No. 5 – Peyton Manning (11-13)
One of only three quarterbacks with a losing record still remaining in the playoffs, Denver’s Peyton Manning has been defined throughout his career mostly by playoff disappointment. Save for a lone Super Bowl win, thirteen of Manning’s previous fourteen playoff trips heading into this year have ended in a loss.
Perhaps the most damning statistic on Manning’s playoff resume are his nine one-and-done appearances. Two of those have come with Denver at Sports Authority Field, one of the greatest home-field advantages in football.
Manning has fallen in nail-biters like the double-overtime loss to the Ravens and a one point loss to the Jets. but he’s also been the victim of some blowout losses, including a 41-0 loss to the Jets, a 20-3 loss to the Patriots and the 43-8 Super Bowl stinker against the Seahawks.
The most mind-boggling stat among Manning’s playoff credentials is that he has led just one fourth-quarter, game-winning drive in 14 years. The career leader with 55 game-winning drives earned his only one of the postseason in the 2006-07 AFC Championship against New England, the season Manning’s Colts went on to beat Rex Grossman and the Chicago Bears in the Super Bowl.
Even more than Carson Palmer, Manning is the quarterback with the most playoff demons haunting him. What he does in this, his 15th try at football’s ultimate prize, could swing him into the category of two-time QBs with a winning record, or cement him as one of the biggest playoff disappointments in NFL history. He starts that campaign against a depleted Steelers team, which might be the best case scenario for the aging legend.
