Super Bowl XLVI has four potential matchups, but not all of them hold the same type of water.

The Lombardi Trophy is on the line and there will be a new Super Bowl champion this year to add to the list of of 45 others.

But certain matchups simply have more mystique than others.

The question is, which is No. 1?

4. Patriots vs. 49ers

Bill Belichick and Tom Brady have finally broken through and won their first playoff game since their epic Super Bowl XLII loss. Should they avenge their home playoff loss of two years ago against the Ravens and go on to play the Niners, it would be the least desirable of the four matchups.

New England's offensive fire power is something to behold, and the Niners' staunch defense would certainly make for a classic battle of offense versus defense, but of the four games this brings the least exciting matchup possible.

3. Ravens vs. Giants

A rematch of Super Bowl XXXV isn't super exciting on paper, but these two defenses would life miserable for the respective opposing quarterbacks.

The Giants, should they knock off the Niners, would be out to avenge one of the most lopsided Super Bowls ever.

Although this team has virtually nothing to do with that team, the organizations have silently been two of the best drafting organizations in the last decade.

This would be a battle of everything they've been building.

2. Ravens vs. 49ers

The Har-Bowl would be an unprecedented event. Two brothers, as close as Jim and John are, coaching against one another in the Super Bowl would be one for the ages.

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Their two teams are solid representations of classic smashmouth football, and it would be a game your father and his father would enjoy immensely.

Ravens vs. 49ers would be a "man's man" game. 

It takes second to only one other matchup...

1. Patriots vs. Giants

The rematch of Eli Manning's underdog Giants vs. Tom Brady's high-scoring Patriots is the top dream matchup for a number of reasons.

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This game not only holds importance and excitement in this day and age, but it holds importance in the history of the NFL.

The Patriots will never forget Super Bowl XLII. The last quarter of the game was on the best we've ever seen, and the Giants' upset of the Patriots will forever live on in legend.

There is no doubt that Brady will want this even more if he gets another shot at Eli and the Giants.

As for Eli, he is chasing down every category owned by Giants legend Phil Simms, as well his brother Peyton's monstrously large shadow.

A win for Peyton would not only put him into the argument of the best ever to line up under center for Big Blue (which he'll one day earn regardless), but catapult him into a level of conversation when it comes to the debate with brother.

Peyton is one of the greatest of all time, but Eli would be the first Manning to earn a second ring.

Brady, should he win, would break down the door on a discussion that he's already been on the fringe of since his third ring: greatest QB ever.

It will be almost seven years to the day since Brady last held up the Lombardi Trophy.
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Should Brady win a fourth Super Bowl he'll join an exclusive club that includes only two other members—Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw—and leave behind his decade-long battle with Peyton once and for all.

We also cannot forget about Tom Coughlin and Bill Belichick as these are two of the best to ever walk the sideline.

Belichick's fourth ring would tie him with Chuck Noll as the only coaches ever with four Super Bowl wins.

Should Coughlin win, it would tie him with Tom Flores, Bill Parcells, Tom Landry, Don Shula, Vince Lombardi, Mike Shanahan, Jimmy Johnson and George Seifert with two rings each.

Needless to say, there is simply so much that can come from a Patriots vs. Giants Super Bowl that it is far and away the best possible matchup this year.

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