All-time greats and the Super Bowl

[big_neil]

We look at the top 10 most prolific passers sorted by a score based on all-time rank in TDs, Yards and Completions combined. On the right we see how many Super Bowls they won and how many they played in.

1) Marino 0/1
2) Favre 1/2
3) Elway 2/5
4) Moon 0/0
5) Tarkenton 0/3
6) Testaverde0/0
7) Montana 4/4
8) Bledsoe 0/1* (won 2 AFC Championships)
9) Fouts 0/0
10) Krieg 0/0
-------------------
Total: 7/16.

So we see that the top 10 most prolific passers of all-time had a 7-9 "season" in the Super Bowl. This makes sense. If 10-6 gets you in, 9-7 would be decent vs. playoff teams. 8-8 would be decent in the Confernce Championship, and 7-9 is decent in the Super Bowl. Take out Montana and the other 9 combined for 3 wins in 12 tries. But Montana wasn't that good versus Tarkenton, the team has something to do with it.

Drew is the only QB to win the Conference championship and not play in the Super Bowl. Elway started 0-3 but got 2 more tries at age 36,37.

The point: only 3 of the top 10 most prolific passers ever won a Super Bowl, and only 6 even played for one, debunking the myth that the only game that means anything is the Super Bowl.

 

[big_neil]

The top 10 most prolific passers sorted by number of interceptions (number of games played in parens with num Tds and Tds/game)

#Interceptions
----------------------------------
1. 139 Montana (192 games, 273 TDs 1.42 Tds/game)
2. 184 Esiason (187 games, 247 TDs 1.32 Tds/game)
3. 189 Jurgenson (218 games, 255 TDs 1.16 Tds/ game)
4. 192 Bledsoe (185 games, 241 TDs 1.30 Tds/game)
5. 199 Krieg (213 games, 261 TDs 1.22 Tds/game)
6. 226 Elway (234 games, 300 TDs 1.28 Tds/game)
7. 233 Tarkenton (246 games, 291 TDs 1.18 Tds/game)
8. 242 Fouts (181 games, 254 TDs, 1.40 Tds/game)
8. 248 Favre (222 games, 395 TDs 1.78 Tds/game)
9. 252 Marino (242 games, 420 TDs 1.73 Tds/game)
10.

 

[big_neil]

The top 10 most prolific passers sorted by yards per game:

Yards/Game

1. 253 Marino
2. 238 Favre
3. 238 Fouts
4. 237 Moon
5. 232 Bledsoe
6. 220 Elway
7. 211 Montana
8. 203 Testaverde
9. 191 Tarkenton
10. 178 Krieg

 

[big_neil]

I think the numbers make one thing clear: Montana was by far the best QB. Fewest INTs by far, and the most SBs by far. Coincidence? I think not. Note: the interception list was actually the TD leaders rearranged, the other two are the top 10 passers (C+Y+TDs)/3.

 

[CF74]

Elway was the greatest, he just didn't always have a team around him.

 

[MapleLeaf]

...stats won't help determine who is the best QB.

It's the reason why GMs can't get it right on draft day when looking for QBs. It's hard to quantify "field generalship" with strong physical ability. You just can't put a number to it.

True field generals are best represented by Montana and Aikman. They possess the rare ability to do what it takes to help the team. Whether it is pass the ball or hand off the ball they lead their teams to victory.

 

[Hostile]

We've reached analysis paralysis.

 

[Billy Bullocks]

It's hard as a Cowboys fan to realy admit to it, but there's definately a REAL good case that Montana is the best QB in history. His numbers in the SB speak for themselves. Sure there was a great team there, but most SB winners played on great teams.

Anyone comparing Brady to Montana needs to stop right now. Brady leads his teams to FG's, Montana lead them to game winning TD's. End of discussion.

4 SB's and no INTs, that is GREAT.

 

[big_neil]

I think the numbers also show that Drew is going to the HOF. He's #5 in yards per game, #6 in TDs/game and #4 in fewest INTs per game to go with #5 Attempts, #5 Completions, and (this weekend) #6 Yards. And his Pro Bowl year and 2nd Player of the Week show that he's still in his prime. Why not this year?

 

[big_neil]

(those numbers are among the top 10 QBs, obviously Aikman and Brady and Young had more SBs but don't qualify for top 10 in stats).

 

[kojak]

Neil, you sure do show alot of love for Bledsoe. It's almost scary how you will fight to the end to defend him. I bet your license plate has "bledsoe11" on it. And you probably bear this medallion around your neck.

 

[big_neil]

I'm only showing the facts. Interpret them as you like.

 

[percyhoward]

I'm only showing the facts. Interpret them as you like.

Everybody has his own opinion of which facts are the most important ones, though.

To my taste, this list puts too much importance on longevity. When you include career passer rating, then names like Moon (career 80.9 rating), Testaverde (75.1), Bledsoe (77.5), and Kreig (81.5) get bumped off in favor of names like Young (96.8), Kelly (84.1), Staubach (83.4), and even Aikman (81.6).

And that's completely ignoring the fact that the first group of guys have one Super Bowl combined, and the second group has twelve!