Manning vs. Brees – Best Super Bowl QB Matchup Ever?

4 Comments

1. Andy on February 5, 2010 at 8:26 am

   Hmm. Some great matchups on this list. Montana’s four – Boomer Esiason was a solid QB but he was arguably the worst of the four Montana dissected. Bradshaw/Staubach produced a pair of fantastic duels in the 70s.

   I also think someday we’ll look back at this list and appreciate the Brady-Warner game, though Brady was just a young pup when that one took place. As for the worst matchup, the only one I can come up with that even rivals Dilfer-Collins is McMahon-Eason in 86. But if push came to shove I’d probably pick Dilfer-Collins too.

2. Tony P on February 5, 2010 at 3:56 pm

   Andy,
   I really like the direction you’ve taken the conversation. You’re right on about many of the matchups not being prime vs. prime.

   I wish Marino could of played in the SB when he was a little more seasoned. If the Dolphins could of beat the Chargers it would of set up a good one in Marino vs. Young. Like usual I can’t tell you one weapon that Marino had on offense. That said, he did have his chances and blew them. My favorite Marino playoff game was maybe that same year when he led us from behind to beat the Chiefs 17-16 in a game we know right to win. KC was a great team that year.

   Probably the poorest QB’s to play in the SB were Grossman, Woodley, Humphries and Eason. Funny how two of the three beat Miami in the AFC Title game and the other one played for Miami. Both got hot and played above their heads.

   I don’t see Tarkington vs Griese , both HOFers and in their prime. Griese was an excellent passer and one of the most accurate QB’s in those days. He just didn’t need to throw the ball that day as RB Csonka set the rushing record. Miami had it’s way with the highly touted “Purple People Eaters”. That’s the best running team I’ve ever seen!!

   The best matchup I’ve seen of QB’s that were at the top of their games was Staubach vs Bradshaw in the 35-31 game. Bradshaw was dumb as dirt early in his career but he turned himself into an excellent QB by the late 70’s.

   Actually the first SB was a heck of a matchup between Starr and Dawson.

   Here’s my top five best:

   1) 1978 – HOF Stauback vs HOF Bradshaw – Both 2-time SB winners and was a SB rematch

   2) 1966 – HOF Starr vs HOF Dawson – Both winners of League Titles and top QB’s of the day

   3) 1997 – HOF Elway vs HOF (to be) Favre – 3 time SB runner-up vs previous year SB winner and MVP

   4) 1973 – HOF Griese vs HOF Tarkington – returning SB winner in his 3rd straight SB vs All-time Top passer and both in their prime with great teams.

   5) 2004 – HOF (to be) Brady vs McNabb – two time SB winner and both top QB’s of the day .

   6) 1984 – HOF Montana vs HOF Marino – Top QB and SB winner in his prime vs electric fresh star smashing season records.

   7) 2010 – HOF (to be) Manning vs Brees – Top 5 best QB of all-time and SB winner vs extremely accurate QB. Both at the top of their games.

   8) 1981 – HOF Montana vs Anderson – one of the more intriging matchups to me. The grizzled veteran having a HOF year vs the young upstart who looked like a HOFer from the start. Young vs Old. Savvy vs savvy. Amazing!!

   9) 1983 – Plunkett vs Theisman – both SB veterans and very good QB’s. Two good teams.

   10) 1999 – Warner vs McNair – Excellent young QB’s with the ability to air it out. Warner led top offense. Both were a cool customers beyond their big game experience. McNair was one of the top rushing QB’s of all-time. Exciting match-up.

3. Brad on February 5, 2010 at 9:34 pm

   I couldn’t find a category, so I will just post here.

   Is it just me or is the 2007 NFL Draft NOW looking like a great “draft class”? Here are some stats that just blew my mind:

   1x Pro Bowlers

   Patrick Willis
   Adrian Peterson
   Darrelle Revis
   Joe Thomas
   Le’Ron McClain
   Nick Folk
   Jon Beason
   Marshawn Lynch
   Brandon Meriweather
   Sidney Rice
   Steve Smith
   Michael Griffin
   LaMarr Woodley
   Ryan Kalil
   Zak DeOssie

   2x Pro Bowlers:

   Darrelle Revis
   Adrian Peterson
   Jon Beason
   Patrick Willis
   Joe Thomas
   Le’Ron McClain

   3x Pro Bowlers:

   Joe Thomas
   Adrian Peterson
   Patrick Willis

   1x First of 2nd Team All Pro

   Patrick Willis
   Adrian Peterson
   Darrelle Revis
   Jon Beason
   Joe Thomas
   Le’Ron McClain
   David Harris
   Nick Folk
   Leon Hall

   2x First or 2nd Team All Pro

   Patrick Willis
   Adrian Peterson
   Joe Thomas
   Jon Beason
   Le’Ron McClain

   3x First or 2nd Team All Pro

   Patrick Willis
   Adrian Peterson

   Other Notables

   WR Ted Ginn Jr: 5,486 All Purpose yards. 2 KR TD’s in one quarter

   LB Paul Posluszny: 2 consecutive seasons with 100+ tackles(2008-2009)

   TE Greg Olsen: 15 receiving TD’s.

   WR Steve Breaston: 1,006 receiving yards in 2008. 1 PR TD.

   TE Zach Miller: 805 receiving yards in 2009

   WR Dwayne Bowe: 86 receptions, 1,022 receiving yards, 7 TD’s in 2008

   WR Calvin Johnson: Led the NFL in receiving TD’s with 12 in 2008

   RB Ahmad Bradshaw: Super Bowl winner, 5.2 yards per carry.

   S LaRon Landry: 2 seasons with 90+ tackles

4. Tony P on February 7, 2010 at 1:00 am

   Brad,
   Ginn Jr, you want him?? LOL!! A lot of good players but I don’t see HOF quality except for Joe Thomas, AD Peterson, Calvin Johnson, Revis and possibly Patrick Willis. Not too bad I guess.