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Best Single-Game, Super Bowl, & Single-Season Quarterback Performances – Adjusted for Opponent/Era

Posted by Neil Paine on September 10, 2010
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As a follow-up to last week's post about the 100 Greatest Single-Game Quarterback Performances since the merger, today I'm going to re-post the list after adjusting every QB game for the strength of the opposing defense (as you can imagine, this changes the rankings quite a bit). Commenter/PFR contributor Scott Kacsmar had a great idea about adjusting for era and opponent in one step, so instead of translating from the per-game rates of the season in question to the 1993-2009 period average, I simply translated from the regular-season per-game rates allowed by the defense faced. In other words, if a 1975 defense happened to allow numbers that would be average in 1993-2009, I wouldn't translate the raw stats of the QBs that faced them at all, even though the general offensive environment of 1975 was far different from that of 1993-2009.

Anyway, after that change here are the best QB games since 1970, adjusted for opponent:

Actual Stats Adj. for Opp./Era
Rk Player Date Tm Opp A C pY pT I R rY rT A C pY pT I R rY rT eYAR
1 Joe Namath 9/24/1972 nyj clt 28 15 496 6 1 1 1 0 41 23 608 7 1 1 1 0 469.1
2 Fran Tarkenton 11/7/1976 min det 25 17 347 2 1 3 -1 0 37 34 570 3 1 2 -1 0 443.2
3 Peyton Manning 1/24/2010 clt nyj 39 26 377 3 0 1 0 0 41 31 499 8 0 1 0 0 428.1
4 Peyton Manning 1/4/2004 clt den 26 22 377 5 0 1 0 0 28 26 442 6 0 1 0 0 418.5
5 Peyton Manning 1/9/2005 clt den 33 27 458 4 1 1 1 1 36 31 510 5 1 1 1 1 379.6
6 John Hadl 10/31/1971 sdg nyj 27 19 358 4 1 3 38 1 36 32 490 4 1 2 26 1 373.3
7 Charley Johnson 10/22/1972 den rai 28 20 361 2 0 1 0 0 37 33 478 3 0 1 0 0 370.4
8 Fran Tarkenton 10/25/1970 nyg crd 18 15 280 5 0 3 18 0 22 22 363 6 0 2 16 0 367.9
9 James Harris 10/20/1974 ram sfo 15 12 276 3 0 9 23 1 20 18 397 4 0 7 18 1 366.7
10 R. Cunningham 10/5/1998 min gnb 32 20 442 4 0 2 -1 0 31 21 465 4 0 2 -1 0 362.2
11 B. Roethlisberger 12/20/2009 pit gnb 46 29 503 3 0 1 7 0 45 31 522 2 0 1 9 0 352.3
12 Mark Rypien 11/10/1991 was atl 31 16 442 6 0 1 4 1 34 20 448 5 0 1 4 1 350.3
13 Ken Anderson 11/22/1981 cin den 37 25 396 3 0 3 11 1 39 29 447 5 0 3 10 1 349.6
14 Warren Moon 12/16/1990 oti kan 45 27 527 3 0 4 2 0 46 31 515 4 0 5 2 0 347.7
15 Gary Danielson 12/9/1978 det min 33 26 352 5 1 1 15 0 39 34 432 7 1 1 13 0 347.0
16 Steve Young 12/19/1993 sfo det 23 17 354 4 0 3 19 0 24 17 387 4 0 3 21 0 343.8
17 Richard Todd 10/23/1977 nyj rai 29 17 396 4 2 1 5 0 36 26 495 4 1 1 4 0 343.5
18 Mike Phipps 11/23/1975 cle cin 36 23 298 2 0 2 7 0 43 36 466 3 0 2 5 0 343.1
19 Phil Simms 9/2/1984 nyg phi 30 23 409 4 0 6 20 0 32 27 417 4 0 5 16 0 338.2
20 Dan Fouts 11/3/1974 sdg cle 21 12 333 4 1 7 24 0 31 23 461 3 1 5 16 0 338.2
Rk Player Date Tm Opp A C pY pT I R rY rT A C pY pT I R rY rT eYAR
21 Mike Livingston 10/10/1976 kan was 29 15 332 2 0 7 14 0 38 28 464 3 0 5 10 0 338.0
22 Ken Anderson 11/3/1974 cin clt 21 17 297 3 0 6 62 0 31 26 396 3 0 5 50 0 334.8
23 Dan Fouts 9/26/1976 sdg crd 18 15 259 4 0 1 4 0 24 23 344 6 0 1 3 0 332.1
24 Peyton Manning 9/28/2003 clt nor 25 20 314 6 0 1 1 0 27 23 355 6 0 1 1 0 332.1
25 Tom Brady 10/21/2007 nwe mia 25 21 354 6 0 0 0 0 32 27 397 5 0 0 0 0 330.8
26 Ken O'Brien 11/2/1986 nyj sea 32 26 431 4 0 1 5 0 31 27 397 4 0 1 5 0 330.3
27 Kurt Warner 1/10/2010 crd gnb 33 29 379 5 0 0 0 0 32 31 393 4 0 0 0 0 328.1
28 Tom Brady 12/9/2007 nwe pit 46 32 399 4 0 1 4 0 45 34 465 4 0 1 5 0 327.1
