Nick Foles or Peyton Manning: Whose 7-TD game was more impressive?

Philadelphia’s Nick Foles became the first NFL quarterback to throw for seven touchdowns in a game Sunday since Denver’s Peyton Manning did it in Week 1 this season.

Manning was the first player to toss that many touchdown passes since Minnesota’s Joe Kapp did it in 1969. Four other quarterbacks did it before him and no one has ever thrown for more.

So in a way, Manning and Foles are in a league of their own as the only two players to achieve the feat in 44 years. The fact that they did it in the same season within two months of each other makes their accomplishments all the more special.

It also inevitably leads to comparisons. Obviously, both quite impressive, but which was more impressive?

Really, this is important.

First, let’s look at the stats. Manning completed 27 of 42 passes for 462 yards with no interceptions and a 141.1 passer rating in the Broncos’ 49-27 victory over the Baltimore Ravens. Foles completed 22 of 28 passes for 406 yards with no interceptions and a 158.3 rating in Sunday’s 49-20 win over the Oakland Raiders.

So Manning threw for 56 more yards but attempted 14 fewer passes. Manning was up against the defending Super Bowl champs, something that was way more impressive in Week 1 than it is now that the Ravens have stumbled to a 3-5 record (the same as the Raiders).

Foles was removed with the game well in hand at the 9:23 mark of the fourth quarter, so we’ll never know if he actually could have made history by tossing one more touchdown pass. Manning played the entire game on his record-tying night, with his last points coming with 4:30 remaining.

One thing that’s for sure is that Foles’ accomplishment was more unexpected. Manning is a four-time league MVP and a one-time Super Bowl MVP who had already thrown for six touchdowns in a game more than once during his 16-year career.

If asked to name the person likely to match Manning’s feat, the average NFL fan might name New Orleans’ Drew Brees, Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers ... or Manning himself, who has thrown 29 touchdown passes in eight games this season.

A backup quarterback, making the ninth start of his two-year NFL career, whose previous game-high was three touchdown passes against Tampa Bay two weeks ago, would probably not be mentioned.

Let us know what you think.

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