As the Conference Championship games draw nearer we are left with the possibility of four different Super Bowl matchups. All of them are tantalizing for a variety of reasons, but some offer more than others. Once we're done navigating Conference Championship Weekend we'll know which two teams will be in the big game. 

 

This Sunday represents the biggest step in the NFL postseason outside of the Super Bowl, as this Sunday's games will determine which teams will represent their respective conferences. The second of the two games has the New England Patriots hosting the Pittsburgh Steelers for the right to represent the AFC. Let’s take a look at the matchups and find out which one could give us the best possible Super Bowl LI...

 

1. New England Patriots vs Green Bay Packers

This is the one we want to see though. The team of the 20th century against the team of the 21st century. The two best quarterbacks of the last five years duelling it out on the biggest stage. What could be better?

 

Bill Belichick trying to scheme against Rodgers’ adlib offense and Clay Matthews trying to behead Tom Brady? I can’t think of anything I would rather see on February 5th. While the talking heads might go crazy with two weeks to build up Brady vs Rodgers, the product on the field would be worth the hours of Skip Bayless yelling nonsense at us. 

 

2. Pittsburgh Steelers vs Green Bay Packers

A rematch of Super Bowl XLV, the 31-25 classic that featured both Ben Roethlisberger and Aaron Rodgers duelling on the field as well as Mike Tomlin and Mike McCarthy on the sidelines.

 

The Steelers are the most successful franchise in the Super Bowl era, with six titles to their name, but the Packers are the most storied team in football lore with 13 combined championships. While the on-field matchups don’t pop off the page at us the rematch six years in the making, together with the fight between two of the most dominant teams in the history of the sport would be fascinating.

 

If that isn't good enough, you have James Harrison attempting to eat Aaron Rodgers alive and Antonio Brown going off on an injured secondary.

 

3. New England Patriots vs Atlanta Falcons

Sorry Falcons fans, I swear it’s not because we hate you. Dan Quinn’s final game as Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator was the heartbreaking Super Bowl XLIX loss to Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. Avenging that defeat would feel almost as sweet as hoisting the Lombardi trophy I'm sure.

 

It may have been a while ago now but Matt Ryan spent four years at Boston College, arriving in 2004 as the Patriots were basking in the glory of their dynasty and leaving in 2007 when they went 16-0. Matt Ryan ascended to quarterback stardom this season, but as the old saying goes “To be the man, you’ve got to beat the man”, and since Ryan has been playing football that man has been Tom Brady. From his days in Boston to entering the NFL, Ryan has lived in Brady’s shadow.

 

The other aspect is the spectacle of watching the best defensive game planner in the business Bill Belichick try and figure out a way to slow down the highest scoring offense in the NFL. How would Belichick stop Julio Jones? How would he cope with the multitude of secondary receiving options Atlanta have available?

 

4. Pittsburgh Steelers vs Atlanta Falcons

Don’t get me wrong, this would be a great matchup, but there isn’t much history here. These two last played in Week 15 of the 2014 season, back when the Falcons were 6-10 under Mike Smith and the Steelers were just starting to tap into the Three B’s.

 

This matchup would include Julio Jones and Antonio Brown going toe-to-toe, and a pretty hot Steelers defense trying to take down the league’s best offense, but otherwise there aren’t many juicy narratives to sink our teeth into.