With the Wildcard Round of the NFL Playoffs in the books, there are just 8 teams left: Houston, Pittsburgh, Kansas City, New England, Seattle, Green Bay, Atlanta, and Dallas. No matter which two teams advance to Super Bowl LI, there will be a great story line to build the hype. Not sure which match-up would be best? Have no fear! All 16 potential Super Bowl LI match-ups are listed below. Spoiler alert: the winner of each potential Super Bowl is listed as well.
16. Houston Texans vs. Green Bay Packers
No team has ever “hosted” a Super Bowl. Houston could be the first. The
other thing that Houston has going for it is that they have never been Super
Bowl Champions. Pit them against “Title Town” and you have an intriguing
storyline. Add in Houston’s #1 ranked defense against Aaron Rodgers and the
only thing you’re missing is a healthy J.J. Watt.
Winner: Green Bay Packers
15. Kansas City Chiefs vs. Seattle Seahawks
Kansas City hasn’t won it all since Super Bowl IV in 1970. Seattle hasn’t
won since Super Bowl XLVIII in 2014. The 47-year drought of the Chiefs far outweighs
that of the Seahawks. The biggest downside to this game is that it’s on a neutral
field. CenturyLink and Arrowhead are both known for their rowdy fans and
rocking atmosphere.
Winner: Seattle Seahawks
14. Houston Texans vs. Seattle Seahawks
The regular season’s best defense versus the Legion of Boom. A team
that’s never won versus a team that’s only got one. A young quarterback that
was once thought to be too short versus a tall quarterback who was paid a lot
of money for what he did in relief of Peyton Manning.
Winner: Seattle Seahawks
13. Kansas City Chiefs vs. Atlanta Falcons
The Chiefs lone Super Bowl win may have been 47 years ago, but the
Falcons have been playing football for 51 years, and have zero titles to show
for it. The match-up to watch would include the Falcons’ high-flying offense
versus the Chiefs’ hard-hitting defense. Specifically, watching a young Marcus
Peters shadow Julio Jones would be dynamic.
Winner: Atlanta Falcons
12. Kansas City Chiefs vs. Green Bay
Packers
These two teams met in the first Super Bowl ever, a Packers 35-10 win.
They then combined to win three of the first four Super Bowls. Since then,
Green Bay has won two more; Kansas City hasn’t been back. Jordy Nelson vs.
Marcus Peters will be fun, but it’s Tyreek Hill against a banged up Green Bay
secondary that may be the x-factor.
Winner: Kansas City
11. New England Patriots vs. Atlanta
Falcons
Matt Ryan went to Boston College. The storyline here is easily the
Falcons’ pursuit of their first ever title against the team that has dominated
the league this millennium. The Falcons have one of the most potent offenses in
football. The Patriots defense is underrated, but this is likely to be a
shootout all the way. Whoever has the ball last, wins.
Winner: New England
10. Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Seattle
Seahawks
The Steelers are looking to extend their record for most Super Bowl
wins ever with what would be seven. To do so, however, they’d have to get by
the team of the last several years: the Seahawks. Richard Sherman vs. Antonio
Brown. Bobby Maxwell vs. LeVeon Bell. The last time two Super Bowls the
Steelers have been were decided by one score: a 2011 loss to the Packers and a
2009 win against the Cardinals in one of the best Super Bowls of all time. This
one is likely to be close, too.
Winner: Seattle
9. Houston Texans vs. Atlanta Falcons
This is match-up guarantees us history: one of these teams will win
their first Super Bowl ever. Between these two franchises, they’ve only played
in one: a 1999 Falcon loss to John Elway and the Broncos. In the regular
season, the Atlanta Falcons averaged the most points per game. The Houston
Texans allowed the fewest points per game. This will be a match-up of
juggernauts.
Winner: Atlanta
8. Kansas City Chiefs vs. Dallas
Cowboys
This match-up is one of historical significance. The Kansas City Chiefs
began life in Dallas as the Texans back in 1960 as part of the new American
Football League. They would move to Kansas City in three years and by 1967,
they were the AFL’s representative in the inaugural Super Bowl. They played in
two of the first four and won it all in 1970. Since that the time, the Dallas
Cowboys have won five and Kansas City hasn’t even made it back. The not-quite
Battle for Dallas should be a great match-up.
Winner: Dallas Cowboys
7. Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Atlanta
Falcons
This match-up has shootout written all over it. Big Ben, LeVeon Bell,
and Antonio Brown. Matty Ice, Devonta Freeman, Tevin Coleman, and Julio Jones.
