Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning: Baltimore Ravens Legend Ray Lewis Picks a Side

It took excessive defensive firepower to interrupt Tom Brady and Peyton Manning's shared monopoly of the AFC playoffs in the new century but Ray Lewis proved to be one of the most consistent sources.

Nearly a third of Lewis' 21 postseason appearances came against the prolific aerial attacks of Brady and Manning. Over the first 20 editions of the AFC title game in the new century, all but four featured the talents of Lewis, Brady, Manning, or some combination thereof. Lewis' place among the defensive legends of the game is thus well-established while observers of the amateur and professional variety continue to debate the individual merits of Brady and Manning.

Appearing on the web series STAT Sports with Rob "Lep" Lepelstat, Lewis took a side in the lasting debate, opting for the talents of the former Indianapolis Colt/Denver Bronco thanks to the way the detailed oriented linebacker had to change his prep routines heading into their matchups.

"I would say from a quarterback, from a student level of the game, (Manning) made me alter my game," Lewis said. "He made me watch more film and that's what I call the greatest quarterback, to me, me and his battle."

"Brady, of course (has) rings, but when you talk about just walking out there and seeing a man knowing that whoo, here we go again, Peyton Manning was rough."

Lewis and Manning faced off in the postseason on three occasions, the latter taking two sets of the trio. The linebacker notably had 17 tackles, one for a loss, in the victory, a 38-35 thriller in the 2012-13 AFC Divisional playoff against Denver. Lewis and Co. went on to take home the Ravens' second Super Bowl.

Lewis' successors on the Ravens' defense are facing a similar conundrum, as the modern AFC is ruled by high-profile passers such as Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, and Patrick Mahomes, who already has three Super Bowl rings to his name. Modern Baltimore appears to be taking a more offensive approach to the problem this time around, as they've nurtured a dual-threat of their own in Lamar Jackson.