Big Ben or Eli? Per CBS Sports.com

[Steelhurt]

Pete Prisco

That's like asking thin pizza or Sicilian. You can't go wrong with either. But I'd probably go with Roethlisberger. The reason is his toughness. He showed that off last Sunday night against the Jaguars. Even without any practice time, he was sensational on a sore shoulder. He took a ton of shots and stood in there and made the plays. He has a rocket for an arm and he's strong in the pocket. He probably doesn't have the decision-making powers that Manning has, but he's close. Roethlisberger does sometimes let his love of his arm get in the way. He makes mistakes. But the great ones always do; just ask Brett Favre. I'll take a risk-taker at quarterback over the play-it-safe guy any day. Both of these guys take risks. Roethlisberger lets it rip a little more, so right now I'd take Big Ben. But it's really, really close. Manning has established himself as a star. They are both now among the top seven quarterbacks in the game. With Tom Brady out, they are even higher.


Clark Judge:


A tough call, but give me Manning. I love Big Ben's resilience; the guy is tougher than last week's steak, and he makes few mistakes. He's the perfect fit for the Steelers, and he's a guy I'd take over almost anyone. But Manning is not anyone. I tilt ever so slightly toward him because he's a superior passer, especially down the field. He has a strong and accurate arm, and he can make plays with his feet. So can Roethlisberger, but Eli is becoming the quarterback the Giants envisioned when they gave away the store for him. Both these guys have won Super Bowls, and both are almost impossible to get out of the lineup. The knock on Manning was his inconsistency, but that's gone. Over his last nine games he has 16 touchdown passes, three interceptions, eight wins and one Super Bowl. That clinches it for me.

[Steelhurt]

I might add that the obvious choice for me is Ben.
He's been superb since taking over from Maddox. Plus the fact he's now doing it behind one of the worst OL in the league where Eli has one of the better OL in the league.

I like Eli and think he's come a long way but I think Ben will reach heights that not even the Steeler faithful thought he would. We've just seen the tip of the ice berg with Benjamin. Hang on men, it's going to get even better.

[jasen@cardiostack]

eli has a accurate arm lmfao

[Smooth Criminal]

Since when has Eli had great accuracy?

Anyone that would take Eli over Ben is retarded in my book.

[SteelrzGirl]

Since when has Eli had great accuracy?

Anyone that would take Eli over Ben is retarded in my book.

co sign. they can take the short bus.

[LetMePlay]

Completion: 55% -vs- 65%..................Ben Wins.
Yards: 12,417yds -vs- 12,620yds.........Ben Wins
Yards per attempt: 6.4ypa -vs- 8.1........Ben Wins
TDs: 83 -vs- 91....................................Ben Wins
INTs: 65 -vs- 57....................................Ben Wins
Rushing: 204 -vs- 547..........................Ben Wins
Fumbles: 35 -vs- 23.............................Ben Wins
Rating: 75.2 -vs- 92.7..........................Ben Wins

He has more wins too. Is there really a question?

[steelrazor]

I'll take Ben because I'm a Steeler fan. If I was a Giants fan it would be Eli. Both are really good QB's.

[SteelerFan448]

Eli has stepped up his game, but I'd take Ben and it's really not even close.

[fxr93]

Completion: 55% -vs- 65%..................Ben Wins.
Yards: 12,417yds -vs- 12,620yds.........Ben Wins
Yards per attempt: 6.4ypa -vs- 8.1........Ben Wins
TDs: 83 -vs- 91....................................Ben Wins
INTs: 65 -vs- 57....................................Ben Wins
Rushing: 204 -vs- 547..........................Ben Wins
Fumbles: 35 -vs- 23.............................Ben Wins
Rating: 75.2 -vs- 92.7..........................Ben Wins

He has more wins too. Is there really a question?

Kudos to you for driving home what we all know and that should remove any doubt for anyone on the fence with the comparison.

[Idioteque]

Aaron Brooks, Michael Vick, Jon Kitna, Damon Huard, Scott Mitchell, Erik Kramer, Brian Griese, J.P. Losman

http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/sportatorium/Carnac.jpg

name quarterbacks with better passer ratings than Eli Manning

[ekeicher16]

Since when has Eli had great accuracy?

Anyone that would take Eli over Ben is retarded in my book.