Two defenses that have their work cut out for them. The Steelers pursue their
record-extending seventh title. The Falcons pursue the first championship in
franchise history.
Winner: Pittsburgh
6. Houston Texans vs. Dallas Cowboys
The dynamic rookie duo of quarterback Dak Prescott and running back
Ezekiel Elliott against the NFL’s top defense would make the Battle for Texas
unforgettable. The best part: the game will be in Texas. Jadeveon Clowney
against the best offensive line in football will make this even better. Look
for this to be one of the most hard-hitting affairs as neither team will want
to lose.
Winner: Dallas
5. Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Green Bay
Packers
A re-match of Super Bowl XLV will feature two future Hall of Fame
quarterbacks in Ben Roethlisberger and Aaron Rodgers. “Title Town” will seek
their fifth, while Pittsburgh looks for number seven. Arguably the best
all-around wide receiver in football should decimate an injury-riddled
secondary. Aaron Rodgers will show that while Big Ben may be hard to take down,
he’s harder to get to. All of the weapons at Rodgers’s disposal will be able to
keep up with the firepower of the Pittsburgh offense.
Winner: Green Bay
4. New England Patriots vs. Dallas
Cowboys
The best rookie quarterback of 2016 will go head-to-head with one of
the best quarterbacks—maybe the best quarterback—of all time. The Cowboys have
five Super Bowl titles and are referred to as “America’s Team.” The Patriots
have four Super Bowls, all with Bill Belichick and Tom Brady in place. Currently,
the Steelers lead the way with six wins and the Cowboys will want to tie that
record. Meanwhile, Belichick is tied with Chuck Knoll for most Super Bowl wins
by a coach and Tom Brady is tied with Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw for most
wins by a quarterback. Two of the most beloved teams. Two of the most hated
teams. Lofty records on the line.
Winner: New England
3. Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Dallas
Cowboys
Dallas is seeking a record-tying sixth Super Bowl title. The current
record holder won’t make that easy on them. The Cowboys have a dynamic Big
Three in quarterback Dak Prescott, running back Ezekiel Elliott, and wide
receiver Dez Bryant. The Steelers have the most dynamic Big Three in quarterback
Ben Roethlisberger, running back LeVeon Bell, and wide receiver Antonio Brown.
The Cowboys have the best offensive line in football. The Steelers have a
top-five offensive line. So it may come down to defense. Defense, after all,
does win championships. The Cowboys’ defense is underrated, but the Steelers’
defense has played amazing down the stretch.
Winner: Pittsburgh
2. New England Patriots vs. Seattle
Seahawks
For all of the potential Super Bowl rematches, this one would be the
best. Just two years ago, Malcolm Butler became a household name because the
Seahawks didn’t hand the ball to Marshawn Lynch. Peyton Manning couldn’t beat
Seattle on the biggest stage in football, but Brady would get a shot to do it
twice. Brady and Belichick looking for number five against the Legion of Boom.
The Seahawks looking to avenge the loss in Super Bowl XLIX.
Winner: New England
1. New England Patriots vs. Green Bay
Packers
One of these teams will Super Bowl number five. While that may not be
as prestigious a number as either team could achieve in the potential
Steelers-Cowboys match-up, this does have something better: the best match-up of
quarterbacks in Super Bowl history. There have been some great quarterback
match-ups in Super Bowl history: Dan Marino and Joe Montana, Troy Aikman and Jim
Kelly, Ken Stabler and Fran Tarkenton, Drew Brees and Peyton Manning, John
Elway and Brett Favre, Kurt Warner and Steve McNair, Johnny Unitas and Joe
Namath, and more. But there has never been a match-up of two future Hall of
Famers quite like this match-up would offer. Both Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers
are among the upper echelon of quarterbacks. Period. Not of today, but ever.
Many will tell you that Aaron Rodgers is the best quarterback in the game right
now. Many will also tell you that Brady is the best ever. If he’s not, a fifth
title, unheard of among quarterbacks, would only make his claim harder to
ignore. Brady is 39 and Rodgers is just 33. Rodgers would be just the second
quarterback in Green Bay history to win two Super Bowls; something his
predecessor, Brett Favre, couldn’t do. The only quarterback to defeat Brady on
the big stage is Eli Manning. Eli had been a thorn in Green Bay’s side during
the playoffs, too. Until this year. Can Rodgers take town Brady? Can Brady and
Belichick win number 5?
Winner: Green Bay
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