QuizGuy66
Footballguy
I'm always intrigued by the wide assortment (36) of potential Super Bowl match-ups at the beginning of the playoffs.
Feel free to post any thoughts and any nuggets I may be missing from these potential match-ups.
1) New England vs 1) Green Bay
Super Bowl XXXI rematch (the Desmond Howard game) A titanic battle between a QB who's perhaps the best of all time and a guy who is playing just about perfect and is probably the best there is today. First team to 50 points probably wins.
1) New England vs 2) San Francisco.
Team of the 00s vs Team of the 80s - and yet they never met in a Super Bowl. Complete contrast in styles. The heralded all-time great QB who was a late-round pick vs the lightly regarded QB who was a #1 overall pick. Offense vs Defense. Intriguing football match-up.
1) New England vs 3) New Orleans
Aside from the fact that these teams haven't met in the Super Bowl it has a lot of the same elements as NE vs GB. Perhaps a little more good vs evil in it. Again first to 50 wins.
1) New England vs 4) Giants
Super Bowl XLII rematch. No perfection on the line but the story line would be similar with the Patriots surely regarded as favorite against an inconsistent Giants team (albeit one who had their best result of the year by beating the Patriots earlier this year). Revenge or history repeats itself.
1) New England vs 5) Atlanta
Seems to fall in line with the random variety of opponents New England has met in the Super Bowl. Unheralded upstarts in Atlanta in a supporting role to the favored Patriots.
1) New England vs 6) Detroit
A team on the rise that's a feel-good story (though not without controversy) against the team that once was a feel good story when they first one to a team that's lost all warm and fuzziness. Again, first to 50 wins.
2) Baltimore vs 1) Green Bay
Sorta the flip-side of the NE vs SF match-up. This time the AFC team is the one with the regarded defense. Another contrast in styles if not entirely sexy.
2) Baltimore vs 2) San Francisco
Now this, on the other hand is sexy as a storyline though not an offensive slugfest. Brother against Brother (probably the only such situation the NFL would want more would be a Ryan-vs-Ryan clash but such things can never be guaranteed). A rematch of the Thanksgiving game that totaled 22 points. This would probably be the lowest scoring Super Bowl since the 70s.
2) Baltimore vs 3) New Orleans
Again much like Baltimore-Green Bay. Contrast in styles. Not entirely sexy.
2) Baltimore vs 4) Giants
A rematch of Super Bowl XXXV - the Ravens only appearance in the Big Game to date. The Giants would have more to offer with Eli than Kerry Collins though a similar story line wouldn't be the biggest surprise.
2) Baltimore vs 5) Atlanta
Another game that seems more a defensive match-up. Don't think the league office would love this one.
2) Baltimore vs 6) Detroit
A fun sub-plot is that this match-up would probably entail Detroit facing both Harbaugh brothers in back-to-back week which adds intrigue, especially with handshakegate. Of course Detroit making it would be a story in and of itself and again this is a distinct clash in styles (though both teams bring the nasty).
3) Houston vs 1) Green Bay
This means that TJ Yates makes the Super Bowl and faces Aaron Rodgers. That's about as David vs Goliath as you could get.
3) Houston vs 2) San Francisco
Again you have a team that would meet both Harbaugh brothers, but no bad blood so that's less fun than Detroit. One team coming out of hibernation from past greatness against an upstart that would have overcome like 3 billion injuries. Over/under of like 33.
3) Houston vs 3) New Orleans. This means TJ Yates makes the Super Bowl and faces Drew Brees. That's about as David vs Goliath as you could get. These teams met in week 3 where New Orleans won a shoot-out but that was when Matt Schaub was still flinging the rock for the Texans. This game would likely play much differently the 2nd time around.
3) Houston vs 4) Giants
Kevin Gilbride meets his old city
For Houston, it'd be kinda funny for them to face Eli Manning after being thwarted so many times by his brother.
