NFL Playoff Scenarios: 8 Rematches We Could See in Super Bowl

The Super Bowl XLVI participants will be decided on Sunday, followed by two weeks of discussing the many storylines involved in the matchup.

Any combination of the four teams playing will create an excellent game for fans. The Baltimore Ravens, New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers and New York Giants all provide plenty of talent and an entertainment value that people should expect from a Super Bowl team. 

There will also be plenty of chances for redemption on the national stage, as the game could feature a number of possible rematches for players, coaches and teams.

Regular Season Rematches

Thanksgiving night featured a defensive struggle between the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers.

The Ravens sacked Alex Smith nine times and the 49ers were unable to get anything going offensively, losing 16-6 in Baltimore.

The New England Patriots and New York Giants also faced each other earlier this season. Although there was no score at halftime, the offenses erupted in the second half. The Giants ended up with a 24-20 win after three lead-changing touchdowns in the final three minutes.

Fans would not mind seeing a game this close a second time.

Super Bowl XLII

Television executives are salivating over the possibility of this rematch.

Given the choice to market an offensive showdown between two great quarterbacks or a low-scoring battle between Joe Flacco and Alex Smith, most would take the former.

Few have forgotten the epic showdown that took place following the 2007 season, when the undefeated New England Patriots tried to become the first team to finish a year 19-0.

Eli Manning and the New York Giants had other plans, and it led to one of the biggest upsets in football history. 

It will also be fun to spend an entire week angering Patriots fans by showing David Tyree's catch on loop.

John Harbaugh vs. Jim Harbaugh

If it is interesting storylines you want, there can be few better than two brothers facing each other as head coaches on the biggest stage in sports.

Jim Harbaugh and John Harbaugh were already the first set of siblings to face each other as head coaches, but the pressure will be that much greater if the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens meet in the Super Bowl.

This will be a rematch of the Week 12 game, but this rivalry is much deeper than one game.

Anyone with a sibling knows how competitive everything can get growing up, from sports to school to getting the front seat in the car.

Hopefully John did not beat up on his little brother too much when they were younger.

Tom Brady vs. Boyhood Dreams

Speaking of NFL personnel when they were younger, Tom Brady spent most of his youth cheering for the San Francisco 49ers. 

Growing up in the Bay Area, his parents had season tickets and the young fan was in attendance for "The Catch," one of the most iconic plays in franchise history.

Therefore, when the 49ers needed to select a quarterback in the 2000 draft, it would have been perfect for the team to select Brady.

Unfortunately, the organization picked Giovanni Carmazzi out of Hofstra in the third round. Brady fell to the sixth round and the rest is history.

Although the quarterback has proven plenty in his career, a win over the 49ers in the Super Bowl would be the icing on the cake.

Super Bowl XXXV

Although the Super Bowl rematch between the New York Giants and New England Patriots will get a lot of publicity, the possibility of a rematch between the Giants and the Baltimore Ravens could be just as good.

The 2000 Ravens boasted one of the best defenses in history and easily defeated New York 34-7 in Super Bowl XXXV.

While there are few players still in the league from that game, Super Bowl MVP Ray Lewis is still going strong for the Ravens and wants his new teammates to feel the same joy that he felt a decade ago.

This game would be important for more than just the players, but also the entire organization and the fans that have been around for a number of years and want to see a quality rematch.

Frank Gore vs. Ed Reed/Vince Wilfork

The 2001 Miami Hurricanes was one of the best college football teams in history.

There were 17 players from that team selected in the first round in the NFL draft.

Frank Gore was a true freshman on this team, backing up Clinton Portis, and rushing for 575 yards on the season.

He spent plenty of time in practice facing future All-Pro defenders in safety Ed Reed and defensive tackle Vince Wilfork.

When the lights turn on though, none of these players will be friends.

Josh McDaniels vs. San Francisco 49ers Defense

Pop quiz, which opponent scored the most points against the San Francisco 49ers this season?

If you guessed the St. Louis Rams with the lowest scoring offense in the league then you are right (but I am sure you looked it up).

The Rams and the Dallas Cowboys each scored 27 points against the 49ers, but the Cowboys needed overtime to get there.

Josh McDaniels was offensive coordinator for St. Louis before being hired as an offensive assistant for the New England Patriots in the playoffs.

If he gets to face San Francisco in the Super Bowl, he should be able to give the Patriots the secret of how his team was able to rush for 111 yards and two touchdowns against the tough front.

It was the highest scoring output for the Rams this season, so he must know something.

Tom Coughlin vs. Bill Belichick

The last time the San Francisco 49ers faced the New York Giants in the NFC Championship Game was 1990, and the Giants were on their way to winning the second Super Bowl in franchise history.

Many know that Bill Parcells was the head coach of that team, but the coaching staff around him was one of the best assembled in history.

The staff included a number of future college and pro head coaches like Ron Erhardt, Romeo Crennel, Charlie Weis and Al Groh. It also featured Bill Belichick and Tom Coughlin.

These men crossed paths a few times in their careers, most notably in Super Bowl 42, but Belichick has been the more successful of the two.

Another Super Bowl win will cement Coughlin's legacy in New York as an all-time great.