The Legacy of Peyton Manning

Recently, Future HOF QB Peyton Manning announced his official retirement. Just like former Broncos QB legend and current VP John Elway, Manning left on top after winning the Super Bowl in his last NFL Game. Peyton and John have certain similarities in their careers. Both were drafted first overall by the Colts (Elway- 1983, Manning- 1998). However, John's draft rights were traded to the Broncos were he created his legacy, while Peyton made most of his legacy in Indianapolis. Both ended their careers in Denver as Super Bowl Champs.

Overall, Peyton has left an indelible mark on the NFL. Manning may not have had the same arm strength like a Brett Favre or the aforementioned Elway or the rocket release like Dan Marino. However, Peyton's greatest strength was his mind. He was a very cerebral Quarterback that knew how to read a defense better than perhaps any other QB in NFL History. Peyton's timing and football IQ have been second to none as he has found ways to decimate defenses. Manning's throws had incredible precision to them.

It is funny these days to think that there was an argument between Peyton Manning and Ryan Leaf over the 1st Overall Draft Choice. When Peyton was drafted by the Colts, he was chosen to take the Colts back to prominence for the first time since the Johnny Unitas Era. Manning became the heir apparent to Unitas. After having a rough start as a rookie (326-575, 3,739 yards, 26 TD's, 28 INT's 3-13), Peyton and the Colts turned things around and became for the most part. In 1999, Peyton started his streak of 6 straight seasons with 4,000+ passing yards.

That season, Indy went 13-3. In 2000, Peyton led the league in Pass Completions (357) and Passing Yards (4,413) and TD's (33) with a QB Rating of 94.7. After a disappointing 2001 Season, the Colts hired Tony Dungy as the new Head Coach to turn things around. The Colts bounced back in 2002 at 10-6. Peyton completed at that time a career high 392 completions for 591 attempts, 4,200 yards and 27 TD's. Over time, Manning would also minimize the number of Interceptions that he threw. In 2003, Peyton won his first of a record five NFL MVP Awards. Manning led the league in Completions (379-566), Completion % (67.0%), and Passing Yards (4,267) to lead Indy to a 12-4 record. Peyton would repeat his MVP Success by leading the NFL in Touchdowns (49) which was at that time a new record. During the Manning-Dungy Era, the Colts were a perennial 12+ win team. He also recorded a QB Rating of 121.1. This would be the first of three straight seasons where Peyton had a QB Rating of 100 or higher. He also topped his previous career-high for passing yards by throwing for 4,557. However, those numbers were not enough in the Postseason as the Colts fell short to Tom Brady's New England Patriots twice.

In 2005, the Colts went 14-2 with Manning leading the NFL in QB Rating again with 104.1. He also received the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. The Colts lost to the Wildcard Pittsburgh Steelers in the Divisional Round. In 2006, Peyton Manning finally got the monkey off of his back as he led the Colts to a Super Bowl Season. Manning went 362-557 for 4,397 yards with a league leading 31 Touchdowns and a QB Rating of 101.0. The Colts defeated the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI with Peyton winning Super Bowl MVP Honors. Manning would win back to back MVP Honors in 2008 and 2009. During the 2009 Season, the Colts would return to the Super Bowl only to lose to the New Orleans Saints. 2010 would be Peyton's last active season with the Colts as he led the NFL in Completions/Attempts (450-679) for 4,700 yards and 33 Touchdowns. The last QB to complete that many passes before Manning was Drew Bledsoe in 1994. Since then, Drew Brees has broken that record (468, 2011). Peyton Manning would have to sit out for the entire 2011 Season due to his neck injury and surgery that would be required. When Peyton was injured, his team suffered severely. It was clear that this illustrious chapter in Peyton's Career was over with the Colts.

However, a new chapter would start for Manning when he signed with the Denver Broncos. In 2012, Peyton did not miss a single beat. That season, he was named NFL "Comeback Player of the Year". That season, Manning went 400-583 for 4,659 yards and 37 Touchdowns. He also led the NFL in Completion % with 68.6. His QB Rating was also at 105.8. The Broncos received a resurgence with Manning's presence. Denver would fall to the eventual Super Bowl Champion Baltimore Ravens in the Divisional Playoffs. The Broncos would reach the next level as Peyton Manning had an incredible record-breaking and record-setting NFL Season. Manning went 450-469 for an NFL-Record 5,477 Passing Yards and another NFL-Record 55 Touchdowns along with a QB Rating of 115.1. This season was phenomenal and transcendent, especially for a player that was on the very tail end of his career. Peyton was awarded his fifth and final NFL MVP Award. The Broncos would go 13-3 once again. Unfortunately, the Broncos were slaughtered by the Seattle Seahawks 43-8 in Super Bowl XLVIII thanks to their Legion of Boom Defense. Following the loss, the Broncos would boost their Defense and add more pieces to their team such as Future HOF'er Demarcus Ware. In 2004, Manning would cement himself as the NFL's All-Time Leader in Touchdowns surpassing Brett Favre. In Peyton's final season, the Broncos would return to the Super Bowl. This time, their Defense carried the load instead of Peyton. This past season, Manning became the NFL's All-Time Leader in Passing Yards. In Super Bowl 50, the Broncos Orange Crush Defense crushed Cam Newton's Carolina Panthers 24-10. Manning left on a very high note with his second Super Bowl victory.