3) Houston vs 5) Atlanta
About the only intrigue in this matchup
This would be the first time since Super Bowl XXXIV that you'd have two teams seeking their first title meeting in the Super Bowl. By the way Houston won a defensive battle in week 13 that was T.J. Yates' first NFL Start.
3) Houston vs 6) Detroit
Not only would this be the first time since Super Bowl XXXIV that 2 teams would meet seeking their first Super Bowl title, if would be the first time since Super Bowl XX that two teams that have never made the Super Bowl before would meet.
4) Denver vs 1) Green Bay
Super Bowl XXXII rematch. Denver thwarted Green Bay in their quest to repeat that time. Now John Elway is in the front office. Green Bay won the match-up in the regular season but that game featured the mortal Kyle Orton. This would be perhaps the ultimate underdog story and God himself would probably get 50-yard lines seats for it. Tebow vs Rodgers. World explodes!
4) Denver vs 2) San Francisco
Super Bowl XXIV rematch. You might remember that as the nail-biter where the 49ers edged the Broncos 55-10. Given the offenses involved this time a score of 10-5 might be less surprising. Tebow vs Alex Smith would be just about the most improbable QB match-up ever. And all joking aside, this could be the first Super Bowl to not have any touchdowns. World explodes.
4) Denver vs 3) New Orleans
St Tebow vs the New Orleans Saints? Again, not unlike a game against the Packers it'd be probably the most epic apparent QB-mismatch in Super Bowl history. Tebow vs Brees. World explodes!
4) Denver vs 4) Giants
Super Bowl XXI rematch. That was the first title the Giants won yet it's the least memorable of their Super Bowl games. Phil Simms was ridiculously accurate clinching his Hall of Fame stat...wait how the hell is he not in the Hall of Fame? Anyway, it's Tebow vs a Manning and the biggest media market around. World explodes!
4) Denver vs 5) Atlanta
Super Bowl XXXIII rematch. Seriously, Denver has more potential rematches than any other team in this year's playoffs. You can probably win a few bar bets with that nugget. Satan and Atlanta have a lot of letters in common and Satan has other commitments so the Falcons stand in. Gator fans that can't make it to Indianapolis instead invade Atlanta just to piss people off. World explodes!
4) Denver vs 6) Detroit.
God vs the NFL's newest Satan in Suh. Suh repeatedly cheap shots Tebow only for Tim to heal himself in time for the next series. The ultimate underdog vs a team making it that would indicate hell freezing over. Also a rematch of the absolute mauling that Tebow faced before the big 6 game winning streak. World explodes!
5) Pittsburgh vs 1) Green Bay
A rematch of last year's Super Bowl - something that's only happened once before. And a sexy rematch at that.
5) Pittsburgh vs 2) San Francisco
Team of the 70s vs Team of the 80s - yet they've never met in a Super Bowl. Big time blood and guts game and a rematch of Week 14's SF 20-3 win (featuring super-gimpy Ben). The history of the teams makes it sexier than the actual game probably would be.
5) Pittsburgh vs 3) New Orleans
No re-match here but a marquee match-up nonetheless. Ben vs Brees would have some good hype behind it. That said, not exactly a traditional rivalry.
5) Pittsburgh vs 4) Giants
Again two teams with a lot of Super Bowl history but that haven't met in the Big Game. Depending on the health of Ben and his line that could be where the action is in this one.
5) Pittsburgh vs 5) Atlanta
Um. Again not traditional rivals. Guess it would have more an old-guard/new-guard feel.
5) Pittsburgh vs 6) Detroit A rematch of the epic Playoff Bowl that took place on January 6, 1963 won by the Lions 17-10. This was the 3rd straight playoff bowl victory for the Lions. They don't play the Playoff Bowl anymore. Still this match is sexy as well between two gritty cities that have had quite the divergent histories in the last few decades.
6) Cincinnati
vs 1) Green Bay
This would have all the feel of the Tebow - Green Bay match-up without the sense of God's favor. That said, miraculous would be the word of the week and it would be miraculous for my Bengals to make it, much less win. Definitely David vs Goliath here.
