Stafford vs Burrow
The Rams quarterback may have years and yards on Burrow, but both Stafford and the Bengals quarterback are in uncharted territory at this Super Bowl.
The two quarterbacks for this Sunday's Super Bowl could not be more different as far as their age, history, and style. But they do have a few things in common, and one is that this is their first Super Bowl.
Comparing the quarterbacks
Joe Burrow and Matt Stafford were both top draft picks, selected by teams in search of a savior. But their paths to get to the Super Bowl have looked quite different.
Burrow made it to the Super Bowl faster than any other number one pick quarterback (in just his second season).
Stafford, on the other hand, took longer to get to the Super Bowl than any other top pick quarterback (after 13 seasons).
Burrow's path to the NFL
Burrow spent his first two years of college as the backup QB at Ohio State before transferring to LSU and finding the success that led him to be a first round pick in Cincinnati. After a knee injury in his first season with the Bengals, Burrow threw 4,611 yards and had 34 touchdowns with a league-leading 70.4% completion rate in his second season. That led the Bengals to their first playoff win since 1990, then to clinch the AFC North, and now their first Super Bowl appearance since 1988.
Stafford's saga with the Lions
Stafford was the top draft pick by the Detroit Lions in 2008 and stayed out of the spotlight for 12 seasons with them. He put up impressive numbers but lost all three of their playoff games. He has now won three playoff games with the Rams in one season and is on his way to the Super Bowl. His career statistics include nearly 50,000 passing yards and 323 touchdowns.
The two are making history
Both QBs are in the Super Bowl after leading the league in sacks and interceptions…Burrow in sacks and Stafford in interceptions. Stafford is the third QB to make it to a Super Bowl after leading the NFL in interceptions and Burrow is the first to make it to the Super Bowl after leading in sacks.
If Burrow wins on Sunday, he’d join Tony Dorsett, Charles Woodson, and Reggie Bush as the only players to win a Heisman Trophy and national championship in college and then a Super Bowl in the pros.
If Stafford wins, it would be the second-longest wait for a QB to win his first SB, behind John Elway (who won in his 15th season).