This is not the Peyton Manning we’re used to seeing.
The NFL’s five-time MVP, who is considered by most to be the best ever at his position, just endured a 5/20 passing for 35 yards and 4 interception performance at the hands of the Chiefs.
It’s just the latest—and worst—in a series of subpar performances this year that we’re not used to seeing from NFL’s all-time leader in TD passes, passing yards, and a whole host of other categories. Of course, injury (it was just revealed that he has a partially torn plantar fascia) would appear to be the reason for his demise this season.
The 39-year-old Manning, who has a career quarterback rating of 96.5, has posted a 67.6 rating—the worst of his career—through nine games this year, which ranks him 32nd out of 33 qualifiers this season. That’s a far cry from the days when he was an annual Pro Bowl attendee—like as recently as last year.
If this proves to be his final season, it'll be a sad end to a first-ballot Hall-of-Fame career.
While some players have retired well past their expiration dates (Emmitt Smith and Jerry Rice come to mind), there have been a few who hung it up while still in their primes—think Barry Sanders and the great Jim Brown.
