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How Many Super Bowls Would Peyton Manning Win if He Played As Long As Tom Brady?
Pro Football Hall of Famer quarterback Peyton Manning is among the best players in his position to play in the NFL. Peyton Manning had a 17 year long career in the NFL. The Playcalling wizard left on top, following his last Super Bowl victory with the Denver Broncos. While Manning had a long NFL career, no QB has been able to sustain the dominant longevity like current Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Tom Brady.
The 7-time Super Bowl champion shared one of the greatest individual rivalries with Manning. The battles took a life of their own, demanding all attention. It was a feud that managed to transcend the gridiron into the history of popular culture.
But still one can’t help but wonder what would happen if Manning continued playing like Brady. It is a question that is relevant for more than their rivalry but also for how it would alter their legacies. The only possible way to answer that question will be to look into the facts. And apply some speculation from a fan’s perspective.
Tom Brady vs Peyton Manning: How would they fare with the same career longevity?
While Manning fans rightly point how football is a team sport, he held the edge as the better quarterback. Manning started to have struggles post the 2014 campaign. There was a considerable performance dip in 2015 as he recorded 2,249 passing yards resulting in 9 TD passes and 17 INTs. The 39-year-old, while being in a downward spiral personally, led them to the Super Bowl title. Arguably, as a shadow of his past self.
Brady, when he turned 39 years, ended up recording 3,554 passing yards resulting in 28 TDs and 2 INTs. He also won his 5th Super Bowl title and delivered one of his best postseason performances.
He would then go on to win 2 Super Bowl titles and have a career-high 5,316 passing yards in 2021. So the argument here is that with a few lucky breaks, and lesser injuries. And probably some of the avocado ice cream that keeps Tom Brady young, Peyton Manning could easily go on to win another Super Bowl or even two. Brady’s rings were too many but far from each other.
Peyton Manning had already cost Brady possibly some rings already. So another one or two does not seem like a far fetched idea. But in that case maybe we see Brady also with less than 7. And with 2 more Peyton would sit with 4 rings. And 5 MVPs along with 14 Pro Bowl appearances. The man only next to a small list of people. And the reality is that Tom Brady is definitely on that small list.
BOSTON MA. – FEBRUARY 5: Tom Brady (12) of the New England Patriots celebrates with the Lombardi trophy during the team victory parade after winning Super Bowl LIII on February 5, 2019 in Boston, MA. (Staff Photo By Nancy Lane/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images)
It appears clear that even with a longer career, Manning would have possibly won another Super Bowl title, given the right circumstances. However, NFL fans can’t deny the other intangibles like leadership that might have led Manning to another title. While it is a debate among fans around water coolers in every sports-related television and radio program. It is a never-ending topic of conversation that won’t have a single clear winner for some time.
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