Top 10 potential Super Bowl 51 matchups

By Luke Norris | Jan 5, 2017

Nov 13, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) is tackled by Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Ross Cockrell (L) and free safety Mike Mitchell (23) during the third quarter at Heinz Field. Dallas won 35-30. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

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Here are the top 10 possible matchups for Super Bowl LI heading into Wild Card weekend in the NFL.

Twenty teams have gone home, leaving a dozen contenders. The NFL playoffs are upon us and eight of those 12 teams will begin their journey this weekend when the Oakland Raiders visit the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium, the same building that will host the Super Bowl on February 5. Can the Texans become the first team to play a Super Bowl in front of their home crowd? Eh…

In all, there are 36 possible Super Bowl matchups and while all are technically options, some look better than others. So let’s take a look at the top 10 potential matchups for Super Bowl LI.

10. Green Bay Packers vs. Kansas City Chiefs

How fitting would this be? 50 years ago, the Green Bay Packers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in the first Super Bowl and there’s a real chance that these two teams could battle once again half a century later.

There’s also a few fun storylines that could accompany this Super Bowl matchup. Chiefs general manager John Dorsey not only played for the Packers, but also spent many years in Green Bay’s front office as a scout and later as the Director of Football Operations before heading to Kansas City in 2013.

There’s also a tie-in with the coaches here. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid spent seven seasons in Green Bay, during which time he coached alongside Ray Rhodes, who in turn became current Packers coach Mike McCarthy’s boss. This matchup would also include two quarterbacks taken in the 2005 NFL Draft, Alex Smith and Aaron Rodgers.

9. New York Giants vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

After 50 years, it’s hard to believe that these two franchises have never met in the Super Bowl. These two teams have 10 Super Bowl titles between them, which makes up 20 percent of the total count. Ben Roethlisberger and Eli Manning both have two Super Bowl rings and it would be great to watch them battle it out to see who could join Terry Bradshaw, Joe Montana, Troy Aikman and Tom Brady as the only NFL quarterbacks with three championships.

And wouldn’t the outcome make the next Rooney-Mara Thanksgiving a little awkward?

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