CrazyHorse
01-15-2013, 07:32 PM
Peyton Manning is a choker, because he is only 9-11 in the playoffs and has gone one-and-done a record eight times. He has the most home-playoff losses ever with the fifth and latest exit coming in Denver.
If only things were that simple.
There are many people naïve enough to buy every word of that. Manning did not win soon enough in his career to change the narrative. He was in his second act by the time he won a playoff game, and the climax apparently came in 2006 when he won his one Super Bowl ring.
Despite the fact that since Super Bowl XLI Manning has done nothing but put his team ahead late, with a good stat line in every playoff game, a lot of people are unsatisfied, because they continue to hold Manning to the most ridiculous of standards of which no other player is held.
But even when the evidence all points to Manning being much better than his playoff record suggests, it’s that record that continues to haunt him, and what brands him.
Frankly, it’s nothing but a load of crap. When the caliber of quarterback does not match up with the playoff record or number of championships, then that poses a problem. Rather than rationally analyze the situation, the easy way out is to keep blaming the quarterback as the problem. They are the most important player, so the failures must be on them.
But that would ignore the various playoff records he holds, leading the largest comeback in championship game history, or the fact that he is a Super Bowl MVP. From playoff drive stats we know he has been very successful despite being stuck with terrible field position, which is out of his control.
Manning has an 88.4 passer rating on 761 pass attempts in the playoffs, which is 11th best all-time (half the players ahead of him do not even have 300 attempts). That sits right between three-time Super Bowl winners Tom Brady (89.1) and Troy Aikman (88.3).
Manning’s numbers are not positively gained through garbage time either, as his five playoff losses at home have been by a combined 14 points, which is the smallest margin ever (min. two losses).
It is all about the 11 losses, even though the key is he makes the playoffs almost every season of his career. You don’t hurt your playoff record if you fail to qualify. Ask Ben Roethlisberger, Drew Brees or his brother Eli this year.
Every playoff game has its own story, and to just sum things up with 9-11 would be so wrong regardless of the player. Since the eight quick exits are the latest figure, we are going to specifically look back at all eight times Manning went one-and-done in the playoffs, and the real reasons his teams lost.
It is hardly the full Manning playoff picture, as we are not focusing on the nine wins, his infamous losses in New England (2003-04), or Super Bowl XLIV. These games are also deserving of their own story. Truthfully, Manning’s playoff career deserves a book-sized account some day. It really is that unique of a tale that a quarterback this good could be 9-11 through 20 playoff starts.
But a fact-based trip down memory lane for 73 percent of the losses is a start.
Rest of the article is here. (http://www.coldhardfootballfacts.com/content/peyton-mannings-9-11-playoff-record-is-call-for-help/20867/)
If only things were that simple.
There are many people naïve enough to buy every word of that. Manning did not win soon enough in his career to change the narrative. He was in his second act by the time he won a playoff game, and the climax apparently came in 2006 when he won his one Super Bowl ring.
Despite the fact that since Super Bowl XLI Manning has done nothing but put his team ahead late, with a good stat line in every playoff game, a lot of people are unsatisfied, because they continue to hold Manning to the most ridiculous of standards of which no other player is held.
But even when the evidence all points to Manning being much better than his playoff record suggests, it’s that record that continues to haunt him, and what brands him.
Frankly, it’s nothing but a load of crap. When the caliber of quarterback does not match up with the playoff record or number of championships, then that poses a problem. Rather than rationally analyze the situation, the easy way out is to keep blaming the quarterback as the problem. They are the most important player, so the failures must be on them.
But that would ignore the various playoff records he holds, leading the largest comeback in championship game history, or the fact that he is a Super Bowl MVP. From playoff drive stats we know he has been very successful despite being stuck with terrible field position, which is out of his control.
Manning has an 88.4 passer rating on 761 pass attempts in the playoffs, which is 11th best all-time (half the players ahead of him do not even have 300 attempts). That sits right between three-time Super Bowl winners Tom Brady (89.1) and Troy Aikman (88.3).
Manning’s numbers are not positively gained through garbage time either, as his five playoff losses at home have been by a combined 14 points, which is the smallest margin ever (min. two losses).
It is all about the 11 losses, even though the key is he makes the playoffs almost every season of his career. You don’t hurt your playoff record if you fail to qualify. Ask Ben Roethlisberger, Drew Brees or his brother Eli this year.
Every playoff game has its own story, and to just sum things up with 9-11 would be so wrong regardless of the player. Since the eight quick exits are the latest figure, we are going to specifically look back at all eight times Manning went one-and-done in the playoffs, and the real reasons his teams lost.
It is hardly the full Manning playoff picture, as we are not focusing on the nine wins, his infamous losses in New England (2003-04), or Super Bowl XLIV. These games are also deserving of their own story. Truthfully, Manning’s playoff career deserves a book-sized account some day. It really is that unique of a tale that a quarterback this good could be 9-11 through 20 playoff starts.
But a fact-based trip down memory lane for 73 percent of the losses is a start.
Rest of the article is here. (http://www.coldhardfootballfacts.com/content/peyton-mannings-9-11-playoff-record-is-call-for-help/20867/)