At a Glance
- Only four potential Super Bowl LX matchups remain after conference title games
- Patriots-Rams ranks as the most intriguing potential showdown
- All four possibilities feature compelling storylines and rematches
- Why it matters: Fans get guaranteed drama with historic rivalries and fresh faces
The NFL’s championship weekend has delivered four remaining teams and just four possible Super Bowl LX matchups, each carrying its own level of intrigue from league-altering legacies to fresh-faced debuts.
Ranking the four possible Super Bowl showdowns
1. Patriots vs. Rams
This would be the league office’s dream pairing. The game would showcase the likely top-two MVP finishers – Drake Maye and Matthew Stafford – plus two high-profile coaches in Mike Vrabel and Sean McVay. It also revives memories of two previous Patriots-Rams Super Bowls, both won by Tom Brady’s Patriots.
The faces have changed. Vrabel played in the first meeting, Brady’s second season, paralleling Maye’s current spot. McVay coached the second showdown with Jared Goff at quarterback. New quarterbacks would write a brand-new chapter.
2. Patriots vs. Seahawks
Another Brady-Belichick-era rematch, and their meeting with Seattle produced one of the greatest Super Bowls ever. The game ended on Malcolm Butler’s goal-line interception of Russell Wilson after Brady engineered a 10-point fourth-quarter comeback.
The uniforms stay, but the cast changes. Sam Darnold and Maye would both make their Super Bowl debuts after each won his first playoff game this year. Mike Macdonald, the Seahawks’ first-year coach, would bring a dominant defense that has passed every test.
3. Broncos vs. Seahawks
A repeat of Super Bowl XLVIII, when Seattle won its first and only title by routing Peyton Manning’s Broncos 43-8 in February 2014. The Seahawks would again arrive with a powerful defense, while Denver’s question mark centers on quarterback.
Jarrett Stidham would presumably make his second start after winning the AFC title game in place of injured Bo Nix. The chess match between Macdonald, now the league’s premier defensive coach, and Denver’s offensive-minded Sean Payton, adds spice.
4. Broncos vs. Rams
Even as the least-hyped pairing, this game would still sizzle. Stidham would ride momentum after beating his former team for the AFC crown. Stafford and McVay would chase a second ring together to cement their legacies.
The storyline could turn personal for Payton. Once the young offensive prodigy, he now watches McVay hold that mantle. At 62 and 16 years removed from his lone Super Bowl victory, Payton would love to outwit his younger counterpart.
Road to the final four
- New England survived Houston in the snow
- Denver edged Buffalo in overtime
- Seattle overwhelmed San Francisco
- The Rams won in overtime
Each thriller set up the four potential showdowns, guaranteeing fresh drama no matter which teams advance.
Key takeaways
- Historic rematches dominate the list, proving the NFL’s cyclical nature
- New star quarterbacks get chances to carve their own legends
- Coaching rivalries add layers beyond the players
- Fans win with any combination, thanks to compelling narratives
The conference title games decide which story writes itself in Santa Clara, but every possibility promises a memorable Super Bowl LX.
