With the Divisional Round of the 2018 playoffs set for this weekend, Super Bowl 52 is only three weeks away. Eight teams are still vying for a shot to hoist the Lombardi Trophy, and the candidates range from usual suspects (Patriots, Steelers, Falcons) to some unexpected party crashers (Jaguars, Titans).
Ranking the potential Super Bowl 52 matchups, from most entertaining to least
Who do you want to see throw down in Minneapolis?
That leaves us with 16 possible Super Bowls at U.S. Bank Stadium. Some of these matchups are underwhelming — a showdown that makes either Blake Bortles or Nick Foles an NFL champion starting quarterback, for example. Others are intriguing offense/defense mashups, like a Saints-Steelers showdown. And one is extremely familiar.
While there aren’t any truly bad matchups left at this point of the season — the Colts and Giants have long since packed up their locker rooms — there’s a certain subjective hierarchy to this year’s Super Bowl lineup.
Tier VII: The underwhelming QB battles
Meh.
15. Jaguars-Eagles
Marcus Mariota vs. Nick Foles OR Blake Bortles vs. Nick Foles. Either way that’s the recipe for a lot of runs up the middle, aborted QB scrambles, and a significant chance a punter is named MVP.
Tier VII: Through Marcus, anything is possible
14. Titans-Saints
Talk about a dynamic game. Between Marcus Mariota, Derrick Henry, Alvin Kamara, Mark Ingram, Marshon Lattimore, and Michael Thomas, there’s no shortage of young players capable of explosive plays.
13. Titans-Falcons
The Titans looked like one of the league’s least interesting teams before last Saturday, when Mariota did a little bit of everything to lead Tennessee out of Kansas City with a playoff win. He’ll have to be similarly creative to push the Titans back to the Super Bowl for the first time since the 1999 season. That’s enough to land the franchise in the XXTH tier, despite a history of underwhelming performances in important games late in the 2017 season.
Tier VI: The in-state rivalry
12. Steelers-Eagles
Winner annexes Harrisburg!
Tier V: The defensive battles
11. Jaguars-Falcons
The Falcons’ defense doesn’t get a lot of credit for being as good as it is. They’re certainly not the Jaguars, but they’ve put on numerous displays this season that were eye opening — most recently against the Rams.
10. Jaguars-Saints
It feels weird including the Saints here — especially after their Wild Card win over the Panthers relied heavily on a return to the team’s pass-heavy roots. While Case Keenum deserves a ton of respect for his MVP-campaign season in Minnesota, he’ll have to prove that newfound mastery can withstand the pressure of a postseason. The Jaguars are still quarterbacked by Blake Bortles, who had more rushing yards than passing yards last weekend. Their path to the Super Bowl is only lit by monster performances from defensive player of the year candidates Calais Campbell and Jalen Ramsey.
Tier IV: A Vikings home game
The Vikings would be the first team in NFL history to play a Super Bowl on their home turf, so that alone makes it a special atmosphere no matter who they play.
9. Titans-Vikings
8. Jaguars-Vikings
This is a compelling matchup of strength vs. strength, with both teams sporting top-tier pass defenses. Yards and points might be hard to come by here, so hopefully it doesn’t get labeled as “boring” by casual fans.
Tier III: Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell vs. championship-caliber defenses
7. Steelers-Falcons
You could say this for every matchup in here, but a Falcons-Steelers matchup where both teams are playing their best would be loads of fun. Both offenses are capable of being the best in the NFL, and when both defenses are on, they’re tough to beat.
6. Steelers-Saints
The weapons in this game ... Yes please.
5. Steelers-Vikings
Super Bowl IX finally gets a proper rematch when two old-guard powerhouses meet on the Vikings’ home turf. Minnesota, 0-4 in the Super Bowl, gets a chance at redemption by testing its swarming defense against a Steeler offense straight out of NFL Blitz ‘99.
Tier II: Anything Patriots
4. Patriots-Eagles
A rematch of Super Bowl XXXIX! This was the Super Bowl a lot of people imagined when Carson Wentz was healthy and the Eagles were rolling. If Nick Foles could channel his 2013 self, this would be as entertaining as any matchup.
3. Patriots-Saints
Any matchup with the Patriots is going to be intriguing — there’s no denying that. But a Patriots matchup with the Saints would be one of the better matchups out there (duh, we ranked it third!). A pair of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game, the NFL’s greatest dynasty, and young stars on the Saints. You can’t ask for much more here.
2. Patriots-Vikings
The Patriots have been to seven Super Bowls in the Belichick-Brady era. All seven have been decided in the game’s final minute. These games span all the way from when a 48-yard field goal gave a 14-point underdog its first NFL title in 2002 to a 25-point comeback in the first Super Bowl to go to overtime. No matter how much you may hate New England, you have to admit — there’s no such thing as a boring Patriots Super Bowl.
Tier I: The rematch
1. Patriots-Falcons
New England looks to prove last year was no fluke and win its third Lombardi Trophy in four years. Atlanta looks for ultimate redemption and the first title in franchise history. It’s the only way to make those 28-3 jokes disappear (outside of New Orleans).
Make it happen, football gods.
The worst Super Bowl ever
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