Super Bowl 2015: Updated Odds and Best Potential Matchups for Big Game
Let's face it. The Super Bowl could feature Shane Falco's Washington Sentinels against the guy from Dawson's Creek and a bunch of Arena Football League players, and the world would still tune in.
The Super Bowl is one of the biggest events on the planet, and it needs no help attracting interest. But that doesn't mean it would hurt to have the most intriguing matchup.
Last year's game featured the best offense against the best defense, and that had fans buzzing (right up until about the first play from scrimmage). Let's take a look at what could be most compelling in 2015.
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Note: Because this is my article and I do what I want, a team is only allowed to be used once in the below options
Current Playoff Picture
Updated Odds
| Seattle Seahawks | 5-2 |
| New England Patriots | 13-5 |
| Green Bay Packers | 6-1 |
| Denver Broncos | 7-1 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 7-1 |
| Baltimore Ravens | 17-1 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 18-1 |
| Carolina Panthers | 25-1 |
Note: Odds courtesy of VegasInsider.com
Seattle Seahawks vs. Denver Broncos
Because the Denver Broncos were downright embarrassed by the Seattle Seahawks in last year's Super Bowl, and America loves a good revenge story.
Sure, the idea of watching another 43-8 snoozefest—snoozefest for everyone outside of Seattle, of course—is about as enticing as watching paint grow. But this would be different. While the 'Hawks are still more or less playing at the same high level, the Broncos have made important strides on the defensive side of the ball.
As WTHR's Rich Nye pointed out, the defense has caught up to the much-vaunted offense:
Last year, the Broncos finished 15th in Football Outsiders' defensive efficiency rankings. This year, thanks to the additions of Aqib Talib, DeMarcus Ware and T.J. Ward, the health of Von Miller and the emergence of Chris Harris, Denver is fourth.
Indianapolis Colts head coach Chuck Pagano, via CBS4's Tricia Whitaker, put it simply:
The Broncos have been especially stout against the run, allowing just 3.7 yards per carry and 79.8 rushing yards per game. Slowing down Marshawn Lynch is priority No. 1 in keeping things competitive against the Seahawks, and the Broncos have the personnel to do exactly that.
When the teams met in October, it was an entertaining, back-and-forth game that went into overtime. If we got a repeat of that in Glendale, Arizona, no one would be disappointed.
Green Bay Packers vs. New England Patriots
Because even though opposing quarterbacks are never on the field at the same time and have zero effect on each other, America loves a good QB matchup.
Aaron Rodgers is the best in the game right now. On the season, the 31-year-old racked up 4,381 yards, 38 touchdowns and a ludicrous five interceptions on 520 pass attempts. He led the league in adjusted yards per pass attempt and interception percentage, proving to be the most efficient QB in the NFL.
The man who would be opposite him in this particular matchup, Tom Brady, knows a thing or two about quarterbacking. And he talked in November, via USA Today's Lindsay Jones, about how impressed he is with Rodgers:
"He's just phenomenal. I always love watching him play because he does things that a lot of guys in the league can't do, well, that nobody can really do except him. For a quarterback, I really know how hard it is to do that, especially on a consistent basis, and he's been as consistent as anybody who has ever played the position, so I've got a lot of respect for him.
"
Of course, Brady isn't terrible, either. There were whispers of his career being over after a shaky first four games in 2014, but he proceeded to shut critics up by throwing for 18 touchdowns and one interception in his next five contests.
The Pats won all five of those games, scoring an average of 40.2 points per game. Brady, very clearly, still has the ability to put the team on his shoulders and transcend.
When the Patriots and Packers met at Lambeau Field in late November, Brady and Rodgers combined for 613 yards, four touchdowns and zero picks.
Dominant quarterback play can make for a scintillating Super Bowl, and we would be getting just that.
Dallas Cowboys vs. Indianapolis Colts
Because of the offense.
The Cowboys feature arguably the most balanced attack in the NFL. DeMarco Murray, playing behind a steamrolling offensive line, led the league in rushing, while Tony Romo quietly put together the best season of his career.
Lazily labeled as a choke artist with an inability to come through in the clutch, Romo paced the NFL in completion percentage (69.9), touchdown percentage (7.8), yards per attempt (8.5), QB rating (113.2) and game-winning drives (five). Moreover, his 14-1 ratio of touchdowns to interceptions since the start of December is a large reason the 'Boys are still playing.
Perhaps most impressively, he was practically unstoppable away from home, per Director of NFC Communications Randall Liu:
With Murray, Romo and Dez Bryant, the Cowboys scored 29.2 points per game.
On the other side of the hypothetical field, the Colts don't have the same kind of efficient running game, but Andrew Luck has made sure that doesn't matter. The quickly rising superstar threw for 4,761 yards and an NFL-best 40 touchdowns, leading Indy to an 11-5 record and 28.6 points per contest.
Former New York Giants head coach Jim Fassel offered immense praise of the talented third-year player, via NFL.com's Chris Wesseling: "He'll go down as the greatest quarterback of all time. The numbers he has already put up as a young quarterback, far superior to anybody else that came in the league in their first four, five or six years the numbers he's put up. If he keeps at that pace...Whoa!"
With two beatable defenses—Dallas ranks 22nd in Football Outsiders' defensive metrics, while Indianapolis gave up the second-most explosive plays in the league—this would have great potential for an offensive shootout.
Throw in a pair of QBs vying for their first Super Bowl, and there's plenty of intrigue even without any of the league's top four regular-season teams.
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