% of his passes once in the first 9 games, Eli rode the bench through that stage of his career.

Apples to apples, Eli learned on the bench while Peyton was thrown to the wolves. If you want to compare their careers you have to do it over points of their careers where they both actually played.

(tip to DZ and FO for linking the TMQ piece)

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Peyton vs Eli

I found that no matter how good a QB is they (media and other teams fans) are going to say so and so is better than Peyton.

I could care less if there will be a better QB than Peyton as long as he gets us to the SB and wins is all that really counts IMO, after all it’s the team that wins not just one player.

by Ufanforreal on Oct 8, 2008 1:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

You'll notice he did not offer any stats in his "analysis"

I saw the headline this morning, laughed at it, and didn’t read it until right now.

He also won a Super Bowl, thanks in part, to a spectacular defense, which Peyton never got until recently. Even in ‘06, the Colt’s defense was last in the league against the run.

It’s the same stupid reasoning that Marino is not a good QB, because he never won a Super Bowl.

by mgrex03 on Oct 8, 2008 1:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

What's around him

Eli also hasn’t had as good of a supporting cast on offense. I’m not saying that Eli is better than Peyton but if we’re going to use that Eli has a good defense you also have to consider the offense Manning has had. either Marshall Faulk or Edge, then Addai with Marvin Harrison their his whole career and solid to great tight ends in Pollard, Dilger, and now Clark. Don’t even try to tell me that Tiki and Jacobs match up with our backs or that Burress is as good as Harrison in his prime. Shockey might be somewhat comparable but he’s more famous for his mouth than his playing ability IMO.

Eli could go on to have a better career maybe not stats wise but definitely success wise. Yes, by that I mean super bowls. Sorry but as much as a QB cannot be measured by only super bowls one can also not always be measured by stats as well. I am a Colts fan and realize Peyton could end up being one of the best QB’s ever historically but I’m also a realist and believe that if Eli would have been drafted to the Colts circa 1998 he would have put up much better numbers his first few seasons.

If I had to choose I would still take Peyton I suppose. I’m just pointing out that the argument can be made for Eli and he’s looked good so far this year. Only time will tell who ends up being the best.

Peyton's good but have you ever heard of Jeff George?

by halfchest on Oct 8, 2008 3:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You are forgetting the most important part...

Offensive Line: Peyton has had a decent one but many of the crucial games that the Colts have lost in Peyton’s era have also seen horrible Offensive Line play. Eli’s line has also been solid, but has been a much better run blocking line than the Colts. The skill positions around Eli have been good to servicable, and you are probably right that our skill players are marginally to dramatically better, but if you can run the ball (because of good line play) and have lots of time to throw the excellence of your skill players doesn’t make as much of a difference.

by Rob-Westside on Oct 9, 2008 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Here's a new article

against said controversy.

I love them both, always have, always will. I’m glad the Giants are in a different conference, because I get to root for them too.

Peyton will go down as the best..ever, tho.

Here’s the link:

http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2008/10/sorry_eli_isnt_the_better_mann.html

"I throw, you catch. It's NOT that hard!"
Peyton Manning, SNL, 2007

by peytonsthebest on Oct 8, 2008 4:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Eli's definitely been better

Because all that really matters is SB victories and Eli got one quicker than Peyton.

by Joel Thorman on Oct 8, 2008 6:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

C'mon.

I mean, you can see where I stand regarding Eli. However, isn’t the old adage true: “Defenses win championships” - ??? You guys have had one of the best defenses since Eli’s been there…

"I throw, you catch. It's NOT that hard!"
Peyton Manning, SNL, 2007

by peytonsthebest on Oct 8, 2008 6:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs