NFL Playoff Predictions: Predicting the Most Likely Super Bowl Matchup

Now that the AFC and NFC Championship games are set, the New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers, New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens are just one step away from the Super Bowl.

And with any of the Super Bowl matchup combinations being excellent to say the least, the likelihood of each is different.

To that end, here's to predicting to most likely Super Bowl matchup.

4. 49ers vs. Ravens

A rematch of The Harbaugh Bowl from Thanksgiving Day, the 49ers and Ravens, is the unlikeliest of the four possible matchups since both teams don't have near the playoff experience as their opponents.

Nonetheless, this would be a great Super Bowl as it's two stout defenses duking it out along with two excellent rush offenses. Each teams' quarterback can manage games to a T and neither made a drastic mistake throwing the ball in the divisional round.

Joe Flacco had arguably his best game under center in the postseason, and San Francisco's Alex Smith shredded the Saints defense in the final minutes.

To get this matchup, the Ravens need to keep Tom Brady and the Patriots off the field. Running back Ray Rice will be the key once again as matching up with New England's pass offense is virtually impossible.

As for San Francisco, it's methodically moving the ball against the Giants to keep Eli Manning and New York's explosive offense off the field. With their stellar defense, the less possessions Manning and Co. have the better.

And if these two matchup in the Super Bowl, expect a defensive slug-fest like the regular season game at Baltimore.

3. Ravens vs. Giants

A rematch of Super Bowl XXXV where the Ravens blasted the Giants 34-7, Ray Lewis is the only player most remember from that 2000-01 NFL postseason as he was the game's MVP.

Fast-forward to this season, and we see the Giants and Ravens as another possible matchup.

Unfortunately for Baltimore, they must defeat Tom Brady and the Patriots, while the Giants must keep rolling along through the 49ers. There's no question that Eli Manning can do work against San Francisco, but 49ers running back Frank Gore was not 100 percent in their Week 10 meeting.

Still, the 'Niners won without much of a ground game and picked off Eli twice.

Provided that New York can outscore San Francisco while the Ravens can slow down the Pats, a Giants-Ravens Super Bowl is quite the interesting matchup.

It will pit two excellent pass-rushes battling the trenches while the solid rushing attacks try to keep the opposition honest. There's no question that New York is more explosive offensively, however, Baltimore's Torrey Smith is capable of burning any Giants defender deep.

It would be much more of a defensive battle than expected since the strength of each team would face each other every possession (Giants offense versus Ravens defense).

2. Giants vs. Patriots

A long-awaited rematch for the New England Patriots from Super Bowl XLII, as well as a rematch from this season is quite possible.

New England is virtually impossible to stop with tight end Rob Gronkowski, who Baltimore will have trouble stopping. In addition, Tom Brady's pass protection is second-to-none.

To beat San Francisco, the Giants just need to limit the 49ers pass rush and establish some sort of ground game to setup the pass. And if New England versus New York happens again, it will have the intensity of the Yankees versus Red Sox Major League Baseball games.

Much like their Super Bowl meeting, New York still has a giant (literally) pass rush with Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck, Chris Canty and Jason Pierre-Paul. And as we all know, any kind of pressure to slow down Tom Brady will work.

The biggest concern of the Giants would be to shutting down Rob Gronkowski and Wes Welker, which they couldn't do in the first meeting, despite winning.

New England, on the other hand, definitely needs to get pressure on Eli Manning as he will dice up Bill Belichick's weak pass defense. Any of New York's receivers can beat single coverage, so the Patriots will need to blitz smart and play physical against the pass.

1. Patriots vs. 49ers

Alas we get to the most likely matchup, New England versus San Francisco.

Based on how explosive the 49ers offense came to life in the Saints game, it gives much confidence to Alex Smith and Co. that they can effectively move the ball against New York.

In addition, the 49ers do have a much better defense than Green Bay, so the Giants will have their struggles in the NFC title game. The Patriots, however, must defeat Baltimore who won over Houston thanks to getting four turnovers (three picks off rookie QB TJ Yates).

As we know, Tom Brady has a little more playoff experience than Yates.

That being said, a 49ers-Patriots Super Bowl would be extremely exciting. The matchups across the board are virtually even, as San Francisco's defense is a great unit to face New England's offense.

On the flip side, the Patriots opportunistic and aggressive defense would clash with the 49ers rush offense and the mobility of Alex Smith. Needless to say, two completely different philosophies on each side of the ball for each team as literal opposites duke it out.

Not to mention, Brady would be facing the team in San Francisco where he grew up watching his idol, Joe Montana.

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