Trent Dilfer is the poster child for the argument that you don’t need an elite quarterback to win a Super Bowl. He won with the 2000 Baltimore Ravens as a game manager who rode on the back of an historic defense — a similar story to that of Peyton Manning this year.
However, when asked if he sees it this way, Dilfer responded: “I wouldn’t put Peyton in my category,” per Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com.
While it’s true the Denver Broncos are winning because of defense, just like the Ravens did, Dilfer sees Manning’s mental acuity for the game of football as a level above anything he was able to achieve:
“The thing is that [Manning] has a little more intellectual property than I had,” Dilfer said. “I think he’s the greatest ever at the line of scrimmage. I probably could throw the ball a little farther, for whatever that means. I hope Peyton isn’t reduced to quote, unquote game manager on his last Super Bowl. I think he’s done a little more than that with what he’s done at the line of scrimmage.”
This is a point nobody would argue. While Dilfer was certainly smart with his reads and understanding opposing defenses, neither he, nor anyone else in this era, can compete with Manning when it comes to pre-snap reads and adjustments.
Because of his mind for the game, the endless hours of his life dedicated to watching film (not as much as Ron Jaworski does, of course), and his dedication to practicing what he sees on tape, Manning has risen to a level that is known only by himself.
We’ll see if his body cooperates enough to win a second Super Bowl title before shutting it down for good as one of the greatest players to strap on pads and a helmet in the history of the NFL. The Carolina Panthers present a worthy test, featuring the league’s No. 6-ranked defense, which is playing hot right now.