Manning and Rodgers comparisons at age 25 and 26 in their NFL Careers

[Favre3132]

Thought it would be interesting to compare Peyton Manning and Aaron Rodgers in their NFL careers when both were age 25 and 26. By the time Manning was 25 in 2001, he was starting his fourth year with three full years of NFL experience and was 0-2 in playoff games. Rodgers at age 25 was in his first full year as the starter after sitting on the bench his first 3 years (2005-’07) behind Favre. For the purpose of this comparison, I used Manning's stats in 2001 (age 25) and 2002 (age 26), and Rodgers stats in 2008 (age 25) and in 2009 (age 26). You can hammer me if you wish, call this stupid, and blah, blah, blah – but I think you will find the stats and comparisons very interesting. If you are going to compare a QB, then why not compare him to the best in the business, maybe the best of all time, when they were the same age. If you don’t like comparisons and stats, or if you think Manning is not a great QB, then do not read the following.

Manning and Rodgers at age 25
Manning 2001 / 4th year / record 6-10 / 343 CMP / 547 ATT / 4131 YDS / 26 TD's / 23 INT's / 84.1 QB rating / 29 sacks
Rodgers 2008 / 1st year / record 6-10 / 341 CMP / 536 ATT / 4038 YDS / 28 TD's / 13 INT's / 93.8 QB rating / 34 sacks

Manning and Rodgers at age 26
Manning 2002 / 5th year / record 10-6 / 392 CMP / 591 ATT / 4200 YDS / 27 TD's / 19 INT's / 88.8 QB rating / 23 sacks
Rodgers 2009 / 2nd year / record 11-5 / 350 CMP / 541 ATT / 4434 YDS / 30 TD's / 7 INT's / 103.2 QB rating / 50 sacks

Playoff game at age 26
Manning 2002 / @ NY Jets / score, lost 0 -41 / 14 CMP / 31 ATT / 137 YDS / 0 TD's / 2 INT's / 2 sacks
Rodgers 2009 / @ Arizona / score, lost 45-51 / 28 CMP / 42 ATT / 423 YDS / 4 TD's / 1 INT / 5 sacks

TOTALS age 25 & 26
Manning 2001-02 / record 16-16 / 749 CMP / 1169 ATT / 64.1% CMP % / 8468 YDS / 53 TD's / 44 INT's / 54 sacks / 0-1 record in playoffs
Rodgers 2008-09 / record 17-15 / 719 CMP / 1119 ATT / 64.3% CMP % / 8895 YDS / 62 TD's / 21 INT's / 89 sacks / 0-1 record in playoffs

NOTE: Manning was 0-3 in playoff games his first 5 years, 1998-2002.

Manning Season Stats 2003, age 27
Manning 2003 / 6th year / record 12-4 / 379 CMP / 566 ATT / 4179 YDS / 29 TD's / 10 INT's / 99.0 QB rating / 18 sacks

2003 Manning in the Playoffs
vs. Denver Broncos (WILD CARD) / W 41-10 / 22 of 26, 377 yds, 5 TD's, 0 INT, 0 sacks
at Kansas City Chiefs (DIVISIONAL) / W 38-31 / 22 of 30, 304 yds, 3 TD's, 0 INT, 1 sack
at New England (AFC CHAMPIONSHIP) / L 14-24 / 23 of 47, 237 yds, 1 TD, 4 INT's, 4 sacks

The biggest negative or stat that stands out to me is the number of sacks that Rodgers has taken in his first 2 full years as the starter of the Packers – 89 total sacks which includes the Arizona playoff game. Thompson must address the offensive line issues this off season or Rodgers will continue to get creamed and probably injured, and Rodgers must get better at not holding on to the ball too long. Other than that, if Rodgers continues to improve as Manning has from the time he was 26, Rodgers is going to be a great QB for years to come. In the comparison of stats between Manning and Rogers when both were age 25 and 26, Rodgers had a better completion percentage, threw for more yards, threw for more TD’s and threw 23 less interceptions. Again, the big glaring stat for Rodgers is the amount of times he has been sacked.

