USA Today Compares Matt Ryan & Payton Manning: 12 Years In

[FalconsIn2012 35,232]

Matt Ryan vs. Peyton Manning: Stat comparison through 12 seasons

 

https://thefalconswire.usatoday.com/lists/atlanta-falcons-matt-ryan-peyton-manning-nfl-stats-comparison-history-qb-stats/amp/

Matt Urben

 

Drafted 10 years apart, Matt Ryan and Peyton Manningare two of the most prolific pocket-passers in NFL history.

After looking at Calvin Johnson vs. Julio Jonesthrough nine seasons, let’s look at a year-by-year comparison of Ryan and Manning through their first 12 seasons in the league.

Year 1: EDGE -- Matt Ryan

Peyton Manning 1998 season: 575 passes, 326 completions, 3,739 pass yards, 26 TDs, 28 INTs, 71.2 passer rating. Record: 3-13.

Matt Ryan 2008 season: 434 passes, 265 completions, 3,440 pass yards, 16 TDs, 11 INTs, 87.7 passer rating. Record: 11-5

Year 2: EDGE -- Peyton Manning

Peyton Manning 1999 season: 533 passes, 331 completions, 4,135 pass yards, 26 TDs, 15 INTs, 90.7 passer rating. Record: 13-3

Matt Ryan 2009 season: 451 passes, 263 completions, 2,916 pass yards, 22 TDs, 14 INTs, 80.9 passer rating. Record: 9-5

Year 3: EDGE -- Too close to call

Peyton Manning 2000 season: 571 passes, 357 completions, 4,413 pass yards, 33 TDs, 15 INTs, 94.7 passer rating. Record: 10-6

Matt Ryan 2010 season: 571 passes, 357 completions, 3,705 pass yards, 28 TDs, 9 INTs, 91.0 passer rating. Record: 13-3

Year 4: EDGE -- Matt Ryan

Peyton Manning 2001 season: 547 passes, 343 completions, 4,131 pass yards, 26 TDs, 23 INTs, 84.1 passer rating. Record: 6-10

Matt Ryan 2011 season: 566 passes, 347 completions, 4,177 pass yards, 29 TDs, 12 INTs, 92.2 passer rating. Record: 10-6

Year 5: EDGE -- Matt Ryan

Peyton Manning 2002 season: 591 passes, 392 completions, 4,200 pass yards, 27 TDs, 19 INTs, 88.8 passer rating. Record: 10-6

Matt Ryan 2012 season: 615 passes, 422 completions, 4,719 pass yards, 32 TDs, 14 INTs, 99.1 passer rating. Record: 13-3

Year 6: EDGE -- Peyton Manning

Peyton Manning 2003 season: 566 passes, 379 completions, 4,267 pass yards, 29 TDs, 10 INTs, 99.0 passer rating. Record: 12-4

Matt Ryan 2013 season: 651 passes, 439 completions, 4,515 pass yards, 26 TDs, 17 INTs, 89.6 passer rating. Record: 4-12

Year 7: EDGE -- Peyton Manning

Peyton Manning 2004 season: 497 passes, 336 completions, 4,557 pass yards, 49 TDs, 10 INTs, 121.1 passer rating. Record: 12-4

Matt Ryan 2014 season: 628 passes, 415 completions, 4,694 pass yards, 28 TDs, 14 INTs, 93.9 passer rating. Record: 6-10

Year 8: EDGE -- Peyton Manning

Peyton Manning 2005 season: 453 passes, 305 completions, 3,747 pass yards, 28 TDs, 10 INTs, 104.1 passer rating. Record: 14-2

Matt Ryan 2015 season: 614 passes, 407 completions, 4,591 pass yards, 21 TDs, 16 INTs, 89.0 passer rating. Record: 8-8

Year 9: EDGE -- Matt Ryan

Peyton Manning 2006 season: 557 passes, 362 completions, 4,397 pass yards, 31 TDs, 9 INTs, 101.1 passer rating. Record: 12-4

