Peyton’s Legacy: How Does Super Bowl Rout Affect This?

There was talk before the Super Bowl between the Denver Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks that a Broncos win would make Peyton Manning the greatest NFL quarterback of all time. Well, that did not happen. In fact, it was not even close to happening. From the first play of the game when the center snap nearly decapitated him, to his pick six late inn the first half, the Seahawks defense made Manning look rather ordinary.

Now if we take a look at Manning’s entire body of work, there are some spectacular numbers there. His 55 touchdown passes in one season is the NFL record. He is in the top two all time in passing yardage, completions and touchdowns, trailing only Brett Favre. There are many reasons to consider Manning one of the best ever to play the game. But should he be considered THE best? Probably not.

NFL teams and quarterbacks are judged by how they do in the Super Bowl. After all, winning the Super Bowl is the goal here. It is why players lift all those weights and go through brutal two-a-days in sweltering summer heat, play a 16 game schedule with sore muscles, sprains, bruises, and sometimes fractures. Careers can be made by having a good game on Super Sunday. Look at Timmy Smith, Max McGee, Doug Williams, Trent Dilfer or David Tyree for examples. So when discussing the greatest ever, shouldn’t Troy Aikman get more love than Manning? Surely Terry Bradshaw and Joe Montana should, right?

Obviously Peyton is one of the best quarterbacks in league history. But to only have one ring with all that success is borderline disappointing. That’s not even first place in his own family. Then add on top of that just a terrible performance in the Super Bowl, that has to knock him down a peg. It would have been one thing had Denver lost 31-28, but to get their doors blown off like that was a bit embarrassing.

If Denver had won the game, then yes, a case could be made. True, he would have had only half as many rings ans Bradshaw and Montana, but he would have done something nobody has done and that is win Super Bowls starting for two different teams. Perhaps this can still be accomplished. Denver should again be a strong contender next season. If they can get a bit better on the line of scrimmage then Manning could very well take them all the way. Then perhaps we can again have the discussion on whether he is the G.O.A.T. But right now he is just “the Goat.”