is that Peyton Manning is clearly the better quarterback. In the Regular Season, which has a sample size that is ~ 8 times as large, Manning clearly prevails, as you admit. The only category that Brady wins in is Int%, an advantage you deem "decisive". It's an ~ 11% improvement. If that's decisive, then so are a number of Peyton's accomplishments, notably YPA (~9%), TD/Season (~25%), and TD% (~17%, though you deem this one "pretty close" for reasons that escape me), among others. We also notice a Brady tendency to fumble the ball, despite having fewer rushing attempts.

Introducing Playoffs, with its statistically less meaningful sample size, sheds better light towards Brady, but certainly not in a convincing manner. They basically split the passing category, with Manning winning completion % and YPA, and Brady protecting the ball better. The only conclusion thus would be that Manning is the better passer when one considers nearly 8,000 pass attempts worth of data, and that playoffs alone are inconclusive at worst, at best ever-so-slightly favorable towards Brady. So do I take conclusive results of 8,000 attempts compared or the inconclusive ones of 950+ attempts more seriously? I think most would say the regular season over these years affords us the more meaningful sample size.

I don't fault a Patriots fan for concluding that Brady is the best QB, and he is an incredible quarterback, but the data strongly points towards Peyton Manning as the victor.

I am excited for the next installment, as a look at the personnel surrounding the two QBs is the most convincing (IMO) means of arguing Brady's superiority over Manning, though I admittedly am not even compelled by that. Yet.

Your regular season "cop out" for Manning is that he goes up against weaker defenses, yet that is half of why Brady has had more success in the playoffs.  Manning has had to try to get past the pats defense (in crappy NE weather no less), while Brady has been able to go up against the significantly weaker (until this year ;)) defense of the Colts.  You can't pick and choose when you want to use this argument.

And not enough is ever said about how your own defense effects your stats.  Your most compelling stat for Brady is the oh so significant difference in interception ratio.  Brady has always had a championship caliber defense to help him out.  He can afford to take less chances because he knows that if he throws the ball out of bounds on 3rd down, he has a pretty darn good chance of getting the ball back without anymore points on the board.  Manning, not so much.

The only legitimate argument you have is the number of super bowl victories and overall playoff record.  But those are TEAM stats...not individual stats.  Brady gets way too much credit for those super bowl wins because he's the pretty boy QB.  He's had such great defenses helping him out, resulting in shorter drives and more possessions.   Guys like Bruschi, Vrabel, and Ty Law should get more credit than they do.

Couple more quick notes...More offensive weapons is another crock...that versus having a better defense is a wash.  And better O-line is also BS.   They both have great offensive lines, Manning gets rid of the ball quicker than any QB in the league.

Nice try...but the stats just do not compare.  Give Manning a few more years, and I bet that the playoff record and super bowl rings will even itself out.  And then what will you have?  "My guy has knocked up more super models, so he's obviously better."  

You've been invaded by Colt Nation... only explanation for the 101 votes and Pay-ton winning the poll...

Um... and to Rudy0498... bitter much?? As for 'pretty boy' status. Peyton's the one who, during Football season is on every single frickin' ad, while Brady's ads have been subtle, and often including the rest of his team. I'd say that Peyton's the Pretty boy of the Colts just as much...

I read the previous two comments and was like, wow... There are Colts fans who don't totally annoy me, and then you came along rudy... bitterness will only cause you stress and shorten your life, it's only a game, and in the end, all that matters is who is standing with the crazy little football statue at the end of the year.

I give props to Manning (and the Refs, but I won't go there since I'm trying to be positive...) he did it last year. Three of the Previous four years it was Brady who was holding the statue up, he deserves more than simply your, not very funny jabs about his personal life. He hasn't been arrested, he hasn't done drugs, what he does with women, as long as he treats them well (i.e. no domestic crap) is his business not mine or anyones.

the much better offensive personnel that Manning has always had. Since Brady has had a better defense it helps make up for the offensive shortcomings. The main reasons Manning has better stats are the much easier opponents and the infinately better playing conditions. Every year Manning twice plays the Texans and Titans--good for 12-15 Td's per year. All his home games are inside on turf where the offense has the advantage and many of his road games are also indoors or warm weather. Brady has played on the terrible field in Foxboro that gives the defense the advantage and in cold outdoor games at home and many on the road. Taking these facts into account and Brady has the better statistics and is the better QB.

There is clearly intended to be no actual debate. How could you possibly be convinced that Manning is a better QB than Brady?

However, Manning throws a more accurate long ball, makes his running backs better by his mere existence, takes FAR fewer sacks (look at sacks per dropback), and all of the defenses in the AFC measure themselves by how well they play the Colts. His receivers are awesome because of him (they stay on the team because of him, they practice in April with him, they can change routes with a hand wave because of him, he listens to their feedback on coverages and changes plays at the line for the coverage they see).

It's bold to take the angle that Brady is better because of stats, and I admire the effort, although you have to cherry pick a couple of specific stats to arrive at that conclusion. However, if you look at the games you can see where Manning changes the entire character of the game, while Brady is merely a good quarterback who manages the ball very well. You won't find most of the differences in your statistics book.

Brady gets a lot of second chances because of his great defense, and he does not have to do the big comeback. He played the game of his life in his second Super Bowl, but in the others he was merely average. If you need Brady to rescue you at the end, it's a toss-up, and if you need a miracle beyond a field goal, he's human. Look at the two desperation drives that the Pats needed against the Chargers and Colts. They were OK when they needed only a field goal.

Look at the Jets-Colts last season. Manning ran a 12-play 5:21 drive and a 9-play 1:30 drive for touchdowns in the 4th quarter WITHOUT USING A SINGLE TIMEOUT. No one else can even consider that, but it's not unusual for the Colts, and the reason they can do that is Manning. Look at the 13-play 7:16 drive against an inspired Ravens defense that ended the game. Those runs were working because they know Manning can switch at the line to Dallas Clark for 14 yards if the Ravens blink at the line. Manning beat the #1, #2, and #3 defenses in the post-season last year.

Would I take Brady on my team? Heck yes, assuming that Manning, Palmer, Bulger, and Brees were not available. McNabb would make that list as well, except that he's injury prone. So maybe Palmer and Brees are suspect too. Don't feel bad - he's an integral part of a team having an outstanding run of success, and he's the 5th-best QB playing the game today. He's worth every penny they pay him and more.

I'm glad the Pats have given Brady all his weapons so hopefully maybe you guys will stop yapping about that. He will get a QB rating between 88-92 next season, just like he always does. And that's outstanding - it's just not Manning.

(Colts fan speaking here). Bulger is not in the same class.  With the talent and system he has around him he should put up much bigger numbers than he does.  Palmer is too young to be in the conversation.  McNabb is injury prone, wildly inconsistent, and the Eagles have shown that multiple other guys (Garcia, Feely, etc.) run have success on that team.  Brees is a tough call.  He carried an otherwise mediocre team to the NFC championship last season one year removed from major shoulder surgery.  With a bunch of no name receivers, and his leading receiver was a running back, and he still led the league in passing yards. While I love my fellow Boilermaker, but he needs to sustain that for much longer to be included in this conversation.

Also, I have to point out that the one impartial person in this conversation, Hogs Heaven (Redskins fan) is saying that Manning is better :P