Peyton leaves behind an outstanding legacy that stands the tests of time. He has rewritten the NFL record books like few other QB's before him. Manning has the most MVP's in Pro Football and ranks among the leaders in most MVP's in any sport. Peyton has more than Wilt Chamberlain (4). He is tied with Michael Jordan and Bill Russell who also have 5. Only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (6), Gordie Howe (6), Barry Bonds (7), and Wayne Gretzky (9) have more MVP honors than Manning. Peyton sits atop the QB Mountain for Regular Season statistics. He ranks second in Completions (6,125 and Attempts (9,380), first in Passing Yards (71,940) and Touchdowns (539) with a QB Rating of 96.5 (5th). Manning has revolutionized the game by how Quarterbacks study their opponents and read Defensive Schemes. Their was a Science to the way that Peyton played the game. When all is said and done, their is no question that Peyton is among the Top 3-5 Quarterbacks in NFL History. His Resume says it all. Manning has carved a very special place for himself in NFL History. Mr. Peyton Manning is a True Legend and Future First-Ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer.

Third Quarter NFL MVP

With 12 games down and 4 left to go, I would like to present the Award for the 3rd Quarter NFL MVP. Some things have changed, some have remained the same. We have seen teams and players stay the course. At the same time, there have been teams and players that have fallen slowly fallen off the course during the grueling 16 game season. This is the time where teams are either clinching their division or fighting for playoff contention. Now, I would like to present those players that have been the brightest stars in the 3rd Quarter of the Season.

Cam Newton:

Completions: 218

Attempts: 374

Percentage: 58.3%

Passing Yards: 2,797

Touchdowns: 25

Interceptions: 10

QB Rating: 93.2

Cam Newton has been turning things up another notch towards the final stretches of the Season. While his numbers as a passer might not be as polished and refined as some of his peers, Cam Newton has improved by his own standards with a QB Rating of 93.2. Newton is making himself known as a leader in other ways besides passing, such as scrambling and his sheer will to be the best that he can be. Cam's intangibles as a leader are the things that are really carrying this team to the highest heights possible as they remain undefeated (12-0). Along the way, Carolina has slaughtered the likes of the Titans, Redskins, Cowboys, and division rival New Orleans. Newton continues to keep his play steady while being the general of an undefeated team. Carolina also holds a victory over the Packers led by fellow MVP Candidate Aaron Rodgers. Cam continues to be a hero for his team.




Tom Brady:

Completions: 323

Attempts: 507

Percentage: 63.7%

Passing Yards: 3,912

Touchdowns: 31

Interceptions: 6

QB Rating: 102.8

Tom Brady continues to keep his production strong in spite of a recent two-game losing streak at the hands of the Broncos and the Eagles. Brady has maintained a very firm and consistent pace throughout the season. New England continues to be the toast of the AFC, especially within their division. The Patriots continue to outclass the rest of their division. Brady continues to climb the ladder of NFL History as he just surpassed Dan Marino on the Career Touchdowns List. Tom's numbers have been shaky as his QB Rating has fluctuated between the 90s and 70s in these last four games.

Andy Dalton:

Completions: 252

Attempts: 381

Percentage: 66.1%

Passing Yards: 3,191

Touchdowns: 25

Interceptions: 6

QB Rating: 107.4

Andy Dalton continues to be the silent choice in the MVP Race. After a two-game losing streak, the Bengals rebounded with two straight victories over the St. Louis Rams and division rival Cleveland Browns in dominating fashion. In the loss against the Texans, Dalton experienced his lowest QB Rating of 61. Meanwhile, Andy enjoyed his best QB Rating of 146.8 in the game against Cleveland. The Bengals are still the cream of the crop for the AFC North at 10-2. Out of the top MVP Candidates so far, Dalton has the best QB Rating (107.4) with a completion percentage of 66.1%. The Red Rifle continues to be a very sharp shooter.



Aaron Rodgers:

Completions: 260

Attempts: 426

Percentage: 61%

Passing Yards: 2,957

Touchdowns: 26

Interceptions: 5

QB Rating: 97.3

Aaron Rodgers continues to maintain his case among the MVP Race. Despite his team's roller coaster ride lately, Rodgers continues to produce at an elite and efficient rate as a QB. Aaron is stuck in the middle when it comes to his case as MVP. On one end, he has better numbers than Cam Newton, who is gaining more coverage for MVP. On the other end, Green Bay is four games behind the undefeated Carolina. The Packers are 8-4, and are holding on to their division lead by a thread with the Minnesota Vikings at a very close second with 8-5. Rodgers has gone from being my choice for 1st Quarter MVP (first 4 games) to slowly falling in the ranks. At least he is still in the conversation, so that helps. 


