Breaking Down Super Bowl XLIV - Quarterbacks

Indianapolis Colts:
How do you go against Peyton Manning in any situation? With a group of mostly young, inexperienced receivers this season, he had his highest career completion percentage, his second highest yardage total, and tied his second highest TD total. With barely a running game, he has almost single handedly carried the team this season. In this year's playoffs, he has already beaten a tough Baltimore Raven defense and put up almost 400 yards, 3 TDs, and a 123.6 passer rating against the NY Jets #1 ranked passing defense. Manning has the pure talent and off-field dedication to adjust to any defense, find its weakness, and exploit it. Against the Jets, he threw out the idea of passing to Reggie Wayne, who was blanketed by Darrelle Revis, and hit Austin Collie and Pierre Garcon for over 100 yards each. Sure, his playoff record is only 9-8, but he does have a Super Bowl ring on his resume. With a Super Bowl on the line, I can't think of many QBs in NFL history I'd rather have on my team.

New Orleans Saints:
Drew Brees was once considered a deviation from the norm at QB. He's too short, he's too small, he can't make plays because he can't see over the linemen. If you want proof, look no further than 2005. After passing for a then-career high 3,576 yards, the San Diego Chargers let Brees go to free agency in favor of Philip Rivers. Brees responded in 2006 by passing for 4,418 yards and 26 TDs with the Saints, earning a spot on the NFC Pro Bowl team. This year saw a drop off in yardage as he had his lowest yardage total as a Saint, due mostly to being rested in Week 17. However, he tied last season's career high for TDs, had one of his lowest years for picks, and also had a career high 109.6 passer rating. Manning may be the best at leading his team on the field, but I doubt there is a QB that works harder to be the best than Brees. Still, with all his great play for the Chargers and Saints, this is his first Super Bowl, and the first for New Orleans. He'll be going against a team that still has key players on it from their last Super Bowl, both on offense and defense. Brees isn't the type to fall to pressure, though. Even in the Saint's loss to Dallas, their first loss this season, he threw for almost 300 yards, completed 64.4% of his passes, threw only 1 pick, and had an 81.5 passer rating. The following week, in their loss to Tampa Bay, Brees completed 32 of 37 passes and had a 104.7 passer rating. No matter which team loses, it probably won't be the result of their QB's play.

Edge: Indianapolis Colts