Indianapolis Colts

The 10 biggest foes from Peyton Manning's career

Published Mar. 7, 2016 12:00 p.m. ET

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After several weeks of deliberation following his Super Bowl 50 win, Peyton Manning retired at age 39. But it'd be wrong to say that Father Time was the only thing that defeated the five-time-NFL MVP. These were his 10 greatest foes.

1. Tom Brady, Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots

Manning's bid for a Super Bowl seemingly always had to go through the New England Patriots. And usually, those matchups didn't go his way. Manning's career record against the Patriots was 9-15, and he was 8-12 against them after Belichick took over in 2000. In Manning's 17 matchups against Tom Brady, his record was just 6-11. But at least he went out with a win, defeating New England in the 2016 AFC Championship game, 20-18.

2. Steve Spurrier

There is one person Manning was never able to beat: Steve Spurrier. During Manning's four years at the University of Tennessee, he lost to Spurrier's Gators four times. After college, the two met one more time while Spurrier was head coach of the Washington Redskins in 2002. The Colts lost, 26-21.

3. Cold weather

Manning didn't have the best record in the postseason, and cold weather could be one explanation. Manning was 0-5 in playoff games with gametime temperatures below 40 degrees. He almost changed that against the Steelers last postseason, but the temperature at kickoff was just above 40 degrees.

4. Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks were one of the few teams that have a winning record against Manning. Overall, Manning is 2-4 against Seattle, but it was Super Bowl XLVIII that cemented the Seahawks as a Manning-killer. Seattle didn't just beat Manning and the Broncos, they embarrassed them with a 43-8 win. Manning threw for 280 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.

5. The playoffs

Manning now has his second Super Bowl ring, but he wasn't exactly known as clutch in the postseason. Though he led his team to a playoff appearance in all but three seasons (1998, 2001 and 2011), Manning was 14-13 in the postseason -- including nine one-and-out years. He was 2-2 in the Super Bowl.

6. Father Time

Even one of the NFL's most decorated players couldn't beat the effects of age. During the 2015 season, Manning played in only 10 regular-season games due to injury. In Week 10, he was benched after throwing four interceptions against the Chiefs during the same game in which he broke the NFL record for career passing yards. After throwing more than 20 touchdown passes in every regular season he had played in, Manning had just nine in 2015 with a career-low 67.9 passer rating.

7. Ty Law

There is a Facebook group titled "Peyton Manning's All-Time Favorite Receiver: Ty Law." It's funny because Law never played on the same team as Manning. The cornerback intercepted Manning nine times throughout his career, five times in the playoffs. But three of his most famous interceptions came during the 2003 season's AFC Championship Game, when Law picked off Manning three times during the Patriots' 24-14 win over the Colts.

8. Heisman voters

When Manning decided to return to the University of Tennessee for his senior season in 1997, he was an instant Heisman Trophy frontrunner. Manning led the Vols to an SEC Championship and an appearance in the Orange Bowl while breaking NCAA, SEC and program passing records. He finished second in Heisman voting that year to Charles Woodson in what many have considered one of the greatest snubs in Heisman history.

9. Andrew Luck & Lucas Oil Stadium

Manning made a lot of great memories at Lucas Oil Stadium during his time with the Indianapolis Colts. But after he signed with the Broncos in 2012, the stadium wasn't as kind. Manning played Luck and the Colts three times after leaving Indy, and his record was 1-2 with both losses coming on the road.

10. Mike Vanderjagt

Vanderjagt had one of the most accurate careers any NFL kicker could have when he played for the Colts from 1998 until 2006. But, he cost Peyton Manning two big playoff games. During a wild-card game against the Miami Dolphins in 2000, Vanderjagt missed a 49-yard field goal in overtime and Miami scored the game-winner on the next drive. In January 2006, Vanderjagt lined up for a 46-yard, game-tying field goal against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He missed, and the Steelers went on to win the game (and the Super Bowl).