Peyton Manning has had a great season. Less than three years removed from career threatening neck surgery he will most likely claim his 5th NFL Most Valuable Player Award. He set season records for touchdown passes (55) and yardage (5,477). He also led the league in pass completions and attempts. His 115.1 QB rating is the second highest of his career. And most importantly he led his Broncos to a 13 – 3 record, tied with Seattle for the best in the NFL.
All season, Manning has functioned like a well-oiled machine. His Broncos offense has put up a league high 37.9 point a game. He started the season against the defending Champion Baltimore Ravens by throwing for a record tying seven touchdown passes in one game. He didn’t throw an interception until week 5. He didn’t lose a game until week 12. He set five Broncos team records in 2013 for an organization that once flaunted Hall of Famer John Elway as its signal caller.
But for all he has accomplished the season may well be incidental if Manning cannot win the next three games and claim a second Lombardi Trophy for himself and a third overall for the Broncos. And that may not be easy. Manning’s Broncos have lost this year to each of the three remaining AFC teams. The Chargers, whom he faces on Sunday, have been the NFL hottest team, winning their last 5 games including a Wild Card Playoff victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. Also, while Manning has a spectacular regular season winning total of 167 – 73 his playoff record is less than ordinary. In 20 playoff games Manning has only been a winner nine times. Although he did win a Super Bowl Ring in 2006, he also lost another in 2009 and has been one and out eight times.
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Until now, 2013 has been an unbelievably sensational year for Peyton Manning. But is it the greatest season ever by any NFL quarterback? Over the next few weeks we will find out if Peyton is able to change that question mark and turn it into an exclamation point…
