I wondered how long into Monday’s post-Super Bowl coverage it would take for the “Manning choked” meme to spread, and it didn’t take long. On ESPN this afternoon was a full-bore segment on “Manning’s legacy.” Given Manning possibly has five years left in his career – at the least – it may be early to evaluate, but that won’t stop the talking heads from the toy department, who will find little to pontificate between now, spring training, and the NCAA basketball tournament.
Manning’s interception came with his team trailing. It came on a 3rd-and-5 play. It also came with the intrinsic knowledge that if the Colts didn’t run the clock down to at least 30 seconds before tying it, New Orleans was probably going to win. Once New Orleans worked its way around Indianapolis’ early scheming, they were unstoppable, especially on those mid-range seam routes that eat up so many yards and no one knew this better than Manning, who had to sit on the bench for most of the last three-quarters of the game and watch it be taken out of his hands.
Favre’s play came when his team had an opportunity to win the game, when he didn’t have to throw the ball. Manning’s pass at worst was a bad read, more likely a great play by the New Orleans defensive back, who was sitting on the route. On Favre’s mad dash turned to disaster, he broke nearly ever fundamental rule of quarterbacking players learn starting in sixth grade. He threw across his body, he threw back across the field, he took a chance when his team didn’t need it, and he cost his team sure points.
If anyone admires Brett Favre, it is I. I sat in a hospital waiting room one Monday night years ago while my brother had surgery. I was playing in a sizable football pool at the time. If not for Favre’s bootleg touchdown run against the Jaguars that night, I wouldn’t have that mattress sitting in my bedroom. I like the guy, but the media gushing over his “school yard” approach has fueled him to play in ways that any other quarterback in the league would be derided for.
Manning is no Favre. Minnesota would still be a decent team without the Mississippi quarterback – the Colts wouldn’t even be in the playoffs without Manning.
Throwing a pick six at the end of the game to force the game out his reach is not merely a Favre its a choke of titanic proportions. As much as I like Peyton Manning HE IS NO JOE MONTANA! Or Johnny Unitas…or Bart Starr.
All the analysts seems to say that the DB — Porter — just saw the read. It wasn’t so much a bad throw as it was a great read by the DB.
“Manning — you magnificent bastard! I read your playbook!”
See I don’t think it was either. Manning read blitz and audibled out to a quick hitch route underneath, a staple of Indy’s offense, but when you watch the replay Wayne doesn’t hitch in and is running about a 15 yard seam route. I think it was a miscommunication.
If you want to talk about choking talk about Jim Caldwell who may be the worst big game coach I’ve ever seen. You have nearly 2 minutes in the half, you’ve just stopped New Orleans on a 4th and goal, you have the best 2 minute QB this side of Elway, New Orleans defense is powerless to even slow Peyton down at this point, and you have a 10 point lead. You could run the 2 minute drill and possibly go into the half up by 17 with first possession of the second half. Instead you do three runs and punt away with 46 seconds left and allow New Orleans to get a field goal and come out with all the momentum only down by 7. It was a horrible job of coaching.
I loves me some Peyton (and don’t think he choked), but once you figure out the Colts have basically eight core plays, which New Orleans most certainly did, you’re bound to beat them. Nominating Caldwell as second worst big game coach, though, edged out by Wade Philips. Sorry, Cowboys fans, one playoff win in far too many years does not a corner turn.
I love it..if the QB is named Brett, Drew, Aaron etc. They get insurmountable piles of crap all over them for throwing INTS but if its the darling Peyton..its not his FAULT?! How does that work? Its eitehr his fault as it would have been any other QBS or they all are never to blame for making bad throws.
Yeah Steph… Favre’s pick was dumb. He wasn’t outsmarted — he literally threw it away — though he’s not the reason they lost.
Peyton was outsmarted — there’s a huge difference. Favre held it together until he pulled a Favre on the last play… just like he did against the Giants in 2007.
No, it was different with Favre’s pick. He broke one of the most basic rules of being a QB at any level. You never, ever, ever roll out then throw back across the field. Ever. Peyton’s was a lot of things but it wasn’t a dumb throw. Keep in mind this comes from a huge Favre fan.
This should be fun to watch: someone daring to question Stephanie, especially with Fav-ruh involved. Sitting back and enjoying how long till Buford’s intelligence enters the fray.
Eric, the only reason I called Manning’s pick “Favrean” in the open thread was to see if I’d get a rise out of Stephanie.
The difference between the two is that you start shouting “No! No! No!” with Favre’s before he throws it.
Now who’s the magnificent “baster”?
I think the game situation tells a lot. Manning was on the bench for most of he second half. Unless they run the clock out, tie the game with a touchdown, then get the ball first in overtime (all a big maybe), the Colts lose the game, because there was no way they were stopping New Orleans at that point. Not to mention a 3rd-and-5. They hadn’t stopped them for three quarters. That’s a big difference between being in field goal position for the winning kick.
Favre is a great quarterback. I could care less about Green Bay, but I damn near cried the first time he retired (and the second, and maybe the eight). The guy was playing when I was just a kid. Part of my childhood was watching Lambeau, Madden and Summerall have the call, and Favre is out slinging it to Sterling Sharpe while the snow fell. The day he quits I officially become old.
ESPN and NFL Films aired a special on the Mike Holmgren coaching tree, where they had a reunion and sat around a table and discussed Holmgren as a coach, Green Bay and Favre. Holmgren was the only coach that could control Favre’s inner gun-slinger. It was fascinating stuff, but you have to wonder if Holmgren stayed around a bit longer in Green Bay.
>>The day he quits I officially become old.>>
Like Griffey Jr., Favre’s a couple months older than I, and I know exactly what you mean … dammit.
Interesting query about Holmgren, too. At minimum, I figure at least two more Super Bowl appearances, and a lot fewer interceptions.
There is a whole generation of Southwestern Ohio 30-somethings who will cry for days when Griffey retires. He was drafted when I was in eighth grade. I’m sure 90-percent of those ‘89 Upper Decks reside in households south of Dayton.
If you get a chance, find the NFL Films show with the Holmgren roundtable. Among the great stuff the studio has put out, its among the best.
Peyton DEFINITELY pulled a Favre !!!
THE GAME WAS LOST ON THAT PLAY, PERIOD ! I’m a Favre fan and I knew that most people would be ignoring Peyton’s F-up and not call it for what it was , A BAD THROW-EXACTLY LIKE FAVRE’S !
Any by the way Brett, Congrats on your 2020 MVP AWARD !!!
There’s an intellectual argument.
Sounds like someone has been pulling his own Favre too much.
Yeah, I wouldn’t say it was the same as Favre at all. In the case of the Colts, pretty much the only option they had was pass, pass, pass, pass away. The Saints, who were coached so much better than the Colts in that game, simply had the right plays called for what the Colts were trying to do. Was it a bad throw? Sure it was. Was it one of those throws where you find yourself screaming at the TV because your QB just made the biggest brain fart of the year? No, Favre has that one covered.
The bigger story in the Super Bowl was the coaching. I mean, really, run, run, run, punt? With two minutes before the half? Go big or stay home. And how on earth were the Colts at least not half expecting an onside kick in the a Championship game where time of possession was going to be the winning factor?
There were 3 people at my Super Bowl party who all said before the kick, “Payton’s going to call an onside kick, that’s the kind of stuff he does.” OF course, there were about 30 of us that all said “Manning throws a pick here for six,” just before that play also. Maybe it was all just fate.