Power Ranking The Top 10 Best QB Matchups In Super Bowl History

Defense may win championships, but having a great quarterback certainly helps. Fair or not, quarterbacks are going to get too much credit win a team wins and when their team loses.

In light of that, many Super Bowl matchups are best summarized simply by the QBs who played them. Just say the two names together and football fans will be flooded with memories of their Super Bowl duel(s).

Here are the best quarterback matchups in the history of the big game.

No. 10. Super Bowl XXXIV: Kurt Warner Vs. Steve McNair

The 2000 NFL season saw Kurt Warner and the "Greatest Show on Turf" take the NFL by storm. Warner was in charge of an unstoppable machine and put together one of the best seasons a QB has ever had.

This was also Steve McNair's breakout season. He was never a QB whose impact could truly be measured by stats, but his greatness is undeniable. McNair was at the top of his game in the 2000 season. 

No. 9. Super Bowl XXVII: Troy Aikman Vs. Jim Kelly

Aikman versus Kelly: Just say the two names together and you come up with Scott Norwood.

After that, you remember that was one great Super Bowl and two great QBs.

The 1992 campaign was the first of Troy Aikman and that version of the Dallas Cowboys' exceptional seasons. It also may be the finest season of his career. Aikman is one of the most decorated and successful QBs in Super Bowl history.

Jim Kelly is certainly one of the most experienced Super Bowl QBs out there. Although 1992 was not Kelly's finest season, he was still one of the league's best.

No. 8. Super Bowl XXXIX: Tom Brady Vs. Donovan McNabb

This Super Bowl capped a 2004 season that found Tom Brady going from being just a clutch game manager to a legitimate offensive powerhouse. While he was still three seasons away from his record-breaking 2007 season, he was certainly among the league's best QBs.

For Donovan McNabb it was his finest statistical season. He put up career bests in completion percentage, touchdowns and yards.

No. 7. Super Bowl XI: Ken Stabler Vs. Fran Tarkenton

The only thing keeping Ken Stabler out of the Hall of Fame is his longevity. Stabler won the MVP in 1974 and he might have been better the season of this Super Bowl. He led the league in completion percentage and touchdowns. He also posted what was then an unmatched 103 QB rating.

Tarkenton's best season was probably 1975, but he almost duplicated it in '76. Like Jim Kelly, Tarkenton may have gone 0-4 in Super Bowls, but he was great enough to get them there.

No. 6: Super Bowl XXXII: John Elway Vs. Brett Favre

John Elway and Brett Favre: What else needs to be said? Sure, this is Elway towards the end of his career, but "Old Elway" is better than almost any other QB. Elway was in command and in control of the offense and he still had the ability to do whatever the team needed to move the chains.

This, of course, was Brett Favre in his risk-taking, ball-chucking, touchdown-making, MVP prime.

No. 5. Super Bowl XXIV: Joe Montana Vs. John Elway

This matchup at QB in this Super Bowl was the only competitive matchup on the field in this game.

This was vintage, one-man-offense John Elway. The guy could do everything there was to be done on a football field and he had to.

This may have been Montana's finest season. He completed over 70 percent of his passes and won his only MVP Award.

No. 4. Super Bowl XLIV: Drew Brees Vs. Peyton Manning

Chris Graythen/Getty Images

MIAMI GARDENS, FL - FEBRUARY 07: Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints reacts to a touchdown pass to Jeremy Shockey during Super Bowl XLIV on February 7, 2010 at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Was there any doubt that the two best QBs of the 2009 season were Drew Brees and Peyton Manning? Both of them had been good for years. Brees was probably enjoying his best season and Peyton Manning, one of his best.

No. 3: Super Bowl XIII: Terry Bradshaw Vs. Roger Staubach

This game caught two Hall of Fame quarterbacks in the peaks of their prime.

Terry Bradshaw's career cannot be measured by stats, but it could in this 1978 season. Bradshaw had his finest statistical year and he was rewarded with the NFL's MVP award.

This Super Bowl was the end of the second to last season for Roger Staubach. Staubach did not step away from the game because he could no longer play. His last two seasons may have been his best.

No. 2 Super Bowl I: Bart Starr Vs. Len Dawson

The first Super Bowl set a ridiculously high standard for quarterback matchups. This game featured two Hall of Fame players at the peaks of their tremendous abilities.

And might have been the greatest season of Starr's storied career and it came right in the middle of his run of dominance.

For Dawson, 1966 was just another season in which he led the AFL in completion percentage and touchdowns. He was undoubtedly the best QB the AFL had to offer.

No. 1. Super Bowl XIX: Joe Montana Vs. Dan Marino

The 1984 season was a watershed moment for passing numbers. Dan Marino shattered almost every major passing mark. It is largely regarded as the greatest season a QB has ever enjoyed.

That alone is enough to land this game on the list, but Marino wasn't facing just any QB.

The 1984 season was Montana's fifth as a full-time starter. It was this season that he really entered the conversation for best QBs in the game as he set new career highs for completion percentage, yards and touchdowns.