Manning Passes Marino

[Hacksaw]

Haven't seen this talked about much and I felt like this milestone was worthy of it's own thread...

Peyton Manning has passed Dan Marino in career passing yards, as of yesterday's game with the Cowboys. It was the last major statistical passing category in which Peyton still trailed Marino (having already eclipsed him in career completions and TD passes). Marino held every major NFL passing record for many years, before being passed by Brett Favre.

I think the order in which the stats have been compiled is notable, since it shows that Peyton accumulated more completions and TD passes in fewer yards passing (i.e. more efficient).

It is also significant that Peyton surpassed Marino despite having played in fewer games -- by more than one full season, in fact.

Peyton is now second only to Favre in every major statistical category for QBs. And at his current pace (and assuming he can stay healthy), he will surpass Favre to lead all QBs in the history of the NFL in all categories (and yes, I hope he adds another SB ring or two, just to make it all the more meaningful to the naysayers). Favre will have played several more seasons than Peyton when Peyton tops him.

So congratulations to one of our greatest VFLs who has made us all proud during an amazing, record-breaking NFL career.

 

[TOP]

I think the order in which the stats have been compiled is notable, since it shows that Peyton accumulated more completions and TD passes in fewer yards passing (i.e. more efficient).

It is also significant that Peyton surpassed Marino despite having played in fewer games -- by more than one full season, in fact.

Then it's also significant and should be noted that he played in an era where quarterbacks are babied. They literally built rules to protect the quarterback in just about every way and changed the rules to make it a passing league. Marino never had that luxury.

Elite runningbacks are dwindling while elite quarterbacks are at an all-time high. There is a reason for that and it's because the league has changed. Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Aaaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Eli Manning, Ben Roethlisberger, Joe Flacco, Phillip Rivers, Matt Ryan, Jay Cutler. Quarterbacks of the future... Matthew Stafford, Cam Newton, Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin, Colin Kapernick, Russel Wilson... and for runningbacks you've got Adrian Peterson and?

It's not a coincidence that just about every team has a franchise quarterback and you're seeing young quarterbacks lighting up the league. I just think if you're trying to make the case Peyton is better for reaching a certain milestone quicker than Marino, you also have to factor in that Marino did it in a tougher era. I tend to believe Marino would put up bigger numbers in today's league.

 

[BenGrimm]

Then it's also significant and should be noted that he played in an era where quarterbacks are babied. They literally built rules to protect the quarterback in just about every way and changed the rules to make it a passing league. Marino never had that luxury.

Elite runningbacks are dwindling while elite quarterbacks are at an all-time high. There is a reason for that and it's because the league has changed. Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Aaaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Eli Manning, Ben Roethlisberger, Joe Flacco, Phillip Rivers, Matt Ryan, Jay Cutler. Quarterbacks of the future... Matthew Stafford, Cam Newton, Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin, Colin Kapernick, Russel Wilson... and for runningbacks you've got Adrian Peterson and?

It's not a coincidence that just about every team has a franchise quarterback and you're seeing young quarterbacks lighting up the league. I just think if you're trying to make the case Peyton is better for reaching a certain milestone quicker than Marino, you also have to factor in that Marino did it in a tougher era. I tend to believe Marino would put up bigger numbers in today's league.

Very valid point about the current era of football. It's a passing league now.

Makes you wonder how Manning's 7 TD game doesn't happen more often and the fact that the last time it did happen was nearly 40 years ago.

 

[Hacksaw]

Then it's also significant and should be noted that he played in an era where quarterbacks are babied. They literally built rules to protect the quarterback in just about every way and changed the rules to make it a passing league. Marino never had that luxury.

Elite runningbacks are dwindling while elite quarterbacks are at an all-time high. There is a reason for that and it's because the league has changed. Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Aaaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Eli Manning, Ben Roethlisberger, Joe Flacco, Phillip Rivers, Matt Ryan, Jay Cutler. Quarterbacks of the future... Matthew Stafford, Cam Newton, Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin, Colin Kapernick, Russel Wilson... and for runningbacks you've got Adrian Peterson and?

It's not a coincidence that just about every team has a franchise quarterback and you're seeing young quarterbacks lighting up the league. I just think if you're trying to make the case Peyton is better for reaching a certain milestone quicker than Marino, you also have to factor in that Marino did it in a tougher era. I tend to believe Marino would put up bigger numbers in today's league.

Good points and I agree with you that Marino would probably have better stats playing today. Kind of hard to speculate, but it sounds like a reasonable assumption. I think a lot of Marino. It's a shame he never won a SB ring. Doesn't diminish him in my eyes.

But I also think you have to give due credit to Peyton for his part in changing the league. 4,000 yard passing seasons were extremely rare before Peyton came along. Some of the best QBs to ever play NEVER did it. Of those who did, most did it only once in their careers. And Peyton has averaged 4,000+ passing yards a season over the course of his career -- even if you count the entire season he missed! Brees and Brady haven't done that.

Peyton is at a point in his career now where he is literally setting new NFL records in every game. He's something special.