In his 51st primetime game, Tom Brady showed why the Patriots are scheduled in primetime so frequently.
Brady sliced and diced the Dolphins defense for 356 yards and four touchdowns in a 36-7 win at Gillette Stadium on Thursday Night Football.
Tonight was Tom Brady’s 19th game with 4 TDs & 0 INTs. Breaks tie w/Manning & Brees for most in NFL history. pic.twitter.com/CXheAUl5f0
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) October 30, 2015
By winning his fourth Super Bowl ring, Brady bolstered his case as the greatest quarterback of all-time. But is he the greatest quarterback of all-time in primetime games?
Not surprisingly, this particular quarterback debate centers on Brady and Peyton Manning. This is one area where Manning still has an edge on Brady, but probably not for long.
According to Pro Football Reference, Manning is 46-18 in games started at 7 p.m. or later. Brady is 37-14.
Manning has thrown 144 touchdown passes and 55 interceptions under the lights while Brady’s ratio is 109-34.
Manning’s primetime passer rating is 101. Brady’s is 99.5.
So close.
Super Bowls don’t enter into the equation, by the way, because the most watched television program on the planet isn’t in primetime.
Considering the 38-year-old Brady shows no signs of slowing down while the 39-year-old Manning is aging before our eyes, it’s only a matter of time before Brady catches up with Manning and claims primetime supremacy.
Brady is 7-0 on Thursday nights. He also has two afternoon wins at Detroit on Thanksgiving. He does have a little case of the Mondays. He’s lost his last two Monday-night games. But he has a chance to break that slump at home against the Bills on Nov. 23.
A week later, Brady and Manning square off Nov. 29 on Sunday Night Football in Denver.
Definitely a primetime matchup.