Though Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck are both struggling this season, their teams couldn't be in more different positions. Despite Manning's subpar performance, the Broncos are one of the four undefeated clubs in the NFL. The Colts, meanwhile, are two games below .500 and reek of dysfunction. If it weren't for the moribund AFC South, they would likely be in position to land a top-10 pick instead of host a playoff game.
What if Andrew Luck and Peyton Manning switched places this season?
Luck would probably be threatening to engineer an undefeated season, whereas Manning’s career would likely end with either him on his back or the injury report.
Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
The narratives surrounding the Broncos and Colts in anticipation of Sunday’s matchup are antithetical as well. For Denver, a loss probably wouldn’t signify anything more than a one-week hiccup on the road. But for the Colts, a loss could bring about more changes –– they are heading into their bye and already canned offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton this week.
The NFL may be a quarterback’s league, but each team is showing a QB still needs pieces around him to win. If Luck switched places with Manning, for example, not only would be the Broncos still be winning, but he would possibly be enjoying yet another Pro Bowl-caliber campaign instead of his worst season as a professional. Manning’s career, contrarily, would almost certainly end with either him on his back or the injury report.
What if Luck were on the Broncos?
So many of Luck’s struggles this season can be attributed to the Colts’ porous offensive line. Indy has allowed its quarterbacks to get hit 109 times through eight games, which is third most in the league. Luck usually isn’t in a position to handle that pressure, because so much of the Colts’ offense under Hamilton was predicated on him dropping back in the pocket and waiting for plays to develop down the field. As Stampede Blue points out, perhaps one of the reasons why Luck was so successful in the fourth quarter against Carolina is because the Colts were running an up-tempo style of offense. When you’re down by three possessions, you don’t have much of a choice.
The Patriots are showing that a quarterback can overcome a mediocre O-line if he releases the ball quickly enough. Tom Brady's penchant for depositing the ball swiftly has mitigated the absences of starting left tackle Nate Solder and center Bryan Stork. Even if pass rushers get into the backfield, the ball is often already out of Brady's hands.
The Broncos, conversely, have arguably the best offensive line in football. They’ve only allowed 54 QB hits this season –– second least in the NFL. If Luck had Manning’s protection, his numbers may more closely resemble what he was able to accomplish his previous three years in the league.
Or, at least, his health would probably be intact. Luck suffered a partial shoulder separation against the Titans in Week 3 and reportedly fractured ribs as well. The 39-year-old Manning, who's undergone multiple neck surgeries since 2011, has managed to stay upright.
Manning’s and Luck’s QB ratings this season are within four points of each other. There’s little reason to think Luck would bring the Broncos down. If anything, their elite defense and offensive line would lift him up.
What if Manning were still on the Colts?
Dumpster fire. If a 26-year-old and mobile Luck gets hit as often as he does, just imagine how Manning would fare behind Indy’s discombobulated offensive line. It would almost certainly be an ugly sight.
Also, Manning's arm strength has declined dramatically over the last couple of years. It's inconceivable that he would be able to connect with T.Y. Hilton and Donte Moncrief down the field. If Hamilton relayed the same game plan to Manning that he did for Luck, Indy's offense would maybe be even worse.
Playing alongside a stout defense has allowed Manning to do a little less, too. He averages 38 passing attempts per game this season, whereas Luck throws the ball an average of 43 times per contest. If Manning were still in Indy, he would often be playing from behind instead of with a lead. Meaning, the onus would be on him most weeks to spawn a comeback.
At this stage in his career, that would expose Manning. Despite all of his advantages, he only has one less interception than Luck now. If the two switched spots, Manning’s INT rate would probably balloon. The Colts’ win total would not.
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