Ranking the 4 potential Super Bowl LX matchups
Only four teams remain in the race for Super Bowl LX, and NFL fans could be in for a treat Feb. 8. Here's how this year's potential Super Bowl matchups stack up ahead of the conference title games.
4) Broncos vs. Seahawks
Remember what happened the last time Denver and Seattle played in a Super Bowl? Everything about both teams is different, but another potential Denver versus Seattle championship could have a similar outcome. That bout in the 2013 season didn't live up to the hype because the Peyton Manning-led Broncos' offense didn't do anything versus the Legion of Boom in a 43-8 Seahawks victory.
Would the 2025 Broncos, starting backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham over an injured Bo Nix, be able to accomplish much against the Seahawks and their elite defensive unit? Stidham has four career starts (zero in the postseason). As explosive as Denver's defensive unit may be, this matchup would be missing a lot without the Broncos' offense firing on all cylinders.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba matching up against Pat Surtain II could be an unreal battle, but Seahawks-Broncos would lack star power, too. Seattle and Denver will always be linked by the Russell Wilson trade to the Broncos; it's remarkable how quickly both teams rebuilt to get to where they are as 1-seeds. That said, we don't want to see a backup QB under center on football's biggest stage.
3) Broncos vs. Rams
It's hard to get very excited about the Broncos in a Super Bowl with a backup quarterback, but at least this would feature an interesting head coaching matchup between Sean Payton and Sean McVay. They're the only two sideline bosses left this postseason who have lifted the Lombardi Trophy as coaches. Payton helped the New Orleans Saints win it all in 2010, while the Rams won their second Super Bowl appearance under McVay's watch in '22.
This would also be a coaching rematch of the 2018 NFC title game, when Payton's Saints lost to McVay's Rams after an egregious unpenalized instance of pass interference that helped Los Angeles.
The Rams led the NFL with 30.5 points per game during the 2025 regular season, while the Broncos had a league-high 68 sacks.
2) Patriots vs. Seahawks
There's a lot to like about this one, which would pit MVP contender Drake Maye against Seattle's top-ranked defensive unit. The Patriots' defense has also been red-hot lately, and it would be fascinating to see how its standout cornerbacks would defend Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp, and Co. These are both balanced teams that finished in the top five in scoring on offense and defense this season.
It would also represent a huge opportunity for Sam Darnold, the former New York Jets quarterback who's had a tough time against the Patriots in his career. Darnold's infamous four-interception "seeing ghosts" game came against New England. But the 2018 No. 3 pick, who's now a solid starter on the Seahawks, has engineered a remarkable career turnaround.
Seahawks fans also would love to get revenge on the Patriots, who won Super Bowl XLIX over Seattle after Malcolm Butler's goal-line interception.
1) Patriots vs. Rams
New England versus Los Angeles in another Super Bowl would offer an intriguing East Coast-West Coast tilt with plenty of must-see storylines. Playoff history between the franchises? Check. MVP contenders in charge of each team? Check. Explosive offenses? Check. A new dynasty? Maybe.
A third Rams-Patriots clash would tie the Dallas Cowboys-Pittsburgh Steelers rivalry for the most Super Bowl meetings between the same teams. The Rams are 0-2 in championship games versus the Patriots, who emerged victorious in 2002 and '19. New England coach Mike Vrabel played in the Pats' first Super Bowl triumph over the Rams. McVay was already in charge of L.A. in the more recent clash, but his offense was limited to three points.
Tom Brady's first and last Super Bowl titles as a Patriot came against the Rams. Maye would be in a position to make a statement as New England's new franchise guy against the same opponent. Los Angeles is led by Matthew Stafford, who's the favorite to win the MVP award over Maye (the NFL Honors show takes place three days before the championship game). New England and L.A. scored more regular-season points than any other teams in the league thanks to their quarterbacks' superb play.
The Pats reaching another Super Bowl just six years after the end of the Brady era would make headlines. Presumably, not every NFL fan would be thrilled given New England's history of postseason success. But the threat of the Patriots potentially starting a new era of brilliance while going up against another perennial contender would make for a must-watch Super Bowl. It would mark the Rams' third appearance in the championship game in eight seasons.