39-Year-Old Tom Brady Currently Dominating 39-Year-Old Peyton Manning
By Michael Hurley, CBS Boston
"Thanks popa, I've got another 7 or 8 years. He has 2. That's the final chapter. Game on."
Those were the words written by Tom Brady to a friend in November of 2014, referring to the ongoing comparisons being drawn between him and Peyton Manning. At that point, the Brady-Manning rivalry had been boiling for well over a decade, but Brady kept his focus on the long view.
Two years later, he's thus far been correct.
Yes, Manning went out on top by winning a Super Bowl last year at age 39, but he did so more as a passenger than the engine for a Broncos team that won games on defense.
It's still early in Brady's age 39 season, and any number of events could change his current course. But as it looks now, Brady's premonition seems to be on the money.
THROUGH THREE GAMES, AGE 39 SEASON:
Brady
76/101, 75.3 percent, 1,004 yards, 8 TD, 0 INT, 132.6 rating
Manning
81/127, 63.8 percent, 755 yards, 5 TD, 3 INT, 83.3 rating
Brady's also rushed for 29 yards on nine carries, compared to Manning's two rushes for negative-2 yards to start the year in 2015. Brady's averaged 9.94 yards per pass attempt, nearly double Manning's 5.4 yards per attempt to begin last year.
While the difference is dramatic, where Brady can really set himself apart from the 39-year-old Manning is in the next six weeks. Look at the numbers.
39-year-old Manning in Weeks 4-10:
112/195, 57.4 percent, 1,425 yards, 4 TD, 14 INT, 57.3 rating
Capped off with a four-interception showing against Kansas City, Manning ended up losing his job, spending the next month-plus rehabbing a foot injury and trying to strengthen his arm for a postseason run.
Brady's next six games include two challenges -- at Buffalo (Week 8) and home vs. Seattle (Week 10) -- but also include some soft defenses that should ensure Brady manages to escape without throwing four touchdowns and 14 picks.
In fact, looking at the season on the whole, Brady (8 TDs) is already close to matching Manning's touchdown total (9) and has thrown 17 fewer interceptions. In one-third of the number of games started, Brady has amassed 45 percent of Manning's 2015 passing yards.
In the playoffs, Manning's arm strength never fully returned, but he was good enough to throw two touchdowns to Owen Daniels over linebacker Jamie Collins in the AFC Championship Game, and he was good enough to only throw one interception against a ferocious Carolina defense in the Super Bowl.
In total, he went 51-for-92 (55.4 percent) for 539 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in the postseason. It wasn't nearly to the standard that Manning had set over the previous 15 years, but again, it was good enough to help his team to a title.
Ultimately, Brady's age 39 statistics are almost certain to be miles better than Manning's. But it will be how the season ends -- whether it be with Brady holding a trophy or hanging his head -- that decides the winner in this, one of the seemingly infinite ways the careers of two of the best passers of all time will be compared. And, assuming Brady can manage to play at a similar level next year at age 40, the quarterback appears to be on a path to be able to distinguish himself both in terms of statistics but also perhaps with a fifth (or sixth) Super Bowl title.
Game on.
You can email Michael Hurley or find him on Twitter @michaelFhurley.
