Dud No. 2 – Peyton Manning
For the second week in a row, Peyton Manning is our No. 2 “Dud.” Yes, he’s got less run support than the Atlanta Braves, and yes, he’s working behind a patchwork offensive line that’s forcing him into quick decisions. But this is Peyton Manning we’re talking about and the standards are different for Manning. Going against one of the worst pass defenses in the league, expectations were high on Sunday.
His 77.3 passer rating is now 35th in the NFL and on Sunday it was below that mark – a dismal 62.3.
Not only did Manning throw two interceptions and no touchdowns on Sunday, he was again under- or over-throwing receivers and his deep balls were being described by the Denver media as “helium-filled balloons.”
For the first time since his first two years in the league, Manning has been intercepted in the first five games of the season.
The offensive woes aren’t entirely his fault (he had two potential touchdown passes dropped), but at some point the Broncos are going to need Peyton Manning to have a Peyton Manning game. Little from Sunday – against the No. 30 pass defense in the league – suggested he’s still capable of doing that.
Manning passed Brett Favre for the most cumulative (regular season and playoff) yards in NFL history on Sunday, but it was a bittersweet accomplishment as he was intercepted twice by the guy who intercepted his Heisman Trophy back in 1997.