6) Cincinnati vs 2) San Francisco 
Rematch of Super Bowl XVI and Super Bowl XXIII. This would give a sense of both excitement and doom at the same time since this didn't work out so great the first two times for my Who Deys. Game-wise it would be expected to be a defensive battle - not unlike the Super Bowl XXIII match-up. The history makes it more intriguing as well as the fact that they'd both be surprise entrants again. The teams actually have had a few guys that have played on each other team so that adds a little as well. While in all of the match-ups (and frankly all of the match-ups not involving the Bengals) Boomer Esiason would invariably bring up the Stanley Wilson fiasco, if this specific match-up happens he'll probably bring it up every hour on the hour for 2 solid weeks.
6) Cincinnati vs 3) New Orleans
Who Dey vs Who Dat. The rest of the nation will probably want to kill both fan-bases by the end of 2 weeks. Gamewise it's another case of David and Goliath.
6) Cincinnati vs 4) Giants
Given where I live this will either be the best Super Bowl ever or the most annoying. Game-wise it'd be an interesting match-up between a team that is inconsistent week-to-week (Giants) and a team that is inconsistent within any given game (Bengals). Coughlin also was the other finalist when the Bengals hired Marvin. If Coughlin came I believe the Bengals would literally have run out of players by now.
6) Cincinnati vs 5) Atlanta
Two young teams. AJ Green vs Julio Jones. A whole lot of "who the heck are these guys" for the rest of the players. Bengals fans hope to extract revenge on Bob Bratkowski.
6) Cincinnati vs 6) Detroit 
At the end of this game either Mike Brown or William Clay Ford would host the Lombardi Trophy. The mind boggles at the mere thought. Like the Atlanta game above, two non-Super Bowl winners will meet for the first time since Super Bowl XXXIV. Stylistically a good contrast between two young teams that will have bucked considerable odds to arrive a couple years early.
So there you go. Feel free to add any subtexts or thoughts if you like
-QG
Feel free to post any thoughts and any nuggets I may be missing from these potential match-ups.
1) New England vs 1) Green Bay
Super Bowl XXXI rematch (the Desmond Howard game) A titanic battle between a QB who's perhaps the best of all time and a guy who is playing just about perfect and is probably the best there is today. First team to 50 points probably wins.
1) New England vs 2) San Francisco.
Team of the 00s vs Team of the 80s - and yet they never met in a Super Bowl. Complete contrast in styles. The heralded all-time great QB who was a late-round pick vs the lightly regarded QB who was a #1 overall pick. Offense vs Defense. Intriguing football match-up.
1) New England vs 3) New Orleans
Aside from the fact that these teams haven't met in the Super Bowl it has a lot of the same elements as NE vs GB. Perhaps a little more good vs evil in it. Again first to 50 wins.
1) New England vs 4) Giants
Super Bowl XLII rematch. No perfection on the line but the story line would be similar with the Patriots surely regarded as favorite against an inconsistent Giants team (albeit one who had their best result of the year by beating the Patriots earlier this year). Revenge or history repeats itself.
1) New England vs 5) Atlanta
Seems to fall in line with the random variety of opponents New England has met in the Super Bowl. Unheralded upstarts in Atlanta in a supporting role to the favored Patriots.
1) New England vs 6) Detroit
A team on the rise that's a feel-good story (though not without controversy) against the team that once was a feel good story when they first one to a team that's lost all warm and fuzziness. Again, first to 50 wins.
2) Baltimore vs 1) Green Bay
Sorta the flip-side of the NE vs SF match-up. This time the AFC team is the one with the regarded defense. Another contrast in styles if not entirely sexy.
2) Baltimore vs 2) San Francisco
Now this, on the other hand is sexy as a storyline though not an offensive slugfest. Brother against Brother (probably the only such situation the NFL would want more would be a Ryan-vs-Ryan clash but such things can never be guaranteed). A rematch of the Thanksgiving game that totaled 22 points. This would probably be the lowest scoring Super Bowl since the 70s.
