Mark Simon of ESPN Stats & Information researched Manning’s work against 3-4 defenses this season, including the Colts’ Jan. 16 AFC wild-card victory over the Ravens. In seven instances against teams that play 3-4 defenses, Manning has thrown 17 touchdown passes and nine interceptions. That’s right in line with his 18 TD passes and eight interceptions against 4-3s.
The big difference has come in the accuracy department.
Manning won his fourth MVP on the strength of a career-best completion percentage of 68.8.
It was a hard-to-fathom 73.4 against teams that play base 4-3 defenses and 63.5 against 3-4s. A 10-point difference is discussion-provoking, even if the lower mark is still better than the season percentage for Tony Romo, Eli Manning, Donovan McNabb, Joe Flacco, Carson Palmer, David Garrard, Vince Young, Matt Ryan, Jay Cutler, Chad Henne and Matt Hasselbeck, to name a few.
Some of the difference is because most of the 3-4 teams are better defenses in general.
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