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I became a fan of the NFL in 1981, and my favorite team was the New York Giants. They enjoyed their first playoff season in almost two decades that season, going 9-7 and then defeating the defending NFC Champion Eagles in Philadelphia, before falling to the eventual Super Bowl champion San Francisco 49ers in the divisional round, in what was the first major installment of what would become a classic rivalry.

It seemed to take forever for the Giants to keep getting better and better, until they were good enough to seriously compete for a Super Bowl title themselves. But in the 1986 season, they were finally ready. They finished with a 14-2 record during the regular season, good enough to earn the number one overall seed in the NFC. They crushed San Francisco, 49-3, in the Divisional round, and then blanked Washington, 17-0, in the NFC Championship Game. Then, they defeated the Denver Broncos, 39-20, in Pasadena to clinch the first Super Bowl title in franchise history. Phil Simms was named the game's MVP after enjoying a historical level of success. He was more efficient than any other quarterback in Super Bowl history on that day. Think of some of the great names who have played in that biggest of all games, including but not limited to Montana, Elway, Brady, Mahomes, and others. The day that Simms enjoyed in Super Bowl XXI topped them all, statistically. He completed 22 of 25 passes for 268 yards and three touchdowns.

Since then, he has reflected on the possibility of his record day being eclipsed. It has not happened in the Super Bowl yet, but it could.

"I don't think about it, but my kids do. They keep an eye on it, but I'm not worried about it. So much time has passed. It was like another lifetime ago. But it was a good day, I will say that."

Now, Simms looks at present day quarterbacks, and lends his considerable expertise when assessing them. He shared his thoughts on both starting quarterbacks in this year's game recently. Here is what he had to say about Burrow, comparing him to the great Joe Montana:

"Joe (Montana) is one of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time. … Joe Burrow's a little quicker, probably a little more athletic, and maybe a little bit of a stronger arm than Joe Montana," Simms said. "And just the uncanny ability to just know how to play the game, and I think that that comes from Joe Burrow's background that he was just an all-around athlete growing up. It shows when you watch him play. ... His movement in the pocket and just buying time has been really, really good for him so far this year."

As for Stafford?

Well, Simms assessed his career and tendencies, as well:

"I hear it all the time. All the quarterbacks that used to play in the NFL love Matt Stafford, and really, a lot of the media doesn't and people that talk about him," Simms said prior to the Rams' win over the 49ers in the NFC Championship game. "I followed his career and all these guys close. He lifted the team up to the playoffs because he was better than the team and he made the comebacks to get them in that position. Then they lose the game, and it's, 'Matt Stafford can't win the big one.' Please.

"Now maybe if it happened this year, if he had lost the first game, we could say that … because it is different, playoff football. But I think he's answered that question."

Let's see if either Burrow or Stafford can challenge the record day in efficiency that Simms enjoyed three and a half decades ago later today, when they get their turn in the big game.