Here’s the thing about : His “off” seasons are great seasons for most quarterbacks. And his peers know it.
The 39-year-old Broncos quarterback was voted by his fellow NFL players as last season, behind Texans defensive end J.J. Watt, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray.
Last season Manning completed 395 of 597 attempts (66.2 percent) for 4,727 yards, 15 interceptions and 39 touchdowns. Against the 49ers at Sports Authority Field at Mile High, he made history (again), surpassing Brett Favre to become the NFL’s all-time passing touchdown leader with No. 509. He finished the season with 530 career regular-season TDs.
But the second half of the season failed to match the first as he dealt with a quad injury, and the Broncos struggled with its offensive line and began to rely more on its run game.
This is the downside of being Peyton Manning: The expectations are high — maybe too high.
In 2013, at age 37, he threw seven touchdowns in the Broncos’ season-opening victory over the Ravens. He went on to set NFL single-season records with 55 passing touchdowns and 5,477 yards, and led the Broncos to a record 606 points, a third consecutive AFC West title and a Super Bowl berth. Despite the Broncos’ blowout loss to the Seahawks in the final game, Manning was voted as the best player in the league.
In 2013, following his first season as a Bronco, Manning was voted No. 2 in the league. In 2012, after not taking a single snap the previous season because of his neck surgeries, he was ranked No. 50. That’s right: Manning doesn’t even need to play to be regarded as one of the best in the league.
And in 2011, the first year of the NFL’s top 100 and after his final active season as a Colt, Manning was ranked No. 2.
This year, he joins (No. 20), (33), (87) and (95) as Broncos players in top 100.
