20 Super Bowl matchups we wish actually happened
Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda.
Typically, that’s the response you get when you talk about what could’ve been. But when it comes to these 20 Super Bowl matchups, there’s no question they should’ve happened. Some of these potential matchups would have been legendary. Let’s dig into them.
Seattle Seahawks, 28-24.
Tom Brady’s Patriots vs. Aaron Rodgers’ Packers. This was a matchup every football fan wanted to see. In the 2010s, they were the best quarterbacks in the league, and their teams were stacked. A Pats vs. Packers Super Bowl was always a safe preseason Super Bowl prediction. We never got the chance to watch this matchup. The football gods had other plans. Seattle’s comeback victory against the Packers in the NFC Championship Game prevented it from happening. Regardless, the actual matchup was still a great game.
Denver Broncos over Atlanta Falcons, 34-19.
This matchup would’ve featured two of the top-scoring offenses in the league in 1998. Both the Vikings and Broncos finished in the top three for total yards gained, per Statmuse . This game would’ve been an offensive explosion. You had Randall Cunningham, Cris Carter, Randy Moss, and Robert Smith on the 15-1 Vikings. And this stacked team would have matched up against John Elway, Terrell Davis, and the reigning champion Broncos. Sounds like a recipe for a great game. Unfortunately, the Vikings were upset by the Falcons in the NFC Championship Game.
Los Angeles Rams over Cincinnati Bengals, 23-20.
Tom Brady and Bill Belichick won six Super Bowls together in New England. Was it all Brady? Was it all Belichick? These questions would have been put to bed in this Super Bowl. Make no mistake, this would have been a legacy match. Hopefully, we get to see this one happen before they retire.
Pittsburgh Steelers over Dallas Cowboys, 21-17.
The Cowboys and the Raiders were two of the best teams in the NFL in the 1970s. Yet, we never got to watch these storied franchises collide in the Super Bowl. The Cowboys, America’s Team, were seen as the golden boys of the NFL. Meanwhile, the Raiders were an intimidating team that played dirty. It would’ve been the good guys vs. the bad guys. Also, the coaching matchup of Tom Landry and John Madden is iconic.
New Orleans Saints over Indianapolis Colts, 31-17.
The original matchup for this Super Bowl was great: Brees’ Saints vs. Peyton Manning’s Colts. But this matchup would’ve been even better: Brett Favre vs. Peyton Manning. Need I say more? The Vikings vs. the Colts would’ve featured two of the greatest quarterbacks of all time dueling in the Super Bowl. Every time they played, it was must-watch football. They’re each all over the record books.
New York Giants over New England Patriots, 17-14.
Two quarterbacks, also brothers, never played against each other in the Super Bowl. But it almost happened in the 2007 season. Instead, Eli Manning and the Giants shocked the world and beat the 18-0 New England Patriots, ruining their chances at a perfect season. But if Eli’s Giants played Peyton Manning and the Colts instead, it would’ve been a historic game. Since Peyton has a 3-0 record against his little brother, we think the Colts would’ve come out on top.
Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott would have been intriguing.
Baltimore Ravens over San Francisco 49ers, 34-31.
Tom Brady, the GOAT, looked up to 49ers quarterback Joe Montana growing up. His favorite team was the 49ers, and he dreamed of playing for them. In the 2000 NFL Draft, the 49ers passed on Brady, who the Patriots drafted in the sixth round. We all know how that worked out. This Super Bowl would have been the chance for Tom Brady to get his revenge against the 49ers.
Chicago Bears (more on them later). Does defense really win championships? Can a great offense beat a great defense? These questions and more would’ve been answered in this Super Bowl.
Buddy Ryan’s 4-6 defense and led the Dolphins to victory. The ’85 Bears are the best defense ever. Would Marino have nabbed his first ring against the ’85 Bears? It would’ve been fun to watch him try.
Washington Commanders vs. Buffalo Bills 37-24.
The Buffalo Bills went to four Super Bowls in a row in the 1990s, thanks to the K-Gun Offense, but lost them all. Bills quarterback Jim Kelly led the no-huddle attack with ease. In other news, the 1991 Eagles Gang Green defense was simply incredible. They swarmed their opponents and didn’t give up any easy points. This matchup would have been a classic example of a great defense versus a high-scoring offense. This matchup could’ve happened if Randall Cunningham didn’t injure his knee at the beginning of the ’91 season.
With both teams becoming contenders in their conference, we could see this matchup shortly. We don’t think America is ready for a Bills vs. Eagles Super Bowl.
Bo Jackson a ring. If the Giants won, it would have given The Big Blue Wrecking Crew their second ring. It’s a shame it never happened.
Tim Tebow’s Broncos in the Wild Card, and if the 49ers beat the Giants in the NFC Championship Game, we could’ve seen them in the Super Bowl together.
This is basically the Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics of the NFL.
Green Bay Packers over Pittsburgh Steelers, 31-25.
Do I need to explain this one? It’s the battle for The Big Apple, for crying out loud. The NFL’s marketing team would have a field day with this one. Whoever wins this game gets the right to say they’re the King of New York.
Roger Staubach and Tom Landry, won two Super Bowls together in Big D. On the other side of Texas, the Love Ya Blue Oilers enjoyed the most successful period in franchise history as a contender in the AFC. This would have been a hard-fought game, no doubt.
Arizona Cardinals, 27-23.
This wouldn’t have just been the battle for Pennsylvania. It also had several great players: Troy Polamalu, James Harrison, Ben Roethlisberger, and Hines Ward of the Steelers vs. Donavan McNabb, Brian Dawkins, and Brian Westbrook of the Eagles. It’s also the perfect David vs. Goliath story — a team with six Super Bowl victories going against a team with one. The only problem is that the game wouldn’t have been as interesting to anyone outside of Pennsylvania.
David J. Hunt is a freelance writer based out of Philadelphia. He ran cross country at Penn State, became a volunteer firefighter during COVID-19, and is a self taught journalist. He’s a diehard Philly sports fan. When he isn’t watching sports, he enjoys working out, fishing, and traveling. You can find more of his writing at The Chestnut Hill Local and The Temple News. You can follow him on Twitter at @dave_hunt44.
