Ranking Eli Manning and the Most Clutch QBs in NFL History

After a second Super Bowl win, Eli Manning of the New York Giants has solidified himself as one of the most clutch quarterbacks in NFL history.

Not only was this his second win on the league's biggest stage, but a second win over Tom Brady, another one of the game's most clutch quarterbacks. In addition, Eli also earned a second Super Bowl MVP award and gave the Giants their fourth Vince Lombardi Trophy.

All that being said, let's see where Eli stacks up among some of the best clutch performers in league history.

10. Dan Marino, Dolphins

Although Dan Marino made just one Super Bowl appearance (1984), he never had any help around him.

Yes, Mark Clayton and Mark Duper were a great receiving duo, however, neither is a Hall of Famer. And if  Cris Carter is having trouble getting in, these two don't have a chance.

Marino never was assisted by a stout ground game, but his competitiveness was second-to-none, which saved the Dolphins and head coach Don Shula quite often.

Not to mention that he ranked No. 3 with 147 all-time wins, and his single-season passing record of 5,084 yards stood until this past season.

9. Bart Starr, Packers

The MVP of Super Bowl I and II, Green Bay's Bart Starr was the conductor of Vince Lombardi's offense during the 1960s.

Starr led the Packers to five championships in seven years and was the league MVP in 1966. His finest performances did not produce ridiculous stats. Instead, they produced numerous game-winning drives.

Most notably was the 1967 Ice Bowl, when Starr finished off the Dallas Cowboys with a touchdown sneak.

It's Starr's football IQ that goes under the radar because of how well he orchestrated Lombardi's Packers.

8. Roger Staubach, Cowboys

Roger "the Dodger" Staubach played in four Super Bowls (as a back-up to Craig Morton in Super Bowl V), winning two of them and being named the MVP of Super Bowl VI.

The original "Captain Comeback," Staubach was one of the rare quarterbacks during his time who could scramble consistently well but also be deadly accurate with a strong arm.

Because of his service in the Navy, Staubach did not begin his NFL career until he was 27 years old. Without that late start, there's no telling what the could have accomplished in the NFL.

7. Peyton Manning, Colts

Although Peyton Manning has just one Super Bowl win in two appearances, the fact that he has one ring is all that matters.

His four NFL MVPs are the most of any one player in league history, and he's a lock for the Hall of Fame.

What makes Manning great, though, is that you can give him any group of receivers and they all immediately become better. With arguably the highest football IQ of anyone who's ever played the position, the older Manning brother is clutch any way you slice it.

With his career's future still uncertain, here's to hoping he gets another shot in the postseason.

6. Tom Brady, Patriots

Despite losing another Super Bowl,  Tom Brady is tied with John Elway for the most starts in Super Bowl by a quarterback, with five appearances in 11 years.

Much like Peyton Manning, Brady can make any group of receivers better, and he's never had Hall of Fame-caliber targets, either. During his Super Bowl-winning seasons, Deion Branch was the best among others such as David Givens, David Patton and Troy Brown.

Not to mention his best tight end before Rob Gronkowski was Benjamin Watson. So, based on how Brady orchestrated the Pats with new talent and a vulnerable defense, he's not done just yet.

5. Eli Manning, Giants

No, he doesn't have the stats like older brother Peyton or Tom Brady. However, Eli Manning has the only wins that matter.

With two Super Bowl wins over Brady and being the game's MVP in Super Bowl XLII and XLVI, Eli has established himself among the most clutch quarterbacks ever.

Include his regular season game-winning drive over Brady's Pats and he's 3-0 versus his inter-conference rival. And much like Brady, Eli led New York with new talent and a vulnerable defense.

In 2011, the Giants had the NFL's worst rushing offense. And in both Super Bowls, Eli had a completely different set of receivers. Take him off the Giants and they don't have two wins over Brady and New England.

4. Otto Graham, Browns

From 1946 through 1955, Otto Graham led the Cleveland Browns to 10 consecutive championship games. From 1946 through 1949, those title games came in the All-American Football Conference, but that conference joined the NFL in 1950 and Graham still dominated.

In a 10-year pro football career (six in the NFL), Graham won seven titles, was an All-Pro selection every year and a three-time NFL MVP.

His level of consistency was unbelievable,  easily making him one of the most clutch quarterbacks ever. Not to mention this was all before Jim Brown came along.

3. Johnny Unitas, Colts

A three-time NFL MVP, Super Bowl V champion and star of  the 1958 NFL Championship game, Johnny Unitas set the standard by which all quarterbacks after him were measured.

One thing to remember about Unitas, was that the NFL played 12- and 14-game seasons during his career. So, had he played during the era of 16-game schedules, there's no limit to the numbers he could have produced.

Plus, the game was more run-oriented back then. Then again, just by watching his final drive against the Giants in the memorable 1958 overtime win over the Giants, you see what made him so special.

2. John Elway, Broncos

With five Super Bowl appearances and two wins in the big game, John Elway completed his career after the 1998 NFL season.

When he retired, Elway had the most wins with 148 (since broken by Brett Favre) and tied for the most comebacks with 34 (Johnny Unitas).

Along the same lines as Dan Marino, Elway had limited talent around him early in his career. And even still, he was the Denver Broncos' only Hall of Famer (during his era) until Shannon Sharpe in 2011.

1. Joe Montana, 49ers

Had Tom Brady won a fourth Super Bowl with a third MVP award, he would have tied Joe Montana for that individual record and a possible argument for most-clutch quarterback ever.

However, since Brady lost, there's no question that Joe Cool is not only the most-clutch QB ever, but the greatest ever.

In four Super Bowl appearances, Montana won them all, and two of them were before Jerry Rice was drafted. To enhance Montana's status even more, he had 11 touchdown and no interceptions  in his Super Bowl appearances.

That kind of flawless play is only worthy of the No. 1 spot. It's that Montana performed not only his best on the biggest stage, but better than any quarterback who has ever stepped onto a football field.

John Rozum on Twitter.