Sunday’s matchup between the Steelers and the New York Football Giants will be one of the marquee games of the week. Only three quarterbacks remain in the NFL with more than one Super Bowl ring, and two of those will face off in the New Meadowlands this Sunday. Both drafted in 2004 in the first round, Eli Manning and Ben Roethlisberger have taken two completely different roads to stardom.
Manning stole the headlines in ‘04 with refusing to play in San Diego and ultimately forcing a trade to New York. He didn’t respond well to the pressure of playing in the Big City, as the Giants failed to win a playoff game in his first three seasons. However in 2007, with the critics swirling and the job of his head coach on the line, Manning lead the Giants on an improbable playoff run ending with a Super Bowl victory over the undefeated New England Patriots. After a few mediocre seasons, Manning again lead the Giants on an improbable postseason run ending in last year’s Super Bowl victory and changing Manning’s legacy forever. To go along with his two rings, Manning also earned the Super Bowl MVP in both of his games played. The Giants sit at 6-2 and atop the NFC East comfortably this season, and Eli seems to be the same ole Eli.
With Eli making the big splash in the 2004 draft, the Steelers quietly drafted a walking giant from a small school in Ohio with the 11th pick. With injuries forcing him into the starting role early in his career, Roethlisberger lead the Steelers to an incredible 15-1 (13-0 in games he started) record in his rookie year. Although the Steelers would go on to lose in the AFC title that season, Roethlisberger would return the next season to lead the Steelers to their fifth Super Bowl victory in team history. After the motorcycle crash heard round the world, Big Ben would not lead the Steelers back to the Super Bowl until 2009, defeating the Arizona Cardinals for Ben’s second ring in five seasons. Roethlisberger missed out on his third ring with a loss to the Packers in Super Bowl XLV, a game which featured two of the more storied franchises in football. Even with a long list of injuries this season, the Steelers sit at 4-3 and trail the 5-2 Ravens in the AFC east. However, Big Ben has been brilliant all season and continues to show he deserves to be called elite.
Manning and Roethlisberger could not be more different. Although both quarterbacks will probably end up the Hall of Fame ( Yeah I Said it ), they bring two different styles and personalities to the game. Manning is the “All-American” boy, born from an NFL QB and brother to another. He doesn’t awe you with his arm strength or running ability, yet he finds a way to win late in the game no matter what the circumstances may be. He smiles and answers the media questions as if he has been there before, and his off the field persona has never been in doubt.
While we all know Roethlisberger hasn’t been the media princess like Manning, his rocket arm strength and ability to avoid the rush and make big plays with his legs has vaulted him into one of the best players in the league. Rape accusations have tarnished his off the field image, but Steelers fans have quickly forgotten about all of that. Sunday’s game isn’t just the Steelers against the Giants, it’s a rare look at two quarterbacks who could go down as two of the best to ever play the game.
Photo Credits: Getty Images