I concur, Ben is much better

[insaniti]

they are by far the best of the QB's in that draft, and they both have their pro's and con's. but for them to say that Eli is a superior passer, especially down the field wasn't watching the games from this pat weekend. Eli put everything he had into a couple long throws and each time the receiver had to slow up keeping him from getting the touchdown. they were still good throws, but he doesn't have the arm strength that Ben has.

I also really wish that Madden could announce all the Steeler games from now on. everytime he would say that Ben's velocity would be an issue, Ben would rocket a ball into the receiver like Brett Favre in his prime.

as for the question at hand, Ben is the better QB of the two and not because Im a Steeler fan, but because of what he's done with the surrounding cast, namely the OL. I know it was mentioned before on this board, but you give us the Giants OL, and Ben's numbers are going to be RIDICULOUS!!

[TDX27]

I'll still take Ben. Eli has come a long way and is a very good QB but he will always be the "whiner" to me.

[dem-bad boys]

Completion: 55% -vs- 65%..................Ben Wins.
Yards: 12,417yds -vs- 12,620yds.........Ben Wins
Yards per attempt: 6.4ypa -vs- 8.1........Ben Wins
TDs: 83 -vs- 91....................................Ben Wins
INTs: 65 -vs- 57....................................Ben Wins
Rushing: 204 -vs- 547..........................Ben Wins
Fumbles: 35 -vs- 23.............................Ben Wins
Rating: 75.2 -vs- 92.7..........................Ben Wins

He has more wins too. Is there really a question?

what away to put it ink Ben WINS also won super bowl 1st.
hey how you guy's think Eli would fare behind our line?

I say he would not be playing at pro-bowl level.

[steelberger1]

Eli has certainly gotten better, but ferchristsakes he is a career 55% passer despite playing his entire career with Burress, Toomer, and (until recently) Shockey.

How does that show that he is a superior passer/decision maker?

Eli is doing well this year, but like I said in another thread...who have they played? Eli's only game against a good team (and they werent even playing like a good team at the time) was against the Skins, and he had 0 TD, 1 INT, and a 61 rating.

Since then he has picked apart the Rams (31st ranked D) and the Seachickens (26th ranked D), and played slightly above average against the Bengals (19th ranked D).

Excuse me if I am not impressed. Ben has been doing it better, longer.

[markymarc]

Since when has Eli had great accuracy?

Anyone that would take Eli over Ben is retarded in my book.

I second that.

[BillvinCowbert]

Completion: 55% -vs- 65%..................Ben Wins.
Yards: 12,417yds -vs- 12,620yds.........Ben Wins
Yards per attempt: 6.4ypa -vs- 8.1........Ben Wins
TDs: 83 -vs- 91....................................Ben Wins
INTs: 65 -vs- 57....................................Ben Wins
Rushing: 204 -vs- 547..........................Ben Wins
Fumbles: 35 -vs- 23.............................Ben Wins
Rating: 75.2 -vs- 92.7..........................Ben Wins

He has more wins too. Is there really a question?

Without a doubt, Ben has had a better CAREER than Eli, but this is a forward-looking exercise, not a analysis of historical accomplishments.

Sometime around December 2007, a lightswitch went on for Eli. He was not a very good QB before that, but since that time he's been very, very good.

I still, hands down, take Ben...in part, because of my Steeler loyalty, but in general, I just think he's the better overall player. But the decision is much closer than career stats would indicate. Eli is completing 64% of his passes this year, in his last 9-10 games he has 16 TD and 3 INT... bottom line, he's really matured. Just like I'd toss out 2006 in an analysis of how to judge Ben, I'd judge Eli on recent performance, not on how he started his career.

[Max Power]

Ben is way way tougher than Eli. Put Eli on a scooter, have it knocked over to the point where he's injured, and NO WAY does he bounce back and play the way Ben did. To Ben's credit, his "knock-over " was actually a life threatening situation and then he had an appendectomy to boot. My money is on Ben each and every time out, Eli is no sure bet. Eli has won games with legitimate tools to work with and I'd surely bet if he had been asked to carry the load without them, it would be an entirely different situation and the outcome not so rosey.

Ben's experience alone is way above Eli's. Ben had success right from the get-go while Eli was nursed along slowly. Someday the lack of seasoning will bite Eli right on the ass. Ben is well on his way to a HOF career but he wont say as much. Eli is not quite so humble.

