Best quarterback/wide receiver duos in NFL history

By Staff | Nov 1, 2015

INDIANAPOLIS - NOVEMBER 16: Peyton Manning No. 18 of the Indianapolis Colts celebrates the touchdown of Marvin Harrison No. 88 for a 30-20 lead over the Houston Texans during the fourth quarter at Lucas Oil Stadium on November 16, 2008 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

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BALTIMORE, MD – SEPTEMBER 28: Quarterback Ken Stabler No. 12 of the Oakland Raiders drops back to pass against the Baltimore, Colts during an NFL football game September 28, 1975 at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. Stabler played for the Raiders from 1970-79. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

11. Ken Stabler and Cliff Branch

The Oakland Raiders have been trying for years to find a quarterback like him and just have not been able to do it. When they drafted Ken Stabler with the No. 52 overall pick in the 1968 NFL Draft, they hit the jackpot.

They’ve had Rich Gannon, a variety of others and now Derek Carr, but Stabler epitomizes what the Raiders have been looking for in a quarterback.

He may have rode the bench for the first three seasons behind Daryle Lamonica for the starting job, but he took it over in 1973 and never looked back.

One of Stabler’s favorite targets was acquired a year earlier in the 1972 NFL Draft when Oakland took a 5-foot-11 Cliff Branch with the No. 98 overall pick out of Colorado.

They didn’t start to really gel until 1974 when Stabler led the league with 26 passing touchdowns, and Branch led the league with 13 touchdowns and 1,092 receiving yards. They led the Raiders to an 11-2 record that season, but Stabler and Branch took it to a new level in 1976.

Stabler again led the NFL with 27 passing touchdowns but also led with 66 percent of his passes completed. Branch led the NFL with 12 touchdowns and also caught 46 passes for 1,111 yards. They led the Raiders to 32-14 Super Bowl win against the Minnesota Vikings. Of course, they head a head coach named John Madden who might have helped somewhat.

But Stabler and Branch seemed to always be on the same page. When it was all said and done, Branch caught 44 of Stabler’s 194 career passing touchdowns.

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