Let’s be honest with ourselves and with one another: not one fan, pundit, expert, player, prognosticator, or octopus with a soccer ball predicted that we would be in the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs for the 2022-2023 season with a possibility of seeing the Jacksonville Jaguars representing the AFC in Super Bowl LVII.
Only a few more of us had three NFC East teams still vying
for the George Halas Trophy. Even fewer still had the New York Giants as one of
those three teams. And yet, here we are with the NFC East guaranteed at least
one team in the NFC Championship game.
Here are some facts leading up to Super Bowl LVII.
·
Of the 16 possible matchups for Super Bowl LVII,
there is not one that guarantees a first-time winner.
·
The Jacksonville Jaguars are the only of the eight
remaining teams to have never lost a Super Bowl.
·
The Jacksonville Jaguars are the only of the eight
remaining teams to have never played in a Super Bowl.
·
In fact, every other team has played in at least
three Super Bowls.
·
The breakdown of the other seven teams looks
like this:
o
Dallas Cowboys – 8 appearances, 5-3 record;
62.50% winning percentage.
o
San Francisco 49ers – 7 appearances, 5-2 record;
71.43% winning percentage.
o
New York Giants – 5 appearances; 4-1 record; 80%
winning percentage.
o
Kansas City Chiefs – 4 appearances; 2-2 record;
50% winning percentage.
o
Buffalo Bills – 4 appearances; 0-4 record; 0%
winning percentage.
o
Philadelphia Eagles – 3 appearances; 1-2 record;
33.33% winning percentage.
o
Cincinnati Bengals – 3 appearances; 0-3 record;
0% winning percentage.
With these facts in mind, and more to follow, let’s rank the
possible playoff matchups ahead of the division round:
16. Jacksonville Jaguars vs. New York Giants
With all due respect to both teams, this has to be the matchup
that is least appealing to NFL fans outside of Jacksonville and New York. The
biggest appeal of this matchup is that Jacksonville has never won a Super Bowl.
In fact, that appeal applies to any of the four possible matchups featuring the
Jaguars. Sure, the Giants can enter a three-way tie with Dallas and San Francisco
for 2nd most Super Bowl titles at five each (the New England
Patriots have six; Tom Brady has seven), but neither team was even thought of
as a Wild Card contender when the season started. That may be the ultimate
appeal: two extreme underdogs, both overcoming the odds and proving that
coaching is important. Second year quarterback Trevor Lawrence has developed immensely
under new head coach Doug Pederson and Brian Daboll has turned fourth-year quarterback
Daniel Jones into someone they may be able to build around, rather than part
ways with. Jones had arguably the best game of any player during Super Wild
Card Weekend. There’s nothing wrong with a Jags and Giants Super Bowl, but
something has to be last.
15. Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Okay, this could have been last. Philadelphia is a smaller
market than the Giants. They have fewer appearances and wins in the Super Bowl
than the Giants. But, the Eagles do have something to add that the Giants do
not: their only championship came when Doug Pederson was their head coach. Wouldn’t
it be interesting to see the #1 seed in the NFC for the whole season against
the team that had the first pick in each of the last two drafts. The difference
for the Jags? The coach. The coach? The one who brought a title to the City of
Brotherly Love.
14. Jacksonville Jaguars vs. San Francisco 49ers
So here we have a team looking to tie the New England Patriots
with a sixth Super Bowl title against team looking for their first. Spoiler
alert: this is true of the 13th ranked matchup, too. However, what
makes this one slightly less appealing than the next is that the 49ers don’t
quite have the mass market appeal, for some reason. I, personally, would love
to see the 49ers and the Jaguars. It would be hard for me to choose a team to
cheer for. The 49ers have long been my favorite NFC team. I used to dream of my
Dolphins against the 49ers in the Super Bowl (only to find out it happened three
years before I was born). But Dallas is, somehow, “America’s Team.”
13. Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Dallas Cowboys
It seems like I have a bias against Jacksonville as the four
worst matchups, per my rankings, all feature the Jaguars. However, as a Miami Dolphins
fan, the only two teams I personally want to see win it more are the Bengals,
my brother’s favorite team, and the 49ers, my favorite NFC team. The underdog
story that is the pride of Duvall County would be awesome to watch compete for
and win their first title. My love of AEW only plays a small factor into that bias.
However, looking at what would be the biggest draw, Jacksonville just seems to have
less appeal to a national audience than the other teams. For reasons I will
never understand, Dallas has that appeal. The numbers don’t lie. People tune in
to watch Dallas when they play games in primetime, especially if they’re
meaningful games and/or against divisional opponents. The Cowboys haven’t made
the Super Bowl since the 1995-1996 season. More likely than not, they’d be the
favorites, too.
