He set an NFL record with 112.8 passer rating. He had the fifth most TD passes in a season (35, first in the league). He had the 2nd highest completion % in history (70.3).
He was consensus All-Pro and a Pro Bowler.
Young also led the league in yards/att (8.6). He passed for 3969 yards (4th in NFL) and just 10 Ints.
He finished 8th in the NFL with seven rushing touchdowns.
In San Francisco’s 44-15 rout of Chicago in the divisional round, Young threw and ran in a touchdown.
In the NFC Championship game against Dallas, Young threw two more TDs and ran in another score in the Niners 38-28 win, including a 28-yard strike to Jerry Rice at the end of the half to put San Fran up 31-14.
Young light up San Diego in the Sup
er Bowl, on his way to record setting performance. He was 24-36 for 325 yards and a record 6 TDs. He also had a team high 49 yards rushing on just five carries.
He threw two TDs in the first five minutes of the contest. After the Chargers cut the lead to seven, Young hit William Floyd and Ricky Watters for two more scores to push to lead to 21.
The 49ers went 13-3, including 10 straight wins (13-2 before Young sat out part of final game) and won the NFC West. They beat Chicago 44-15 in round two. They avenged two championship game losses to Dallas by taking down the Cowboys 38-28.
They pounded San Diego 49-26 in Super Bowl XXIX in Miami. The Niners set a NFL record with 505 points (31.6 per game) while allowing just 18.6 per game.
2. Deion Sanders: Was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year. He was a consensus All-Pro and Pro Bowler.
He had six interceptions and returned 3 touchdowns (tied for most since 1972) and returned for 303 yards (2nd most in NFL history) in just 14 games.
He had 74 yd TD vs New Orleans, 93 yd TD vs Atlanta, and 90 yd TD vs San Diego. He had a Int in their key win over then 8-1 Dallas.
In NFC Championship against Dallas, he helped shutdown Michael Irvin and also intercepted Troy Aikman. He also had a 25 yard kickoff return.
He had another interception in the Super Bowl. This was second of his three straight playoff games with an interception, an NFL record.
He also had an Int. in the Pro Bowl.
He led a 49ers defense that was sixth in scoring defense and tops in interceptions.
Deion became one of the most popular athletes of his era in his only season in San Francisco.
3. Dan Marino: Was 1st team All-AFC named by Pro Football Weekly and UPI and was 2nd team All-NFL by AP. He was also a Pro Bowler.
He was named NFL Comeback Player of the Year after tearing his achilles in 1993.
Marino was second in the league in yards (4453) and completions (385, 3rd most ever). He third in TDs (30), and passer rating (89.2).
Marino led Miami on four 4th quarter game winning drives. They included week one vs. New England, where he threw for 473 and 5 scores including the winning TD.
In week 13 vs. the Jets, Marino led the Dolphins from down 24-6 to New York in the second half to a stunning 28-24 W. He was 31-44 for 359 yards and four second half TDs (all to Mark Ingram Sr.) including the famous “fake spike”.
In the Wildcard win over the Chiefs, Marino torched KC (22-29, 257 yards and 2 TD) and sent Joe Montana home in his final game.
Against San Diego Marino put Miami in position to go to the AFC Championship with a 262 yard, 3 TD performance. His last second drive put Miami in position for the game-winning FG, that was missed.
Miami was 10-6, won the AFC East and was third in the league in scoring (24.3 per game). In the playoffs, they defeated Kansas City 27-17 but fell at San Diego 22-21.
Gotta say I think Deion was tops in '94. I remember it very clearly, his dance, his shutting down of Irvin, etc. Young was of course a beast, but Deion was the Charles Woodson role before Charles Woodson was doing it at UM (see College Football 1996 and 1997, haha).
ReplyDeleteThe only problem for Deion is that it is hard to quantify how good he was... however it's hard to top the double MVP
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