29 Jim Plunkett 12/12/1977 sfo dal 29 15 263 4 0 3 10 0 36 26 413 5 0 3 10 0 326.9
30 Joe Montana 1/28/1990 sfo den 29 22 297 5 0 2 15 0 30 25 332 8 0 2 17 0 326.1
31 Kurt Warner 2/1/2009 crd pit 43 31 377 3 1 1 0 0 42 32 471 5 1 1 0 0 323.4
32 Drew Brees 11/30/2009 nor nwe 23 18 371 5 0 1 -1 0 24 19 370 4 0 1 -1 0 322.6
33 Fran Tarkenton 12/1/1974 min nor 29 20 317 3 0 1 6 0 36 28 426 3 0 1 5 0 320.2
34 Kerry Collins 12/22/2002 nyg clt 29 23 366 4 0 5 -3 0 33 25 414 4 0 5 -3 0 319.4
35 Terry Bradshaw 1/21/1979 pit dal 30 17 318 4 1 2 -5 0 37 26 417 8 1 2 -5 0 319.3
36 Vinny Testaverde 9/13/1992 tam gnb 25 22 363 2 0 2 18 1 27 25 371 3 0 2 18 1 318.8
37 Steve Young 9/13/1992 sfo buf 37 26 449 3 1 7 50 0 37 26 451 3 1 7 65 0 316.3
38 Jim Plunkett 11/18/1973 nwe gnb 32 18 348 2 1 3 8 1 45 27 531 3 1 2 6 1 314.3
39 Carson Palmer 11/12/2006 cin sdg 42 31 440 3 0 1 3 0 41 31 442 3 0 1 3 0 313.9
40 Brett Favre 10/10/1999 gnb tam 40 22 390 2 0 1 -1 0 37 23 441 4 0 1 -1 0 313.8
Rk Player Date Tm Opp A C pY pT I R rY rT A C pY pT I R rY rT eYAR
41 Joe Montana 9/24/1989 sfo phi 34 25 428 5 1 4 14 0 34 30 412 4 1 4 16 0 312.4
42 Jim Hart 10/17/1976 crd dal 33 22 346 3 2 0 0 0 39 32 484 5 2 0 0 0 311.2
43 Craig Morton 12/20/1970 dal oti 17 13 349 5 1 1 0 0 23 21 383 4 1 1 0 0 310.6
44 Brian Sipe 10/29/1978 cle buf 15 12 217 3 0 1 11 0 25 22 360 3 0 1 6 0 309.3
45 Peyton Manning 9/25/2000 clt jax 36 23 440 4 0 6 4 0 41 28 462 4 0 6 4 0 308.6
46 Tommy Maddox 11/10/2002 pit atl 41 28 473 4 1 2 7 0 42 30 472 4 1 2 6 0 307.7
47 Steve Young 12/23/1991 sfo chi 32 21 338 3 0 8 63 1 33 23 380 3 0 9 72 1 307.6
48 Neil Lomax 10/7/1984 crd dal 29 19 354 3 0 4 5 0 29 24 396 3 0 3 4 0 306.7
49 Ken Anderson 11/10/1974 cin pit 22 20 227 0 0 3 15 0 30 37 380 0 0 2 15 0 306.2
50 Brett Favre 12/22/2003 gnb rai 30 22 399 4 0 0 0 0 34 24 401 4 0 0 0 0 306.2
51 Bert Jones 12/18/1977 clt nwe 30 19 340 3 0 8 42 0 39 27 425 3 0 7 41 0 306.0
52 Jack Concannon 12/13/1970 chi gnb 34 21 338 4 1 4 31 1 42 32 424 6 1 3 27 1 304.9
53 Terry Bradshaw 11/13/1977 pit cle 21 13 283 3 0 0 0 0 28 19 385 4 0 0 0 0 304.7
54 Dan Pastorini 11/6/1977 oti chi 18 11 246 2 0 0 0 0 22 16 330 5 0 0 0 0 304.2
55 Trent Green 11/9/2003 kan cle 42 29 368 3 0 0 0 0 44 30 432 5 0 0 0 0 302.9
56 John Hadl 12/12/1971 sdg den 36 21 332 4 0 0 0 0 47 38 429 4 0 0 0 0 301.7
57 Joe Montana 11/29/1987 sfo cle 31 23 342 4 1 4 43 0 33 27 371 5 1 4 51 0 301.2
58 Roger Staubach 11/12/1979 dal phi 28 17 308 3 0 4 31 0 32 22 394 4 0 3 25 0 300.0
59 John Hadl 12/20/1970 sdg kan 27 16 277 3 0 1 9 0 30 22 380 4 0 1 9 0 299.9
60 Donovan McNabb 12/10/2000 phi cle 36 23 390 4 0 3 12 0 39 27 409 5 0 2 9 0 299.4
Rk Player Date Tm Opp A C pY pT I R rY rT A C pY pT I R rY rT eYAR
61 Dan Marino 9/30/1984 mia crd 36 24 429 3 0 1 -2 0 38 30 429 2 0 1 -2 0 299.3
62 Bob Griese 11/17/1974 mia buf 18 11 237 1 0 3 12 0 27 20 391 2 0 2 10 0 298.6
63 Dan Fouts 10/17/1976 sdg oti 24 19 279 2 0 1 0 0 32 30 387 2 0 1 0 0 298.4
64 Jeff Blake 11/13/1994 cin oti 33 23 354 4 0 4 0 0 43 32 427 5 0 3 0 0 297.7
65 Steve Grogan 10/29/1978 nwe nyj 19 15 281 4 0 3 32 0 22 18 329 4 0 2 21 0 296.1
66 Eric Hipple 10/19/1981 det chi 25 14 336 4 0 4 13 2 25 19 341 4 0 3 11 2 295.9
67 Dan Fouts 11/30/1980 sdg phi 28 20 342 2 0 5 -5 0 27 23 385 3 0 5 -6 0 295.7
68 Dan Marino 1/6/1985 mia pit 32 21 421 4 1 0 0 0 33 22 408 4 1 0 0 0 294.8
69 Dan Fouts 12/11/1982 sdg sfo 48 33 444 5 0 1 -2 0 51 36 458 4 0 1 -2 0 292.6
70 Steve Young 11/28/1993 sfo ram 32 26 462 4 1 2 3 0 34 27 439 5 2 2 3 0 292.3
