FYI, I actually got the full article in my inbox like normal.
In terms of the content, I think my only addition is that plays like the 102-yard pick six is why I prefer Adj EPA/Play. Also, do you consider Trent Green vs Peyton Manning the best QB rivalry the best since 99? Obviously, Brady vs Manning had more entries and largely defined an era of football, but their matchups didn't consistently produce great offensive performances from both sides much less all-time ones.
You are correct that Adjusted EPA/Play is the more statistically robust one to use. However, I just use raw in these articles so I don't have to explain what it is and what it's adjusting for every time. In a series like this (and most things I do) that's not really about year end stats anyway, I can get away with this.
As far as your question, it's very interesting. I'm not sure I can answer it right now. I haven't looked into this very much, but I'll try.
This rivalry is already over, so it's certainly not a long term rivalry. However, when the iron got hot it was extremely hot, and hot on both sides.
This is in contrast to a rivalry like Matt Ryan vs Cam Newton, who played each other an astounding 16 times. Both had great games against the other, but never both at once going shot for shot like this.
I can definitively say it's not Brady and Manning, because of exactly the reasons you said. It's actually the exact same as Newton and Ryan. They both played great against each other, but never at the same time. Eli Manning vs Tony Romo (like most things Tony Romo ever did) is slept on, but also shows the downsides of having a long rivalry in a discussion like this. Taking the best three games of that rivalry can compare to the three games of this rivalry, but then there's 14 others you have to sift through.
The same goes for Drew Brees vs Matt Ryan, which is likely the horse I'd back if I absolutely had to pick one. Mahomes vs Allen was on pace to creep up on the back of this rivalry, but in recent years have been putting some duds into their canon that may bring their overall rep down.
As far as rivalries that are not long. They're tougher to find, but Colin Kaepernick vs Aaron Rodgers is a good one. It also featured playoff records being broken, an epic regular season rematch, and then a playoff rematch. However, it fails the test due to being somewhat one sided. Aaron never won during the height of it. Colin beat him every time.
After pursuing the thought, I can more confidently say that there's been nothing like the Peyton vs Trent rivalry ever since. Most get more chances to go at it, and therefore get stale. I'm not sure if this makes it the best, but it's certainly the best on a per shot basis.
FYI, I actually got the full article in my inbox like normal.
In terms of the content, I think my only addition is that plays like the 102-yard pick six is why I prefer Adj EPA/Play. Also, do you consider Trent Green vs Peyton Manning the best QB rivalry the best since 99? Obviously, Brady vs Manning had more entries and largely defined an era of football, but their matchups didn't consistently produce great offensive performances from both sides much less all-time ones.
Well dang, Substack lied to me.
You are correct that Adjusted EPA/Play is the more statistically robust one to use. However, I just use raw in these articles so I don't have to explain what it is and what it's adjusting for every time. In a series like this (and most things I do) that's not really about year end stats anyway, I can get away with this.
As far as your question, it's very interesting. I'm not sure I can answer it right now. I haven't looked into this very much, but I'll try.
This rivalry is already over, so it's certainly not a long term rivalry. However, when the iron got hot it was extremely hot, and hot on both sides.
This is in contrast to a rivalry like Matt Ryan vs Cam Newton, who played each other an astounding 16 times. Both had great games against the other, but never both at once going shot for shot like this.
I can definitively say it's not Brady and Manning, because of exactly the reasons you said. It's actually the exact same as Newton and Ryan. They both played great against each other, but never at the same time. Eli Manning vs Tony Romo (like most things Tony Romo ever did) is slept on, but also shows the downsides of having a long rivalry in a discussion like this. Taking the best three games of that rivalry can compare to the three games of this rivalry, but then there's 14 others you have to sift through.
The same goes for Drew Brees vs Matt Ryan, which is likely the horse I'd back if I absolutely had to pick one. Mahomes vs Allen was on pace to creep up on the back of this rivalry, but in recent years have been putting some duds into their canon that may bring their overall rep down.
As far as rivalries that are not long. They're tougher to find, but Colin Kaepernick vs Aaron Rodgers is a good one. It also featured playoff records being broken, an epic regular season rematch, and then a playoff rematch. However, it fails the test due to being somewhat one sided. Aaron never won during the height of it. Colin beat him every time.
After pursuing the thought, I can more confidently say that there's been nothing like the Peyton vs Trent rivalry ever since. Most get more chances to go at it, and therefore get stale. I'm not sure if this makes it the best, but it's certainly the best on a per shot basis.