ESCAPABILITY
It’s not just that Eli is younger, he’s also faster, quicker and quite simply, a better pure athlete than Peyton. That was a necessity for survival  in 2004 when the Giants’ patchwork offensive line put the rookie in peril time after time. Now that the unit is vastly improved, Eli scrambles for the right reasons. He’s more prone than Peyton to run for a first down when the middle of the field opens up. Eli has also shown the gift of being able to complete big passes on the run, sometimes even running left and throwing across his body — the toughest play for any quarterback. Peyton doesn’t have to run — the Colts’ offensive line has always fiercely protected him — and has a quicker release than Eli, allowing him to stay in the pocket longer. He can throw on the move when necessary. Neither Manning brother scrambles as much as their father, Archie, and neither will be mistaken for Michael Vick or Donovan McNabb. But they aren’t statues in the pocket, either. Edge: Eli.

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