Tom Brady-Peyton Manning isn’t a rivalry because it’s so one-sided

Tom Brady has dominated Peyton Manning over his career, and that isn’t about to change in what could be their last ever meeting.

Tom Brady has four Super Bowl rings to Peyton Manning’s one. Brady has 22 playoff wins to Manning’s 12. Brady has 11 head-to-head wins to Manning’s five. Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning is so often billed as a rivalry, but can a contest that’s so one-sided even be called a rivalry? These are two quarterbacks that are going to end up in the Hall of Fame and while Manning may have more passing yards and touchdowns compared to Brady, but the latter will unequivocally be remembered as the better quarterback. They’re separated by a year in age, and yet this could be Manning’s last season in the NFL. By contrast, Brady could have five more ahead of him.

And before you accuse me of bias towards the Patriots, I have no dog in this race. But anybody can see that Brady is miles ahead of Peyton Manning and will likely get his twelfth win next Sunday in the AFC Championship Game.

There is one deadlock between the two that’s yet to be broken, and that’s head-to-head playoff wins. Heading into Manning vs. Brady XVII, they have two playoff wins apiece. Manning holds the 2-1 edge in AFC Championship Games with their last meeting in Denver ending in a Broncos’ trip to the Super Bowl. But this meeting feels different because the scales have been tipped so far towards one side. If anything, this may be the first time that these two have faced off in a game where it won’t be a duel between two quarterbacks.

The AFC Championship Game should’ve been the 18th meeting between Brady and Manning, but Brock Osweiler had to fill in for their regular season meeting this year because Manning was injured. They went back to Manning in the playoffs because Osweiler didn’t assert himself enough as a starter while Manning was out, but if he did this storyline wouldn’t even exist heading into the AFC Championship Game.

The Broncos may be the No. 1 seed in the AFC, and they may be enjoying home-field advantage in their meeting, but the Patriots are the better team. The numbers don’t lie. One quarterback has 36 touchdowns and seven interceptions. The other has 9 touchdowns to 17 interceptions. Never before in their head-to-head meetings has there been such a contrasting difference in their play the way there is this year. The only reason the Broncos are the No. 1 seed is because the Patriots decided to kick to start overtime. Heading into next Sunday’s game, a lot of people aren’t giving Manning a chance to win. If the Broncos go to the Super Bowl, it won’t be because of Peyton Manning.

Is there a more symbolic end to Peyton Manning’s career than facing Tom Brady in the AFC Championship Game? Yes, but if the Broncos win, don’t expect the storylines to change overnight that Brady could never get the better of Manning. Brady has owned this matchup, and that fact won’t change anytime soon.