The Super Bowl can be a dream come true for a player ... or a complete, utter nightmare. Jim McCurdie ranks the Sundays that weren't so super for these NFL stars.

Jan. 26, 1986 — In fairness to Eason (pictured, No. 11), he went up against perhaps the most lethal defensive buzzsaw in NFL history in this game — the famed '85 Bears. He was not up to the challenge. A member of the quarterback NFL draft class of '83 that included John Elway, Jim Kelly and Dan Marino, Eason was benched in the second quarter of a 46-10 loss after going 0-for-6 passing with one lost fumble. — Jim McCurdie

Jan. 15, 1978 — In 2008 Kurt Warner became the second quarterback to start for two different teams in the Super Bowl. Morton (pictured, No. 7) was the first. He was the Cowboys' QB in Super Bowl V, then returned seven years later with the Broncos. Neither game was particularly memorable, and this one was fairly dreadful. Morton was 4 of 15 passing for 39 yards with four interceptions in a 27-10 loss to (who else?) the Cowboys.

Jan. 30, 1983 — At 24, Woodley (pictured, No. 16) became the youngest quarterback to start a Super Bowl. But he didn't finish it. After going 4 of 14 passing for 97 yards, he was replaced by the more experienced Don Strock. The Dolphins fell to the Redskins, 27-17. Months later, they drafted Dan Marino, and Woodley was on his way out at Miami. He was traded to Pittsburgh after the 1983 season, then retired in 1986. Sadly, he died in 2003, his body ravaged by the abuse of alcohol.

Jan. 12, 1969 — It was 40 years ago that the Colts came into the first game to be known as the Super Bowl as 18-point favorites to beat the Jets. But Morrall (pictured, No. 15), the MVP of the league that season, could never get his team going in this game. He finished 6 of 17 passing for 71 yards in a fateful, 16-7 loss to Joe Namath and the Jets. That included three second-quarter interceptions, all coming in Jets territory.

Jan. 26, 1992 — Yes, two past-due Bills from the same game. Thomas had a mostly wonderful career with the Bills, and arrived at this Super Bowl as the AFC's leading rusher. But this game wasn't kind to him. After voicing some displeasure earlier in the week about his efforts not getting enough love from the national media, he misplaced his helmet on the Bills' sideline and missed the game's first two plays from scrimmage. Once properly equipped, he managed just 13 yards in 10 carries in a 37-24 loss to the Redskins.

Jan. 26, 1992 — You have to give Kelly (pictured, No. 12) and the Bills credit for their persistence. They made it to the big dance four consecutive seasons in the '90s, and lost each time, including the crushing, "Wide Right" loss to the Giants in SB XXV. But this was Kelly's most humbling defeat. Forced to throw early and often after his team fell behind, Kelly had four interceptions and three fumbles as the Bills committed nine turnovers in a 37-24 loss to the Redskins.

Jan. 26, 2003 — It wasn't all bad for Gannon (pictured getting sacked). He did complete 24 of 44 passes for 272 yards. But he also set a Super Bowl record with five interceptions. Oh, yeah, and three of those were returned for touchdowns in a 48-21 loss to the Buccaneers and former Raiders coach Jon Gruden. Gannon was also sacked five times. The Bucs did everything but steal his lunch money.

Jan. 12, 1975 — Tarkenton's mad scrambling skills were no match for Pittsburgh's "Steel Curtain" defense. Tarkenton completed just 11 of 26 passes for 102 yards and had three interceptions. He was also tackled in the end zone for a safety as the Vikings went down to a 16-6 defeat. It was Minnesota's third failed attempt to win the Super Bowl.

Jan. 28, 2001 — Like a few others on this list, Collins had the great misfortune of playing quarterback against a team that reached the big game on the strength of its imposing defense. With Super Bowl MVP Ray Lewis leading the charge, the Ravens held Collins to 15 of 39 passing and intercepted him four times, returning one of those for a touchdown. The Giants managed just one first down on their final four possessions, and left with a 34-7 loss.

Jan. 28, 1990 — Elway had a storybook career in Denver, but there were a few unhappy endings along the way. He had two interceptions and two fumbles in this embarassing, 55-10 loss to the 49ers. The defeat dropped the Broncos to 0-3 in the Super Bowl at the time, losses coming by a combined score of 136-40. Elway would have to wait eight more years for another shot, finally getting his ring with a 31-24 victory over Green Bay in Super Bowl XXXII.