2) Baltimore vs 3) New Orleans
Again much like Baltimore-Green Bay. Contrast in styles. Not entirely sexy.
2) Baltimore vs 4) Giants
A rematch of Super Bowl XXXV - the Ravens only appearance in the Big Game to date. The Giants would have more to offer with Eli than Kerry Collins though a similar story line wouldn't be the biggest surprise.
2) Baltimore vs 5) Atlanta
Another game that seems more a defensive match-up. Don't think the league office would love this one.
2) Baltimore vs 6) Detroit
A fun sub-plot is that this match-up would probably entail Detroit facing both Harbaugh brothers in back-to-back week which adds intrigue, especially with handshakegate. Of course Detroit making it would be a story in and of itself and again this is a distinct clash in styles (though both teams bring the nasty).
3) Houston vs 1) Green Bay
This means that TJ Yates makes the Super Bowl and faces Aaron Rodgers. That's about as David vs Goliath as you could get.
3) Houston vs 2) San Francisco
Again you have a team that would meet both Harbaugh brothers, but no bad blood so that's less fun than Detroit. One team coming out of hibernation from past greatness against an upstart that would have overcome like 3 billion injuries. Over/under of like 33.
3) Houston vs 3) New Orleans. This means TJ Yates makes the Super Bowl and faces Drew Brees. That's about as David vs Goliath as you could get. These teams met in week 3 where New Orleans won a shoot-out but that was when Matt Schaub was still flinging the rock for the Texans. This game would likely play much differently the 2nd time around.
3) Houston vs 4) Giants
Kevin Gilbride meets his old city
For Houston, it'd be kinda funny for them to face Eli Manning after being thwarted so many times by his brother.3) Houston vs 5) Atlanta
About the only intrigue in this matchup
This would be the first time since Super Bowl XXXIV that you'd have two teams seeking their first title meeting in the Super Bowl. By the way Houston won a defensive battle in week 13 that was T.J. Yates' first NFL Start.3) Houston vs 6) Detroit
Not only would this be the first time since Super Bowl XXXIV that 2 teams would meet seeking their first Super Bowl title, if would be the first time since Super Bowl XX that two teams that have never made the Super Bowl before would meet.
4) Denver vs 1) Green Bay
Super Bowl XXXII rematch. Denver thwarted Green Bay in their quest to repeat that time. Now John Elway is in the front office. Green Bay won the match-up in the regular season but that game featured the mortal Kyle Orton. This would be perhaps the ultimate underdog story and God himself would probably get 50-yard lines seats for it. Tebow vs Rodgers. World explodes!
4) Denver vs 2) San Francisco
Super Bowl XXIV rematch. You might remember that as the nail-biter where the 49ers edged the Broncos 55-10. Given the offenses involved this time a score of 10-5 might be less surprising. Tebow vs Alex Smith would be just about the most improbable QB match-up ever. And all joking aside, this could be the first Super Bowl to not have any touchdowns. World explodes.
4) Denver vs 3) New Orleans
St Tebow vs the New Orleans Saints? Again, not unlike a game against the Packers it'd be probably the most epic apparent QB-mismatch in Super Bowl history. Tebow vs Brees. World explodes!
4) Denver vs 4) Giants
Super Bowl XXI rematch. That was the first title the Giants won yet it's the least memorable of their Super Bowl games. Phil Simms was ridiculously accurate clinching his Hall of Fame stat...wait how the hell is he not in the Hall of Fame? Anyway, it's Tebow vs a Manning and the biggest media market around. World explodes!
4) Denver vs 5) Atlanta
Super Bowl XXXIII rematch. Seriously, Denver has more potential rematches than any other team in this year's playoffs. You can probably win a few bar bets with that nugget. Satan and Atlanta have a lot of letters in common and Satan has other commitments so the Falcons stand in. Gator fans that can't make it to Indianapolis instead invade Atlanta just to piss people off. World explodes!
