$.01-- I’ve been tooting it for awhile now (since before Week 5 to be exact), but it’s surely official at this point: we are seeing the beginning of the decline of Peyton Manning from being arguably the greatest QB ever into a run-of-the-mill Pro Bowler.
He wasn’t even that good in the loss to Dallas on Sunday, a game that saw him throw two more pick-sixes (INTs returned for TDs) and consistently stare down his primary receiver. After the four in this game against a beleaguered Dallas secondary, he’s now thrown 11 INTs in his last three games. That’s Jake Delhomme/Derek Anderson territory, not Peyton’s place. The offensive line is largely awful, but that’s been true before. His receiving corps ain’t what it used to be, but that’s never been an excuse for the greats like Warren Moon or Troy Aikman during their late-career slides.
I bring up Aikman because I found it telling that he called attention to Manning’s ongoing breakdowns throughout his broadcast. Aikman is known as a straight shooter, but also one that doesn’t go out of his way to criticize fellow quarterbacks. When the “mainstream” pundits feel free to point out Manning’s issues with precision and intricacies of the passing game, you know the problems are very real.
Before you go and throw out the baby with the bath water, keep in mind Manning is still just 34 and is playing with the worst supporting cast since his rookie season. The Colts figure to be healthier and a little more reloaded next season, and Manning still has the God-given ability to remain the best QB in the league for another handful of seasons. He has built up more than enough credit to have one off year, but a return to the invincible awesomeness is no longer a given.
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