17th time won’t be two too much
he most acclaimed and celebrated individual rivalry in NFL history began like most lifelong relationships, with the simplest of salutations: “Hi, Tom. I’m Peyton.”
On Sept. 30, 2001, Peyton Manning uttered those words pregame to an unheralded Patriots fill-in quarterback named Tom Brady, who was making his first career start, as the Patriots faced the Indianapolis Colts at the now-defunct Foxboro Stadium. The Patriots won that first Brady-Manning meeting, 44-13.
If they win what is ostensibly their final duel Sunday, Brady and Manning will say goodbye with satisfying symmetry— bonded by history and bookended by the first start of Brady’s career and the final one of Manning’s.
Sunday’s AFC championship game in Denver between Manning’s Broncos and Brady’s Patriots, a.k.a. BradyManning XXVII, is expected to mark a farewell to the arms race that has defined the NFL for a generation.
Aswe near the final act of this passing play, Brady and Manning have reversed roles. Brady is nowthe gunslinger asked to carry his team to victory with pinpoint throws and little margin formistakes — his team’s fate tethered to his passing prowess.
Manning is now the game manager, asked to suppress his stats and his ego and coached to play complementary quarterback, minimizing mistakes and maximizing throwing opportunities to aid Denver’s top-ranked defense and slash-and-dash running attack.
This season, Brady has thrown more touchdown passes at Sports Authority Field at Mile High (three) than Manning (one).
The almost-40-year-old Manning’s recalcitrant body is rejecting the demands of being an NFL quarterback.
Meanwhile, at age 38, Brady looks forever young. He is still at the apogee of his profession, fixated on becoming the first quarterback to win five Super Bowls and extirpating any doubt that he is the greatest QB ever.
Manning has another year on his contract, and the Broncos are on the Patriots’ 2016 schedule. But most think this is Manning’s last stand.
The November 2014 email Brady sent referencing the future of the Brady-Manning rivalry seems prophetic. The e-mail became public during Brady’s Deflategate lawsuit.
Brady was replying to a childhood friend: “I’ve got another 7 or 8 years. He has 2. That’s the final chapter. Game on.”
Final or not, this chapter is compelling.
Manning is seeking a storybook ending and a measure of historical redemption against tormentors Bill Belichick and Brady. Brady is seeking to burnish his legend by delivering the Patriots’ first playoff win in Denver, a Mile High House of Pain.
Brady leads the all-time series 11-5. But the two are tied 2-2 in the postseason.
But history will raise Brady’s hand. His four Super Bowl rings trump Manning’s record five MVPs.
Together Brady and Manning have forged a rivalry worthy of Roman numerals, Greek tragedy and American legend.
The first words in the rivalry belonged to Peyton. The last word, and a berth in Super Bowl 50, awaits.