Only two years ago, Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning had the best passing season in NFL history, throwing for 5,477 yards and 55 touchdowns, both NFL records. That year, the Broncos went 13-3 and ended up going to Super Bowl XLVIII against the Seattle Seahawks. They lost that game in historical fashion as Seattle won 43-8.
In 2016, the Denver Broncos scratched and clawed their way back to the Super Bowl, facing the red hot Carolina Panthers. This time, instead of embarrassing defeat, the Broncos emerged victorious, edging the Panthers out 24-10. While history will show Super Bowl 50 as Peyton Manning’s second Super Bowl victory, he can hardly accept the credit.
Why Peyton Manning Should Retire
In the game he only completed 13 of 23 passes for 141 yards, and not only did he not score a touchdown, but he threw an interception and lost a fumble. The Broncos converted only one of fourteen third downs, registered fewer than 200 yards, and went one for four in the redzone.
This wasn’t an anomaly either. The Broncos were only 19th in offense this year, and a lot of the blame has to fall squarely on Manning’s forehead. Manning had what was easily the worst year of his career in 2015, throwing for 2,249 yards, nine touchdowns, and 17 interceptions. Rumors about several injuries ran rampant, but ultimately these problems started the season before.
Over the last four regular season games of the 2014 season, Manning only threw for 990 yards, three touchdowns, and six interceptions.
That’s almost 240 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions a game. Thankfully for Manning, his Broncos still managed to win three of the four games. The same could not be true for their divisional round game against his former team, the Indianapolis Colts.
Manning threw the ball 46 times, but he only completed 26 of his passes for 211 yards and a touchdown as he lost 24-13. Reports came out that Manning had been playing with torn quadriceps for the better part of the last month of the season. Obviously his performance would struggle without the power of both legs, but his performance didn’t improve in the falling season. If anything, it regressed.
In the ten games Manning was able to play in last season, he averaged 225 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. That’s even worse than what he produced with a torn quad. In comparison, Josh McCown, a quarterback that was benched in favor of Johnny Manziel, averaged 263 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception a game.
Manning has reached the top of the mountain. His 71,940 yards and 539 touchdowns are the most all-time, and only a handful of quarterbacks, most of them Hall of Famers, can say they have won multiple Super Bowls. Peyton Manning very well may be the face of a generation, and the face of the pass-first NFL. He could have retired a decade again and been a first ballot hall of famer. He’s surpassed his hero, the legendary Dan Marino, and has nothing left to play for.
He’s not getting any younger, and between historic contracts and dozens of lucrative endorsements, his great-great grandchildren won’t have to work. Manning should hang up the cleats, crack open a Budweiser, and chow down on some Papa Johns. Canton is calling for you and your laser rocket arm, Mr. Manning, it’s time to answer.
