QB or not QB

Jan 23, 2012

That’s typically the question when discussing Eli Manning, is he or isn’t he an elite or top-tier quarterback? In this writer’s mind he is but I’m going to let the numbers and statistics tell the story and you decide for yourselves.

I have to clarify when talking elite QB’s, I’ve been around long enough to witness such greats like Johnny Unitas, Dan Fouts, Bob Griese, and Roger Staubach, or Joe Montana, Dan Marino, and John Elway, then there’s Brett Favre, Troy Aikman, Steve Young, how bout Terry Bradshaw, Fran Tarkenton and Jim Kelly. These names are true legends of the game, all record holders, many Super Bowl champs and some multiple winners of the biggest game in the world, leaving an indelible mark on football, and this sports fan.

I can’t put Eli in this category, although he could reach this status with more years ahead of him, barring injury. In today’s game I believe he is top-tier with Tom Brady, his brother Peyton, Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers, and big Ben Roethlisberger. Even ahead of names like Tony Romo and Phillip Rivers whom he swapped teams with on draft day eight years ago. At times mixing in stats from up and coming stars Matthew Stafford, Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan. These are the QB’s I’ll be comparing Eli to. Beginning with these numbers compiled by ESPN.com

Name/Years	QB Rating	Yards	TD’s	INT’s
Brady/12^th	96.4	39,976	300	115
2011	105.6	5,235	39	12
Brees/11^th	94.0	40,742	281	146
2011	110.6	5,476	46	14
E Manning/8^th	82.1	27,579	185	129
2011	92.9	4,933	29	16
P Manning/14^th	94.9	54,828	399	198
2010	91.9	4,700	33	17
Rivers/8^th	95.5	24,285	163	78
2011	88.7	4,624	27	20
Rodgers/7^th	104.1	17,366	132	32
2011	122.5	4,643	45	6
Roethlisberger/8th	92.1	26,579	165	100
2011	90.1	4,077	21	14
Romo/9th	96.9	20,834	149	72
2011	102.5	4,184	31	10

Note: (Peyton missed the entire 2011 season due to injury, so the single season stats are form the last year he played, 2010)

Looking at these numbers Eli pales in comparison to the majority, but upon closer examination I discovered that his numbers through the first seven years minus Peyton’s rookie season when he was thrust into the spotlight and starting role, were quite similar. The exceptions being, number of wins, total yards, and completion percentage. In fact Peyton’s seventh season was when he made his biggest strides with career highs in QB rating, touchdowns, and completion percentage. Eli has made the jump this year his 8th with second best in passer rating and TD’s, throwing for career highs in yards, yards per catch, attempts, and completions. Along with being sacked the fewest times in a season, an incredible eleven times, when he has been near the top of that category most of his career.

Now some might say that his regular season winning percentage is the lowest of the group he’s compared to, and there is quite a gap, Eli being the only quarterback under 60%. As a sports purist you have to look at the numbers that truly matter, and Eli shines his brightest in clutch situations. According to NBC Sports.com during the 2011 season he was second only to Aaron Rodgers in fourth quarter QB rating at 110.0, distancing himself from the pack by a considerable amount. Eli proved most efficient on third downs ranking fourth among regular starters with a rating of 104.5. He led the league with 6 fourth quarter comebacks this season, and something that I never took notice of before, Eli has started every game since the latter part of his rookie season, behind only Favre and his brother for number of consecutive starts, now being the active leader.

When speaking of clutch or elite, top-tier you can’t overlook the most important aspect of the game for a player, the postseason and championships. Once again Eli has given his greatest performances during this time just like Brady, Brees, and Peyton. During the Giants run to the Super Bowl in 2007 he had 2 fourth quarter comebacks and three game winning drives, one which led to him being chosen MVP for the game, something all the before mentioned did. Marty Burke of Forbes Magazine compiled some fourth quarter comeback numbers in which Eli was third among the QB’s I’ve compared him to, trailing only Brady and Roethlisberger. After Sunday’s victory over San Francisco, Eli’s postseason record is 7-3 again ranking him third to those same seven, and six of those victories came on the road in some the most hostile environments to play, giving Eli the most wins in playoff history for a visiting quarterback.

By comparison Romo winning 1 playoff game during his career with what many considered better teams than Eli’s, and Rivers although having far better regular season numbers is below .500 in the playoffs. Younger QB’s like Stafford and Matty “Ice” Ryan have yet to win a playoff game, and Joe Flacco may have a winning record in the playoffs, but his own team doubts he can lead them to the promise land.

I’ve listened to all the experts say that Eli isn’t a top 5 quarterback, many scoffing at his comment last week saying “I am an elite QB.” Fact of the matter these same experts argue that all top-tier players are Leaders, Winners, their Clutch performing best under pressure, and most importantly they’ve reached the highest peak in their sport and are Champions!

Definition.com defines elite as: “the choice or best of anything considered collectively, as of a group or class of persons.”

Simply put Eli Manning is all of these and with a victory February 5^th 2012 can even more solidify his place as a top 5 quarterback! QB or not QB, definitely in this writers mind. You be the judge…