NFL Playoff Predictions: Ranking the 5 Best Potential Super Bowl Matchups

Well folks, the NFL playoffs are right around the corner and based on how the 2011 season has commenced thus far, the postseason has much to live up to.

That being said, Super Bowl XLVI has some excellent potential matchups that can really put a dramatically exciting finish to the post-lockout year.

So, here are the five best potential Super Bowl matchups on Super Sunday.

5. Ravens vs 49ers

A rematch for The Harbaugh Bowl would be extremely exciting, especially since it's Jim's first season in The Bay Area and John would be leading Baltimore to their first shot at a Super Bowl since the 2000 season.

And after their defensive slug-fest where the Ravens won 16-6 in Baltimore, we'd be seeing another great battle in the trenches that would make defensive and special teams play even more important.

Much like their regular season battle, neither team would get the upper-hand until the fourth quarter and although you can say a defensive game would be boring, not in a chess-match like this. For one, with great scoring plays being so rare, it would make those plays that much more historic in Super Bowl lore.

Can you imagine in a 3-3 or 6-6 tie watching Ed Reed take a pick six back to the house, or how about Ted Ginn Jr. returning a punt for a TD?

Those plays would immediately be cemented as one of the greatest plays in Super Bowl history thanks to defense owning the stage. Plus, how great would be to see Ray Lewis end his career in a Super Bowl (provided that he would retire) and then seemingly pass the proverbial LB torch to San Fran's Patrick Willis?

We know QBs Alex Smith and Joe Flacco wouldn't do much but this would also show us how important running the football once was. So, RBs Frank Gore and Ray Rice get much more exposure and soon the NFL isn't throwing the rock 40-50 times per game.

Any way you slice it, a rematch of two identical teams would make for a nail-biting finish.

4. Broncos vs. Packers

Another rematch from the regular season being that it's Denver and Green Bay as well as a rematch of Super Bowl XXXII. The only difference, however, is that Tim Tebow is under center for the Broncos.

Add in Denver's late-season surge and seemingly impenetrable defense and it's certainly a challenge for Green Bay. The Packers defense allows almost five yards per rush, so Denver's No. 1-ranked rushing offense will move the ball.

In turn, that would keep Aaron Rodgers off the field and give the Broncos a slight edge in that regard. Now, when the Packers have the rock we obviously have to expect them to put up points.

That being said, however, The Orange Crush defense does have great pass-rushers in Von Miller (sacked Rodgers twice in the regular season) and Elvis Dumervil to mess up Green Bay's timing.

As for special teams, the Packers have the return-specialist advantage but the Broncos have kicker Matt Prater, who's legit from 60 yards. It would be one of the most interesting Super Bowls being that the Broncos and Packers are polar opposites when it comes to offense.

The key matchup would be Tim Tebow versus the game clock, because limiting Green Bay's possessions would have to be the main concern.

3. Patriots vs. Packers

A rematch of Super Bowl XXXI and their regular-season meeting from 2010, here we have two of the NFL's most prolific passer and Super Bowl MVPs duking it out.

The biggest matchup in this game though, would be the Packers secondary versus Tom Brady. Green Bay leads the NFL with 27 interceptions and they're capable of picking anyone off.

We know Aaron Rodgers would shred New England's defense as they're the worst against the pass and lack in causing turnovers. Also, Rodgers right now is the better QB so he would outplay Brady.

What it really comes down to is how The Cheese can limit the production of Pats TE Rob Gronkowski. None of Green Bay's LBs can cover him one-on-one and definitely not any of their DBs.

Here, Clay Matthews would have to line up across from Gronk on every play and keep him at the line of scrimmage for as long as possible. Forget blitzing Brady because he'll get rid of the rock quickly anyway.

If Matthews can keep Gronk at the line for an additional one to 1.5 seconds, that diverts Brady away from his TE and forces him to look elsewhere. Expect double coverage on Wes Welker so that leaves Deion Branch "mano y mano."

Additionally, return man Randall Cobb would be big in getting the Packers great field position, so the Patriots would be on their heels if Gronkowski gets blanked.

2. Saints vs. Patriots

Here is the game that any offensive guru would love to watch. Unlike the Packers, New Orleans defense doesn't force very many turnovers.

But, much like the Pats and Packers, they give up an insane number of passing yards. Well, we would then see an aerial show put on by Tom Brady and Drew Brees like no other NFL game or Super Bowl has ever seen before.

New England ranks No. 32 in pass defense and New Orleans No. 30. So, it really just comes down to who would have the ball last.

No one on the Pats defense can cover well one-on-one and the same goes for the Saints. Whether it's DBs or LBs, the day would belong to the receiving targets. The difference in this game though, would be Saints RB Darren Sproles, who's arguably the best return man in the game.

Additionally, the Saints also rank No. 8 in rush offense compared to the Pats' No. 21-ranked rush offense. Therefore, New Orleans can at least attack from a balanced perspective whereas Tom Brady has more pressure to be perfect and then potentially set up the ground game later on.

Nonetheless, this would be the highest-scoring Super Bowl ever, no doubt.

1. Packers vs. Steelers

Yes, a rematch from Super Bowl XLV.

For starters, that's all the ratings would need—a rematch—especially if the Packers are 18-0 coming in and obviously as the defending champions over Pittsburgh.

That being said, it would be another strategic mind game between coach Dick LeBeau's Steel Curtain defense and the Green Bay offense. So in short, arguably the NFL's best offense versus the NFL's best defense.

On the other side, Pittsburgh's offense is quite explosive with WR Mike Wallace and No. 2 man Antonio Brown. QB Ben Roethlisberger has great accuracy and can launch it downfield at any time.

The key matchup for this game would be the Steelers offensive line against Green Bay's front seven. Getting pressure on Big Ben is vital to slowing Pittsburgh down as their rush offense has lacked this season.

That would then win the Packers the field-position battle as return specialist Randall Cobb is one of the NFL's most exciting players.

All this said, however, everything would ultimately come down to how much the Steelers defense can minimize the damage from Green Bay's offense. Even if Pittsburgh doesn't force turnovers but can force punts, it's to their advantage as the Packers aren't used to not scoring or moving the ball.

Follow John Rozum on Twitter @ Sportswriter27