2004 Peyton Manning -vs- 2007 Tom Brady

[golfballs]

Who had the better season?

Peyton Manning (2004):

336 of 497 for 4,557 yards, 49 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Quarterback Rating: 121.1

Tom Brady (2007):

398 of 578 for 4,806 yards, 50 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. Quarterback Rating: 117.2

[HSVol]

Kind of like having to choose between lobster and king crab.

[golfballs]

Manning was more efficient. He has almost the same # of TDs on a lot fewer attempts.

[n_huffhines]

Tom's is so cool cause he hit 50 TD's (I think actually 53, wasn't it?), but they were blowing people out. Manning played less in blowouts, and ended up with less pass attempts. He throws more TD's than Brady with the same number of attempts, ceterus peribus.

I think Brady has the advantage when you consider the offense around him, too. Moss, Welker, Stallworth, Graham, and Watson was a sick set of pass-catchers. The teams had very similar results in rushing attack, but the edge in OL definitely goes to the Patriots.

[HSVol]

Originally Posted by nbakerld

I think Brady has the advantage when you consider the offense around him, too. Moss, Welker, Stallworth, Graham, and Watson was a sick set of pass-catchers. The teams had very similar results in rushing attack, but the edge in OL definitely goes to the Patriots.

Respectfully, I disagree with everything in this statement when comparing personnel.

The Patriots offensive personnel were not better than Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, Brandon Stokley, Marcus Pollard, Dallas Clark, and Edgerrin James. The Colts offense was absolutely elite.

And the the Colts OL was incredible at the time, as well. Saturday, Diem, Scott, Tarik Glenn...

[chavisut]

Manning. Brady was throwing bombs to Moss when they were up by four or five scores.

[golfballs]

cheap shots

[golfballs]

not to mention peyton sat more during the season. I think he didn't even play the last game that year

[HSVol]

Brady threw for a greater completion %, Manning threw for more YPA. Manning also had a Pro Bowl RB in the backfield to allow for a more balanced attack. Each had comparable offensive personnel, with, IMO, the slight edge going to the Colts overall.

IMO, there's no clear winner. Two of the greatest single season performances in NFL history, and neither won the Super Bowl in those years.

[HSVol]

Originally Posted by golfballs03

not to mention peyton sat more during the season. I think he didn't even play the last game that year

IIRC, he set the record the last game of the season then went to the bench. I'll look it up.

[HSVol]

According to Pro Football Reference, Manning started 16 games.

2004 Indianapolis Colts Statistics & Players - Pro-Football-Reference.com

EDIT: Box score reveals PM didn't throw a TD pass in the final game against the Broncos. I stand corrected.

[chavisut]

Originally Posted by HSVol

According to Pro Football Reference, Manning started 16 games.

2004 Indianapolis Colts Statistics & Players - Pro-Football-Reference.com

EDIT: Box score reveals PM didn't throw a TD pass in the final game against the Broncos. I stand corrected.

He threw two passes in the last game. If he had played the entire game, he would hold the record or be tied with Brady at the least.

[n_huffhines]

Originally Posted by HSVol

Respectfully, I disagree with everything in this statement when comparing personnel.

The Patriots offensive personnel were not better than Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, Brandon Stokley, Marcus Pollard, Dallas Clark, and Edgerrin James. The Colts offense was absolutely elite.

And the the Colts OL was incredible at the time, as well. Saturday, Diem, Scott, Tarik Glenn...

Edge, Stokely, and Pollard did pretty much nothing with other franchises, so how good were they really? I think Edge was legit, but Manning made Stokely and Pollard.

Pollard had 6 TD's in 2004 (13 games) and then left the team. He didn't even get 6 TD's over the next 4 seasons.

Also, the Pat's 4th WR, Jabar Gaffney >>>>>>> Aaron Moorehead

Moss > Harrison
Welker < Wayne
Stallworth > Stokely
Gaffney > Moorhead
Watson = Clark

Apparently Graham had left the team in 2006, so scratch him. I know I'm going to get toasted for saying Watson = Clark, but seriously Clark is a product of Peyton Manning. Look at all the TE's Manning has made: Dilger, Pollard, Clark, and Tamme. Tamme put up Clark's numbers. Also Clark is annually in the race for most drops. He's terribly overrated. Watson went on to prove himself with 68 catches last year in Cleveland with a rookie QB.

FWIW, Welker, Moss, and Stallworth proven their value with other QB's. Wayne, Harrison, and Stokely have not.

[chavisut]

Harrison was great, but I feel like he was a product of the system somewhat. As far as raw ability, he's wasn't in the same league as the likes of Moss, TO, Fitzgerald, etc IMO.

[n_huffhines]

Originally Posted by chavisut

Harrison was great, but I feel like he was a product of the system somewhat. As far as raw ability, he's wasn't in the same league as the likes of Moss, TO, Fitzgerald, etc IMO.

I agree. He would have been great with anybody, but Manning was the greatest thing that could've happened to him. Moss was a proven commodity, even with bad/old QB's (not so much in Oakland).