Ranking the Possible Super Bowl LII Match Ups

The Throw Down Round (what up #GMFB?) starts tomorrow. In line with the tradition we started last year, here's a ranking of the 16 possible Super Bowl match ups we could see in Minneapolis in next month.

16. Tennessee Titans vs. Philadelphia Eagles

                Boy, would this ranking look different if Carson Wentz was healthy. Granted, had Aaron Rodgers stayed healthy and the Packers made the playoffs, this would look different, too. So let’s ignore hypotheticals and look only at what we’ve got to work with.

                I like the Titans. I don’t like them to win it all. I don’t like them to advance past the Patriots. I just find them to be a team I can cheer for. I have loved watching Mariota will his team into the playoffs. I like the Eagles. Even with Foles, they are a good team with a good defense and good offensive weapons.

                In terms of a marquee matchup, however, this just doesn’t scream “record audience” to me. Diehard fans will tune in because neither team has ever won a Super Bowl before. But the majority of the television audience may just be tuned in for Justin Timberlake.

Winner: Titans (it would feel like a team-of-destiny thing)

15. Tennessee Titans vs. New Orleans Saints

                I won’t rehash what I’ve already said about Tennessee. This wouldn’t be a matchup of teams looking for their first ring as it would be with any other matchup for the Titans. This match, however, would feature Drew Brees, a future hall of famer. The Titans are spectacular in anything they do, but they are good in everything. They play strong defense. They run well. Mariota, when healthy, doesn’t turn the ball over. It would be a fun matchup to see two teams that are well balanced with strong defenses go at it.

Winner: Saints

14. Tennessee Titans vs. Atlanta Falcons

                A lot of what I typed about the Saints can be said for the Falcons, too. Except that they don’t have a ring yet and Ryan is as much as shoe-in for the Hall as Brees is. Leading his team to back-to-back Super Bowls would help his case, however. Even if he lost both. Afterall, Jim Kelley and Marino have just as many rings as Ryan, and only Ryan has the chance to increase his total. This matchup is very similar to the Saints matchup with Tennessee, but it gets the edge because neither team has ever won a Super Bowl.

Winner: Falcons

13. Tennessee Titans vs. Minnesota Vikings

                You’re going to hear this a lot: this is a match up of teams who have never won it. In fact, six of the possible match ups would feature teams seeking Super Bowl ring number one. So why would this be more attractive than the other possible Tennessee match ups? Easy: the Vikings would be the first team in the history of the Super Bowl to host the championship game. Add in their stout defense, and this game would be epic.

Winner: Vikings

12. Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Philadelphia Eagles

                Two teams with zero rings again. What makes Jacksonville more appealing than Tennessee, however, is that defense. They get to the quarterback. They shut down receivers. They turn the ball over. This would be a showcase of a great defense and a really good defense. No offense to Blake Bortles or Nick Foles, but those two as the marquee quarterbacks isn’t as appealing as some matchups later on.

Winner: Jaguars

11. Jacksonville Jaguars vs. New Orleans Saints

                The vaunted Jaguars’ defense can be thwarted by a good running game. Philly’s isn’t bad, but New Orleans’ is awesome. Watching the chess match between Brees, Ingram, and Kamara against “Sacksonville” would be thoroughly satisfying.

Winner: Saints

10. Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Atlanta Falcons

                Two teams with no rings, again. Seeing Freeman and Coleman rushing against Jacksonville, however, would be slightly better. Especially considering we’d see Julio Jones matched up against Jalen Ramsey.

Winner: Falcons

9. Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Minnesota Vikings

                I promise this is the last time I’ll write this: neither of these teams has yet to win a Super Bowl. This game would not be for the faint of heart. Arguably the two best defenses in the league all year would go against Blake Bortles-and Case Keenum-led offenses, respectfully. Good receivers on both sides. Good running games on both sides. A home game for the Vikings. It may not seem like the sexy matchup, but this game would have plenty to offer.

