Ranking the 16 Potential Super Bowl LX Matchups

Honestly, there are no more "bad" potential Super Bowl matchups. 

Entering the NFL Divisional Round, we're left with eight interesting teams, all with world-famous or emerging fanbases from major markets. There are also plenty of storylines to go around. 

So, it wasn't easy to rank each of the 16 potential matchups, but we've had a go at it anyway.

Nos. 16-13, Featuring 'Meh' Rematches

AP Photo/Scot Tucker

Sam Darnold

16. Rams vs. Broncos: We've already seen it with this Rams QB-coach duo, and the fanbase isn't massive. The Broncos are fun with Bo Nix, but they could easily give us a dud here. This lacks punch. 

15. Seahawks vs. Broncos: A stellar defensive matchup involving two wild-card quarterbacks, but it's not really a rivalry and lacks star power. Their Super Bowl meeting in February 2014 doesn't count for much now. 

14. Seahawks vs. Patriots: Kinda fun that it's a rematch of Super Bowl XLIX, but both teams are completely different now and this game lacks star power. A lot of folks might still have Patriots fatigue, and it wasn't long ago that the Seahawks were perennial contenders as well. 

13. Rams vs. Patriots: The fact that this would be their third Super Bowl meeting of the 21st century gives this some extra buzz. The interest is pretty much limited to that, though.

Nos. 12-9, Where the Texans Live

AP Photo/Maria Lysaker

DeMeco Ryans

12. Seahawks vs. Texans: A superb defensive matchup featuring the league's only two defenses to surrender fewer than 300 points this season. I also wonder if a sudden Super Bowl win for the Texans could spur a shift away from Dallas in terms of the NFL hotbed in the Lone Star State. 

11. Rams vs. Texans: The NFL's No. 1 offense meets the NFL's No. 1 defense. That's pretty cool, as is the fact that the Texans can win their first-ever championship. 

10. Bears vs. Texans: Same logic as No. 12, except I feel the Bears are more intriguing than the Seahawks thanks to Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson. Sam Darnold doesn't really move the needle. 

9. Bears vs. Patriots: Two strong fanbases, and two intriguing sophomore quarterbacks.

Nos. 8-5, With Introductions to the 49ers and Bills

AP Photo/John Raoux

Josh Allen

8. Bears vs. Broncos: Two strong fanbases, and two intriguing sophomore quarterbacks. This one just gets more credit than above because of potential lingering Patriots fatigue. 

7. 49ers vs. Patriots: Kyle Shanahan trying to conquer his trauma against the Patriots, of all teams? At Levi's Stadium? Yes, please. 

6. 49ers vs. Broncos: Two great fanbases with strong links to dominant times in the 1980s and 1990s, with the 49ers in their home stadium for what is somewhat of a regional rivalry. Kyle Shanahan vs. Sean Payton is cool, too.  

5. Seahawks vs. Bills: At this point, there isn't a bad Super Bowl that involves a Bills franchise chasing its first title and arguably the league's best player, Josh Allen. Buffalo against the NFL's No. 1-ranked scoring defense is pretty solid. 

Nos. 4-1, With a No-Brainer at the Top

AP Photo/Gary McCullough

Sean McDermott

4. Rams vs. Bills: This would eerily resemble this past year's World Series (Dodgers-Blue Jays) and Stanley Cup (Panthers-Oilers) in terms of trendy hot-weather cities meeting cold Canadian or almost-Canadian cities. Could David slay Goliath this time? 

3. Bears vs. Bills: Again, the Bills are clearly the top Super Bowl draw considering their history and their current makeup. Throw in the Chicago market and an intriguing Bears franchise looking for its first Super Bowl in four decades, and you have a hot one here. 

2. 49ers vs. Texans: Can Kyle Shanahan finally win a Super Bowl with the 49ers? Can the Texans' dominant defense carry the team to its first-ever title? Against San Francisco at home, this is a strong matchup of offense vs. defense with two fun young quarterbacks. 

1. 49ers vs. Bills: You have the Bills looking to break through, and ditto for Shanahan. Toss in that the 49ers are playing at home, and this matchup is theater.