71 Jim Zorn 11/18/1979 sea nor 33 24 384 4 0 3 1 0 36 28 397 4 0 3 1 0 292.0
72 Kurt Warner 9/30/2001 ram mia 31 24 328 4 0 1 -1 0 35 28 384 4 0 1 -1 0 292.0
73 Tommy Kramer 11/2/1986 min was 35 20 490 4 1 3 8 0 35 20 448 4 1 3 8 0 291.6
74 Trent Green 12/7/2003 kan den 47 34 397 1 0 1 1 1 50 40 466 1 0 1 1 1 291.1
75 Paul Justin 11/16/1997 clt gnb 30 24 340 1 0 4 1 0 28 26 377 2 0 4 1 0 291.0
76 John Elway 1/2/1994 den rai 36 25 361 3 0 2 21 0 41 30 411 4 0 2 20 0 290.7
77 Steve Bono 12/1/1991 sfo nor 41 27 347 3 0 2 8 0 44 32 406 5 0 3 12 0 290.5
78 Trent Green 9/29/2002 kan mia 34 24 328 5 0 3 48 0 34 25 342 5 0 3 56 0 290.4
79 Jerry Tagge 11/18/1973 gnb nwe 23 17 267 0 1 1 2 0 44 34 522 0 1 1 1 0 290.4
80 Archie Manning 11/5/1978 nor pit 32 22 344 1 1 2 -1 0 38 31 447 2 1 2 -1 0 289.3
Rk Player Date Tm Opp A C pY pT I R rY rT A C pY pT I R rY rT eYAR
81 Steve McNair 10/12/2003 oti htx 27 18 421 3 0 5 2 0 28 19 393 3 0 4 2 0 289.0
82 Jim Zorn 11/27/1977 sea sdg 26 16 291 4 2 3 22 0 36 25 436 5 1 2 18 0 288.9
83 Len Dawson 11/21/1971 kan den 19 11 294 3 1 0 0 0 25 20 380 3 1 0 0 0 287.9
84 Dan Marino 9/4/1994 mia nwe 42 23 473 5 1 3 8 0 41 24 453 5 1 3 8 0 287.8
85 Steve Spurrier 11/9/1975 sfo ram 38 19 290 3 0 5 30 0 45 28 427 5 0 5 31 0 287.7
86 Steve Spurrier 11/19/1972 sfo chi 27 17 275 5 0 1 8 0 36 26 367 6 0 1 7 0 287.6
87 Peyton Manning 11/10/2002 clt phi 23 18 319 3 0 2 11 0 21 17 332 4 0 2 12 0 287.4
88 Kurt Warner 10/1/2000 ram sdg 30 24 390 4 0 1 6 0 29 23 368 3 0 1 8 0 287.2
89 Kurt Warner 9/14/2008 crd mia 24 19 361 3 0 0 0 0 23 18 334 4 0 0 0 0 286.4
90 Drew Brees 11/24/2008 nor gnb 26 20 323 4 0 0 0 0 26 22 341 4 0 0 0 0 286.1
91 Chad Henne 10/12/2009 mia nyj 26 20 241 2 0 0 0 0 27 24 319 5 0 0 0 0 285.8
92 Fran Tarkenton 11/19/1972 min ram 28 14 319 4 0 1 9 0 36 21 404 4 0 1 8 0 284.9
93 Carson Palmer 12/5/2004 cin rav 36 29 382 3 1 2 7 0 38 33 404 5 1 2 8 0 284.5
94 John Elway 1/14/1990 den cle 36 20 385 3 0 5 39 0 35 23 391 3 0 5 42 0 284.2
95 Trent Green 9/30/2001 kan was 26 21 307 3 0 1 2 0 29 25 352 3 0 1 2 0 283.7
96 Jake Delhomme 1/15/2006 car chi 33 24 319 3 1 2 9 0 32 24 363 6 1 2 10 0 283.4
97 Jim Kelly 9/27/1992 buf nwe 20 15 308 3 0 1 1 0 23 18 343 3 0 1 1 0 283.0
98 Ken Stabler 9/12/1976 rai pit 38 21 342 3 4 3 7 1 47 36 491 6 3 3 8 2 281.9
99 Roger Staubach 9/26/1976 dal clt 28 22 339 2 0 1 2 0 35 31 378 2 0 1 2 0 280.2
100 Roger Staubach 12/12/1977 dal sfo 19 14 220 3 0 9 23 1 32 27 354 4 0 6 19 1 279.9

Here are the numbers for Super Bowls only:

Actual Stats Adj. for Opp./Era
Rk Player Date Tm Opp A C pY pT I R rY rT A C pY pT I R rY rT eYAR
1 Joe Montana 1/28/1990 sfo den 29 22 297 5 0 2 15 0 30 25 332 8 0 2 17 0 326.1
2 Kurt Warner 2/1/2009 crd pit 43 31 377 3 1 1 0 0 42 32 471 5 1 1 0 0 323.4
3 Terry Bradshaw 1/21/1979 pit dal 30 17 318 4 1 2 -5 0 37 26 417 8 1 2 -5 0 319.3
4 Doug Williams 1/31/1988 was den 29 18 340 4 1 2 -2 0 31 20 375 5 1 2 -2 0 268.8
5 Jake Delhomme 2/1/2004 car nwe 33 16 323 3 0 0 0 0 28 15 332 6 0 0 0 0 267.4
6 Jim Plunkett 1/25/1981 rai phi 21 13 261 3 0 3 9 0 20 15 294 4 0 3 10 0 255.1
7 Steve Young 1/29/1995 sfo sdg 36 24 325 6 0 5 49 0 33 20 297 6 0 6 63 0 250.7
8 Joe Montana 1/20/1985 sfo mia 35 24 331 3 0 5 59 1 33 24 329 3 0 5 49 1 246.1
9 Joe Montana 1/22/1989 sfo cin 36 23 357 2 0 4 13 0 36 25 364 2 0 4 11 0 231.8
10 Troy Aikman 1/31/1993 dal buf 30 22 273 4 0 3 28 0 30 22 274 4 0 3 36 0 218.3
11 Phil Simms 1/25/1987 nyg den 25 22 268 3 0 3 25 0 24 23 255 3 0 3 27 0 217.7
12 Ken Stabler 1/9/1977 rai min 19 12 180 1 0 0 0 0 27 21 297 2 0 0 0 0 214.8