[BAS]

Ben's experience alone is way above Eli's. Ben had success right from the get-go while Eli was nursed along slowly. Someday the lack of seasoning will bite Eli right on the ass. Ben is well on his way to a HOF career but he wont say as much. Eli is not quite so humble.

That doesn't make sense... if a player is brought along slowly or is tossed right into the mix unprepared - how does that make one better or worse over the long haul? And why does that make the one who was brought along slowly more likely to have his training bite him in the ass.

Both have to go through their growing pains. Ben at least didn't have to live in the shadow of his big brother. Hell... Eli had to overcome the stigma of being the coddled son of an ex-NFL "legend" too.

[Steel Conviction]

Simple: Put Eli behind our line and let's see what his numbers look like. They are already less than Ben's ... and would be completely in the shitter if he had our O-line.

[STEELERDYNASTY]

I'll take the Giants O-line......and give Eli ours,Eli would be on IR right now.

[VirginianPeddler]

they are by far the best of the QB's in that draft, and they both have their pro's and con's. but for them to say that Eli is a superior passer, especially down the field wasn't watching the games from this pat weekend. Eli put everything he had into a couple long throws and each time the receiver had to slow up keeping him from getting the touchdown. they were still good throws, but he doesn't have the arm strength that Ben has.

I also really wish that Madden could announce all the Steeler games from now on. everytime he would say that Ben's velocity would be an issue, Ben would rocket a ball into the receiver like Brett Favre in his prime.

as for the question at hand, Ben is the better QB of the two and not because Im a Steeler fan, but because of what he's done with the surrounding cast, namely the OL. I know it was mentioned before on this board, but you give us the Giants OL, and Ben's numbers are going to be RIDICULOUS!!

The problem with that statement is that a few years ago, Giant's fans were bitching about how "if Eli had Burress" blah blah blah. It didn't hold water for them, so it doesn't hold water for Steeler fans either.

[bearcatsno69]

Ben is the 2nd greatest quarterback of all time and only three rings behind Terry on that list.

[THE flafan]

The problem with that statement is that a few years ago, Giant's fans were bitching about how "if Eli had Burress" blah blah blah. It didn't hold water for them, so it doesn't hold water for Steeler fans either.

...and Bengals fans are ALWAYS using the supporting cast argument in the Ben/Carson debates...


All I know is that when folks start talking about great QBs, winning is a key issue in the discussion....Bradshaw, Montana, Unitas et al. didn't necessarily have the gaudiest all-time statistics, but by god, they produced when they had to.


Let's play a game: What other current NFL QB could have stepped under center Sunday night in Jax in the 4th quarter with 6 minutes and change left and pulled out a victory with the supporting cast Ben had? I'm not saying Ben was the only one who could do it...I'm curious as to who else around the league you think could/would have?

[FistfullofRings]

To be fair, you can't look at career stats, only current stats. I mean do Terry Bradshaw's career stats reflect how good of a player he was?

[SteelerinMD]

Eli is only mentioned because there needs to be a comparison. Lord Brady (out - torn vagina) and Peyton (not playing well) are not the front 2 anymore and the talk about who is next. It has always been Ben and somebody.

2 weeks ago - Ben vs Cutler. We have seem Ben vs Rivers, Palmer, Brees and Romo.

It is there way of TRYING to find a new face of the NFL with it NOT being Ben. Fine by me.

[Steelerz99]

I love these arguements as there is virtually no way to provide any concrete decisions. Both have SB rings in the early part of their careers and both are coming into their own and taking command of the team. Both have some pretty decent stats side by side and both can be irratic at times. Eli came through in the SB in that last drive. Ben had a not so great SB, but did make some very nice plays that aided in the Steelers win. At this point both are their respective teams MVP's. Ben is tough, but I think Eli is as well. You gotta be to take the NY media butt pounding week in and week out.

[markymarc]

Ben is tough, but I think Eli is as well.

I have to disagree with the Eli being tough comment. He has a pretty good OL protecting him. IMHO you put Eli behind an average or below average OL and he takes a beating all game there is no way he is left standing at the end.

[SteelersUk]

This is a joke, now i like Eli, but he's never played behind this line, and his numbers don't stack up at all.

[In Ben We Trust]

Anyone out there still want Eli over Ben? Eli just handed a victory to the Stains tonight.