Ranking all 49 possible Super Bowl matchups

The playoff fields are set, and seven teams from each conference are advancing, meaning there are 49 possible combinations for Super Bowl LIX. Some are atrocious and unimaginable, some are excellent and we just have to be so lucky. At the moment, all are equally possible – at least in theory. We’ve ranked them based on watchability, narrative, stars and general gut feelings. Here it is:

49. Packers vs. Chargers: Look, even the worst Super Bowl matchup is still pretty good. This is the last NFL football we’ll see until August. And you can always watch the ads.

48. Rams vs. Texans: CJ Stroud has regressed a bit this season, but you know he will eventually take a team to the Super Bowl. Texans fans will just have to hope that happens while he’s still in a Houston uniform.

47. Buccaneers vs. Broncos: No team played more playoff teams in the regular season than Tampa Bay. The Bucs went 1-3 against the AFC’s best, which is either a sign they’re in trouble or they’ve been tough. Denver defeated Tampa Bay 26–7 in week three.

46. ​​Commanders vs. Steelers: Pittsburgh won this game 28–27 in Week 10 in the regular season. This began a three-game losing streak that nearly destroyed Washington’s season. Washington has gotten better since then. Pittsburgh hasn’t.

45. Buccaneers vs. Chargers: Tampa Bay demolished the Chargers in Week 15, 40–17, the fourth of four consecutive wins that helped the Bucs overtake the Falcons for the NFC South lead. What did Jim Harbaugh learn from that loss? we’ll find out.

44. Rams vs. Broncos: Bo Nix in the Super Bowl is something I don’t think the world is quite ready to handle. But get ready, it’s coming.

43. Buccaneers vs. Texans: Baker Mayfield is tougher than a three-dollar steak and hangs just as long. He could be the comeback player of the decade. Fifty years from now, he’ll still be playing, and he’ll still be overlooked and ignored until he throws himself at a 400-pound lineman the first time he plays.

42. Commanders vs. Broncos: Washington defeated Denver 42–10 in Super Bowl XXII. Perhaps they should have saved some of those points for use this year.

41. Rams vs. Chargers: An interesting thought experiment: What if the Rams and Chargers both made it to and hosted the conference championship? Yes, it would require several upsets, considering they are seeded fourth and fifth respectively, but it could happen. So what? Do they play both games on the same day, on the same field? Will visiting teams have to share locker rooms? Wouldn’t that be the greatest day of live football you could possibly watch?

40. Packers vs. Steelers: Given the illustrious history of both these teams, this should be a much bigger clash than their current status. Sure, they’re both in the playoffs, but there’s very little we expect from these two franchises. This will be a rematch of Super Bowl XLV, aka Aaron Rodgers’ only Super Bowl.

39. Lions vs. Texans: A rematch of the Week 10 game, where Houston led 23–7 at halftime… and never scored again, losing 26–23. If that happened in the Super Bowl, Houstonians would tear down the Astrodome out of hand.

38. Buccaneers vs. Steelers: It would be just like Russell Wilson proving all the haters wrong by winning another Super Bowl a decade after his first… and then having a post-game celebration with a choreographed combination Taco Bell/Crypto commercial Prove all the haters right by changing to.

37. Rams vs. Ravens: Watching Sean McVay and John Harbaugh work out is like watching LeBron vs. Anthony Edwards — or if you prefer, Jordan vs. Iverson. Two great players from two different generations are falling down. It may not be pretty, but it’s attractive.

36. Vikings vs. Broncos: We’re all waiting for Sam Darnold to channel his inner Sam Darnold-ness, but what if Good Sam was the real Sam? (He spent time on the Jets and Panthers, so it’s entirely possible.)

35. Commander vs. Texas: Washington faces some trouble from Texas-based, Cowboys-oriented teams. “Battle of No. 2” doesn’t have that championship ring, does it?

34. Packers vs. Ravens: Packers fans are living under some kind of bizarre witch’s curse where they’ve had a franchise quarterback for over 30 years, but he’ll only win you one Super Bowl. Conversely, the Ravens are guaranteed a Super Bowl every 12 years, so… be careful.

33. Rams vs. Steelers: Rematch of Super Bowl XIV, won by the Steelers. I feel confident saying that the Steelers have a great team today and can at least make the divisional round of the playoffs. Like, literally right now.

32. Eagles vs. Broncos: Did you know that only the Patriots have been to more Super Bowls than Denver? Three other teams can match Denver’s eight teams… just don’t ask Broncos fans how those eight teams fared. Especially the first few.

31. Packers vs. Texans: One of the better midseason games, the Week 7 tilt where the two teams traded what would be game-winning field goals. Green Bay came out on top with a 0:00-clock winner. This would be a welcome result for the Super Bowl.

30. Packers vs. Broncos: A rematch of Super Bowl XXXII, in which John Elway finally got that ring, and Brett Favre did not. Keep an eye on Favre, he may try to retire again and take Jordan Love’s job.

29. Commanders vs. Chargers: If Justin Herbert wants to move beyond “dude you can ride out the fantasy playoffs”, he’ll need to win big opportunities like this.

28. Vikings vs. Texans: A rematch of Week 3, where the Vikings defeated the Texans 34–7. This was the point in 2024 where we started thinking that maybe something was going to happen for Darnold.