13 Roger Staubach 1/21/1979 dal pit 30 17 228 3 1 4 37 0 36 24 296 6 1 3 38 0 207.6
14 Terry Bradshaw 1/20/1980 pit ram 21 14 309 2 3 3 9 0 24 20 368 2 2 2 8 0 201.5
15 Terry Bradshaw 1/18/1976 pit dal 19 9 209 2 0 4 16 0 23 15 281 2 0 3 15 0 197.5
16 Ken Anderson 1/24/1982 cin sfo 34 25 300 2 2 4 15 1 35 28 342 3 1 4 14 1 195.7
17 Jim McMahon 1/26/1986 chi nwe 20 12 256 0 0 5 14 2 20 14 270 0 0 5 15 2 191.8
18 Kurt Warner 1/30/2000 ram oti 45 24 414 2 0 1 1 0 43 24 370 2 0 1 1 0 184.3
19 Tom Brady 2/1/2004 nwe car 48 32 354 3 1 2 12 0 48 33 394 3 1 2 13 0 183.9
20 Fran Tarkenton 1/13/1974 min mia 28 18 182 0 1 4 17 1 40 32 355 0 1 3 13 1 177.1
Rk Player Date Tm Opp A C pY pT I R rY rT A C pY pT I R rY rT eYAR
21 John Elway 1/31/1999 den atl 29 18 336 1 1 3 2 1 28 18 316 1 1 4 3 2 171.1
22 Drew Brees 2/7/2010 nor clt 39 32 288 2 0 1 -1 0 35 27 284 2 0 1 -1 0 166.1
23 Roger Staubach 1/18/1976 dal pit 24 15 204 2 3 5 22 0 28 22 291 4 2 5 19 0 160.9
24 Brett Favre 1/26/1997 gnb nwe 27 14 246 2 0 4 12 1 24 13 217 2 0 4 14 1 140.1
25 Tom Brady 2/6/2005 nwe phi 33 23 236 2 0 1 -1 0 32 21 243 3 0 1 -1 0 136.5
26 Kurt Warner 2/3/2002 ram nwe 44 28 365 1 2 3 6 1 42 29 350 1 2 3 6 2 129.3
27 Roger Staubach 1/15/1978 dal den 25 17 183 1 0 3 6 0 27 20 224 2 0 2 6 0 129.1
28 Mark Rypien 1/26/1992 was buf 33 18 292 2 1 6 -4 0 32 19 285 4 1 5 -4 0 128.7
29 John Elway 1/25/1987 den nyg 37 22 304 1 1 6 27 1 33 20 280 1 1 8 38 1 127.3
30 Vince Ferragamo 1/20/1980 ram pit 25 15 212 0 1 1 7 0 27 21 260 0 1 1 7 0 121.6
31 Peyton Manning 2/7/2010 clt nor 45 31 333 1 1 0 0 0 41 29 301 1 1 0 0 0 116.4
32 Jim Kelly 1/27/1991 buf nyg 30 18 212 0 0 6 23 0 32 20 259 0 0 7 28 0 110.5
33 Troy Aikman 1/28/1996 dal pit 23 15 209 1 0 4 -3 0 23 15 213 1 0 5 -4 0 104.9
34 Joe Theismann 1/30/1983 was mia 23 15 143 2 2 3 20 0 30 22 225 3 1 3 16 0 103.0
35 Brett Favre 1/25/1998 gnb den 42 25 256 3 1 0 0 0 42 27 289 3 1 0 0 0 102.5
36 Roger Staubach 1/16/1972 dal mia 19 12 119 2 0 5 18 0 24 16 162 4 0 5 17 0 100.9
37 Jeff Hostetler 1/27/1991 nyg buf 32 20 222 1 0 6 10 0 37 24 254 1 0 6 10 0 97.3
38 Peyton Manning 2/4/2007 clt chi 38 25 247 1 1 1 0 0 34 24 261 1 1 1 0 0 94.0
39 Earl Morrall 1/17/1971 clt dal 15 7 147 0 1 1 1 0 17 10 207 0 1 1 1 0 93.5
40 Steve McNair 1/30/2000 oti ram 36 22 214 0 0 8 64 0 32 21 198 0 0 11 97 0 87.2
Rk Player Date Tm Opp A C pY pT I R rY rT A C pY pT I R rY rT eYAR
41 Terry Bradshaw 1/12/1975 pit min 14 9 96 1 0 5 33 0 16 11 117 2 0 4 32 0 84.4
42 Eli Manning 2/3/2008 nyg nwe 34 19 255 2 1 3 4 0 34 19 270 2 1 4 5 0 83.6
43 Rich Gannon 1/26/2003 rai tam 44 24 272 2 5 2 3 0 45 29 349 4 3 2 3 0 78.8
44 Bob Griese 1/13/1974 mia min 7 6 73 0 0 2 7 0 9 8 108 0 0 2 6 0 76.0
45 Joe Montana 1/24/1982 sfo cin 22 14 157 1 0 6 18 1 21 14 149 1 0 6 17 1 70.4
46 Bob Lee 1/9/1977 min rai 9 7 81 1 0 1 4 0 11 10 89 1 0 1 3 0 69.5
47 Bob Griese 1/14/1973 mia was 11 8 88 1 1 0 0 0 14 12 129 2 1 0 0 0 64.0
48 Troy Aikman 1/30/1994 dal buf 27 19 207 0 1 1 3 0 24 18 190 0 1 1 3 0 57.6
49 Ben Roethlisberger 2/1/2009 pit crd 30 21 256 1 1 3 2 0 31 20 245 1 1 3 2 0 54.4
50 Robert Newhouse 1/15/1978 dal den 1 1 29 1 0 14 55 0 1 1 36 2 0 12 57 0 53.1
51 Tom Brady 2/3/2008 nwe nyg 48 29 266 1 0 0 0 0 48 29 260 1 0 0 0 0 52.1
52 A. Randle El 2/5/2006 pit sea 1 1 43 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 40 1 0 0 0 0 51.4
53 Tom Brady 2/3/2002 nwe ram 27 16 145 1 0 1 3 0 26 16 155 1 0 1 4 0 50.9
54 Jim Plunkett 1/22/1984 rai was 25 16 172 1 0 1 -2 0 23 16 141 1 0 1 -3 0 48.6
55 Donovan McNabb 2/6/2005 phi nwe 51 30 357 3 3 1 0 0 50 29 344 4 3 1 0 0 47.1
