The final step on the road to Levi's Stadium includes what could be -- should be -- the last installment of the NFL's individual version of Red Sox vs. Yankees: Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning.
Fortunately, they're not pitted one-on-one in a skills competition, which gives Manning, based on his supporting cast and the Denver Broncos defense, at least an outside shot of advancing to Super Bowl 50 in Santa Clara on Feb. 7.
About four hours after the start of the AFC championship, the Arizona Cardinals visit the Carolina Panthers for the NFC crown. It will complete a day of football with such impressive quarterback pedigrees that there was no room for Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, Ben Roethlisberger or Alex Smith.
Manning, Carolina's Cam Newton and Arizona's Carson Palmer were all No. 1 picks in the NFL draft. Brady has made his life's mission reminding the 31 other teams that 198 players were selected before he was taken in the sixth round.
Based on the performances of the advancing QBs in the divisional playoffs, Brady makes the Patriots the clear favorites if you're ranking the chances of the final four teams on the basis of quarterback play:
1. Brady: Appeared to be at the peak of his powers, completing 28 of 42 passes for 302 yards and two touchdowns in a 27-20 win over the Kansas City Chiefs that was more one-sided than the score indicated.
The Patriots lost four of their last six regular-season games and looked vulnerable, but the return of slot receiver Julian Edelman and tight end Rob Gronkowski gave Brady enough weapons to toy with a quality Chiefs defense.
2. Newton: The likely 2015 Most Valuable Player was 16 of 22 for 161 yards and a touchdown as the Panthers sat on a 31-point halftime lead and watched Wilson and Seattle come within an onside kick of getting a Hail Mary chance to tie.
The Panthers' scoreless second half did nothing to diminish the leadership and energy Newton brings in addition to being a first-rate downfield thrower and a powerful runner. Considering Newton's cast of wide receivers, for him to have his team 16-1 and a game away from the Super Bowl is remarkable.
3. Palmer: There were a handful of scratch-your-head Palmer moments to be sure, but Palmer also made some big throws and has the advantage of having wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald on his side.
Palmer has always had a little Jeff George in him in terms of interceptions at the worst possible times, but he can also make the kind of throws only a handful of guys in the NFL can make.
4. Manning: Never was one to win with his fastball, but at this point, Manning is Jamie Moyer, living off guile and patience. His Nationwide commercial jingle should be, "Throwing arm, where did you go?"
Manning leans heavily on a Broncos defense that doesn't appear to have a discernible weakness.
Of the four remaining quarterbacks, Manning is the only one who would appear incapable of leading a team to victory on the strength of his skill set if the deficit were more than one score.
About the Author