4) Denver vs 6) Detroit.
God vs the NFL's newest Satan in Suh. Suh repeatedly cheap shots Tebow only for Tim to heal himself in time for the next series. The ultimate underdog vs a team making it that would indicate hell freezing over. Also a rematch of the absolute mauling that Tebow faced before the big 6 game winning streak. World explodes!
5) Pittsburgh vs 1) Green Bay
A rematch of last year's Super Bowl - something that's only happened once before. And a sexy rematch at that.
5) Pittsburgh vs 2) San Francisco
Team of the 70s vs Team of the 80s - yet they've never met in a Super Bowl. Big time blood and guts game and a rematch of Week 14's SF 20-3 win (featuring super-gimpy Ben). The history of the teams makes it sexier than the actual game probably would be.
5) Pittsburgh vs 3) New Orleans
No re-match here but a marquee match-up nonetheless. Ben vs Brees would have some good hype behind it. That said, not exactly a traditional rivalry.
5) Pittsburgh vs 4) Giants
Again two teams with a lot of Super Bowl history but that haven't met in the Big Game. Depending on the health of Ben and his line that could be where the action is in this one.
5) Pittsburgh vs 5) Atlanta
Um. Again not traditional rivals. Guess it would have more an old-guard/new-guard feel.
5) Pittsburgh vs 6) Detroit A rematch of the epic Playoff Bowl that took place on January 6, 1963 won by the Lions 17-10. This was the 3rd straight playoff bowl victory for the Lions. They don't play the Playoff Bowl anymore. Still this match is sexy as well between two gritty cities that have had quite the divergent histories in the last few decades.
6) Cincinnati
vs 1) Green BayThis would have all the feel of the Tebow - Green Bay match-up without the sense of God's favor. That said, miraculous would be the word of the week and it would be miraculous for my Bengals to make it, much less win. Definitely David vs Goliath here.
6) Cincinnati
vs 2) San Francisco Rematch of Super Bowl XVI and Super Bowl XXIII. This would give a sense of both excitement and doom at the same time since this didn't work out so great the first two times for my Who Deys. Game-wise it would be expected to be a defensive battle - not unlike the Super Bowl XXIII match-up. The history makes it more intriguing as well as the fact that they'd both be surprise entrants again. The teams actually have had a few guys that have played on each other team so that adds a little as well. While in all of the match-ups (and frankly all of the match-ups not involving the Bengals) Boomer Esiason would invariably bring up the Stanley Wilson fiasco, if this specific match-up happens he'll probably bring it up every hour on the hour for 2 solid weeks.
6) Cincinnati
vs 3) New OrleansWho Dey vs Who Dat. The rest of the nation will probably want to kill both fan-bases by the end of 2 weeks. Gamewise it's another case of David and Goliath.
6) Cincinnati
vs 4) GiantsGiven where I live this will either be the best Super Bowl ever or the most annoying. Game-wise it'd be an interesting match-up between a team that is inconsistent week-to-week (Giants) and a team that is inconsistent within any given game (Bengals). Coughlin also was the other finalist when the Bengals hired Marvin. If Coughlin came I believe the Bengals would literally have run out of players by now.
6) Cincinnati
vs 5) AtlantaTwo young teams. AJ Green vs Julio Jones. A whole lot of "who the heck are these guys" for the rest of the players. Bengals fans hope to extract revenge on Bob Bratkowski.
6) Cincinnati
vs 6) Detroit At the end of this game either Mike Brown or William Clay Ford would host the Lombardi Trophy. The mind boggles at the mere thought. Like the Atlanta game above, two non-Super Bowl winners will meet for the first time since Super Bowl XXXIV. Stylistically a good contrast between two young teams that will have bucked considerable odds to arrive a couple years early.
So there you go. Feel free to add any subtexts or thoughts if you like
-QG
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