56 Trent Dilfer 1/28/2001 rav nyg 25 12 153 1 0 1 0 0 22 11 149 1 0 1 0 0 46.4
57 Dan Marino 1/20/1985 mia sfo 50 29 318 1 2 1 0 0 48 30 304 2 1 1 0 0 45.8
58 Brad Johnson 1/26/2003 tam rai 34 18 215 2 1 1 10 0 31 16 203 2 1 1 12 0 45.0
59 Matt Hasselbeck 2/5/2006 sea pit 49 26 273 1 1 3 35 0 47 26 281 1 1 3 46 0 43.9
60 Ron Jaworski 1/25/1981 phi rai 38 18 291 1 3 1 0 0 38 19 279 1 1 1 0 0 39.5
Rk Player Date Tm Opp A C pY pT I R rY rT A C pY pT I R rY rT eYAR
61 Johnny Unitas 1/17/1971 clt dal 9 3 88 1 2 1 4 0 10 4 124 2 1 1 4 0 38.0
62 Steve Grogan 1/26/1986 nwe chi 30 17 177 1 2 1 3 0 30 21 192 1 1 1 4 0 37.4
63 L. McCutcheon 1/20/1980 ram pit 1 1 24 1 0 5 10 0 1 1 29 1 0 4 11 0 34.2
64 Gary Kubiak 1/25/1987 den nyg 4 4 48 0 0 0 0 0 4 4 44 0 0 0 0 0 32.7
65 Sam Havrilak 1/17/1971 clt dal 1 1 25 0 0 1 3 0 1 1 35 0 0 1 3 0 30.5
66 Drew Bledsoe 1/26/1997 nwe gnb 48 25 253 2 4 1 1 0 46 27 308 4 3 1 1 0 24.6
67 Bob Griese 1/16/1972 mia dal 23 12 134 0 1 1 0 0 25 16 158 0 1 1 0 0 16.2
68 Steve Sewell 1/31/1988 den was 1 1 23 0 0 1 -3 0 1 1 20 0 0 1 -3 0 12.9
69 Gary Kubiak 1/28/1990 den sfo 3 1 28 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 28 0 0 0 0 0 12.4
70 Jim Kelly 1/30/1994 buf dal 50 31 260 0 1 2 12 0 47 29 278 0 1 2 13 0 11.7
71 John Elway 1/25/1998 den gnb 22 12 123 0 1 5 17 1 21 13 136 0 1 5 16 1 11.6
72 Frank Reich 1/26/1992 buf was 1 1 11 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 12 0 0 0 0 0 9.1
73 Bill Musgrave 1/29/1995 sfo sdg 1 1 6 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 5 0 0 0 0 0 2.4
74 Frank Reich 1/31/1993 buf dal 31 18 194 1 2 2 0 0 34 21 229 1 2 3 0 0 1.5
75 Danny White 1/15/1978 dal den 2 1 5 0 0 1 13 0 2 1 6 0 0 1 13 0 1.5
76 Steve Young 1/28/1990 sfo den 3 2 20 0 0 4 6 0 3 2 22 0 0 4 7 0 1.1
77 David Woodley 1/30/1983 mia was 14 4 97 1 1 4 16 0 15 5 104 1 1 4 17 0 0.2
78 Stan Humphries 1/29/1995 sdg sfo 49 24 275 1 2 1 3 0 44 23 262 1 1 1 4 0 -0.5
79 Joe Theismann 1/22/1984 was rai 35 16 243 0 2 3 18 0 35 18 238 0 2 3 20 0 -2.5
80 Boomer Esiason 1/22/1989 cin sfo 25 11 144 0 1 1 0 0 25 12 157 0 1 1 0 0 -4.8
Rk Player Date Tm Opp A C pY pT I R rY rT A C pY pT I R rY rT eYAR
81 Tony Banks 1/28/2001 rav nyg 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 -5.9
82 Jay Schroeder 1/31/1988 was den 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 -7.1
83 Elvis Grbac 1/29/1995 sfo sdg 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 -9.4
84 Norris Weese 1/15/1978 den dal 10 4 22 0 0 3 26 0 12 7 35 0 0 3 25 0 -15.5
85 Don Strock 1/30/1983 mia was 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 -21.2
86 Rex Grossman 2/4/2007 chi clt 28 20 165 1 2 2 0 0 35 23 218 1 2 2 0 0 -21.7
87 John Elway 1/31/1988 den was 38 14 257 1 3 3 32 0 36 15 229 1 2 3 32 0 -22.6
88 Jim Kelly 1/31/1993 buf dal 7 4 82 0 2 0 0 0 8 5 97 0 2 0 0 0 -24.5
89 Gale Gilbert 1/29/1995 sdg sfo 6 3 30 0 1 1 8 0 5 3 29 0 1 1 11 0 -26.2
90 Steve Fuller 1/26/1986 chi nwe 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 -28.5
91 Fran Tarkenton 1/9/1977 min rai 35 17 205 1 2 0 0 0 41 23 225 1 2 0 0 0 -29.5
92 Jim Kelly 1/26/1992 buf was 58 28 275 2 4 3 16 0 56 30 299 3 2 4 21 0 -31.7
93 Tony Eason 1/26/1986 nwe chi 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 -39.7
94 Chris Chandler 1/31/1999 atl den 35 19 219 1 3 4 30 0 31 17 197 1 3 5 42 0 -44.7
95 Craig Morton 1/17/1971 dal clt 26 12 127 1 3 1 2 0 26 14 143 1 2 1 2 0 -48.4
96 Ben Roethlisberger 2/5/2006 pit sea 21 9 123 0 2 7 25 1 19 8 114 0 2 7 30 3 -57.3
97 Fran Tarkenton 1/12/1975 min pit 26 11 102 0 3 1 0 0 35 20 171 0 2 1 0 0 -71.8