Matt Ryan 2016 season: 534 passes, 373 completions, 4,944 pass yards, 38 TDs, 7 INTs, 117.1 passer rating. Record: 11-5

Year 10: EDGE -- Peyton Manning

Peyton Manning 2007 season: 515 passes, 337 completions, 4,040 pass yards, 31 TDs, 14 INTs, 98.0 passer rating. Record: 13-3

Matt Ryan 2017 season: 529 passes, 342 completions, 4,095 pass yards, 20 TDs, 12 INTs, 91.4 passer rating. Record: 10-6

Year 11: EDGE -- Matt Ryan

Peyton Manning 2008 season: 555 passes, 371 completions, 4,002 pass yards, 27 TDs, 12 INTs, 95.0 passer rating. Record: 12-4

Matt Ryan 2018 season: 608 passes, 422 completions, 4,924 pass yards, 35 TDs, 7 INTs, 108.1 passer rating. Record: 7-9

Year 12: EDGE -- Peyton Manning

Peyton Manning 2009 season: 571 passes, 393 completions, 4,500 pass yards, 33 TDs, 16 INTs, 99.0 passer rating. Record: 14-2

Matt Ryan 2019 season: 616 passes, 408 completions, 4,466 pass yards, 26 TDs, 14 INTs, 92.1 passer rating. Record: 7-9

[jj 36]

Are we really about to compare Matt Ryan to quite possibly the greatest QB of all time?

 

There's being a homer, and then there's this.

[JD dirtybird21 21,773]

Peyton is in the discussion for best QB ever. Why the comparison?

[FalconsIn2012 35,232]

5 minutes ago, JD dirtybird21 said:

Peyton is in the discussion for best QB ever. Why the comparison?

It was usatoday, not me.  I was just posting the article.  I do think Ryan & Manning are very similar quarterbacks, though.

[FalconsIn2012 35,232]

I will say this: Ryan is quite possibly amongst the two or three best 3rd down quarterbacks of all time.  I remember in 2016 he was over 90% on 3rd down completion rate over the last 7 games or so.

Highest 3rd down conversion rate on throws since 2001

1. Peyton Manning 46.4%

2. Matt Ryan 45.9%

3.Drew Brees 45.6%

And as great as Ryan is on 3rd down, our defense has been even worse.  It’s an embarrassment:

• Rank Offense 3rd Down Conversion: 6th, 10th, 3rd, 6th,  2nd, 5th, 7th, 2nd, 11th, 1st, 4th, 11th

• Rank Defense 3rd Down Conversion:  13th, 32nd,  22nd, 29th, 25th, 32nd, 32nd, 27th, 26th , 17th, 31st & 21st

[AndrewsFrancisBart 927]

1 hour ago, JD dirtybird21 said:

Peyton is in the discussion for best QB ever. Why the comparison?

Because if you go year by year, through their first 12 years, the numbers say there is a comparison to be made.  As a matter of fact, according to Pro Football Reference, through year 12 of Matt's career, this is the list of QBs, all-time, that are most similar:

12	Dan Marino*, Drew Brees, Brett Favre*, Fran Tarkenton*, Peyton Manning, Joe Montana*, Ken Anderson, Tom Brady, Philip Rivers, Warren Moon*

So, to whom should we compare him, if not the elite peer group to which he belongs?  Add to that, he is statistically one of the very best playoff QBs ever.

It's time to truly appreciate how great a quarterback we've had since 2008.

[Osiruz 10,079]

Year 3 stats for to Peyton. Peyton was possible the GOAT. Although Ryan is a good one. 

[TheFatboi 28,953]

I’ve always said for years they mirror each other. 

[Smiler11 6,138]

6 hours ago, jj said:

Are we really about to compare Matt Ryan to quite possibly the greatest QB of all time?

 

There's being a homer, and then there's this.

 

6 hours ago, JD dirtybird21 said:

Peyton is in the discussion for best QB ever. Why the comparison?

Because if you remove the names, they compare pretty favorably through their first 12 seasons. 

If either of you want to go compare MR2 to other QB's through their first 12 seasons, please go ahead.  

