There is nothing unique about the Brady-Manning rivalry.
A mere 70 years ago, they called it Baugh-Luckman.
The similarities in these quarterback duels are striking.
Most historians view Sammy Baugh as the NFL’s premier passer during that early passing era. After all, it was Slingin’ Sammy, not Slingin’ Sid.
“They were both good, but I think Baugh was better,” said Gil Brandt, a pioneering scouting director for the Dallas Cowboys and the NFL’s premier historian. “Luckman might have won more games.”
Indeed, in head-to-head meetings, Luckman had Baugh’s number. From 1940-49, Luckman’s Chicago Bears were 7-4 against Baugh’s Washington team, including 2-1 in NFL championship games and that famous 73-0 rout in the 1940 title game. (That’s research courtesy of Pro Football Reference.)
Luckman finished his career with 137 touchdown passes and 14,686 yards passing. Baugh had 187 touchdown passes and threw for 21,886 yards.
A case can be made that Luckman was better than Baugh. Yet in the great bar room debate — Who is the greatest quarterback of all time? — Baugh’s name is occasionally dropped at American Legions and VFWs across the country, while Luckman’s name is never brought up outside of the American Legions and VFWs of Chicago.
It’s always bothered me that when people want to rank the best of all time, they really mean the best of their time.
“I’d have to go back and look at the film to see who’s better,” said Broncos slot receiver Wes Welker. “Do they have film from back then? I’ve heard of Baugh. Does that count?”
“I don’t know much about Luckman,” said Peyton Manning, Welker’s quarterback. “I know Baugh led the league in passing, punting and (defensive) interceptions.”
Yep, that was in 1943. And that was the year Luckman’s Bears beat Baugh’s Redskins 41-21 in the NFL championship game.
“Sammy,” said Broncos running back C.J. Anderson. “That’s my opinion.”
And what’s behind Anderson’s opinion?
“Probably that I’ve heard of him,” he said with a chuckle.
Manning and Tom Brady’s New England Patriots will meet for the 16th time Sunday. Manning has passed for 513 touchdowns and 67,098 yards. Brady, who has thrown for 377 touchdowns and 51,208 yards, will never catch him.
And yet Brady is 10-5 in head-to-head meetings with Manning, including 7-2 when the game is played at New England. Home field means something in today’s NFL. Just a guess, but it probably meant something during the 1940s too.
“Baugh and Luckman was a big deal back then,” said Brandt, who saw both play in his youth. “Nothing like it is today. Everything has gotten so big.”
Brady is the Sid Luckman of our day. Manning, meanwhile, is the modern-day Sammy Baugh. And if history repeats, there will be more buzz about Manning 70 years from now than there will be about Brady.
Mike Klis: mklis@denverpost.com or twitter.com/mikeklis