98 Billy Kilmer 1/14/1973 was mia 28 14 104 0 3 2 18 0 37 21 160 0 2 2 18 0 -78.8
99 Neil O'Donnell 1/28/1996 pit dal 49 28 239 1 3 1 0 0 49 30 245 1 3 1 0 0 -80.4
100 John Elway 1/28/1990 den sfo 26 10 108 0 2 4 8 1 24 10 108 0 2 5 10 1 -82.8
101 Craig Morton 1/15/1978 den dal 15 4 39 0 4 0 0 0 19 7 61 0 3 0 0 0 -158.4
102 Kerry Collins 1/28/2001 nyg rav 39 15 112 0 4 3 12 0 39 16 126 0 3 4 22 0 -199.6

We can also add up the opponent-adjusted numbers for every player and come up with the best opponent-adjusted seasons ever, ranked by estimated YAR per scheduled team game:

Actual Stats Adj. for Opp./Era
Rk Player Yr Tm sG A C pY pT I R rY rT A C pY pT I R rY rT eYAR Avg
1 Tom Brady 2007 nwe 19 687 475 5543 56 11 41 97 2 691 468 5586 55 9 42 105 3 2864.6 150.8
2 Ken Stabler 1976 rai 17 358 235 3238 31 17 8 -1 2 433 321 4220 42 13 6 2 3 2439.0 143.5
3 Bert Jones 1976 clt 15 368 218 3248 25 11 40 217 2 462 313 4125 26 8 30 161 2 2122.0 141.5
4 Dan Marino 1984 mia 19 680 433 6085 56 22 29 -7 0 699 470 5919 50 18 26 -8 0 2637.9 138.8
5 Ken Anderson 1975 cin 15 404 245 3370 23 11 52 200 2 474 321 4029 28 6 40 158 1 2066.7 137.8
6 Peyton Manning 2003 clt 19 669 446 5185 38 14 32 29 0 677 461 5512 45 12 34 34 0 2540.6 133.7
7 Peyton Manning 2004 clt 18 572 390 5253 53 12 27 46 1 574 381 4941 44 12 28 46 1 2402.3 133.5
8 Steve Young 1992 sfo 18 467 313 4005 28 10 92 643 5 502 343 4347 31 10 97 666 5 2315.8 128.7
9 Ken Anderson 1974 cin 14 328 213 2667 18 10 43 314 2 414 308 3473 18 7 35 263 2 1779.7 127.1
10 Joe Montana 1989 sfo 19 469 336 4321 37 8 54 246 3 473 351 4079 40 6 54 254 2 2402.1 126.4
11 D. Culpepper 2004 min 18 623 422 5317 44 13 100 478 3 625 410 5142 35 14 99 455 4 2220.0 123.3
12 Neil Lomax 1984 crd 16 560 345 4614 28 16 35 184 3 566 377 4601 26 13 33 188 4 1926.2 120.4
13 Steve Young 1994 sfo 19 548 377 4592 44 10 78 421 9 531 359 4401 40 11 78 464 10 2277.1 119.8
14 Aaron Rodgers 2009 gnb 17 583 378 4857 34 8 61 329 6 564 346 4472 31 8 64 350 7 2023.5 119.0
15 Dan Fouts 1980 sdg 18 671 392 5365 34 27 26 11 2 733 456 5796 36 17 23 10 2 2136.0 118.7
16 Kurt Warner 1999 ram 19 620 402 5416 49 17 29 95 1 602 391 5075 44 17 31 106 1 2227.1 117.2
17 Kurt Warner 2001 ram 19 653 443 5623 40 25 37 68 1 668 455 5598 39 22 39 69 2 2205.5 116.1
18 Roger Staubach 1977 dal 17 422 247 3102 21 11 62 206 3 558 378 4345 30 8 46 160 2 1963.1 115.5
19 Steve Young 1993 sfo 18 529 358 4536 30 17 79 462 3 552 377 4766 34 19 80 478 5 2077.7 115.4
20 Roman Gabriel 1973 phi 14 460 270 3219 23 12 12 10 1 609 398 4369 28 10 10 8 2 1605.8 114.7
Rk Player Yr Tm sG A C pY pT I R rY rT A C pY pT I R rY rT eYAR Avg
21 Ken Stabler 1974 rai 16 376 217 3033 31 16 16 5 1 477 311 3952 37 11 13 5 2 1824.3 114.0
22 Fran Tarkenton 1973 min 17 351 213 2650 18 10 53 236 2 480 337 4007 24 8 42 191 2 1935.6 113.9
23 John Brodie 1970 sfo 16 450 258 3404 26 12 11 33 3 552 355 4163 30 8 10 34 5 1792.5 112.0
24 Archie Manning 1978 nor 16 471 291 3416 17 16 38 202 1 571 403 4369 25 12 30 173 1 1792.3 112.0
25 Ken Anderson 1982 cin 10 344 244 2849 14 12 27 90 4 346 249 2694 14 7 24 82 3 1113.9 111.4
26 Dan Fouts 1981 sdg 18 690 408 5420 37 20 25 72 0 706 442 5421 36 16 22 66 0 1988.2 110.5
27 Philip Rivers 2009 sdg 17 526 344 4552 29 11 29 54 2 538 350 4497 30 13 29 52 2 1863.4 109.6
28 Warren Moon 1990 oti 17 584 362 4689 33 13 55 215 2 616 400 4797 30 14 58 238 3 1845.8 108.6
29 Brett Favre 2009 min 18 601 406 4746 38 9 10 7 0 582 381 4498 34 9 11 8 0 1947.0 108.2
30 Peyton Manning 2009 clt 19 699 480 5456 39 18 22 -15 0 682 453 5321 42 17 23 -15 0 2054.4 108.1
