Everyone loves Peyton Manning. He's the golden boy of the NFL. He is probably going to own all of the passing records, he has more awards than any other player ever, and he has a very funny personality. Some people would say he's the greatest quarterback in NFL history....Not me

 As great as Peyton has been in the regular season, he's been as mediocre in the playoffs. Of course  Manning' fans will tell you that it's because of the defense, or the lack of running game, or that you shouldn't judge players for the playoff performances. They would argue that what Peyton has accomplished in the regular season outweighs all of his playoff letdowns.
A lot of Manning and Colts' fans would argue that if Peyton had a great defense like Pittsburgh Steelers for example, he would have multiple Super Bowl rings by now. This is one of the biggest myths about Peyton. 12 times Peyton's defense has given up 21 or less points in playoff games. In those twelve games Peyton is 6-6. That's .500. That's average.
This year, playing for the Denver Broncos Peyton enjoyed a 13-3 season. The Broncos defense was second in the NFL in total yardage and in the top five in scoring defense. Peyton failed to win a playoff game as the number one seed. Here come the excuses. 
In Saturday's loss to the Baltimore Ravens 38-35, Peyton had three turnovers, two interceptions, and a fumble. His first interception was a pick six that tied the game. His second interception came in overtime which gave Baltimore excellent field position, allowing them to win the game on a field goal.


Peyton's turnovers were the main reason the Broncos lost. Blame the defense all you want, you can't win a game when you turn the ball over three times and the other team doesn't turn the ball over at all. Peyton's team benefited by two kick returns for touchdowns after all, if not for them Peyton and the Broncos lose in regulation.

What Manning did again the Ravens was what he has done his entire postseason career; disappoint. 
Manning is now one-of-two quarterbacks that is considered an all-time great that has a career postseason winning percentage below 500. The only other is Dan Marino, who I would never place in my top five all-time quarterbacks list because of lack of Super Bowl and mediocre playoff results. 
The thing that bugs me about Manning is he has never been a big-game quarterback. Do you remember when Manning threw four interceptions and one touchdowns in the 2003 AFC Championship game? How about  Super Bowl XLIV against the New Orleans Saints, a game in which the score was 24-17 and Peyton threw a pick six to seal the loss.This is a staggering indictment of Peyton. For someone that many consider the greatest of all-time, that's unacceptable. He's also thrown multiple interceptions in six career playoff games and Manning  have four of those games.
The only Super Bowl that Peyton has won, was won by his team in spite of him. In the 2006 playoffs, Peyton had three touchdown passes and seven interceptions and the team somehow won the Super Bowl. The won all four playoff games because of great play by the defense and a very good running game. They even won a playoff game that year against the Baltimore Ravens  in which Peyton had zero touchdown passes and two interceptions, and completed just 50 percent of passes.
Peyton is a great quarterback but because of his shortcomings in the postseason I'll never consider him the greatest of all-time, and it makes him a tad overrated.What is the point of all this? It's simple, Peyton has regressed in the playoffs. In the regular season he's a different quarterback. In the regular season he's elite. I'd even argue that either he, Brett Favre, or Dan Marino is the greatest regular season quarterback of all-time. Unfortunately for Peyton, what you do in the playoffs is what you're remembered by. That's when everyone plays their best and hardest. Peyton hasn't done that, he's done the complete opposite.