OK, I was going to start a new thread on this, but I figured it made more sense to reawaken this one....
I have to admit, I am coming around on this one, and I am now pretty darn close to admitting that Tom Brady is just flat out better than Peyton Manning. Yes, I said it.
There are two main reasons that I've come to this conclusion recently.
1. Brady is just more clutch. I know Peyton has plenty of 4th quarter comebacks, but here's how I look at it: how many games this year have the Patriots had where you felt like they had no business winning, or at least that they just pulled it out in the end? Mostly, that's because Brady is leading them on a drive (or two) in the 4th quarter to pull it out when it seemed all was lost. Peyton, on the other hand, had not one, but two chances to get the ball in the end zone on Sunday and couldn't come through either time. The second time he couldn't even get a 1st down, and this is just one example.
It comes down to this: with the Patriots, there are many times it seems they shouldn't win, but they do. With the Colts, there are many times it seems like they should win, but they don't. And in both cases, it usually comes down to the play of the quarterback late in the game. One gets it done, the other doesn't.
2. Brady would never compete in the DSRL. Need I say more?
So, there you go, Pats fans, I admitted it. I still don't like the Pats, and I will never like their coach, but I do respect at least some of them, especially Brady. I look at him the same way I look at Derek Jeter... hate the team, but respect him (even though one of his most memorable home runs was assisted by an 11-year old, but that's another thread).