Brady bests Manning

Tom Brady and Peyton Manning are the best rivalry in Boston sports, and it's not even close. The Red Sox and Yankees haven't made the playoffs concurrently since 2009 and haven't crossed paths in October since their historic 2004 ALCS. The Lakers and Celtics were both terrible last year and don't figure to be much better this year. The Bruins are rivals with the Canadiens, who hail from Montreal and are therefore undeserving of even the most hardened Bostonian's ire.

Brady and Manning offer a different kind of rivalry, one that's deeply personal and always entertaining. They play for great teams in the same conference, leading to mesmerizing battles that result in epic games and unforgettable performances. Which Patriots fan doesn't remember last season's late November showdown, when Brady led New England back from a 24-0 deficit to stun Manning and the Broncos in overtime?

Even when the games aren't close, they're inevitably compelling simply because they feature two all-time greats duking it out. Regardless of the sport, there's nothing more exciting than that. Magic and Bird. Pedro vs. Clemens. Ali against Frazier. Federer and Nadal. Each one pushing each other, driving each other and ultimately bringing the best out of each other. Manning and Brady are heavyweights. Their showdowns are marquee events, and not just because they're so rare.

Every time these two face off, it feels like their legacies are on the line. Every game reignites, then adds ammunition to, the decade-old argument about which quarterback is better. You can argue until you're blue in the face about their place in NFL history -- those who value postseason success prefer Brady even though Manning's career statistics are clearly superior -- but there's no debating which one has been better when they go head-to-head. Brady and Manning have met 16 times in their storied careers, with Brady's Patriots coming out on top in 11 of those 16 matchups. Brady's stats are never as shiny, but he typically finds a way to guide his team to victory. It's not that Manning plays poorly; it's that Brady elevates his own game.

The latest chapter in their rich history was a bit of a letdown given how non-competitive it was, as New England took over early and handed Denver a 43-21 beatdown. Brady/Manning bouts usually result in shootouts, and Sunday's game was no different. The Patriots dominated the first half, hanging 27 points on the board while Manning's Broncos managed merely seven. The second half didn't go much better for Denver, which continued to struggle and never got back in the game. Forced to play catch-up from the beginning, Manning passed his way to 438 yards and two touchdowns, but was also intercepted twice. Brady was a bit sharper, notching four TDs against only one pick -- his first since Sept. 29.

The game was a showcase for both quarterbacks, each of whom continues to excel in spite of his advanced age (Manning is 38, Brady 37). Unfazed by the biting cold and drafty conditions at Gillette, they combined for 67 completions on 110 pass attempts, six touchdowns and a whopping 771 yards in the air. Pass after pass zipped through the swirling winds, finding their targets with remarkable timing and accuracy. It was truly a sight to behold.

I really hope they meet up in the playoffs again, and not just because New England needs to dish out some payback for last year's ugly AFC title game defeat in Denver. I want to see another Brady/Manning duel, the best matchup football has to offer.