12. Cincinnati Bengals vs. New York Giants
Joe Burrow could lead the Bengals to the Super Bowl for the second
year in a row against a team that nobody saw coming. Basically, the Giants
could be to the Bengals what the Bengals were to the Rams a year ago. Cincinnati
would agree to that, as that would mean they win their first championship.
Cincy is still a smaller market, but Burrow is gaining a national following. This
would be an interesting Super Bowl, but not as sexy as some of the others on
this list.
11. Kansas City Chiefs vs. New York Giants
Maybe, whatever bias was implied by having the Jaguars
occupy all four of the bottom spots could be transferred to the Giants. The
Giants don’t have that flashy, splashy…well, anything. Saquan will battle
Christian McCaffrey for comeback player of the year. Daniel Jones flashed and
splashed during the Super Wild Card matchup with the Vikings. They have a good
defense with some young players. Kansas City, however, is the definition of
flash and splash. A new version of this team, the post-Tyreek Hill version, has
emerged. They play decent defense. They run the ball better. The big play,
however, is still there. Whether JuJu Smith-Schuster, Mecole Hardman, Marcus
Valdez-Scantling, or stalwart Travis Kelce, let alone the running backs, the Chiefs
can attack from almost anywhere. Two different styles of teams, but could be a
fun match.
10. Cincinnati Bengals vs. Dallas Cowboys
Two years in a row for the Bengals against a team that, as noted,
brings in viewers. Both have defenses capable of taking over the game, but, on
paper, the better defense is in Dallas. While both teams can put up points, it’s
arguable that the Bengals have the more explosive offense. Fairly evenly matched
on paper, this game likely comes down to Joe Burrow being Joe Cool, the Bengals
offensive line holding up, and Dak Prescott not being the turnover-happy Dak
Prescott.
9. Cincinnati Bengals vs. Philadelphia Eagles
LSU vs. Alabama. Joe Burrow and Jalen Hurts are both third-year
players. Both have progressed during their time as starters. Both have young head
coaches that show promise. Both have offensive weapons. Philly is more of a
ground team. Cincy is more potent in the air.
8. Kansas City Chiefs vs. Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys may be “America’s Team,” but the Kansas City
Chiefs are the team right now. Looking to go to their third Super Bowl
in four years, the Chiefs and Cowboys have each contributed a lot to the
history of the NFL. The Chiefs were in the first Super Bowl ever. The Cowboys
have won five. This could be a shootout. This could be a Chiefs blowout. It
could be a Dallas blowout if the offense plays to their fullest potential and
the defense plays to theirs. I know it sounds like a lot of praise for a
matchup ranked only eighth, but really there’s no reason to not want to see
this matchup, even if you’re not fond of the Cowboys.
7. Buffalo Bills vs. San Francisco 49ers
Let’s cut to the chase: the 2022 Buffalo Bills have been
through more than maybe any team in NFL history. In the offseason, Buffalo suffered
the Topps supermarket shooting tragedy that killed 10 people. In December, the
county experienced severe snowfall that resulted in 39 deaths. On January 2,
2023, during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals, safety Damar Hamlin
suffered a cardiac episode that required on-field resuscitation. It’s been an
emotional several months in Buffalo. Yet, they are widely considered to be one
of the best teams in the NFL today. A game against the highest rank defense in
the regular season would make for a fun Super Bowl matchup.
6. Buffalo Bills vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Sorry, Buffalo fans, but I have to talk about it. The
Buffalo Bills lost four straight Super Bowls in the 1990’s. They lost Super
Bowl XXV to the Giants, Super Bowl XXVI to the team now known as the
Commanders, and Super Bowls XXVII and XXVIII to the Cowboys. That is to say,
they are 0-for-the-NFC-East in the Super Bowl. The one team that haven’t faced?
The Eagles. Could Buffalo exorcise the demons of the 90’s by playing the one
team from the NFC East that hasn’t beaten them? Or would the Eagles continue
the NFC East dominance against Buffalo in the Super Bowl?
5. Kansas City Chiefs vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Patrick Mahomes is likely the NFL MVP. The Chiefs seem to be
the dynastic team of the 20s. The Philadelphia Eagles were the class of the NFC
all season, dipping only during games that Jalen Hurts missed due to injury.
Hurts was making a case for MVP until his injured throwing shoulder sat him down.
Two teams that can beat you in a multitude of ways. Both teams well coached.
