Which would be the best Super Bowl LI matchups among the remaining teams in the NFL Playoffs? Which would be the worst?
Four teams remain in the NFL Playoffs as we move from the divisional round to the conference title games this weekend. That presents four possible matchups for Super Bowl LI in Houston. Here’s how we rank them.
1. Green Bay Packers vs. New England Patriots (XXXI rematch): It’ll be an absolute shame if we never get a Super Bowl matchup between Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady, who might very well wind up being viewed as the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game.
This would also be a matchup between two of the most successful and beloved franchises in American sports. They’ve won a combined 10 Lombardi Trophies, and both would have a chance at making history in this game. Brady is gunning for a record fifth title, while Rodgers is looking to become the 13th quarterback to win multiple rings.
2. Green Bay Packers vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (XLV rematch): They played a heck of a game six years ago. You’d once again have history on the line for two great quarterbacks and two successful and beloved franchises, but Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers have a lot less history to make than Brady and the Pats.
Of course, there’s also a better chance this is a close game.
3. Atlanta Falcons vs. New England Patriots: The Tom Brady/Bill Belichick factor keeps this interesting, but the Falcons hardly move the needle. Could be a lot worse, because Atlanta has the league’s highest-scoring offense, but blowout potential also exists here.
4. Atlanta Falcons vs. Pittsburgh Steelers: There just aren’t enough historical implications, but it could be a close, exciting game between two great offenses. All four potential matchups are superb — this is just the worst of them.
