The Bernstein Brief: If That Was Peyton Manning's Swan Song, It Lives In Infamy
By Dan Bernstein--
CBSChicago.com senior columnist
(CBS) If that was indeed Peyton Manning's last NFL game Sunday, he exited with what was by far the worst final performance by a great quarterback in the history of the league.
Manning was 5-of-20 for 35 yards and threw four interceptions in Denver's 29-13 loss to Kansas City, a contest he left with a partially torn plantar fascia in his right foot that will keep him out Sunday at Chicago and who knows how long thereafter. His passer efficiency rating was 0.0, so he literally couldn't have been worse. Should this stand as the miserable exit standard-bearer, it would outdo the performances of three Hall of Famers. (Thanks to statistical analyst Scott Lindholm for organizing the data.)
Dan Marino was 38 when he concluded his career against Jacksonville in 2000, his team losing 62-7. He was 11-of-25 for 95 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions -- a rating of 34.6.
A 40-year-old Sonny Jurgensen went out with a 31.2 rating in losing to the Rams in 1974, going 6-of-12 for 78 yards, no scores and three picks.
But our clubhouse leader was nearly twice that bad, as Joe Namath's swan song in a 24-23 loss to the Bears in 1977 saw him go 16-of-40 for 203 yards and zero touchdowns, also throwing four interceptions -- one to Doug Buffone, one to Gary Fencik and two to Doug Plank. The 34-year-old Namath finished with a rating of 17.0.
It's quite possible that Manning never plays again, solidifying him above (below?) Namath as the undisputed and unassailable holder of this dubious football honor.
Dan Bernstein is a co-host of 670 The Score's "Boers and Bernstein Show" in afternoon drive. You can follow him on Twitter @dan_bernstein and read more of his columns here.