Russell Wilson is the best quarterback in the NFL today.

Debate stats and mechanics and minutia if you must but when you take a step back and look at where Seattle started with Wilson and where the Seahawks are now, it’s unmistakably clear.

Wilson has faced Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, and Tom Brady a combined seven times. He’s thrown 14 touchdowns in those meetings and just one interception. He’s also never lost.

The Seahawks are more than Wilson, of course. There’s Marshawn Lynch, Percy Harvin, the Legion of Boom, and THOSE VERY LOUD FANS. But if it wasn’t clear before, it should be crystal following Sunday’s Super Bowl rematch; Russell Wilson is the heartbeat of Seattle.

Peyton Manning marched the Denver Broncos down the field trailing by eight points with a minute remaining in the fourth quarter. In typical Manning fashion, he surgically picked apart the Seahawks’ secondary, finding the end zone before cooly nailing the two-point conversion to force overtime. It felt like the narrative had shifted on the Seahawks. The Broncos were poised to avenge that embarrassing Super Bowl loss.

Then Wilson assumed control once more, and for the 11th time in his career led Seattle to victory after they were tied or behind in the fourth quarter. It was Marshawn Lynch who dove into the end zone for the final score, but it was Wilson who got the team to that point.

On that final drive Wilson saved Seattle on third down twice; scrambling for two crucial first downs. He had 35 yards passing and 21 rushing in overtime. The Broncos never had an answer.

Manning has nearly two decades of dominance and a Super Bowl. Brady has three. Rodgers and Brees have one apiece. All have years of experience and legacy on Wilson. The argument isn’t whether Manning, Rodgers, or Brees are great quarterbacks. Of course they are. It isn’t who has the best team either – though that seems to be Seattle. All four of those elite, Hall of Fame bound players have achieved incredible heights in their careers.

None have Wilson’s future.

Wilson is the face of the new generation of quarterbacks. He’s able to sit in the pocket when asked, and run when needed. More than anything, Wilson wins. When faced with the best, Wilson is better.

A lot better.