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A Super Bowl curse for NFL's high-scoring MVPs?

By Mark Craig

January 28, 2017 at 11:47PM

Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino (13) heads back to the bench after giving up an interception in the second half of the AFC Championship in Miami, Jan. 13, 1986, with the New England Patriots. Pats’ Lester Williams and Don Blackmon (55) celebrate the turnover. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) ORG XMIT: APHS163771 (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

If Matt Ryan is named league MVP next Saturday as expected, he would become the 14th MVP quarterback to play on a Super Bowl team that led the league in scoring. The previous signal-callers in that category have gone 6-7. Here's a look at the seven who fell short:

Y.A. Tittle

Dec. 29, 1963

Completed 11 of 29 attempts and was picked off five times against Chicago.

Johnny Unitas, Dec. 27, 1964

Managed just 125 total yards (95 passing) in a shutout loss to Cleveland.

Joe Theismann

Jan. 22, 1984

No passing TDs, two INTs and six sacks made for a long day against the L.A. Raiders.

Dan Marino

Jan. 20, 1985

Joe Montana outmatched him in Marino's only Super Bowl appearance.

Tom Brady

Feb. 3, 2008

Five sacks and the "helmet catch" helped the Giants end the Patriots' perfect season.

Peyton Manning

Feb. 2, 2014

Threw a record 55 TDs in the regular season but mustered only one vs. Seattle.

Cam Newton

Feb. 7, 2016

Committed three turnovers against Denver and completed only 18 of 41 passes.

Washington Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann (7) wears a grim look as he walks of the field during first quarter Super Bowl XVIII action against the Los Angeles Raiders, Sunday, Jan. 22, 1984 at Tampa Stadium. (AP Photo) ORG XMIT: APHS179175 (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Y.A. Tittle (14) New York Giants? quarterback is shown on the sidelines in the final minutes of game with the Cleveland Browns at Yankee Stadium on Dec. 12, 1964 in New York City. This was the final game of the 1964 season for the Giants and may be Tittle?s last as a player. (AP Photo) ORG XMIT: APHS269812 (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Quarterback Johnny Unitas of the Baltimore Colts limps to the sidelines, with the aid of Coach Don Shula, on his way in Baltimore on Dec. 5, 1965 to hospital for operation for torn ligaments in his knee. Unitas was hurt near the end of first half in a game won by the Chicago Bears 13-0. He will be out for the rest of the season. Steve Stonebreaker (31), Alex Hawkins (25), Raymond Berry (82). (AP Photo/JB) ORG XMIT: APHS272876 (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) is seen during the Super Bowl XLII football game against the New York Giants at University of Phoenix Stadium on Sunday, Feb. 3, 2008 in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) ORG XMIT: NYEOTK (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Carolina Panthersí Cam Newton (1) walks off the field after throwing an interception during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 50 football game against the Denver Broncos Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) ORG XMIT: NFL485 (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Denver Broncos’ Peyton Manning walks off the field after the NFL Super Bowl XLVIII football game against the Seattle Seahawks Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Seahawks won 43-8. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara) ORG XMIT: SB (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

about the writer

Mark Craig

Sports reporter

Mark Craig has covered the NFL nearly every year since Brett Favre was a rookie back in 1991. A sports writer since 1987, he is covering his 30th NFL season out of 37 years with the Canton (Ohio) Repository (1987-99) and the Star Tribune (1999-present).