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Andy,
I really like the direction you’ve taken the conversation. You’re right on about many of the matchups not being prime vs. prime.

I wish Marino could of played in the SB when he was a little more seasoned. If the Dolphins could of beat the Chargers it would of set up a good one in Marino vs. Young. Like usual I can’t tell you one weapon that Marino had on offense. That said, he did have his chances and blew them. My favorite Marino playoff game was maybe that same year when he led us from behind to beat the Chiefs 17-16 in a game we know right to win. KC was a great team that year.

Probably the poorest QB’s to play in the SB were Grossman, Woodley, Humphries and Eason. Funny how two of the three beat Miami in the AFC Title game and the other one played for Miami. Both got hot and played above their heads.

I don’t see Tarkington vs Griese , both HOFers and in their prime. Griese was an excellent passer and one of the most accurate QB’s in those days. He just didn’t need to throw the ball that day as RB Csonka set the rushing record. Miami had it’s way with the highly touted “Purple People Eaters”. That’s the best running team I’ve ever seen!!

The best matchup I’ve seen of QB’s that were at the top of their games was Staubach vs Bradshaw in the 35-31 game. Bradshaw was dumb as dirt early in his career but he turned himself into an excellent QB by the late 70′s.

Actually the first SB was a heck of a matchup between Starr and Dawson.

Here’s my top five best:

1) 1978 – HOF Stauback vs HOF Bradshaw – Both 2-time SB winners and was a SB rematch

2) 1966 – HOF Starr vs HOF Dawson – Both winners of League Titles and top QB’s of the day

3) 1997 – HOF Elway vs HOF (to be) Favre – 3 time SB runner-up vs previous year SB winner and MVP

4) 1973 – HOF Griese vs HOF Tarkington – returning SB winner in his 3rd straight SB vs All-time Top passer and both in their prime with great teams.

5) 2004 – HOF (to be) Brady vs McNabb – two time SB winner and both top QB’s of the day .

6) 1984 – HOF Montana vs HOF Marino – Top QB and SB winner in his prime vs electric fresh star smashing season records.

7) 2010 – HOF (to be) Manning vs Brees – Top 5 best QB of all-time and SB winner vs extremely accurate QB. Both at the top of their games.

1981 – HOF Montana vs Anderson – one of the more intriging matchups to me. The grizzled veteran having a HOF year vs the young upstart who looked like a HOFer from the start. Young vs Old. Savvy vs savvy. Amazing!!

9) 1983 – Plunkett vs Theisman – both SB veterans and very good QB’s. Two good teams.

10) 1999 – Warner vs McNair – Excellent young QB’s with the ability to air it out. Warner led top offense. Both were a cool customers beyond their big game experience. McNair was one of the top rushing QB’s of all-time. Exciting match-up.

Brad,
Ginn Jr, you want him?? LOL!! A lot of good players but I don’t see HOF quality except for Joe Thomas, AD Peterson, Calvin Johnson, Revis and possibly Patrick Willis. Not too bad I guess.