2012 NFL Playoffs: 5 Super Bowl Matchups We'd Have Rather Seen

Well, the dust has settled, and the matchup for Super Bowl XLVI has been determined.

In two weeks the AFC champion New England Patriots will face the NFC champion New York Giants in a rematch of Super Bowl XLII, a game won 17-14 by the Giants in one of the biggest upsets in Super Bowl history.

It should be an excellent game featuring the prolific New England offense against the formidable New York pass rush, but there are some matchups that might have been even more entertaining, including the five listed here.

San Francisco 49ers vs. Baltimore Ravens

For fans of defense this would have been a dream matchup, as linebackers Ray Lewis of Baltimore and Patrick Willis of the 49ers led two of the NFL's most fearsome defenses against one another and the Harbaugh brothers once again matched wits in a rematch of a Thanksgiving night game won by the Ravens.

Unfortunately, it wasn't meant to be, because as we found out Sunday while Billy Cundiff of the Ravens can't kick, Lawrence Tynes of the Giants can.

New England Patriots vs. New Orleans Saints

This game would be the shootout to end all shootouts, and Las Vegas oddsmakers would probably set the over/under for a matchup between Drew Brees of the Saints and Tom Brady of the Patriots at approximately 312.

Also, this game would make it nearly impossible to use the restroom for four hours, because if you go during the commercials you'd miss the best ads of the year and if you went during the game you'd likely miss four touchdowns.

At least there would be the halftime show—no offense, Madonna.

Denver Broncos vs. New York Giants

This matchup certainly wouldn't have had any shortage of interesting storylines.

An 8-8 Broncos team facing a 9-7 Giants team.

The NFL's most polarizing player squaring off against the squad in America's biggest media market.

It would have been a sportswriters bonanza.

Of course, the New York pass rush likely would have pounded Tim Tebow into an unrecognizable pile of goo, but alas we'll have to wait until 2012 for the possibility of Tegoo.

Detroit Lions vs. Houston Texans

At first glance this doesn't seem like it would be that great a matchup, but there are a couple of items that could have made this a fun game.

First, there's the classic clash of styles, as the stout Houston Texans defense tried to contain the dynamic Detroit Lions offense.

Second, neither of these franchises has ever made a trip to the big dance, and I just want to get 31 teams into the Super Bowl so that my experience as a Browns fan can finally reach its nadir of despair.

It's inevitable, so I figure why not just get it over with.

Cincinnati Bengals vs. San Francisco 49ers

This matchup would be a rematch of Super Bowls XVI and XXIII, both won by the San Francisco 49ers by less than a touchdown.

Of course, there's a bit of difference between Joe Montana and Alex Smith, and there's no one around to do the Ickey Shuffle now, so that takes a little luster off the game.

That and the fact that if the Bengals lost another close Super Bowl to the 49ers I think Cincinnati fans would probably just throw themselves into the Ohio River.