Top 10 potential Super Bowl 51 matchups

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
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 /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 5
Next

2. New York Giants vs. New England Patriots

The Cowboys and Steelers may have more overall history but the recent history in the Super Bowl between the Giants and Patriots can’t be ignored.

After dashing the undefeated dreams of the Patriots in Super Bowl XLII, the Giants once again got the better of New England four years later. Both games were incredible and both had unbelievable finishes . Despite the greatness of Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, the one team that has been able to stop them has been New York.

Tom Coughlin isn’t around this time to help the Giants, but you don’t think Manning would love a chance to once again own one more ring than his big brother…and do it once again at the expense of Peyton’s biggest rival?

Just in case you forgot how close those games were, the two previous wins by the Giants in the Super Bowl over the Patriots were by a combined seven points.

1. Dallas Cowboys vs. New England Patriots

Seeing how these two franchises may be the most loved and the most hated teams in the NFL, there may not be a need for many storylines. Still, one is obvious.

It’s 2001 in New England. Drew Bledsoe is the starting quarterback for the Patriots and gets hurt. Sixth-round pick Tom Brady comes in, leads his team to an unbelievable season that nobody saw coming that culminates with a win over the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI. The rest is history, a history that Brady is actually still writing.

Bledsoe is traded to the Bills and eventually winds up in Dallas as the starter, where he’s later replaced by Tony Romo. Ten years later, Romo goes down and is ultimately replaced by Dak Prescott, who comes in and leads his team to an unbelievable season that nobody saw coming. Can Prescott do exactly what Brady did 15 years ago? And do it against Brady himself?

Next: Regular season grades for every single NFL team

If these two teams were to make the Super Bowl, it would mark the fourth straight season that the top seeds have played one another.