The Top 10 All-Time Super Bowl Performances By a Quarterback

It's Super Bowl week. If you're an Indianapolis Colts or New Orleans Saints fan, this is the very reason you support your team and tune-in to the NFL . To have your team in the most exciting game, and on the biggest stage in the world, is simply sublime.

It's a battle between the top two seeds in this year's playoffs, the last two teams to lose in the regular season, and an epic match between two of the best signal callers in today's game.

Peyton Manning may go down as the best ever one day, while what Brees does this Sunday could go a long way in defining his own legacy.

But what about the quarterbacks that came and went? What about the guys who showed up for the Super Bowl, and that's all they were known for? Or what about some of the best passing performances in the big game, in NFL history?

With a potential offensive explosion, likely by the hands of Brees and Manning, coming this Sunday, let's take a look back at the best games by a quarterback in the 43 Super Bowls that lead up to this week's Super Bowl.

Without further haste, here are the top 10 most jaw-dropping, heroic, and/or simply impressive performances by quarterbacks in Super Bowl history:

10. Joe Namath- New York Jets (Super Bowl III)

Namath didn't have great numbers, as he threw for just 206 yards and no touchdowns, but he didn't throw any interceptions, and guided his offense to 16 points in a 16-7 over the heavily favored Baltimore Colts.

The most impressive aspect of this game, and why Namath makes this list, is that he guaranteed a Jets win.

9. Donovan McNabb- Philadelphia Eagles (Super Bowl XXXIX)

McNabb will likely be remembered for throwing up (allegedly) and struggling to lead his team in the 4th quarter against the eventual champion New England Patriots, but his gritty play through the first three quarters showed that he was up to the task (regardless of what critics claim).

McNabb did throw three picks in this game, but he put together a heck of a statistical effort in a losing cause, throwing for 357 yards and three touchdowns, while only falling to the Patriots by three points, 24-21.

The most impressive aspect about McNabb's performance was how awful his rushing attack was (45 total yards), forcing him to carry the team on his shoulders for nearly the entire game.

8. Tom Brady- New England Patriots (Super Bowl XXXVIII)

Brady had one of the more prolific Super Bowl games in recent memory, as he out-dueled Carolina's Jake Delhomme en route to a 32-29 New England win.

Brady completed a Super Bowl record 32 passes, along with three touchdowns (one pick), and 354 yards. Brady also came through in the clutch as usual, leading the Patriots down the field for a game-winning field goal with just seconds remaining.

7. Terry Bradshaw- Pittsburgh Steelers (Super Bowl XIII)

Bradshaw led the Steelers to an exciting 35-31 win over the Dallas Cowboys, throwing for 318 yards and four touchdowns (at the time a Super Bowl record).

This was the first time at that point in Bradshaw's career that he topped 300 yards passing in a game, adding to the huge day that the future Hall of Famer had.

6. Troy Aikman- Dallas Cowboys (Super Bowl XXVII)

Aikman had by far his best game as a Cowboy in a dominant offensive performance against the Buffalo Bills, as he threw for 273 yards, four scores, and zero interceptions in a 52-17 landslide victory.

Aikman completed 73 percent of his passes in a near-flawless effort that saw his Cowboys scoring touchdowns early, and often.

5. Doug Williams- Washington Redskins (Super Bowl XXII)

Williams led the Redskins to their famous Super Bowl win over the Denver Broncos, which is best known for their 35-point out-burst in the second quarter that led to a dominant 42-10 win.

In easily his best game as a pro Williams shined in the biggest stage, throwing for 340 yards and four touchdowns. Williams led Washington out of a 10-0 hole, helping the Redskins score on five consecutive drive to end the first half, catapulting Washington to a huge win.

4. Kurt Warner - St. Louis Rams (Super Bowl XXXIV)

Warner earned his only Super Bowl win with an outstanding effort in a nail-biting 23-16 win over the Tennessee Titans, as he passed for a Super Bowl record 414 yards.

He added two touchdowns with zero interceptions to cap a magical season, as the Rams claimed their first Super Bowl title in franchise history, and helped Warner go from grocery store employee to NFL phenomenon.

3. Joe Montana- San Francisco 49ers (Super Bowl XXIV)

Montana has several worthy efforts, and could have made this list two more times, but his best effort is the one that gets him in third place.

His five touchdowns and zero picks in a 55-10 win over the Denver Broncos is arguably good enough for first place on this list.

The most impressive stat is how Montana completed 76 percent of his passes and torched a Denver defense that finished the regular season with the top scoring defense in the league.

2. Phil Simms- New York Giants (Super Bowl XXI)

Simms never had the stats or iconic status as a Joe Montana, Dan Marino, or Steve Young, but he probably should have.

He put together one of the best performances we have ever seen in any game, but did so on the league's biggest stage, as he completed 88 percent of his passes (Super Bowl record), as he threw three touchdowns and no picks en route to a 39-20 thrashing of the Denver Broncos.

Simms completed 10 straight passes at one point in the game, and had head coach Bill Parcells saying, "That might be the best game a quarterback has ever played".

Close, Bill. So very close.

1. Steve Young- San Francisco 49ers (Super Bowl XXIX)

Joe Montana gets the credit for winning four Super Bowls and three Super Bowl MVP's. Joe Namath will always be remembered for his guarantee. And Phil Simms may never be matched for his great, efficient game against the Buffalo Bills.

But there has never been a more flawless, dominant performance by a passer than Steve Young's offensive onslaught against the San Diego Chargers in 1995.

Young threw six touchdowns and zero interceptions, along with 325 yards in a impressive, and convincing 49-26 victory.

His six scores are the most in Super Bowl history, and he gets the nod for also capping an unbelievable season for the 49ers, the very year San Francisco parted ways with their legend, Joe Montana.

Honorable Mentions: John Elway (several), Joe Montana (several), Brett Favre , Bart Starr, Len Dawson, Jake Delhomme, Ken Anderson, Jim Plunkett, Roger Staubach

You've seen the best, now here's the worst.

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