Both teams seem to have the team mentality. Both teams have quarterbacks that
can turn losses not into just gains, but touchdowns. Oh, by the way, Andy Reid.
The coach of the Chiefs against his former team. What a great matchup this
would be.
4. Buffalo Bills vs. New York Giants
Oh Bills fans, I don’t hate you. But this would be the Scott
Norwood revenge game. Thirty-one Super Bowls later, can the Buffalo Bills
avenge that first of four straight Super Bowl losses against a team no one saw even
making the playoffs? A good defense on each side, the Bills would have the edge
on the offensive side. The gameplan for the Giants would be to keep the ball
out of Allen’s hands through time of possession and their running game and
pressuring Allen when he does have it. If the Miami Dolphins defense can put up
the hassle they did in a losing effort during the first round, the Giants can
do the same and give themselves a chance to add to the misery of Super Bowls
for Buffalo. This game would also be the Battle of New Yorkish teams. Only one team
actually plays in New York.
3. Cincinnati Bengals vs. San Francisco 49ers
Super Bowls XVI and XXIII featured this same matchup. The 49ers
won both by a combined score of 46-37. The first was near the beginning of the 80s,
the second near the end. My how times have changed. The 49ers were in their
dynasty at the time. Beginning with that first matchup and continuing into the
early 1990s, the 49ers won five Super Bowls. They became the first team to do
so (though Dallas would complete the feat a year later). While the 49ers have
played in, and lost two, since, neither team had a ton of playoff appearances
in recent years. While the 49ers have been perennial contenders of late,
especially since the arrival of head coach Kyle Shannan before the 2017-2018
season. Even still, the Bengals feel like a team on the verge of their own
dynasty. Back-to-back appearances for the Bengals would be a great start.
Honestly, either team could pick up their first of a couple of titles.
2. Buffalo Bills vs Dallas Cowboys
As noted, Super Bowls XXVII and XXVIII featured the Cowboys
and the Bills. Unlike the Bills dramatic loss to the Giants, neither game with
the Cowboys was very close. The Cowboys won 52-17 and 30-13, respectively. Yet,
this game would probably see the Bills as the favorites. Dallas has five Super
Bowls as a franchise, trailing only the Patriots. The Bills have suffered as a
fan base through four defeats, the era of Tom Brady in New England, and the tumultuous
last 8 or 9 months as a community. The pre-season favorites against America’s Team.
This game would bring viewers. It would bring drama. It would bring story
lines. For those that don’t cheer for Dallas, the Cowboys are a great villain to
cheer against, and what better hero to cheer for than these Bills, the
emotionally resilient 2022-2023 Buffalo Bills?
1 Kansas City Chiefs vs. San Francisco 49ers
Writing the reasoning behind the second-place matchup, I almost
had to flip it to the number one spot. But this matchup still seems like the
better option. The Chiefs have Patrick Mahomes. He transcends the game right
now and is, arguably, the top star in the sport. He is bigger than the NFL
alone and may be the most talented quarterback to ever play. That said, his
legacy will be closer to that of Aaron Rodgers (which is not a bad thing) than
to Tom Brady without more wins. Brady has seven and likely no one else will get
there. Montana has four. Peyton and Eli each have two. Elway has two. To get
into the upper echelon of best quarterbacks of all-time, Mahomes needs more
rings. He’s already passed some greats, like Dan Marino, and could pass Rodgers
and Drew Brees with another. The Chiefs are the dynasty of right now. They have
been in the AFC Championship game in each of the last four seasons, and would
make it five straight if they reach the Super Bowl. They played in two
straights Super Bowls until the Bengals upset them in the AFC Championship a
year ago. Their first Super Bowl win was against these 49ers. Well, not these
49ers. The team has some players that were there in Super Bowl LIV, but
there are even more new ones. Including Brock Purdy. Brock Purdy was the last
pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. No player ever picked last has done what Purdy has.
He has played amazing football since starter Trey Lance and backup Jimmy Garoppolo
were injured. Jimmy G was the started when the Chiefs took home their first
title since the 1969-1970 season. The Chiefs ended a roughly 50-year drought. The
49ers have not won since the 1994-1995 season. While not quite 50 years, the drought
in San Fransisco is at 28. What better matchup could their be than this? Can
the 49ers avenge the loss from a few years ago? Can Mr. Irrelevant become Mr.
Immortal? Does Mahomes add to his legacy or do the 49ers become the second
franchise to six Super Bowls? Can the Chiefs break through and become a
full-fledged dynasty or do the 49ers make a case of their own?
What’s your dream matchup for Super Bowl LVII?
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