[PriMeTiiMe 7,051]

In 8 of Peyton's first 12 seasons the Colts went 12-4 or better. 2 seasons they went 10-6. Only 2 losing seasons (his rookie year and 4th year). He did not have another losing season the rest of his career. 

I get their stats may be close but Peyton's teams won at an extremely high rate. 186-79. Ryan already has 80 losses and he has played 4 less seasons. 

[MAD597 7,497]

8 hours ago, JD dirtybird21 said:

Peyton is in the discussion for best QB ever. Why the comparison?

Because Matt compares very well to Manning after 12 years, maybe Matt should start getting a bit more respect for his career.

[JD dirtybird21 21,773]

7 hours ago, AndrewsFrancisBart said:

Because if you go year by year, through their first 12 years, the numbers say there is a comparison to be made.  As a matter of fact, according to Pro Football Reference, through year 12 of Matt's career, this is the list of QBs, all-time, that are most similar:

12	Dan Marino*, Drew Brees, Brett Favre*, Fran Tarkenton*, Peyton Manning, Joe Montana*, Ken Anderson, Tom Brady, Philip Rivers, Warren Moon*

So, to whom should we compare him, if not the elite peer group to which he belongs?  Add to that, he is statistically one of the very best playoff QBs ever.

It's time to truly appreciate how great a quarterback we've had since 2008.

Statistically, it is crazy. I’ll give you that. But, Peyton has a few things that Matt still doesn’t have. Matt has never thrown 40 TD’s in a season. Peyton has thrown 56 in a season. Imagine if Peyton played on this roster in 2012 with Roddy, Julio, Douglas, and Gonzalez. I’m not sure he would “mirror” Ryan. He would likely put up an MVP season and throw 40+ touchdowns.
 

I appreciate Matt. He’s a great player. And it’s definitely a compliment to him to compare him to one of the best that’s ever played. But I think Peyton is the far better player, no questions asked

[Vandy 38,891]

9 hours ago, jj said:

Are we really about to compare Matt Ryan to quite possibly the greatest QB of all time?

 

There's being a homer, and then there's this.

Actually a very fair comparison. Always said Ryan compared to manning more than any other QB.

[JDaveG 41,588]

It's a little unfair to Ryan in the way that everything is unfair to Ryan.  If you point out how similar he is to Manning, the inevitable response is "Peyton might be the GOAT, or right behind Brady or maybe Montana."

Well, yeah, that's true.  But Ryan is also criminally underrated, nowhere more than on this board.

[JD dirtybird21 21,773]

2 hours ago, Smiler11 said:

 

Because if you remove the names, they compare pretty favorably through their first 12 seasons. 

If either of you want to go compare MR2 to other QB's through their first 12 seasons, please go ahead.  

I agree they compare favorably in average seasons. But Peyton’s best seasons compared to Ryan’s best seasons isn’t a comparison. It’s a clear showing that he’s obviously better 

[Geneaut 6,726]

3 minutes ago, JD dirtybird21 said:

I agree they compare favorably in average seasons. But Peyton’s best seasons compared to Ryan’s best seasons isn’t a comparison. It’s a clear showing that he’s obviously better 

No one in their right mind is claiming Matt is 'better' than Peyton. They are saying Matt's stats aren't that far off.

The fact that some of Matt's seasons are even in discussion to compare with one of the GOATs tells us something. Even if every person in the world knows Manning is better doesn't mean Matt isn't very very good. Could you do this with Chris Miller's stats? Chandler's? Vick's?

[JD dirtybird21 21,773]

Another thing here to consider is that stats aren’t everything. One of the reasons Peyton gets the respect he gets is because he consistently won, every year. Ryan has been apart of 5 losing seasons. Manning essentially won every single season beginning in 2002. And usually with only average teams. The Colts went 2-14 when he got hurt. He left for Denver, and Denver immediately started winning and didn’t stop until Peyton retired. 
 

One thing I give edge to Peyton on over any QB, is that he truly can manage the game better than anyone. 

