15
Nov
2009
NFL WEEK TEN LIVE GAME BLOG: THE BRADY VS. MANNING EDITION
Love 'em or hate 'em, this is still the best quarterback duel in the National Football League. (Sources: Al Tielemans/SI)
For the past half-decade, it’s been the NFL’s best, if not only, great quarterback showdown. Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning. For two teams that don’t play in the same division, these guys have an uncanny knack for meeting annually at a critical juncture. Brady, of course, is the quintessential NFL quarterback, exuding confidence under pressure, a “team-first” attitude, and a will of steel. He’s got the looks, the super-model wife, and a handful of Super Bowl rings. He’s been lavished with riches beyond belief, and yet he remains likable.
Manning, meanwhile, has always been a perfect fit for Indianapolis, a throwback signal caller who’s been an absolute rock for a franchise that drifted for decades before his arrival. With a richer bloodline than any quarterback in our lifetime (even his little brother’s beaten Brady), he’s answered some of his sharpest critics (who wondered if he’d ever win a Super Bowl) and is currently enjoying one of his finest seasons to date. While he’s over-exposed and marketed idiotically — he and Eli come across a little dim in their countless ad campaigns — there’s no denying his achievements on the field.
The most-heated NFL rivalries almost always involve the game’s best quarterbacks. The Cowboys-Niners matchups featured the likes of Joe Montana, Troy Aikman, and Steve Young in the prime of their careers. The Niners and Giants pitted Montana vs. Phil Simms. When the Browns and Broncos met in three AFC Championships, it only happened because Bernie Kosar and John Elway led those teams.
Remember those great Giants-Redskins matchups between Dave Brown and Heath Shuler? Me neither.
This is a quarterback’s league. Always has been, always will be. Even if the Brady-Manning pregame hype is a bit tedious, it has produced some fascinating games. In a league where there are fewer and fewer powerhouse teams amid increased parody, we long for a true clash of the titans, and this may be as good as it gets in 2009.
We’ll be commenting on the games all day, and look forward to chatting with you. Click the comments section to join us for Week 10 in the National Football League.
Love RedZone. Watching a flood of great games at once. Favre is at the goalline, and the Bengals are driving on the Steelers.
The Dolphins have to be the most exciting team that… just can’t win games. They also seem to be the only team that really runs the Wildcat effectively. Am I wrong?
Alright, I’m here.
There were some great finishes in the early games. Can’t believe the ‘Skins beat the Broncos. With Orton going down, and Simms clearly not the answer, things are going to get crazy in Denver this week.
Bengals taking down the Steelers in Pittsburgh is HUGE. Cincy is 5-0 in the AFC North, and dominant in the division.
Always nice to see the Jets blow it at the last minute, and somehow the Dolphins got away with a win at Tampa, despite Chad Henne’s best efforts (AWFUL Int at the end of the game)
Carolina beating Atlanta is a surprise, and makes things even more interesting the NFC playoff race.
LOTS of injuries today – Orton, Cedric Benson, Michael Turner, Ronnie Brown … this is the point in the season where injuries can start piling up. How teams replace those players will determine who will be able to compete down the stretch.
I’m keeping an eye on the Eagles/Chargers game, and hoping SD can take out Philly. Packers/Cowboys is scintillating at 0-0.
ROMO gets sacked & stripped by Charles woodson, Clay Matthews II recovers inside the 5!!
Packers up 10-0. Looks like Wade is challenging, but the play is upheld. Packers 1st and goal. Rogers completes it for the score, and the Cowboys are down 17-0.
Eagles are trying to make a game of it in SD, trailing 28-16 with 7:30 to go, and driving. McNabb completes it to Celek for the TD. 28-23 Chargers.
God I love the Red Zone channel.
And Romo gets picked off by Woodson at the goal line! that should do it for the Cowboys today.
Chargers are about to kick a FG to go up on PHI by 8 with under a minute.
If both Dallas and Philly lose, the NFC East is wide open.
Too bad none of us bothered to watch the Colts/Pats game … it was a rare opportunity to see Belichick screw up royally.