Peyton Manning and the Playoffs: Is He a Choker?

Sacrilege.  Heresy.  Tebowphilia. 

All of the aforementioned sins can be used to label any who question the abilities and/or or the fortitude of athletes of Payton Manning’s caliber. 

But is it not a fair question to ask?  Is his playoff record not 9-11?  Instead of simply dismissing the “choker” argument as the unintelligible babblings of Tebow-lovers and Patriots fans, we should examine the issue in its proper context.

Anyone remember a guy named John Elway?  Prior to Denver’s Super Bowl runs late in his career, Elway had a very pedestrian 7-7 record in playoff games which included some historically bad losses for his team.  As a result, fools and panic mongers all across the country (as well as a few stalwarts in Laos) called him a loser.  A failure.  A Schottenheimer.  A choker.

Did Elway magically transform himself into a steadfast and imperturbable general the year between the Jacksonville debacle and the world championship? 

Of course not.  His coach coached better.  The ball bounced our way more.  His team played better.  Key players remained healthy. 

In 2 years, “The Great Choker” went from 7-7 to 14-7, solidifying himself as one of the all-time great playoff performers.

Let’s look now to the current standard of Excellence in indefatigable playoff QBs:  Tom Brady. 

Since 2005, Brady’s playoff record is 8-7 with no Super Bowl victories.  That is not appreciably better than Manning’s total mark and only negligibly superior to Elway’s when he was a national laughing stock.

Has Brady become a gagger?  Have his skills diminished abruptly and only during the postseason?  Do difficult challenges suddenly make him wilt and cower like an Italian Infantryman? 

I do not believe anyone who actually watches football thinks this is the case.

There is a good reason why the “Trade Elway for Mark Rypien” movement never took off in the late 80’s/early 90’s. 

I don’t hear anyone in New England saying “Man, I wish we’d dump that choker Brady and go grab Joe Flacco (8-4 playoff record) now that he is a free agent.”

That is because to believe and state such things would forever brand an individual as a practitioner of stupidity.

The real truth is this:

A skilled QB’s playoff record is tied as closely to his team and coach than to his own arm.

Tom Brady did not go from unstoppable playoff studmoss to bed crapper in 1 year. 

Elway didn’t go from Matt Greoning’s whipping boy on The Simpsons to one of the all-time great clutch playoff performers in the 365 days seperating 1996's devastaing loss from 1997's dominant win.

Manning is neither a choker nor is he the essence of steadfastness in crunch time.  His total body of work in the postseason (and that of all great QB’s)  is indeed a reflection of his own play but also a product of the coaching staff, the team play around him, and the unique tenor of each game during the time of year when the tiniest bounce or misstep leads to bountiful glory or ignominious defeat.

Today’s 2-0 Kaepernick is 2018’s 4-6 Kaepernick.  Don’t get caught up in the numbers.  Watch the games. 

Both Brilliance and Baboonery are fickle titles that change with the winds.  A couple wins here and there doesn’t make him Joe Montana and a few more losses doesn’t make him Bernie Kosar.

He’s Peyton Manning.  He’s our quarterback. And he’s a badass.

Go Broncos!