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Ten to remember ... and to forget
Cold, Hard Football Facts for February 7, 2006

Ben Roethlisberger's passing performance in Super Bowl XL was the worst ever by a victorious Super Bowl quarterback.
 
In fact, it was among the worst ever in a Super Bowl, period. Of course, as noted elsewhere, there is a difference between great passers and great quarterbacks. Roethlisberger has shown moments of brilliance, but has yet to distinguish himself as an elite passer. He has already distinguished himself as an elite quarterback – even if Super Bowl XL was not one of his shining moments.
 
10 worst passing performances by Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks:
Player (SB)
Comp.
Att.
Pct.
Yards
TDs
INTs
Rating
Result
Roethlisberger, XL
9
21
42.9
123
0
2
22.6
W 21-10
Elway, XXXII
12
22
54.5
123
0
1
51.9
W 31-24
Unitas, V*
3
9
33.3
88
1
2
68.1
W 16-13
Theismann, XVII
15
23
65.2
143
2
2
75.1
W 27-17
Aikman, XXVIII
19
27
70.4
207
0
1
77.2
W 30-13
Johnson, XXXVII
18
34
52.9
215
2
1
79.9
W 48-21
Dilfer, XXXV
12
25
48.0
153
1
0
80.9
W 34-7
Namath, III
17
28
60.7
206
0
0
83.3
W 16-7
Brady, XXXVI
16
27
59.3
145
1
0
86.2
W 20-17
Griese, VII
8
11
72.3
88
1
1
88.4
W 14-7
 
* Unitas was injured in the first half and replaced by Earl Morrall, who was even more horrendous, posting a 54.0 passer rating.
 
Roethlisberger's passing performance in Super Bowl XL does not pale only in comparison to those of victorious Super Bowl quarterbacks. His passing performance was much more horrendous than that. In fact, he also makes the list of all-time worst passing performances by any starting Super Bowl quarterback.
 
10 worst passing performances by Super Bowl quarterbacks:
Player (SB)
Comp.
Att.
Pct.
Yards
TDs
INTs
Rating
Result
Morton, XII
4
15
26.7
39
0
4
0.0
L 27-10
Collins, XXXV
15
39
38.5
112
0
4
7.1
L 34-7
Morrall, III*
6
17
35.3
71
0
3
9.3
L 16-7
11
23
42.3
102
0
3
14.1
L 16-6
Elway, XXIV
10
26
38.5
108
0
2
19.4
L 55-10
Kilmer, VII
14
28
50.0
104
0
3
19.6
L 14-7
Roethlisberger, XL
9
21
42.9
123
0
2
22.6
W 21-10
12
26
46.2
127
1
3
34.1
L 16-13
Elway, XXII
14
38
36.8
257
1
3
36.8
L 42-10
Kelly, XXVI
28
58
48.3
275
2
4
44.8
L 37-24
 
* Morrall was so awful that he was benched in the second half for Johnny Unitas, who fared only marginally better.


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