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Manning doesn't stack up to Big Ben in big game

Peyton Manning had a chance to cement his legacy Sunday night.

The Colts were trailing the Saints 24-17 with less than 6 minutes left in Super Bowl XLIV. The Colts needed a touchdown. Manning needed to lead his team.

Neither happened.

Manning's pass was intercepted by Tracy Porter and returned 74 yards for a touchdown.

It wasn't James Harrison rumbling 100 yards for a score, but it was the nail in the coffin for the Colts.

Game over.

A year ago, a quarterback with something to prove needed to lead his team down the field at the end of the game to win the Super Bowl.

Ben Roethlisberger did it. Manning didn't.

Manning can have the statistics and MVP awards. Roethlisberger has two Super Bowl rings to Manning's one. I'll take the titles.

Whatever he does the rest of his career, Manning will never be able to join Joe Montana or Terry Bradshaw as having a perfect record in the big game.

Roethisberger still has that chance.

And Manning still had a little chance to win the game at the end, albeit a very slight chance, but he couldn't finish off a desperation drive inside the Saints' 5-yard-line with about a minute left in the game.

Who knows? Maybe a score there and the Colts still have a chance.

It didn't work out that way.

This isn't meant as a knock on Manning, but more of an opportunity to give Big Ben some recognition. He rarely gets mentioned as one of the best in the league. Usually it's Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Brett Favre and Drew Brees.

Brees proved he belongs. Let's not forget what Big Ben has done, either.
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