The Great Debate: Romo Vs Manning

[Matt]

Pat Kirwin - NFL.com


The Eli Manning vs. Tony Romo debate has been raging over the airwaves this offseason.


The No. 1 debate this spring on my radio show "Moving the Chains" on Sirius NFL Radio has been which QB is better, Tony Romo or Eli Manning?

Cowboys fans contend the argument isn't close, Romo by a landslide. The Giants fans feel the Super Bowl victory ends the debate. Cowboys fans are quick to remind Giants fans that most of the Big Blue faithful were trying to run Eli Manning out of town halfway through the 2007 season. The Giants fans keep asking how can the Cowboys fans be so loyal to a guy who has never won a playoff game? The raging debate has been spirited, to say the least, as fans get emotional. I thought it would be a good time to tag the argument with some facts and figures.
Tony Romo vs. Eli Manning
How the two QBs measured up in the 2007 regular season:

Tony Romo
Att: 520
Comp: 335
Yards: 4,211
TD/INT: 36/19
Rating: 97.4

Eli Manning
Att: 529
Comp: 297
Yards: 3,336
TD/INT: 23/20
Rating: 73.9

Eli Manning and Tony Romo have both played enough in the past two seasons to compare their production. While Romo has been in the NFL longer, Eli Manning has been on the field longer. Some categories can be compared head-to-head while others will be discussed by percentages. My intent is not to direct you to decide which man is the best player, but to help you decide which guy you like more and at least have some facts to back up the opinion in case you run into a Cowboys/Giants argument over the summer.

Let's start at the top and work backward.
The playoff comparison

Eli Manning is now 4-2 in playoff games, including a victory in Super Bowl XLII. Romo is 0-2 in playoff games. Eli Manning has completed 59.7 percent of his passes; Romo has connected on 53.8 percent. Eli Manning has thrown a touchdown pass 1:20.5 pass attempts, Romo has hit pay dirt 1:32.5 attempts. Manning has been sacked 1:13 attempts in the playoffs; Romo has only gone to the turf 1:17 throws. Eli Manning averages 6.8 yards per pass attempt and 11.5 yards per completion. Romo averages 6.0 yards per attempt and 11.1 per completion. Advantage: Manning
Regular season comparison

Over the past two seasons Eli Manning has thrown 1,051 passes to Romo's 857 so there is enough similarity to weigh the results. Eli Manning connected on 57 percent of his passes with 47 touchdown passes and 38 interceptions; he was sacked 52 times. Tony Romo completed 65 percent of his passes with 55 touchdowns and 32 interceptions; he was sacked 45 sacks. Advantage: Romo
Division play

There's not a coach alive who doesn't say your team has to be built to win the division. Since Eli Manning took over as the QB, the Giants have gone 14-10 in the division, winning 58.3% of their games. Romo has gone 6-5 in the division, winning 54.5% of their games. Romo is closing in on Eli Manning but the Giants QB has never had a losing division record in four years, while Romo went 1-3 his first year. Advantage: Manning
Personal stats (last two seasons)

Eli Manning has connected on 69 passes over 20 yards. Romo has done it 73 times in 194 less attempts. As for 300-yard passing games, Eli Manning has just six in his career and three over the past two years, recording a 2-1 record in those games. Romo has hit the 300 mark 10 times in the past two seasons and boasts a 9-1 record in those games. Advantage: Romo

So after this breakdown it is a split decision, but if you like playoff football and division play Eli Manning is the winner. If you like regular season and personal achievements then Romo is the winner.

 

[theogt]

Wait, there are people that actually think Manning is better?

Eli Manning >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Brad Johnson >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Dan Marino >>> Tony Romo

 

[Rampage]

Romo better break this A-rod thing he has going this year.

 

[AMERICAS_FAN]

QUOTE: Romo by a landslide. The Giants fans feel the Super Bowl victory ends the debate. Cowboys fans are quick to remind Giants fans that most of the Big Blue faithful were trying to run Eli Manning out of town halfway through the 2007 season. The Giants fans keep asking how can the Cowboys fans be so loyal to a guy who has never won a playoff game?

