QB edge finally goes to Eli

Well, well, well, look what we have here: Eli Manning is playing in the NFC Championship Game, and he will not be widely perceived as the second-best quarterback on the field.

That might not seem like much for a guy with his pedigree and who has been on a season-long roll, but remember that in his four biggest playoff victories, he was rated behind his counterparts in most pregame analyses.

Four seasons ago, it was Tony Romo, Brett Favre and Tom Brady. One week ago, it was Aaron Rodgers.

Naturally, Manning does not appear to have been bothered by this, because Manning does not appear to be bothered by anything. But the guy is a competitor, or he wouldn't have gotten this far, and now any doubts that lingered about his stature after Super Bowl XLII are long gone.

Which brings us to the 49ers' Alex Smith, who will join Manning in the first matchup of No. 1 overall draft picks in a conference final since the Broncos' John Elway and Jets' Vinny Testaverde 13 years ago.

Smith is where Manning used to be, only more so, consistently doubted pretty much until the final few minutes of Saturday's upset of the Saints.

As quarterbacks always remind us, they don't play against one another, so comparing them is beside the point. As the rest of us always remind quarterbacks, we can't help ourselves. So let's check in with three Super Bowl-winning QBs -- CBS analyst Phil Simms, Fox's Troy Aikman and ESPN's Steve Young -- for their takes on Manning and Smith, just because we can.

Manning, 31, is an established star at the height of his powers. Smith, 27, is the determined underdog still trying to prove his mettle, and getting closer.

If any of the three analysts were asked to check a box next to "quarterback'' on a list of each team's advantages, he'd clearly go with Eli. But as Eli himself has proved, that doesn't necessarily mean much.

Young on Manning: "Eli is awesome . . . He's become as effective as his brother, but in an Eli way. That might be the best compliment.''

Young on Smith (whom he interviewed Tuesday): "He's been through quarterbacking hell -- different coordinator, different language. He was trying to describe it like learning French and then learning Spanish and learning Japanese and just learning every weird, new language and having to be held accountable without the support.

"And this year, all of a sudden, he gets all of the support and he feels like, 'Geez, I feel like I'm doing less. I feel like it's easier.' But yet, now he's doing remarkable things.''

Simms on Manning: "He's gotten a little better every year, and he doesn't resemble even the guy I saw last year. He's gotten so good. When you can do what you want, it makes you look smarter, too.''

Simms on Smith: "He controls the ball so much better now than in the past. More accurate . . . You see that he has now really learned to play.''

Aikman on Manning: "I'm being asked a lot about where is he with the game's greats, and is he elite? It's funny to me that those things are continually still asked. I don't know what more the guy has to do . . . Essentially he got them to a point late in the season almost by himself.''

Aikman on Smith: "I think games in January are ultimately what put everybody on the map.''

Smith took a huge step in that direction Saturday. Manning already is there, but wants more.

The drama will unfold Sunday, with the two favored quarterbacks of last weekend -- Rodgers and Drew Brees -- presumably watching at home.