Dan Fouts
NOTE: Due to the adoption of the 16-game schedule as well as rules changes that had a major effect on opening up the passing game, the 1978 and ’79 seasons significantly skew the Top 10 results. Therefore, following the Top 10 is a list of the next 5 best performances that occurred exclusively from 1970-77.
TOP 10
1- Dan Fouts, 1979 San Diego Chargers
4082 yards, 332-530, 62.6 %, 24 TD, 24 INT
2- Brian Sipe, 1979 Cleveland Browns
3793 yards, 286-535, 53.5 %, 28 TD, 26 INT
3- Terry Bradshaw, 1979 Pittsburgh Steelers
3724 yards, 259-472, 54.9 %, 26 TD, 25 INT
4- Jim Zorn, 1979 Seattle Seahawks
3661 yards, 285-505, 56.4 %, 20 TD, 18 INT
5- Ken Stabler, 1979 Oakland Raiders
3615 yards, 304-498, 61.0 %, 26 TD, 22 INT
6- Joe Ferguson, 1979 Buffalo Bills
3572 yards, 238-458, 52.0 %, 14 TD, 15 INT
7- Steve Grogan, 1979 New England Patriots
3286 yards, 206-423, 48.7 %, 28 TD, 20 INT
8- Jim Zorn, 1978 Seattle Seahawks
3283 yards, 248-443, 56.0 %, 15 TD, 20 INT
9- Ken Anderson, 1975 Cincinnati Bengals
3169 yards, 228-377, 60.5 %, 21 TD, 11 INT
10-Bert Jones, 1976 Baltimore Colts
3104 yards, 207-343, 60.3 %, 24 TD, 9 INT
Terry Bradshaw
Jim Zorn
NEXT 5 (1970-77)
1- John Hadl, 1971 San Diego Chargers
3075 yards, 233-431, 54.1 %, 21 TD, 25 INT
2- Joe Namath, 1972 New York Jets
2816 yards, 162-324, 50.0 %, 19 TD, 21 INT
3- Joe Ferguson, 1977 Buffalo Bills
2803 yards, 221-457, 48.4 %, 12 TD, 24 INT
4- Ken Stabler, 1976 Oakland Raiders
2737 yards, 194-291, 66.7 %, 27 TD, 17 INT
5- Bert Jones, 1977 Baltimore Colts
2686 yards, 224-393, 57.0 %, 17 TD, 11 INT
Ken Stabler
Joe Ferguson
BEST BY FRANCHISES NOT LISTED
Kansas City Chiefs: Mike Livingston, 1976
2682 yards, 189-338, 55.9 %, 12 TD, 13 INT
Denver Broncos: Craig Morton, 1979
2626 yards, 204-370, 55.1 %, 16 TD, 19 INT
Houston Oilers: Dan Pastorini, 1978
2473 yards, 199-368, 54.1 %, 16 TD, 17 INT
Miami Dolphins: Bob Griese, 1977
2252 yards, 180-307, 58.6 %, 22 TD, 13 INT
Ken Anderson
Bert Jones
Brian Sipe