31 Drew Brees 2009 nor 19 616 435 5120 42 11 27 29 2 618 419 4976 35 15 28 29 2 2050.6 107.9
32 John Elway 1993 den 17 598 377 4332 28 11 49 176 0 616 395 4564 35 9 48 181 0 1832.0 107.8
33 Dan Fouts 1982 sdg 11 406 246 3407 21 16 11 11 1 408 262 3241 19 10 10 11 1 1184.9 107.7
34 Peyton Manning 2006 clt 20 710 459 5431 34 16 31 39 5 714 454 5491 38 14 32 41 6 2140.6 107.0
35 Rich Gannon 2002 rai 19 733 491 5530 33 16 63 197 4 700 453 5342 34 14 66 200 4 2030.9 106.9
36 Jim Hart 1976 crd 14 388 218 2946 18 13 8 7 0 479 308 3815 24 11 6 8 0 1494.5 106.7
37 Donovan McNabb 2004 phi 19 579 368 4698 38 11 55 255 3 600 376 4716 35 11 54 260 3 2014.7 106.0
38 D. Culpepper 2000 min 18 533 327 4317 36 19 95 531 7 526 325 4429 38 17 97 549 7 1895.6 105.3
39 Roger Staubach 1978 dal 19 485 268 3649 30 19 50 229 1 601 386 4681 42 13 40 194 1 1993.8 104.9
40 Steve Young 1998 sfo 18 586 363 4641 40 17 79 498 7 593 381 4635 37 17 81 518 8 1885.8 104.8
Rk Player Yr Tm sG A C pY pT I R rY rT A C pY pT I R rY rT eYAR Avg
41 Philip Rivers 2008 sdg 18 549 353 4534 37 13 33 97 0 566 346 4649 45 16 32 80 0 1879.3 104.4
42 Roger Staubach 1975 dal 17 427 246 3336 24 20 74 416 4 506 327 4187 31 14 60 346 3 1766.7 103.9
43 Drew Brees 2006 nor 18 635 403 5015 29 12 46 38 0 642 405 4989 29 11 45 45 0 1869.6 103.9
44 Ken Anderson 1981 cin 19 556 353 4407 34 12 57 389 2 579 385 4354 34 9 51 349 2 1955.4 102.9
45 R. Cunningham 1998 min 18 500 305 4206 39 11 41 151 2 519 321 4351 36 14 42 155 2 1849.9 102.8
46 Carson Palmer 2006 cin 16 520 324 4035 28 13 26 37 0 548 342 4302 30 12 27 36 0 1631.9 102.0
47 Fran Tarkenton 1976 min 17 495 296 3479 21 13 29 46 1 618 420 4520 28 10 21 36 1 1727.1 101.6
48 Roger Staubach 1979 dal 17 489 279 3710 28 12 38 175 0 555 355 4229 29 9 31 146 0 1721.8 101.3
49 Peyton Manning 2007 clt 17 563 370 4442 34 16 21 -11 3 568 358 4436 31 12 21 -11 4 1721.1 101.2
50 Ken O'Brien 1985 nyj 17 505 310 4037 26 9 26 62 0 530 352 4059 27 8 23 54 0 1719.0 101.1
51 Sonny Jurgensen 1970 was 14 337 202 2354 23 10 6 39 1 422 300 3110 29 7 5 35 1 1414.9 101.1
52 Drew Brees 2008 nor 16 635 413 5069 34 17 22 -1 0 637 401 4999 34 20 22 0 0 1610.2 100.6
53 Jeff Garcia 2000 sfo 16 561 355 4278 31 10 72 414 4 560 346 4122 27 9 73 400 4 1607.7 100.5
54 Marc Bulger 2004 ram 18 552 362 4576 25 16 23 103 3 568 371 4627 25 15 23 95 3 1795.1 99.7
55 Peyton Manning 2000 clt 17 603 374 4607 34 15 38 114 1 600 380 4682 36 17 39 122 1 1689.1 99.4
56 Carson Palmer 2005 cin 17 510 346 3902 32 12 34 41 1 537 357 4186 37 13 34 40 1 1688.1 99.3
57 Terry Bradshaw 1978 pit 19 446 251 3705 36 24 43 121 1 558 351 4667 48 20 33 98 1 1886.3 99.3
58 Lynn Dickey 1983 gnb 16 484 289 4458 32 29 21 12 3 517 319 4560 32 23 19 13 2 1587.7 99.2
59 Matt Schaub 2009 htx 16 583 396 4770 29 15 48 57 0 567 366 4536 27 16 47 56 0 1576.5 98.5
60 Kurt Warner 2008 crd 20 733 493 5730 41 17 26 -1 0 735 482 5685 47 23 26 -1 0 1969.3 98.5
Rk Player Yr Tm sG A C pY pT I R rY rT A C pY pT I R rY rT eYAR Avg
61 Brett Favre 1996 gnb 19 614 369 4516 44 14 63 171 3 604 373 4628 46 13 65 183 3 1865.6 98.2
62 Troy Aikman 1993 dal 19 474 332 3786 20 9 39 153 0 482 345 3950 24 8 39 158 0 1860.9 97.9
63 Tom Brady 2005 nwe 18 593 369 4652 30 16 30 97 1 602 370 4826 34 17 29 96 1 1759.7 97.8
64 Tom Brady 2009 nwe 17 607 394 4552 30 16 29 44 1 611 394 4626 31 14 28 44 2 1660.8 97.7
65 Brett Favre 1995 gnb 19 672 425 5218 46 15 46 188 3 624 386 4716 43 13 49 199 3 1855.4 97.7
66 Mark Rypien 1991 was 19 500 293 4254 32 13 24 -2 1 534 324 4448 38 13 24 -2 1 1850.4 97.4