Petyon Manning was 27 years old and in his 6th year before he won his first playoff game in 2003 and led the Colts that year to the AFC Championship Game where they lost to the Patriots. I think most people who really understand and know football will agree that Manning is the best QB in the league right now and has been for several years. Some are beginning to call Manning the best of all time. If comparisons and stats have any meaning at all, the Green Bay Packers will have a great QB in Aaron Rodgers for years to come. Rodgers will be 27 during the 2010 season and will be in his 3rd year as QB for the Packers. The question is, can Rodgers lead the Packers to the NFC Championship Game and beyond next season at the age of 27? Peyton Manning was 27 when he finally broke out as the great QB that he has become today. If the Packers do not improve the offensive line, then no, Rodgers cannot.

 

[PackersRS]

Wow. That's a great work and compilation. You should comment more in the site!

About the comparison, I like them, but I read them with a grain of salt.

Different contexts, different teams, different persons.

Roethlisberger won the SB in his 2nd year, and at the age of 28 already has 2 titles.

It took 14 years for John Elway to win one SB.

-

I think anybody with half a brain can realize that Rodgers is already one of the best in the league with little age. The kid is out of this world, quite frankly.

And this last loss was absolutely not his fault. If Kurt Warner has anything other than a perfect game, the Packers win it, because Rodgers had an almost perfect game.

It doesn't mean Rodgers is a winner. He NEEDS to win games before he can be named one. Marino was also a tremenduous QB, but he never won squat.

But setting a deadline for Rodgers' sucess isn't fair. His legacy will only be evaluated when he retires.

Anybody that says we're not absolutely settled at QB for the foreseeable future, however, needs a lobotomy.

----

Here's a good portrait:

First, Rodgers needed to show he could fill in the shoes of Brett Favre, and that the Packers were good with him at the helm. CHECK.

Then, Rodgers needed to show he was an elite QB, that was capable of taking over a game, and could lead his team to victories and to the playoffs. CHECK.

After that, Rodgers needed to prove he wouldn't be affected by his first start at the playoffs. He was affected by it early (though he has started slowly before, as the whole team has under MM), but he manned up and had one of the best postseason performances by a Packers QB. CHECK

Now, he needs to prove he can win a playoff game.

Then, he needs to prove he can win a SB.

But so far, he has reached a lot of goals for hs young career. Goals most qbs didn't have to prove.

 

[Mr. StyleZ]

I'd say the difference in interceptions is the biggest thing I notice. 44 from Manning to only 21 by A-Rod. Pretty. Damn. Good.

 

[Jess]

Can't wait to see Rodgers in the Oreo Double Stuf Racing League in like 8 years, then. :lol:

 

[Green_Bay_Packers]

Can't wait to see Rodgers in the Oreo Double Stuf Racing League in like 8 years, then. :lol:

Man that is ace

Who would his partner be though?

 

[Jess]

Man that is ace

Who would his partner be though?

I think he has a brother that's a college QB right now. He could do it. :lol:

 

[marfle]

Man that is ace

Who would his partner be though?

Little bro Jordan. He's playing in college and will try for Vanderbilt in the spring or so.

 

[BBalzWI]

Great post, thank you for taking the time to compare these.

As other said, different things count in these regards but when it comes down to straight statistics, you can't argue anything.

Again, thanks for putting the time in to do this.

PS: I stole that quote, I remember reading it in the online article. . .and wanted to put it in my sig.

 

[don_frosto]

Man that is crazy. Like Mr. StYlEz, the INT's really popped out at me. Those sack numbers are kind of a downer though. Oh well..

WOOO GO A-ROD!!

 

[KilrB]

I love Rodgers views and results on INT's. He is like the Anti-Farve!

:happy0005:

:viksux: