Palmer isn't as good as Eli.
That's certainly debatable. Manning has been more durable, played 18 more games, and has 18 more wins (with the same number of losses), but statistically, Palmer is better in virtually every single category:
Palmer:
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/P/PalmCa00.htm
Manning:
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MannEl00.htm
Completion %: 62.6 vs. 58.7
TD:Int ratio: 1.45:1 vs. 1.36:1
Yds/Att: 7.2 vs. 7.0
Yds/Game: 246 vs. 232
Passer rating: 86.3 vs. 81.5
Lol. Eli has won 2 SBs and is on a bad team.
Yep, can't take away Eli's amazing playoff performances. But do his 2 rings mean that Eli is better than Payton? Of course not.
His completion percentage is still good and he hasn't lost anything.
Eli's completion percentage is mediocre at best - 61.2% this year and below 60% in 6 of Manning's 11 years. Palmer's only dipped below 60% once in 11 years - in his injury-shortened 4-game 2008 season.
And based on passer rating, Eli's last few years have been WAY below his peak. 2013 was one of the worst seasons i've ever seen from a QB, and while he's been better in 2014, his 61.2% completion percentage, 18:11 TD:int ratio, and 6.8 yds/attempt are all pretty lame.
Palmer, on the other hand, was performing above his career averages in every one of the above categories since arriving in Arizona.
He has a sucky Oline and terrible receivers. You put him on this team and we're a lock for the SB.
I think, over his career, Eli has generally been surrounded by a LOT more talent than Palmer.
Can't argue with Eli's playoff success and Super Bowl rings, but i would take a healthy Palmer every time over Eli.
...dbs