It's quite simple really. The Giants won the SB despite Eli Manning. The Ginats coaches deliberately changed the game-plan in December and Playoffs to take the game out of Eli Manning's hands. Their coaches even edmitted this.

Now, why Romo has not won a playoff game is also a fair question, but the game against the Seahawks two years ago was not lost because of Romo the QB, it was lost because of Romo the snap-holder, and bad plays by other cowboys (are you reading Terry Glen?). In fact, it was Romo the QB that got Dallas back into that game time and time again.

And in last year's loss against the G-men, Romo was clearly the better QB. Unfortunatley his WRs kept dropping passes, unlike Eli Manning, whose recevers played outstanding and kept saving Eli Manning from himself.

Romo is BY FAR the better QB and any real, objective Ginats fan will tell you that.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

I still vote Moxie!

 

[dougonthebench]

It took Eli at least 2 or 3 seasons to win a playoff game.Romo will be in his second full season this year.

 

[Tovya]

It's kind of an unfair question concerning either QB really... both are too young and haven't been in the league long enough.

With that being said, the experts (GMs, coaches, etc) heap more praise on Romo because he has appeared thus far to have far more tools for long term success than Eli. I was listening to sports talk show about this, that more of them would choose Romo behind closed doors because he's the smarter and more talented quarterback.

Had Eli bombed the playoffs this year, NY would be calling for his head because they were tired of waiting on him. But Romo, who has failed (although he only shares part of the blame) twice, the entire league and of course our own beloved Cowboys still shower him with love.

Is it simply that New Yorkers love to hate their failures or is it because of the fact that Romo actually is more talented? But give Romo the Giants unstopable defense this past season's playoffs and I think it would be a whole other story.

Eli had a FEW shinning moments on his road to the superbowl, but it was the Giants defense that made the real difference, not Eli.

On the other hand, Romo's touchdown throwing arm and big play ability is a bigger factor in the Cowboys (limited) success.

Put Manning on last seasons Cowboys and we're a 9-7 team fighting for a wildcard spot.

Just my opinion of course (and I am not an Eli hater, I actually like him)

 

[Hostile]

It's kind of an unfair question concerning either QB really... both are too young and haven't been in the league long enough.

With that being said, the experts (GMs, coaches, etc) heap more praise on Romo because he has appeared thus far to have far more tools for long term success than Eli. I was listening to sports talk show about this, that more of them would choose Romo behind closed doors because he's the smarter and more talented quarterback.

Had Eli bombed the playoffs this year, NY would be calling for his head because they were tired of waiting on him. But Romo, who has failed (although he only shares part of the blame) twice, the entire league and of course our own beloved Cowboys still shower him with love.

Is it simply that New Yorkers love to hate their failures or is it because of the fact that Romo actually is more talented? But give Romo the Giants unstopable defense this past season's playoffs and I think it would be a whole other story.

Eli had a FEW shinning moments on his road to the superbowl, but it was the Giants defense that made the real difference, not Eli.

On the other hand, Romo's touchdown throwing arm and big play ability is a bigger factor in the Cowboys (limited) success.

Put Manning on last seasons Cowboys and we're a 9-7 team fighting for a wildcard spot.

Just my opinion of course (and I am not an Eli hater, I actually like him)

to The Zone.

Nice first post.

 

[Big Dakota]

Romo better break this A-rod thing he has going this year.

I agree 100%. The pressure is on for sure!


IMO Romo needs more than one win in POs to get the monkey off his back, but that's just me. Anything less than a trip to the NFC championship and I'll be angry.

 

[Tovya]

to The Zone.

Nice first post.

Thanks for the nice welcome, glad to be a member! This forum seems to have a lot of educated posters (and not a bunch of little kids screaming obscenities at each other!) I love it!

 

[Tovya]

I agree 100%. The pressure is on for sure!


IMO Romo needs more than one win in POs to get the monkey off his back, but that's just me. Anything less than a trip to the NFC championship and I'll be angry.

I'm with you on that one... especially with the team we are putting around him this year. We won't get many chances to put such an elite team around a great quarterback... after all, we waited 12 years since the last great ensemble of players! We deserve at least an NFC championship to brag about...

okay, who am I kidding? If we did that, I'd be mad that we made it that far to go home without the rings... Superbowl or bust!

