This time last year Peyton Manning had just completed a 4700 yard, 33 touchdown season. He was also division champ, his seventh of the past eight. Peyton Manning was the unquestioned 1A to Tom Brady as the league's best qb. Eli Manning was well...Eli. We all knew that Eli had talent, but we never seriously considered him among the elite. The Giants Super Bowl victory a few years back was credited more to the defense than anyone else. Eli just happened to have a once in a million dumb luck play go his way when that ball stuck to David Tyree's helmet. Peyton was still big brother and Eli was the other Manning. What a difference a year makes.
Today Eli Manning is heading to his second Super Bowl and is playing quarterback better than anyone right now. He knocked off the number one and number two seed, both on the road. Eli has been smart, tough, and clutch. He has been playing at an mvp level. Peyton faces an uncertain future for the first time in his entire football career, not just nfl career. The Colts are going to draft Andrew Luck with the number one pick. It's unlikely they will keep both, so Manning may be cut. I never though I would type those words. And to make matters worse, Peyton has not been physically cleared to play. His future is a complete mystery.
If Eli wins his second championship this Sunday, do we put him in Peyton's class? Should we? With the uncertainty of Peyton's health and his lack of playoff success, Eli could easily surpass him as the number one Manning brother. How fitting the game will be played in Peyton's place.
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