[JD dirtybird21 21,773]

2 minutes ago, Geneaut said:

No one in their right mind is claiming Matt is 'better' than Peyton. They are saying Matt's stats aren't that far off.

The fact that some of Matt's seasons are even in discussion to compare with one of the GOATs tells us something. Even if every person in the world knows Manning is better doesn't mean Matt isn't very very good. Could you do this with Chris Miller's stats? Chandler's? Vick's?

No and I’m not suggesting Matt isn’t good. I know he is. But I think he’s closer to players like Tony Romo and Phillip Rivers than he is Peyton. And FTR, I think Romo and Rivers are 2 of the most underrated QB’s I’ve ever seen. But they just aren’t in the class of Peyton, Brees, or Brady is all. And that’s ok. 

[Geneaut 6,726]

3 minutes ago, JD dirtybird21 said:

No and I’m not suggesting Matt isn’t good. I know he is. But I think he’s closer to players like Tony Romo and Phillip Rivers than he is Peyton. And FTR, I think Romo and Rivers are 2 of the most underrated QB’s I’ve ever seen. But they just aren’t in the class of Peyton, Brees, or Brady is all. And that’s ok. 

I don't think the point of the comparision was to equate Matt to Manning. No one cares how Matt compares to Romo or Rivers. You compare to the best. 

[JD dirtybird21 21,773]

3 minutes ago, Geneaut said:

I don't think the point of the comparision was to equate Matt to Manning. No one cares how Matt compares to Romo or Rivers. You compare to the best. 

Fair enough. I think I just missed the point of the thread 

[Smiler11 6,138]

57 minutes ago, JD dirtybird21 said:

I agree they compare favorably in average seasons. But Peyton’s best seasons compared to Ryan’s best seasons isn’t a comparison. It’s a clear showing that he’s obviously better 

They compare pretty favorably across the entire body of work in their first 12 seasons. I think you could also make a case that Ryan's 2016 season is comparable with any individual QB season in history, including Manning's 2004 incredible season. No one is saying Ryan is better than Manning, but when you look at their first 12 seasons in the NFL Ryan compares far more favorably with Manning than he does with the likes of Romo or Rivers.

[Atl Falcon 3,776]

Peyton prolly played with better coaching and better defenses for sure. I’ve watched Matt Ryan lose some games but so have many other great QBs. I just wished MR had better defenses and OLs throughout his career. The bottom line is he has to win a SB to receive the ultimate respect. KS and DQ screwed that up not long ago or we’d have one in the trophy case.

[Drvillain 433]

I have always thought Ryan was a Peyton-lite...

 

 

Peyton is the GREATEST QB of all time in my opinion. Brady is the most successful of all time. 

[FalconsIn2012 35,232]

1 hour ago, JD dirtybird21 said:

Statistically, it is crazy. I’ll give you that. But, Peyton has a few things that Matt still doesn’t have. Matt has never thrown 40 TD’s in a season. Peyton has thrown 56 in a season. Imagine if Peyton played on this roster in 2012 with Roddy, Julio, Douglas, and Gonzalez. I’m not sure he would “mirror” Ryan. He would likely put up an MVP season and throw 40+ touchdowns.
 

I appreciate Matt. He’s a great player. And it’s definitely a compliment to him to compare him to one of the best that’s ever played. But I think Peyton is the far better player, no questions asked

Their respective weapons is another reason they compare favorably.  Both had great skill players.  I’d argue Manning had better players around him than Ryan.

Edgerrin James, Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, Brandon Stokley & Dallas Clarke is better than what Ryan had in 2012.  And that doesn’t include OL comparison which isn’t even close

Manning Sacked 303 Times in 17 years

Ryan Sacked 369 Times in 12 years

[VTCrunkler 8,946]

2 minutes ago, FalconsIn2012 said:

Manning Sacked 303 Times in 17 years

Ryan Sacked 369 Times in 12 years

This also gets overlooked. Put Peyton behind our offensive lines and see how well he does. I think its a Herculean effort by Matt to play as well as he has given the constraints of the line and coaching. And speaking of coaching. Dungy was a good if not great coach.