 

[AbeBeta]

Debate needs another season to play out. Those 4 playoff wins suggest to me that the old Eli who we are basing our judgments on may not be the guy who we see next year. I hate to say it but Eli may well have blossomed.

 

[NorthTexan95]

Romo or Peyton Manning .... Romo or Peyton Manning ... hmmm .... I can see where there can be some strong debate on both sides ...

Oh, wait! He was talking about Eli Manning??!??!?!?!??!?!???!?!!? Geez ...

 

[sago1]

So just how good will this blossomed Eli be? His QB rating in the SB was about 82 -- not exactly a guarantee of greatness is it. No, on any given day I'd got with Romo all the way. Besides do believe 07 season was Eli's 4th as the Giants QB while it was Romo's 2nd. W/o checking my facts, would suspect that means Eli won his first playoff game in his 3rd starting season & in the 4th went all the way. It certainly possible Romo could win his first playoff game in 08--hopefully the whole show.

As to why Giant fans so eager to demand Eli be recognized for his greatness, because they can't stand the fact that Cowboy fans hold to our belief that Romo is the better QB & in the end will have more playoff/SB wins. Can you imagine how badly they will feel about the Giants & Eli if the Giants don't repeat? Who do you think they will blame? Ha.

 

[Sarge]

Eli was on the verge of being replaced last year. Do people not remember this - at the beginning of last year. He was on the hot seat for a reason.

This is not even up for debate as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Spectre]

Wait, there are people that actually think Manning is better?

Eli Manning >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Brad Johnson >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Dan Marino >>> Tony Romo

I think you did your "better than" (>) signs backwards.

 

[AbeBeta]

So just how good will this blossomed Eli be? His QB rating in the SB was about 82 -- not exactly a guarantee of greatness is it. No, on any given day I'd got with Romo all the way. Besides do believe 07 season was Eli's 4th as the Giants QB while it was Romo's 2nd. W/o checking my facts, would suspect that means Eli won his first playoff game in his 3rd starting season & in the 4th went all the way. It certainly possible Romo could win his first playoff game in 08--hopefully the whole show.

As to why Giant fans so eager to demand Eli be recognized for his greatness, because they can't stand the fact that Cowboy fans hold to our belief that Romo is the better QB & in the end will have more playoff/SB wins. Can you imagine how badly they will feel about the Giants & Eli if the Giants don't repeat? Who do you think they will blame? Ha.

His PR in the playoffs last year was .... 95.8.

You can point to the SB where he had a PR of 87 but you need to recognize that the Pats defense gave up, over the season as PR of 75 and a playoff PR of 76. You take out the game that Manning had against them in the season finale, they had a defensive PR of 72.5 during the regular season. You take out the superbowl and they had a playoff PR of 70.5.

Point blank. Manning performed very well against one of the best pass defenses in the league.

That's an outstanding performance in the games that matter the most. I really could give a crap about year 2 this and year 4 for that.

I'm not saying he's great -- but he did have a great playoff run and anyone who wants to discount that is simply sucking sour grapes.

 

[VACowboy]

Eli played a great game in the SB, but the Giants got there in spite of their quarterback, not because of him. Papas and Banks (can't stand the latter) were saying the other morning how there's no way they'd trade Eli for Romo because Tony is ofer in the playoffs and Eli "led his team to a Super Bowl win."

Is it just me or does anyone else see it a little differently, like, Eli didn't LEAD anyone anywhere. He kind of got dragged along behind (slight exaggeration for effect).

 

[AbeBeta]

Eli played a great game in the SB, but the Giants got there in spite of their quarterback, not because of him. Papas and Banks (can't stand the latter) were saying the other morning how there's no way they'd trade Eli for Romo because Tony is ofer in the playoffs and Eli "led his team to a Super Bowl win."

Is it just me or does anyone else see it a little differently, like, Eli didn't LEAD anyone anywhere. He kind of got dragged along behind (slight exaggeration for effect).

You simply cannot say that a team is there in spite of their QB when the QB drops a 95.8 Passer Rating in the playoffs.

 

[theogt]

You simply cannot say that a team is there in spite of their QB when the QB drops a 95.8 Passer Rating in the playoffs.

Sure you can.