Tom Brady, Kurt Warner, Trent Dilfer, Brad Johnson.

You don’t need a “franchise” quarterback to win a Super Bowl. Sometimes, you don’t even need a starter. Dilfer, Warner, Johnson and Brady all won Super Bowls in seasons they started holding the clipboard. Coming into Sunday, there are five quarterbacks who started the season on the bench that have a shot at the playoffs. Here are the top three who have a chance to win the title.

3. Brian Griese.
OK, so we are cheating a little with Brian. But Grossman still has a great chance to get hurt, like he’s done in the past, or be completely ineffective, like he’s done in the present. In either case, the veteran Griese would get a chance to lead the Bears. The Bears have the top defense and special teams, as well as a solid running game. Who does that sound like? That’s right, The 2000 Baltimore Ravens. Griese may not be spectacular, but was Dilfer? No. Did he win a Super Bowl? Yes. Discuss this amongst yourselves.

2. Tony Romo.
I’m sure you’re thinking “Wait a minute, Brady replaced Bledsoe, Romo replaced Bledsoe, shouldn’t Romo be this year’s Tom Brady?” That’s a good point (and apologizes to Drew Bledsoe). But Brady was younger and on a much more defensive-minded team. Yes, Romo has never had a chance until now, but he is being asked to utilize an excellent array of skill position players and carry this Dallas Cowboys team. He also was never drafted. That’s right, Romo is the new Kurt Warner. Yeah, he’s struggled a little down the stretch, and is getting more press for talking to Carrie Underwood than throwing TDs lately, but Romo and these Cowboys still have a great chance to get it together, especially in the weak NFC.

1. Jeff Garcia.
Veteran backup QB who has had a successful career as a starter and is surrounded by a talented veteran team with a lot of recent playoff success, that’s Brad Johnson and the 2002 Tampa Bay Bucs. Not only that, but the Eagles late surge is reminding people of the Steelers a season ago. That’s a good comparison for Philly fans. Can the Eagles win it all without McNabb at the helm? I thought Garcia was as done as Rocky Balboa. I guess nothing is impossible in the city of Philadelphia.