Yeah, we’ll just forget about the 4 MVP awards and the amazing regular season record. Good call by you, Gene.

On another note….back in the day, there were nowhere near as many teams in the NFL. With 32 teams, getting to the final game is much, much more difficult. Not to mention that they only played 12 games. And the outdoor effect is vastly overblown. Very few games are played in rotten conditions these days. The Colts won their Super Bowl with Manning in a game-long rainstorm.

By the way, New Orleans in the last 3 years has hosted Dallas, SD, GB, Philthy, NYG, Tenn, Arizona, Minnesota, New England, while having a road schedule that was much weaker. It just happens.

Statistics also don’t tell the story, because the rules have changed considerably over the years to increase the effectiveness of the passing game and because Peyton Manning plays the vast majority of his games in a dome, with a friendly environment. The NFL has de facto designated him its poster boy, and as a result, the schedule makers keep him from playing significant outdoor games in bad weather in December and January. For instance, The Patriots have had to go to Indy three straight years. Two in a row could conceivably happen, but not three.

When Manning plays a great game out of doors in bad weather alert the media. in the meantime, in my opinion, the best Colts QB wore number 19, not number 18, and was named Johnny Unitas. He was the master of the two minute comeback and took the Colts to their first two titles in 1958 and 1959. The former was the so-called “greatest game ever played”.

Manning’s stats are up there each regular season because of the home games (and several road games) in the domes. I would like to see what his passing stats would look like if he played in Chicago, or with the NY Jets when Namath was QB and the wind swirled in Shea Stadium.

Manning is a great QB, but should not be in any discussion about “the best ever”.

Sometimes, the eye test is the best way to judge players. Manning is as good as any I’ve seen. So were Montana, Unitas and even Baugh . Had certain players on the Colts stepped up and made their plays, people would be lauding the play of Peyton today.

Instead, we have a nationwide media enjoying the Blame Game and knocking Manning because of one crucial mistake, an error that cannot be pinned solely on the quarterback. Dropped passes, a muffed on-sides kick, questionable coaching and a secondary doing virtually nothing all contributed to this loss.

Manning played a fine game. Brees and his cohorts were better. For one afternoon, the team from New Orleans earned their parade and the glory of being crowned champions. That’s the way it goes sometimes in sports.

I can’t wait to see Manning try it again next time.

Game 8 of the 1921 World Series, down 1-0, bottom of the 9th, Babe Ruth weakly grounds out to 1st base.
Giants win the WS.

Game 5 of the 1922 World Series, down 5-3, top of the 8th, man on, Babe Ruth grounds out to 1st base.
Giants win the WS.

I think Wilt Chamberlain might have missed a few game winning shots too.

Guess they can’t be the greatest or anything.