67 Trent Green 2003 kan 17 553 348 4251 25 12 29 101 2 573 362 4513 27 14 29 94 2 1654.9 97.3
68 Bernie Kosar 1987 cle 17 461 287 3618 28 11 16 27 1 484 331 3807 27 9 14 25 2 1653.5 97.3
69 Joe Montana 1984 sfo 19 540 346 4503 35 15 52 262 3 577 378 4502 35 14 49 252 3 1843.9 97.0
70 Tony Romo 2009 dal 18 620 392 4925 28 10 38 109 1 622 379 4811 24 11 39 111 1 1737.6 96.5
71 Len Dawson 1971 kan 15 327 185 2750 16 15 12 24 0 424 284 3540 21 11 10 21 0 1441.8 96.1
72 Roger Staubach 1971 dal 17 262 157 2203 18 4 56 418 2 327 224 2789 21 3 49 363 2 1618.0 95.2
73 B. Roethlisberger 2009 pit 16 506 337 4328 26 12 40 82 2 504 328 4125 24 14 39 79 2 1518.6 94.9
74 Greg Landry 1971 det 14 261 136 2237 16 13 74 464 3 322 197 2839 21 9 64 426 2 1320.0 94.3
75 Steve Young 1997 sfo 18 424 285 3503 20 7 56 237 3 431 309 3626 18 8 55 230 3 1694.2 94.1
76 Peyton Manning 1999 clt 17 575 350 4362 26 15 37 95 3 564 362 4413 27 15 37 95 4 1594.3 93.8
77 Vinny Testaverde 1996 rav 16 549 325 4177 33 19 34 188 2 533 326 4161 33 16 35 213 4 1490.3 93.1
78 R. Cunningham 1990 phi 17 494 286 3671 30 14 125 1022 5 553 335 4017 32 14 123 976 5 1560.8 91.8
79 Terry Bradshaw 1979 pit 19 554 312 4482 32 29 25 117 0 631 392 5006 38 20 21 93 0 1739.9 91.6
80 Joe Theismann 1982 was 13 337 219 2749 21 12 40 177 0 371 248 2871 22 8 36 172 0 1188.7 91.4
Rk Player Yr Tm sG A C pY pT I R rY rT A C pY pT I R rY rT eYAR Avg
81 Boomer Esiason 1986 cin 16 469 273 3959 24 17 44 146 1 475 297 3953 22 14 41 151 1 1448.0 90.5
82 Greg Landry 1976 det 14 291 168 2191 17 8 43 234 1 375 241 2959 21 7 33 170 1 1263.9 90.3
83 Dan Marino 1986 mia 16 623 378 4746 44 23 12 -3 0 615 386 4493 41 18 11 -4 0 1442.2 90.1
84 Troy Aikman 1992 dal 19 562 363 4240 31 14 46 143 1 623 412 4549 32 11 48 154 1 1710.1 90.0
85 Trent Green 2004 kan 16 556 369 4591 27 17 25 85 0 561 365 4392 25 18 24 88 0 1439.2 90.0
86 Steve McNair 2001 oti 16 431 264 3350 21 12 75 414 5 430 264 3509 25 12 78 434 7 1434.8 89.7
87 Rich Gannon 2001 rai 18 609 401 4281 30 9 69 242 2 612 401 4347 30 9 68 244 2 1611.3 89.5
88 Joe Montana 1988 sfo 19 487 294 3804 26 11 48 175 3 498 330 3883 30 9 45 176 3 1700.2 89.5
89 Joe Theismann 1983 was 19 543 324 4488 32 14 42 264 1 555 342 4301 29 11 38 250 1 1699.2 89.4
90 Fran Tarkenton 1970 nyg 14 389 219 2777 19 12 43 236 2 483 310 3523 22 10 37 205 2 1251.9 89.4
91 Marc Bulger 2006 ram 16 588 370 4301 24 8 18 44 0 597 367 4269 23 9 17 38 0 1428.1 89.3
92 Fran Tarkenton 1972 min 14 378 215 2651 18 13 27 180 0 487 310 3549 22 10 23 155 0 1239.9 88.6
93 Jim Everett 1988 ram 17 562 327 4211 33 21 36 112 0 579 369 4338 36 15 34 104 0 1499.9 88.2
94 Jeff George 1997 rai 16 521 290 3917 29 9 17 44 0 526 308 3939 28 10 17 46 0 1410.4 88.2
95 Jim Kelly 1990 buf 19 428 273 3680 29 11 35 135 0 481 314 3959 30 12 35 138 0 1672.7 88.0
96 Steve Beuerlein 1999 car 16 571 343 4436 36 15 27 124 2 568 347 4221 32 15 28 142 2 1397.7 87.4
97 Peyton Manning 2005 clt 17 491 327 4037 29 10 33 45 0 505 328 4025 26 13 32 44 0 1481.2 87.1
98 Steve Bartkowski 1980 atl 17 496 275 3864 33 17 25 35 2 542 321 4184 30 12 22 35 1 1478.6 87.0
99 Joe Montana 1981 sfo 19 576 367 4312 25 16 37 99 3 599 424 4381 25 12 33 94 3 1650.5 86.9
100 Joe Montana 1983 sfo 18 594 377 4458 30 14 69 340 2 617 406 4435 28 12 63 302 1 1562.9 86.8

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This entry was posted on Friday, September 10th, 2010 at 11:04 am and is filed under Best/Worst Ever, History, Quarterbacks, Statgeekery. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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