Super Bowl XLV: Power Ranking the Best QB-WR Duos in Super Bowl History

Legends are made in the Super Bowl. Montana, Bradshaw, Namath and Brady are just some of the surnames that need no first name to provide clarification, in great part due to their Super Bowl performances.

The same can be said for the names Swann, Rice and Fitzgerald.

When the greatest players play their greatest on the greatest stage, we end up with unforgettable performances. In 44 Super Bowls there have been some fabulous quarterback-wide receiver performances.

Here are the best of the best with a few notables left off. It's a tough cut to make.

17. Brett Favre and Antonio Freeman, Super Bowl XXXI

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03 Dec 2001 : Quarterback Brett Favre #4 of the Green Bay Packers celebrates scoring against the Jacksonville Jaguars with teammate Antonio Freeman #86 during the game at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida. The Packers won 28-21. DIGITAL IMAGE. Manda

For all of his records and excitement over the years, Brett Favre has won just one Super Bowl in two appearances. He hooked up with Antonio Freeman three times, including one connection for an 81-yard touchdown, in Super Bowl XXXI.

Favre completed 14 passes for 246 yards in the 35-21 win over the New England Patriots.

Favre and Freeman hooked up for two touchdowns the next year in Super Bowl XXXII.

16. John Elway and Vance Johnson, Super Bowl XXI

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1986: Quarterback John Elway of the Denver Broncos rolls out of the pocket during a game. Mandatory Credit: Mike Powell /Allsport

It was Phil Simms that was heading to Disney World to celebrate his Giants' Super Bowl XXI win, but it was John Elway and Vance Johnson that turned in the best quarterback-wide receiver performance.

Johnson had five catches for 121 yards and a touchdown. But it wasn't enough, as the Broncos lost 39-20.

15. Terry Bradshaw and John Stallworth, Super Bowl XIV

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ATLANTA - NOVEMBER 1: Quarterback Terry Bradshaw #12 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks for an open man during the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Fulton County Stadium on November 1, 1981 in Atlanta, Georgia. The Steelers defeated the Falcons 34-20.

In the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XIV, Terry Bradshaw found John Stallworth for a 73-yard touchdown that gave the Steelers a 24-19 lead.

Stallworth ended the game with three catches for 121 yards and the lone touchdown. The Steelers beat the Los Angeles Rams 31-19.

14. Troy Aikman and Michael Irvin, Super Bowl XXVII

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31 Aug 1997: Quarterback Troy Aikman and wide receiver Michael Irvin get interviewed after a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Cowboys won the game, 37-7. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Dunn /Allsp

The Dallas Cowboys dominated the Buffalo Bills 52-17 in one of four consecutive Super Bowl losses for the Bills.

Troy Aikman and Michael Irvin kept their dynamic combination going, hooking up six times for 114 yards and two scores.

13. Kurt Warner and Larry Fitzgerald, Super Bowl XLIII

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GLENDALE, AZ - AUGUST 31: Quarterback Kurt Warner #13 and Larry Fitzgerald #11 of the Arizona Cardinals talk on the sidelines during the game against the Denver Broncos on August 31, 2006 at Cardinals Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The Broncos defeated t

The Arizona Cardinals fell behind 20-7 to the Pittsburgh Steelers and looked out of Super Bowl XLIII. But Kurt Warner and Larry Fitzgerald wouldn't go quietly.

They helped the Cardinals score 16 straight points with two second-half touchdown connections and even take a 23-20 lead before losing 27-23.

Warner threw for 377 yards and three scores. Fitzgerald had seven catches for 127 yards and the two touchdowns.

12. John Elway and Rod Smith, Super Bowl XXXIII

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31 Jan 1999: John Elway #7 of the Denver Broncos is sacked by Cornelius Bennett #97 of the Atlanta Falcons during the Superbowl XXXIII at the Pro Player Stadium in Miami, Florida. The Broncos defeated the Falcons 34-19. Mandatory Credit: Al Bello /All

Having finally gotten his first Super Bowl win in four tries the season before, Elway returned to the big game to get two Super Bowl wins in a row.

Elway was named Super Bowl MVP, the oldest ever, throwing for 336 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Rod Smith was Elway's main target, catching five balls for 152 yards and Elway's lone touchdown.

11. Mark Rypien and Gary Clark, Super Bowl XXVI

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29 Oct 1989: Quarterback Mark Rypien of the Washington Redskins looks to pass the ball during a game against the Los Angeles Raiders at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. The Raiders won the game, 37-24. Mandatory Credit: Step

Mark Rypien and Gary Clark are one of the most unlikely duos on this list, but they put in a great performance in a 37-24 Super Bowl XXVI win for the Redskins over the Buffalo Bills.

Rypien threw for 292 yards and two touchdowns with Clark making seven grabs for 114 yards and one score.

10. Ken Anderson, Cris Collinsworth and Dan Ross, Super Bowl XVI

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2 Sep 1984: Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Ken Anderson throws a pass during game against the Denver Bronos at Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos won the game 20-17. Mandatory Credit: Allsport /Allsport

Cris Collinsworth and Dan Ross became the first pair of wide receivers to each have more than 100 yards receiving in a Super Bowl. They would gladly trade that record for a win in Super Bowl XVI. The Bengals lost 26-21 to the San Francisco 49ers.

Ken Anderson completed 25 passes with a 73.5 completion percentage. He threw for 300 yards and connected with Ross for two touchdowns. But he also had two interceptions in the loss.

