20 best quarterback seasons in NFL history

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CLEVELAND, OH – NOVEMBER 11: Quarterback Joe Montana #16 of the San Francisco 49ers signals to the sideline as safety Al Gross #27 of the Cleveland Browns looks on during a game at Cleveland Municipal Stadium on November 11, 1984 in Cleveland, Ohio. The 49ers defeated the Browns 41-7. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) /

6. Joe Montana, 49ers (1984)

The 1984 San Francisco 49ers became the first NFL team to win 15 games during the regular season. Of course, that was finally made possible after the league expanded to a 16-game schedule in 1978. Bill Walsh’s club won its first six outings, stumbled at home against the Steelers, and ran the table from there. That includes playoff wins over the Giants, Bears, and Dolphins, the last contest a convincing 38-16 victory in Super Bowl XIX.

Quarterback Joe Montana was at the controls for all but one of those 19 contests. During the regular season, he threw for 28 scores, ran for two others, and served up only 10 interceptions. It was a somewhat different story in the postseason wins over New York and Chicago. Both of those clubs featured physical defenses and both teams were on the verge of Super Bowl titles themselves. Montana threw a combined five interceptions in the wins over the Giants (3) and Bears (2) but did combine for four aerial scores.

The rout of Miami at Palo Alto was a different story. He threw for 331 yards and three touchdowns. Just as importantly, he ran five times for 59 yards and one score as he frustrated the Dolphins with his quick decision-making.

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