27. Lions vs. Steelers: Rust Belt Controversy! It won’t be pretty, but it will be a battle of America’s newest darling versus America’s long-running bandwagon. Edge: Sweetheart.

26. Packers vs. Chiefs: A rematch of Super Bowl I, which took place so long ago that it wasn’t even called the “Super Bowl”. You probably should have bought an NFL franchise right then, they were going for about 50 bucks.

25. Eagles vs. Texans: Philly is 1-3 all-time in Super Bowls. Seems like they should have more Lombardis than this. This will give the Eagles a good chance to get closer to .500.

24. Vikings vs. Steelers: The two met at Super Bowl IX, which, coincidentally, was also in New Orleans. It’s not by chance that Minnesota lost it; This was the beginning of Pittsburgh’s Steel Curtain run.

23. Packers vs. Bills: We have to see Josh Allen do something absolutely ridiculous in the Super Bowl, like throw a defensive end into the stands or step on a linebacker’s chest or throw a bank-shot touchdown pass through someone’s helmet. America needs you, Josh Allen.

22. Buccaneers vs. Ravens: The Josh Allen/Lamar Jackson MVP debate is fun as long as it focuses on on-field attributes; When everyone brings out their little prejudices, it turns ugly. Both of them are on their way to the Hall of Fame.

21. Lions vs. Broncos: Jared Goff really needs a better performance in the Super Bowl than the one he showed against the Patriots a few years ago as a member of the Rams. Against Denver, he’ll get it.

20. Commanders vs. Ravens: Battle of I-95. The loser has to go to the other’s city during rush hour for a month. Baltimore won the Week 6 matchup 30–23.

19.Vikings vs Chargers: Both these teams are experts in disappointing their fans in some way or the other. Will the charging Vikings overcome the curse? Or will they find a way for both of them to lose?

18. Vikings vs. Ravens: The Vikings defense and Lamar Jackson are a classic immovable object vs. irresistible force. This would be an attack by the hammer on the anvil.

17. Eagles vs. Steelers: Battle of Interstate 76! At stake: Cheesesteaks vs. Primanti’s Subs. The winner took the place of turkey at Thanksgiving. The loser cannot serve the state for one year. The Eagles got the W in Week 15, 27–13.

16. Commander vs Bill: Do you think if the Commanders got to the Super Bowl, anyone would mention what happened to them the last time Dan Quinn was there? Or for the Bills, the last four times they were there?

15, Lions vs. Chargers: Look, how can you not love the matchup of two of the most mental coaches in the NFL? The Dan Campbell-Jim Harbaugh joint press conference may get its own pay-per-view.

14. Eagles vs. Chargers: Don’t look now, but the Chargers are becoming a secretly interesting team between their coach, their quarterback’s skill and their location. They’re still the Clippers to the Rams and Lakers, but a Super Bowl win would go a long way to changing that perception.

13. Buccaneers vs. Chiefs: The last time these two met in the Super Bowl, Tom Brady was on the field, in Super Bowl LV, and he’ll be in the booth for this matchup. But you know he’s eager to get back there.

12. Eagles vs. Ravens: Saquon Barkley vs. the NFL’s top rush defense? Yes, sign us up for that. It won’t be cinematic, but that’s what commercials are for. Philly won the week 13 matchup 24–19.

11. Commander vs Chief: Who holds a higher position, a commander or a chief? Who is more fun to watch, Jayden Daniels or Patrick Mahomes?

10. Buccaneers vs. Bills: The Bucs have been a mystery all season long – dominant some weeks, barely good enough to win others, but always somehow in the hunt. This will be a great matchup as the Bills blow out a four-touchdown lead and watch in horror as Tampa Bay crawls back into the game.

9. Ram vs Chief: The two teams responsible for one of the greatest regular season games of all time? Sure, that will work.

8.Lions vs. Ravens: This will be a ground-game Super Bowl for the ages. Sonic & Knuckles (probably) vs. King Henry. Who did you find?

7. Eagles vs Chiefs: A rematch of Super Bowl LVII a few years ago, where Philly led in the fourth quarter, but — stop us if you’ve heard this before — Patrick Mahomes led the Chiefs to the win.

6. Rams vs. Bills: The two teams responsible for one of the great points-scoring shootouts of the 2024 season? Sure, that will work too.

5.Vikings vs. Chiefs: A rematch of Super Bowl IV, which Kansas City won 23–7. They must play it with 1970s equipment and 1970s officiating rules, just to see who is In fact The most difficult.

4. Eagles vs. Bills: This game should be played in snow. It will be a tough task to tear down a dome in New Orleans, but I have confidence in the NFL.

3. Lion vs Chief: Admit it, you want to see what kind of tricks Andy Reid and Dan Campbell play on it. We could see everything from old hidden ball tricks to full-scale Broadway productions in the backfield.

2.Vikings vs. Bills: Eight combined Super Bowl appearances, zero wins. Someone has to end their 0-4 futility streak here, right? Bonus: These are two talented teams, and this will be a great game.

1.Lions vs Bills: Call it the Validation Bowl, call it the Long-Suffering Bowl, call it the At-Freaking-Last Bowl. Whatever you want to call it, from an on-field and narrative standpoint, this is absolutely the best possible Super Bowl matchup. Bring it.