Winner: Vikings

8. New England Patriots vs. Philadelphia Eagles

                Alright, time to start mixing the Patriots and Steelers. Tom Brady would be seeking number six. Philly would be looking for number one. It’s also a rematch of Brady’s third Super Bowl victory, won after the 2004 season. Two good offenses match up against two good defenses. But the main story would be can Brady nab his sixth ring.

Winner: Patriots

7. Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Philadelphia Eagles

                As noted, Philly is looking for number one. No one has more Super Bowl rings than the six that the Steelers have. Can they extend their lead to two games (over the Patriots, Cowboys, and 49ers)? The main storyline here, though, is the Battle of Pennsylvania.

Winner: Steelers

6. New England Patriots vs. Minnesota Vikings

                I’ve already talked about Tom’s seach for number six and the Vikings’ search for number one. I don’t think I can characterize how much better both storylines get, however, when the teams face each other, in Minneapolis. That defense versus that quarterback is must-see.

Winner: Patriots

5. Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Minnesota Vikings

                So, if New England vs. Minnesota is “must-see,” why rank the Steelers-Vikings as a more favorable matchup? Maybe it’s my anti-New England bias due to my Miami Dolphins-fandom. Or maybe it’s the search for a seventh ring against the search for the first. Add to that a star-studded offense with Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster, LeVeon Bell, and Martavis Bryant and this matchup would be phenomenal.

Winner: Vikings

4. Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Atlanta Falcons

                Antonio Brown vs. Julio Jones. Ben Roethlisberger vs. Matt Ryan. Seeking a seventh vs. seeking a first. A repeat appearance in the Super Bowl for the Falcons, this time against the AFC’s other juggernaut. This would be edge of the seat the whole way through.

Winner: Steelers

3. Pittsburgh Steelers vs. New Orleans Saints

                Maybe Michael Thomas vs. Antonio Brown isn’t as sexy as Julio Jones (thought it should be; Thomas is a beast). But Brees vs. Roethlisberger is a better match up of quarterbacks. Two stout defenses versus two explosive offenses. This game could feasibly be a low-scoring affair or the highest scoring game in Super Bowl history. Either way, it would be fun to watch.

Winner: Saints

2. New England Patriots vs. New Orleans Saints

                When I began to write this, I thought I would have ranked this match up as the most intriguing. There’s something about Brady vs. Brees that just screams awesome to me. If Brady were to win this matchup, he’d reach six Super Bowl rings, which is unprecedented in itself. But he will have beaten Hall of Famers Kurt Warner and Drew Brees, as well as possible Hall of Famers Russell Wilson and Matt Ryan, plus a Hall of Very Good member in Donovan McNabb and a good quarterback in Jack Delhomme. That’s not a bad list of quarterbacks to have beaten. If Brees wins, he’ll “only” have two rings, but he would have beaten arguably the two best quarterbacks of all time—Peyton Manning and Tom Brady—to get them. How do you top that story line?

Winner: Saints

1. New England Patriots vs. Atlanta Falcons

               You top that story line with a Super Bowl rematch. Interestingly, this pairing ranked only 11th in last year's listing. What a difference a year makes. The last time the same two teams met in back-to-back Super Bowls was in 1993 and 1994 when the Dallas Cowboys beat the Buffalo Bills (who were making their third and fourth straight appearances in the Super Bowl, all in losing efforts). That’s a span of 23 years. The last team to win back-to-back Super Bowls? The New England Patriots in 2003 and 2004. Tom Brady could be just the second quarterback to win back-to-back Super Bowls twice in a career (joining Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw). But imagine the redemption story for the Falcons after that epic collapse a year ago. Sure, they lost that Super Bowl, but to grind it out, overcome it, make it back, and avenge the loss? It doesn’t get much better than that. Historic one way or the other. This is the most intriguing Super Bowl match up possible.

Winner: Patriots