The 14 Best Potential Super Bowl XLIII Matchups

Also known as AD vs. LT. Here’s a guarantee: One of these players would get the MVP, even if they both had crappy stats. This game is so one-sided though, it’s ridiculous to think who besides Viking or Chargers fans would care to watch this garbage game. The Chargers win by a field goal, and LT can finally have an offseason.

I included this matchup mostly just to appease Bronco fans. This can be looked at two ways, both of which are repeat games. It’s a repeat of Super Bowl XXXIII, and of their regular season matchup, both of which Denver won. If this actually happened, I would pick the Falcons, but this matchup actually happening is like saying John Elway is going to come out of retirement to try out for the Broncos again.

Kurt Warner versus Brett Favre. Two Super Bowl MVPs going at it for probably the last time. This game could be a high-scoring affair, with a last minute score coming from whichever team isn’t too winded. Besides that, this game has nothing to offer to most football fans, and it would probably be one of the lowest-rated Super Bowls of all time. The halftime show with Springsteen looks more interesting than this. I’d go with the Jets, and Brett Favre finally goes away. Hooray!

What will be remembered most from the 2004 NFL Draft is the outstanding quarterback class that came out of it. Eli Manning, Philip Rivers, and Ben Roethlisberger are already on their way to becoming the elite QBs of the NFL. This game can be judged solely on the Giants/Chargers trade that occurred in that draft.

While most experts already put the Chargers into the Super Bowl during the preseason, this looks to be the only interesting matchup for them, provided they do win the AFC West Division (looooooooooongshot). Giants would win this, and Brandon Jacobs makes LT look like an afterthought.

The Eagles are on fire right now and can still shake up the playoff race if they win out. The Patriots could be the second team in NFL history to not make the playoffs if they win out and achieve a record of 11-5. If these two teams do happen to make the playoffs and reach the Super Bowl, immediately people will think rematch, but it would make for some pretty good football as well.

I would give the nod to the Eagles, with Westbrook shouldering the weight, and making Randy Moss go on a hissy fit for the next few years.

Another rematch game, but based on how these teams are playing now, it could be better than Super Bowl XLI. I wouldn’t say the Bears are playing at the Colts' level right now, but most of these players might still feel the sting of losing to them two years earlier. Although Peyton and the Colts have been the hottest team these last seven weeks, I’d say the Bears pull off the upset.

This would be the first game in which the home team played in their own stadium for the Super Bowl, but more importantly, it would be Warrick Dunn’s first, and likely last, attempt at a Super Bowl victory. I don’t see the Bucs having a better opponent than the one that is in their state having the most improbable comeback year.

This game already seems exciting, with the hot-tempered Gruden squaring off against mild-mannered Tony Sparano. Tough game to judge, but I’ll say the Bucs allow Warrick Dunn to exit a champion, like Bettis did a few years earlier with the Steelers.

Ugh. I had to include this game just because of the media attention it would receive. NYG vs. NYJ? Are you kidding me? The Jets fans would love to shove this in the Giants' faces if they won. No matter what, though, the biggest winner is New York, and they would lay claim as the best football city in the world. I hope this never happens...oh yeah! I’d pick the Giants in an arse-whooping.

This is now the third game the Giants are included in, and there’s still more. Everybody would love to see this rematch, especially the media heads at ESPN. It would be so much better if the Patriots had Brady back, but Matt Cassel will suffice. I think the last back-to-back Super Bowls with the same teams were Buffalo vs. Dallas, and we all know how that went.

Surprisingly, I would go with the upset, as the Patriots stun the Giants and get revenge for last year. On a side note, the debate would begin on whether or not the Patriots should trade Tom Brady. Ha.

Yeah, I just went there. Rookie QBs and coaches facing each other in the biggest game of them all. This sets up many interesting matchups for the future, as everyone will remember Matt Ryan versus Joe Flacco. I don’t see this happening yet, but if it does happen this year, I would definitely watch. As for the winner, I’d have to go with the old saying– offense wins games but defense wins championships.” Baltimore squeaks out a victory, but Ryan puts on a hell of a show.

This is the first game where I mention two new opponents, both of which could easily make it this far. This game would showcase two running back duos that have changed the way the game is played: Smash & Dash versus Smash and Dash. Or maybe it’s Identity & Theft versus Thunder and Lightning? Whatever. It’s two good offensive and defensive rush teams.

Considering the magnitude of the game itself, I would say Jeff Fisher and his Titans play better football. Jeff Fisher does what Bill Cowher did almost three years earlier and completes his coaching legacy. Fisher will retire and work on the NFL Today, where he’ll sit next to Cowher. They will analyze games together, have a special segment called “Bill and Jeff’s Excellent Adventure” where they travel around the country to different NFL cities and talk sports with players from those teams and then argue about which cities are better and blah blah blah...

This is the first game mentioned for the Steelers, and the fourth for the Giants. The game is a tough one to call. The Giants are starting to look vulnerable, while the Steelers look invincible. If these teams were to meet in the Super Bowl, all that is thrown out the window, and we’ll see the two best teams in the NFL duking it out for 60 minutes. It would be a great game, just like during the regular season, and should come down to the fourth quarter either tied or one team being up by no more than a field goal. If you’re mildly interested in the concept of football, this is a great way to get into it. Pittsburgh wins the rematch on a last second sneak.

Manning Bowl! WHOOO HOO!!! But seriously, who wouldn’t want to see this? I would love it if the Steelers played in the Super Bowl every year, but that doesn’t always happen, so I have to make due with whatever crap teams do go.

In this case, it’s much different. These aren’t crap teams. These teams aren’t just Manning and company. This combines the last two Super Bowl winners and determines which team is better, not which Manning is better. Manning versus Manning is just icing on the cake. Peyton schools little Eli Manning, again, and this time actually deserves the MVP.

If I had three wishes, and already used two, I think this would be my last wish, besides maybe more wishes. After the Steelers got the “one for the thumb” three years ago, it created a tie between the Cowboys, Steelers, and 49ers for number of Super Bowls won. Well, why not start off the sixth with arguably the biggest Super Bowl rivalry in NFL history? America’s Team versus the “NEW” Steel Curtain.

When these two teams played in week 14, it was the highest-rated football game of the season, and it lived up to the hype. Would it be any different? No. Between this and a Manning Bowl, I think most fans would choose this.

As for the winner...

Pittsburgh 27, Dallas 17.

So that’s that. Please, argue away and tell me what your favorite Super Bowl matchup would be.