Best Offensive Super Bowl Performers

Best Offensive Super Bowl Performers
Best Offensive Super Bowl Performers /

QB Eli Manning, New York Giants :: Bryan Graham/SI.com

The other Manning connected with Plaxico Burress on a 15-yard fade with 35 seconds left, clinching a monumental 17-14 upset for the Giants while cementing his Super Bowl legend.


QB Tom Brady, New England Patriots

The second of Brady's four Super Bowl appearances found the 26-year-old quarterback at his offensive peak. New England's signal-caller completed 32 of his 48 attempts for 354 yards and three touchdowns on his way to MVP honors. But victory over the plucky Panthers wasn't secured until Brady directed a 37-yard drive in the final minute of regulation to put the Patriots into position for Adam Vinatieri's game-winning field goal.


QB Kurt Warner, St. Louis Rams :: Bryan Graham/SI.com

After throwing 41 TD passes in one of the most out-of-nowhere campaigns in NFL history, the conductor of the prolific Greatest Show on Turf passed for a record 414 yards -- including a game-clinching 73-yard strike to Isaac Bruce with 1:54 remaining -- to lock down MVP honors as St. Louis brought home its first Super Bowl title.


RB Terrell Davis, Denver Broncos :: Bryan Graham/SI.com

Vegas installed the Broncos as 11-and-a-half-point underdogs against the reigning league champions on the eve of Super Bowl XXXII -- but someone forgot to deliver the script to the Denver locker room. Davis ran for 157 yards and a record three rushing touchdowns against the vaunted Green Bay defense. His third score gave the Broncos a permanent 31-24 lead, securing the Mile High City's first-ever championship.


QB Steve Young, San Francisco 49ers :: Bryan Graham/SI.com

Young carved out his own legacy with a masterclass performance in San Francisco's 49-26 victory over San Diego. The longtime understudy to Joe Montana completed 24-of-36 passes for 325 yards and a Super Bowl-record six touchdown passes as the 49ers stormed to their fifth Vince Lombardi trophy.


QB Joe Montana, San Francisco 49ers :: Bryan Graham/SI.com

Joe Cool completed 22 of his 29 pass attempts and tossed five touchdown passes in a 55-10 thrashing of the Broncos, locking down his third Super Bowl MVP trophy. San Francisco's prolific offensive output -- 55 points -- set a Supe scoring record, which still stands today.


WR Jerry Rice, San Francisco 49ers :: Bryan Graham/SI.com

John Taylor reaped the glory with the game-winning touchdown catch -- but Rice's career outing set the stage for San Francisco's nail-biting victory. The Hall of Fame wideout set a Super Bowl standard with 215 receiving yards (on a record-tying 11 catches) as the 49ers edged the Bengals, 20-16, for their third championship in eight seasons.


RB Timmy Smith, Washington Redskins :: Bryan Graham/SI.com

Smith got a chance to start in the Super Bowl when injuries caught up with aging incumbent George Rodgers. And the rookie running back made the most of his opportunity, exploding for a record 204 yards on the ground, including a luminescent 58-yard touchdown gallop to give the Redskins a two-touchdown edge in the second quarter.


QB Phil Simms, New York Giants :: Bryan Graham/SI.com

Simms set the Super Bowl standard for passing precision with his surgical display in a 39-20 victory over Denver. The New York signal-caller completed 22 of his 25 pass attempts -- a freakish 88 percent clip -- to help the Giants to a 39-20 victory over the Broncos.


RB Marcus Allen, Los Angeles Raiders :: Bryan Graham/SI.com

The six-time Pro Bowler carried 20 times for a then-record 191 yards as the Raiders swept aside the Redskins, 38-9. Allen scored a pair of touchdowns in the third quarter -- including his famous 74-yard cutback touchdown scamper -- to lock down the Most Valuable Player trophy.


QB Terry Bradshaw, Pittsburgh Steelers :: Bryan Graham/SI.com

In spiriting the Steelers to a thrilling 35-31 decision over the Cowboys, Bradshaw established since-broken Super Bowl records with four touchdowns and 318 yards passing.


WR Lynn Swann, Pittsburgh Steelers :: Bryan Graham/SI.com

Swann became the first wide receiver to earn the Super Bowl MVP award with his standout performance in Pittsburgh's 21-17 victory over Dallas. The wideout brought down four acrobatic catches for a game-record 161 yards, including the decisive 64-yard touchdown grab in the fourth quarter to give the Steelers a 21-10 advantage.


QB Bart Starr, Green Bay Packers :: Bryan Graham/SI.com

The longtime Green Bay signal-caller completed 16 of 23 passes for 250 yards and two touchdowns as the Packers hammered the Chiefs, 35-10, in the inaugural AFL-NFL World Championship Game. The future Hall of Famer collected MVP honors in leading Green Bay to the fourth of its five league titles during the 1960s.



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