With the mercury falling in Foxborough, it’s time to dust off a holiday favorite.
How Much Does Peyton Suck When It’s Cold?
It depends to an extent on what the definition of it’s cold is. Mike Reiss of ESPN Boston points out that Manning has a career record of 3-7 when the temperature is 32 degrees or colder at kickoff, with 11 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions.
Chris Bianchi of 102.3 ESPN Denver has the number as 2-7 when the kickoff temperature is below 32, which it inevitably will be on Sunday night in Foxborough.
Bianchi looks broadly at Peyton’s performance at various temperatures, and the downward seems to emerge at 40 degrees. Below 40, he’s 8-11 for his career. At 40 or above (outdoors), he’s 64-32.
Below 20 degrees at kickoff, Peyton is 0-2 for his career. Which tells us that: (1) Peyton hasn’t played many games in those types of conditions; and (2) he has never experienced victory in that setting.
One of those games, as all Ravens fans remember (and as all Broncos fans would like to forget), came in January of this year in Denver.
The 20-degree line becomes extremely relevant for Sunday night because, according to Weather.com, the temperature will be at or very close to 20 degrees at kickoffs. Throw in the wind, and it’ll feel like five degrees or colder.
At least he won’t need another Toradol shot to numb that ankle.