And then there were just four.
We’re down to the final quartet of NFL teams left in the playoffs after an absolutely wild weekend of postseason action. And after I’ve twice ranked the possible Super Bowl 56 matchups for a showdown in Los Angeles, both my No. 1 possibilities with the Patriots-Bucs and Chiefs-Packers are no longer in the running.
Fear not. Most of these remaining matchups are actually tantalizing, even if — at first glace — a couple might not appear that way.
Let’s run through them ranked by watchability (yes, you’re going to watch the Super Bowl but you definitely want it to be a good game!).
4
Cincinnati Bengals vs. Los Angeles Rams
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
First off, the Rams hosting a Super Bowl! I know the Bucs did that last year, but: Neat!
Beyond that? Did you see what the Rams’ pass rush did to Tom Brady on Sunday? Did you see what the Titans’ defense did to Joe Burrow?
Yep. Burrow would spend a lot of time on his back. Not fun. On to better matchups.
3
Cincinnati Bengals vs. San Francisco 49ers
On one hand: Maybe this is the Joe Burrow Game. The one where he leads yet another team to a title, lights up a cigar after, and we marvel at him going from No. 1 pick to horrible knee injury to a Super Bowl victory in Year 2.
On another hand: Perhaps Kyle Shanahan and Jimmy Garoppolo claim victory in an underdog run we haven’t seen since … maybe the 2011 New York Giants?
On a third hand — is that a thing? — this could feature a low-scoring game in which Burrow has big game jitters, Jimmy G. continues to throw bad passes and it’s like 13-6 or something.
2
Kansas City Chiefs vs. San Francisco 49ers
A rematch of Super Bowl LIV!
And how did that game end? Yep, the Chiefs won then and they’d probably win this one too, even if the Niners and their innovative offense keeps in somewhat close and the defense that has been nothing short of impressive does the same. I think this would actually be a good game.
That said, I’m more excited about the top matchup just about everyone wants.
1
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Los Angeles Rams
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Yep. This will be an all-timer of a Super Bowl. As long as Matthew Stafford keeps this up and Patrick Mahomes is playing like he is even when there’s 13 SECONDS LEFT IN A PLAYOFF GAME, this should be a back-and-forth battle for the ages.
