10 NFL Playoff Matchups We're Dying To See

We're just two weekends (and one Monday night tilt) away from one of the best stretches of sports in the world—the NFL playoffs.

These two weeks are super-critical this year, as there are a ton of division games happening and many close races for playoff spots that will come down to these last two games.

Almost nothing is locked down and very little wrapped up. Every team in the playoff hunt—even those assured a spot in the Big Dance—has something to play for.

Despite that, we have a good idea of who might make it in and who definitely won't, so it's not totally insane (only marginally) to look ahead to the post-Christmas fun and see what teams we, as fans, would love to see go head-to-head.

Ultimately, all fans want to see is the best possible games. Most of them would like to see the best possible games "including their favorite teams," but that's not the case for everyone. Besides, your team plays once a weekend.

We want the best matchups for the other games while we're killing time to see our teams dominate.

Here are the top 10 playoff matchups that somebody upstairs has to make happen.

I'm sure there are some I either missed or don't love as much as some of you. Add your choices in the comments and we'll argue.

Ravens vs. Steelers

I love dessert. I mean, I enjoy eating a whole meal, but I do love me some dessert.

So let's cut to the chase here.

Two division rivals who hate each other, play each other often, beat the h-e-double hockey sticks out of each other every time and always bring a good game to the table.

The Ravens have beaten the Steelers twice this season—the first time they have done so in five years.

It's very, very tough to beat a team three times in one season. You know the Steelers want revenge, and Ben Roethlisberger finds a way to win more often than not. The Steelers and Ravens defenses will bring the heat, and you know John Harbaugh and Mike Tomlin will design fantastic games.

Even more intriguing is the fact that as of Sunday, the Ravens had lost the division title, so if this game is played and everything remains as is, the game will take place in Heinz Field.

Advantage: Pittsburgh.

On the other hand, it didn't help them earlier this year.

Oh yeah. This one has to happen.

Jets vs. Patriots

Maybe I should have started the Ravens-Steelers as the steak and potatoes and named this the dessert.

When we last left our two hated division rivals, the Patriots and Tom Brady were putting the finishing touches on Mark Sanchez and the Jets—a 37-16 shellacking in the Jets' own house.

On the surface you might think this wouldn't, couldn't, shouldn't be repeated. The Jets are not playing consistently this season, and the Pats, even with defensive issues, are just an outstanding team.

On top of it, this would be played in Foxboro. It'd be a slaughter.

Or would it?

Each year since Rex Ryan has taken over the Jets, these two teams have locked horns, and while the Jets tend to get blown out at least once, they always come back and give a good game.

Case in point: the 2010 playoffs. After destroying, dismantling and discombobulating the Jets in a brutal regular-season game, the Pats welcomed the Jets into Foxboro for a playoff game.

The Jets harassed Brady all day long, stifled the Pats offense for much of the game and came away with a win on their way to their second straight AFC championship game (and loss).

If the Jets make it into the playoffs (no sure thing) and meet the Patriots, you can bet Ryan and company will come to play. It will be a fantastic game.

Seahawks vs. Saints

Remember when the Seahawks backed into the 2010 playoffs and we all thought it was going to be one of the worst games in the history of the NFL? There was no chance—unless you were a sea-green-wearing homer—that the 'Hawks would be able to slow down the Saints, much less beat them. Even at home.

Then they not only beat the Saints, but completely dominated them.

I would love to see this rematch. See what Saints head coach Sean Payton brewed up in New Orleans to welcome Seattle in. See what Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll did to motivate his guys.

Could the Seahawks' 11th-ranked run defense slow the Saints' three-headed monster of Darren Sproles, Pierre Thomas and a healthy Mark Ingram? Could the 13th-ranked Saints ground defense slow Marshawn Lynch and his Skittle-powered fury?

Heck, I want this to happen just to see Lynch eating Skittles on the sidelines.

The Seahawks are struggling to slip into the playoffs, two games back of the Falcons and Lions for the last two playoff spots. It's an uphill climb and unlikely to happen.

Just like a victory over the heavily favored Saints in 2010.

Eagles vs. Falcons

Come on, this is just too good to pass up.

Sure, the mental gymnastics that have to happen in order for this to take place are almost too silly to comprehend.

The Giants and Dallas would both need to collapse, the Eagles would have to win out and I think about 45 different other permutations need to happen. I'm not even sure which ones they are or what happens if the sun goes nova, but what I do know is Michael Vick plus Atlanta equals DRAMA.

It'd be better if the Falcons hosted, but as far as I can tell the only way Philly makes it in is if it wins the division, and I think it needs Dallas to lose both games and the Giants to lose to the Jets.

So it's faint.

However, I can just imagine how much the talking heads would whip themselves into a frenzy about Vick and what he did in Atlanta and his rebirth. I know this because we saw that earlier this season. It would absolutely happen again.

Not to mention this would be a very interesting game. Atlanta has the receiving corps, but Philly has the secondary. Atlanta's offensive line has some issues, as does the Eagles'. It could come down to whether LeSean McCoy or Michael Turner has a better day.

It would be a very interesting chess match beyond the Vick/Atlanta emotion.

Bengals vs. Steelers

We were talking about AFC North sweeps a few slides back, and here's another one that could produce some fun.

The Steelers swept the rebuilding-in-name-only Bengals this season, but that wouldn't make this any sure thing.

Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton has exceeded the expectations of everyone not wearing orange and black, and the addition of rookie wide receiver A.J. Green has allowed this offense to come alive for what seems like the first time since Carson Palmer was throwing to Chad Ochocinco (then Johnson) and T.J. Houshmandzadeh.

My, how things have changed.

The Bengals defense has generally been underrated this year but has played very well for most of the season. This is also an offense that has been able to generate points.

The new-look Bengals are an exciting team and are capable of doing the unexpected.

This doesn't mean that they'd overwhelm the Steelers. Big Ben, Rashard Mendenhall and Antonio Brown weren't impressed the first two times.

This would be an interesting crucible for the young Bengals team and a solid challenge for the Steelers.

Packers vs. Saints

They kicked off the season in grand style with a no-defenses-invited shootout in Week 1.

It's absolutely fitting that they'd fight it out again in the NFC championship game.

Both teams are a bit different than they were that first meeting. The Packers are dealing again this year with a banged-up offensive line and have been coping with the loss of a key player in Greg Jennings, who is likely to be back by the NFC championship game.

The Saints have found a solid run game, a firecracker in Darren Sproles and a dominating tight end in Jimmy Graham.

The Packers secondary is vulnerable, and the Saints can be run on.

I'd love to find out what the coaches did to avoid a repeat of Week 1.

On the other hand, I would love to see a repeat of the shootout of Week 1 as well.

This would be a real clash of titans.

Titans vs. Texans

If nothing else, this would be a "can't-look-away" train wreck.

The hope I'd have would be that these teams rise to the occasion. Certainly they each have some talent to watch. Arian Foster vs. Chris Johnson would be a great battle, assuming that this was a day Johnson showed up—no sure thing this season.

More fascinating could be the battle of rookie quarterbacks. On one side we have high draft pick Jake Locker—on the other, fifth-round pick T.J. Yates.

Sure, the Titans could stick veteran Matt Hasselbeck in, but let's roll with the all-rookie battle. As it stands now, it seems like Locker is going to finish out the season anyway, and he did well enough against the Saints and Falcons, even if his efforts against the Colts weren't stellar.

I'd love to see these two rookies battle it out almost as much as I want to see Foster-Johnson.

It might not be the prettiest of matchups, but it would absolutely be a great look at two quarterbacks who could have a bright future in the league, letting two division rivals at each other one more time.

Packers vs. Lions

Admittedly, this one didn't live up to the hype the first time around.

Well, until we start talking about Suh Stomp 2011.

Solidifying his status as a dirty player, Ndamukong Suh stomped on Evan Dietrich-Smith of the Packers. Suh then continued digging himself a hole by showing no remorse over his act, which led to a suspension.

The Lions are starting to gel a little more on offense, and the play of quarterback Matt Stafford, wide receiver Calvin Johnson and tight end Brandon Pettigrew would have a chance to attack the Packers secondary, but the story would remain Suh.

I think this one could have a much more epic result than Lions-Packers I.

I think Lions-Packers II: A Boy Named Suh would be a great game with two high-powered offenses locking horns as the playmakers on each defense tried to come up with that one big play to turn the tide.

Hopefully, this would be done with 75 percent less curb-stomping attempts.

Jets vs. Ravens

The Jets have made it a habit of getting beat by their head coach's old team.

Yet the Ravens don't have a very good track record of late in the playoffs, especially with quarterback Joe Flacco.

There's more to this possible matchup than meets the eye.

The Jets are reeling now after a devastating loss to the Eagles. In order to make the playoffs they need to pretty much win out, which would get their momentum going. Say what you will about the Jets, but once they get into the postseason, all bets are off.

Mark Sanchez plays pretty inconsistently in the regular season but comes alive in the playoffs. His 4-2 record speaks for itself, especially when you consider it happened completely on the road.

The Ravens have a lot to prove this year in the playoffs, and the Jets always prove a tough test in postseason games.

Could the Jets get their ground game going with Shonn Greene against a tough Ravens defense? Can Sanchez play mistake-free football? Could Ray Rice find the holes yet again in the Jets defense? Could Flacco overcome Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie? Could the Jets stop Baltimore's tight ends, Ed Dickson and Dennis Pitta?

This could be a lot closer than it appears at first glance.

Broncos vs. Everybody and Anybody

I bet most of you were wondering when I would mention the Broncos and Team Tebow.

I just couldn't narrow it down, even after a loss to New England this week. The Broncos were in it often enough—and whether you like it or not, Tim Tebow played well enough—to make me feel that any matchup with them would be something we should hope for.

Aside from the ever-present and somewhat overwhelming Tebow story (and accompanying coverage), the Broncos have really put together an interesting offense that could match up well with many of the teams currently circling the playoffs.

If the defense shows up, it can harass and harangue many of the offenses on this list. I'd love to see the Jets get another crack at them. I have to see Tebow try to avoid the Steelers' James Harrison. I want to have Aaron Rodgers and Tebow playing on the same field.

Of course, seeing some of the games we've already seen, Jets vs. Broncos or Pats vs. Broncos would give us a chance to see how head coach John Fox alters his game plans to keep the opposition guessing. He's tweaked the offense several times already, and Tebow is starting to look more effective throwing.

No matter what, no matter who, I'm fascinated by this team, and I think it could make for an incredibly fun matchup with any number of teams on this list. The Broncos started an experiment this season that is unlike anything we've seen before.

I'd like to see how far it can go. I'd like to see it tested by the best during the most critical time of the NFL season.

The Broncos could be one of the most exciting teams to follow during the playoffs...if they can make it there.