The last individual Super Bowl record (the kind that would determine a fantasy outcome, if you will) to be broken or tied was Wes Welker‘s 11-catch performance during Super Bowl XLII.
Kurt Warner‘s 377-yard performance last year was good for only second best all-time. He couldn’t top his 414-yard game in Super Bowl XXXIV. The recently retired gunslinger holds the top three spots in that department, but that’s one record that’s likely to fall today at Super Bowl 44.
The following records have a good chance of being broken today:
Most passing yards
Current record: Kurt Warner, Super Bowl 34, 414 yards
Record-breaker: Drew Brees, Saints
If your life depended on a 400-yard game out of an NFL quarterback, you’d put your money on Brees.
If this game ends in a shootout like I think it will, Brees will break Warner’s mark. I think it helps that the Saints franchise needs a monumental performance and that Sean Payton recognizes the opportunity.
Longest pass
Current record: Jake Delhomme, Super bowl 38, 85 yards (TD)
Record-breaker: Brees
If Brees is going to break the record, he’s going to need to come close to breaking the longest Super Bowl bomb record.
Longest reception
Current record: Muhsin Muhammad, Super Bowl 38, 85 yards (TD)
Record-breaker: Marques Colston, Saints
Although Devery Henderson and Robert Meacham feel like the most likely to break open deep, Colston is the Saints best receiver, so let’s go with him.
That’s it for the records that will be broken. It’s a short list, but some of these marks are spectacular.
Let’s talk about why the following records won’t fall in 2010:
Passing touchdowns — As much as I wanted to say Colts QB Peyton Manning has a Joe Montana-type day, I still can’t see him topping Steve Young‘s six TD passes in Super Bowl 29. You do something like that, you’re just running up the score.
Passing interceptions — While Darren Sharper and the Saints defense is very opportunistic, there’s no way they pick off Manning six times, matching Rich Gannon‘s mark from Super Bowl 37. The Colts don’t intercept Brees that many times either.
Passing attempts and completions — Neither quarterback needs 32 completions (Tom Brady in Super Bowl 38) or 58 attempts (Jim Kelly in Super Bowl 26) to make this game a shootout.
Longest rush — If any player has the speed and ability to break it in this game, it’s the Saints’ Reggie Bush. But Willie Parker‘s 75-yard TD run in Super Bowl 40 will likely stand for at least another year.
Rushing attempts, yards, TDs — Manning or Brees would have to be hurt for any of these records to fall. The statsitic line reads: 38-204-3. Those are hefty numbers for these backs.
Receptions, receiving yards, receiving touchdowns — Both teams have so many weapons, like to spread the wealth and neither team has a shutdown corner. There could be multiple 100-yard receivers in this game, but nobody approaches 11 receptions (four players), 215 yards (Jerry Rice) or 3 TDs (Rice twice)
Rushing+receiving yards, Rushing+Receiving TDs — Four players hold the mark for 3-TD games — Terrell Davis, Ricky Watters, Roger Craig and Rice twice. Rice had 220 yards in Super Bowl 23. While they’re may be players capable of such performances on the Saints and Colts, it won’t happen in this game.
If you haven’t already seen them, be sure to check out some of our other Super Bowl XLIV content. We’ve got some links, fantasy rankings and our review of the Super Bowls’ best all-time fantasy performances.
Just to go on record … figure this is the best venue to do it … I actually see this game being relatively low scoring. Just a hunch … thinking Indianapolis 24, New Orleans 13.
My eyes are on Dallas Clark having the biggest day. He is Peyton Manning’s crutch, and we could be looking at a 11-110-2 day out this future Hall of Fame tight end.
@Jay-Mo: Looks like you were half right and I was half right on the score.
I expected the Saints to score but didn’t expect the Colts to get shut down as much as they did.