Stafford or Manning....how is this even a debate?

I know my posts have been really focused on Matt Stafford to this point, but lets face it he is the face (and hopefully the future) of the Lion's franchise. If you've been following the team closely this season you also know he has been the topic of much debate, whether its been the question of starting in the first game or wondering whether his first injury would be one of many to come. I've been able to hold my tongue on these debates until I heard some people making the comparison between Matthew Stafford's and Payton Manning's rookie seasons.
The comparison being made was in the amount of interceptions Manning threw his rookie season (26) and the amount Stafford is on pace to throw (24). Ok I can see that comparison, but don't tell me these rookie seasons are even remotely similar. If you recall Manning also threw 24 touchdown passes that year and Stafford is only on pace for about 12. Even more important than the numbers is how they were achieved. Manning in the last four weeks of that season threw six more touchdowns than picks which means he showed improvement as the season went on. Stafford on the other hand has regressed in his past two games; he managed to put together one drive against the Rams and threw a ridiculous five picks against the Seahawks (a team that by the way only had picked off three passes all season). So the next time you hear someone saying that Stafford isn't all that different from Manning at the same points in their career just remember that one of these guys actually showed progress and the showed incompetence.