My 3rd Quarter NFL MVP goes to: 

Cam Newton:

When it comes to being a difference maker for the success of his team, Cam Newton is the MVP for these last four games. His pure leadership mentality has elevated this team even when he has had games that were not his best. It also helps that Newton is a double threat as a QB. Cam also leads the NFL in most rushing yards for a Quarterback. The Defense is great, but there is no telling where the Offense would be or where the team would be without Cam's presence. He has been a sensation all across the NFL not only for his popularity, but for what he means to this team as well. While looking for ways to help his team improve, Cam has found many ways to improve his game and these last four games have been proof. 

Second Quarter NFL MVP

We are now finished with the second quarter of the NFL Season (8 games). This is better known as the first half of the Season. Now, it is time to look at the players who have produced the best season within this timespan.

Tom Brady:

Completions: 225

Attempts: 328

Percentage: 68.6%

Passing Yards: 2,709

Touchdowns: 22

Interceptions: 2

QB Rating: 113.5

Tom Brady continues his rampage in the NFL  as he currently ranks first in QB Rating at 113.5, while ranking fourth in completions (225), third in passing yards (2,709), and first in touchdowns (22). Through this first half, Brady has only thrown two interceptions. This run is remarkable as Tom continues to make both the Defense and Roger Goodell pay. Brady is on a mission to terminate his opponents pass by pass as he leads the Patriots to an 8-0 start. In 16 Seasons, Brady is hardly slowing down at all. Tom already has two MVP's to his Resume, and he would have no problem adding a third.

Aaron Rodgers:

Completions: 163

Attempts: 252

Percentage: 64.7%

Passing Yards: 1,937

Touchdowns: 19

Interceptions: 3

QB Rating: 108.2

Aaron Rodgers continues to play at MVP form as the Green Bay Packers still reign over the NFC North. He is still producing at top form but has had a bit of a fall off in the past two games with losses against the Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers. The way that the Broncos dominated the Packers gave a slight blow to Aaron's stock as MVP. At 6-2, Green Bay is still very lethal.

Andy Dalton:

Completions: 174

Attempts: 258

Percentage: 67.4%

Passing Yards: 2,226

Touchdowns: 18

Interceptions: 4

QB Rating: 111.0

"The Red Rifle" Andy Dalton continues to fire away leading Cincinnati to a perfect 8-0 record, making them one of the small handful of undefeated teams that still exist. Andy continues to float around the MVP conversation which helps his stock grow exponentially. In the midst of his peers like Russell Wilson, Andrew Luck and others, Dalton shines the brightest.

Cam Newton:

Completions: 132

Attempts: 246

Percentage: 53.7%

Passing Yards: 1,820

Touchdowns: 14

Interceptions: 9

QB Rating: 81.4

With the way that Carolina is taking a hold of their division, Cam Newton shares a great deal of the responsibility for their success. Cam has emerged as an MVP Candidate compared to where he was at the start of the season. Newton is playing the finest football of his career at this point as he is silencing his critics with great field generalship. Cam may not have the most aesthetically pleasing numbers compared to his contemporaries, but he gets the job done. Newton has improved his football IQ and instincts as a QB.

My 2nd Quarter MVP goes to:

Tom Brady:

The race is still ultimately between him and Aaron Rodgers, but Brady has pulled ahead by keeping his team undefeated. 

The Cincinnati Surprise

The Cincinnati Bengals have been making waves through the first five games of this season. This week, they defeated the defending NFC Champion Seattle Seahawks in Overtime. The Seahawks gave up a 17-point deficit as the Bengals continue to dominate with their Offensive Firepower. The “Red Rifle” Andy Dalton shot Seattle’s deficit down as he went 30-44 for 331 yards and 2 Touchdowns. When the Bengals trailed 24-7, Dalton threw for a TD and ran for another to cut the lead down on a 69-yard drive with no timeouts. Tight End Tyler Eifert led the team with 8 receptions for 90 yards and 2 TD’s while star WR A.J. Green had 6 receptions for 78 yards.

The win not only keeps Cincinnati undefeated, but it is also the second biggest comeback in franchise history. The Bengals have not been 5-0 since 1988 when MVP Boomer Esiason led them to Super Bowl XXIII. Dalton continues to make his case as an MVP candidate while WR A.J. Green continues to make himself known as one of the top receivers in the league.

Meanwhile, Seattle is in serious pain at 2-3. QB Russell Wilson has been taking a pounding this season as he was sacked four times in this game alone. For the season, he has been sacked 22 times at this point.

The Bengals have recently become a playoff contender again, but their biggest test is to claim a postseason victory. They have been turning heads and look for ways to continue.

So far, Dalton is 108-160 for 1,518 yards (1st in NFL) and 11 Touchdowns with a QB Rating of 115.6. You could very well say that he is one of the Top 5 QBs in the AFC with his production. Andy is bringing a sense of hope and signs of promise to the Bengals as they are the favorites over the likes of perennial AFC North Juggernauts the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens. Dalton is on pace to produce a Career-High Season with 35 Touchdowns, 4,858 Passing Yards, a 67.5 percent completion rate, and a career-low six interceptions.

I am not jumping the gun on Dalton just yet, but things are looking up. We just need to see what he has in store for us in January.