9. Eli Manning and David Tyree, Super Bowl XLII

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GLENDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 03: David Tyree #85 of the New York Giants catches a 32-yard pass from Eli Manning #10 as Rodney Harrison #37 of the New England Patriots attempts to knock it out in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XLII on February 3, 2008 at the

Eli Manning and David Tyree were not a prolific combination in Super Bowl XLII, but there may not have ever been a more important pass-catch combination.

Tyree had three catches for 43 yards and a touchdown, but it was Manning somehow evading the New England pass rush and heaving a prayer in Tyree's direction. Tyree pinned the ball against his helmet to make an improbable 32-yard catch to keep the Giants' game-winning drive alive.

8. Joe Namath and George Sauer, Jr., Super Bowl III

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - OCTOBER 26: Former Jets quarterback is introduced during halftime festivities celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Jets' win over the Colts in Super Bowl III during the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the New York Jets on

With significant bias from the public against the AFL, the New York Jets entered Super Bowl III as big-time underdogs. The line favored the Baltimore Colts anywhere from 17 to 19 points leading up to the game.

After Namath made a guarantee that he never meant to get as big as it did, he and George Sauer, Jr. played terrifically in leading New York to the win. Sauer had eight catches for 133 yards.

7. Terry Bradshaw and Lynn Swann, Super Bowl X

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ATLANTA - NOVEMBER 1: Quarterback Terry Bradshaw #12 of the Pittsburgh Steelers calls the play during the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Fulton County Stadium on November 1, 1981 in Atlanta, Georgia. The Steelers defeated the Falcons 34-20. (Photo

Lynn Swann's 53-yard catch is one of the most iconic in the history of the NFL. It was only one of four he had on the day for 161 yards and a touchdown.

Swann was named Super Bowl MVP. Bradshaw and Swann also connected five times in Super Bowl XIV.

6. Doug Williams and Ricky Sanders, Super Bowl XXII

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1 Dec 1991: Wide receiver Ricky Sanders of the Washington Redskins looks to catch the ball during a game against the Los Angeles Rams at Anaheim Stadium in Anaheim, California. The Redskins won the game, 27-6. Mandatory Credit: Mike Powell /Allsport

The Washington Redskins dominated the Denver Broncos 42-10 in Super Bowl XXII, and it was due in great part to the performances of quarterback Doug Williams and wide receiver Ricky Sanders.

Williams passed for 340 yards and four scores. Sanders made nine catches for 193 yards with scores of 80 and 50 yards.

5. Tom Brady and Deion Branch, Super Bowl XXXVIII

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Tom Brady holds the Vince Lombardi Trophy as he stands on the podium with Deion Branch after The New England Patriots defeated The Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX at Alltel Staduim in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Steve Grayson/Getty Images)

The New England Patriots completed an improbable run by winning Super Bowl XXXVIII over the St. Louis Rams and began their dominance of the '00s.

Tom Brady threw for 354 yards and three touchdowns. Deion Branch caught 10 passes for 143 yards and a score. Wonder how Branch's career would have been different if he had never been traded to Seattle?

4. Ben Roethlisberger and Santonio Holmes, Super Bowl XLIII

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TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 01: Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes #10 (L) and Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrate with the Vince Lombardi trophy after they defeated the Arizona Cardinals 27-23 during Super Bowl XLIII on February

The Pittsburgh Steelers built a solid lead, but the Arizona Cardinals came roaring back and took a late 23-20 lead.

Ben Roethlisberger and Santonio Holmes connected on one of the most astonishing—and controversial—touchdowns in Super Bowl history to win 27-23. Big Ben had 256 passing yards and that one memorable touchdown.

Holmes had nine catches for 131 yards.

3. Bart Starr and Max McGee, Super Bowl I

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CANTON, OH - AUGUST 3: Pro Football Hall of Famer (Class of 1977) Bart Starr waves to the crowd as he is introduced during the 2003 NFL Hall of Fame Induction ceremony on August 3, 2003 in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by David Maxwell/Getty Images)

There wasn't much passing back in Bart Starr's day, but he made the most of his pass attempts in Super Bowl I.

Seven of Starr's 16 completions went to Max McGee, a reserve wide receiver who entered the game after starter Boyd Dowler exited with an injury on the Packers' first drive.

McGee had 137 yards receiving and two touchdowns.

2. Joe Montana and Jerry Rice, Super Bowl XXIV

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23 Sep 1990: San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jerry Rice (left) and quarterback Joe Montana look on during a game against the Atlanta Falcons at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California. The 49ers won the game, 19-13. Mandatory Credit: Otto Greule

Joe Montana and Jerry Rice are arguably the great quarterback-wide receiver combination in NFL history. To be honest, there is nothing arguable about it. They are the benchmark that everyone else is trying to match.

It was no different in their Super Bowl appearances. In Super Bowl XXIV, Rice caught seven passes for 143 yards and three touchdowns. Montana was 22-of-29 for 297 yards and five touchdowns in the 55-10 dismantling of the Broncos.

The duo also connected on 11 passes for 215 yards and a touchdown in Super Bowl XXIII.

1. Kurt Warner and Isaac Bruce, Super Bowl XXXIV

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F363722 55: (NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA SALES ONLY) Quarterback Kurt Warner of the St Louis Rams is escorted off the field after winning Super Bowl XXXIV at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia on January 30, 2000. The St. Louis Rams defeated the Tennessee T

Kurt Warner racked up an incredible Super Bowl-record 414 yards and threw two touchdowns against the Tennessee Titans in the St. Louis Rams' Super Bowl XXXIV win.

Warner's 73-yard lob down the sideline to Isaac Bruce went for a touchdown with only minutes remaining. The Rams held the Titans a yard short of forcing overtime, as Kevin Dyson was tackled as time expired.

Bruce had six catches for 162 yards and the game-winning touchdown catch.