Who's No. 1? Ranking the 49 possible Super Bowl matchups

It's the most wonderful time of the year: the NFL playoffs! Fourteen teams remain alive, and that means 49 possible Super Bowl combinations are still possible. Using our patented combination of analytics, star power, watchability, history, off-field narratives and good old-fashioned gut feelings, we've ranked every possible combination, from it's our last gasp at football" to instant classic. And away we go:

49. Jaguars vs. Panthers. You can't fool us, NFL. This is just an old Thursday Night Football game in fancier clothes. Regular season: Jaguars won 26-10, Week 1.

48. Texans vs. Packers. There's always a chance the ads could be good.

47. Jaguars vs. Eagles. Are we biased against the Jaguars' ability to deliver a good Super Bowl? Yes. Has the franchise's entire history justified this bias? Also yes.

46. Chargers vs. Panthers. There are those who say that an 8-9 team shouldn't make the playoffs. Those people would be forced to eat their words if the Panthers make the Super Bowl. Those people probably shouldn't worry too much about that happening.

45. Chargers vs. Eagles. We're not quite sick of the Eagles the way we were of the Chiefs, but another Super Bowl of tush-pushin' might do it. Regular season: Chargers won 22-19, Week 14

44. Texans vs. Panthers. Matchup of the top two 2023 draft picks. They grow up so fast.

43. Jaguars vs. Packers. America needs to see Trevor Lawrence hoisting a Lombardi Trophy, if only because it would inspire an entire generation of young men to grow long, luxurious locks.

Trevor Lawrence arrived in the NFL with as much hype as any quarterback in recent memory ... and also the best hair the league has ever seen. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)Mike Carlson via Getty Images

42. Steelers vs. Panthers. Steel Panther is an outstanding faux-80s heavy metal band, but it's a safe bet they won't be asked to play a Super Bowl halftime show anytime soon.

41. Texans vs. 49ers. The Texans are one of only four teams that's never made a Super Bowl. This would be a hell of an introduction, against one of the teams that's made the most. Regular season: Texans won 26-15, Week 8.

40. Bills vs. Panthers. Look, Buffalo, if you can't get it done against the Panthers, you ain't ever getting it done. Regular season: Bills won 40-9, Week 8.

39. Texans vs. Seahawks. In their regular-season Week 7 matchup, the Seahawks won, 27-19, Week 7. But the Texans would lose only one more game all season.

38. Patriots vs. 49ers. Couple bluebloods going at it - New England has the most Super Bowl appearances with 11, while San Francisco is tied with Pittsburgh, Dallas and Denver with 8.

37. Bills vs. Eagles. Back in the regular season, the Eagles won 13-12 in Week 17 when Josh Allen couldn't convert a last-second two-point conversion. Would this go-around be any better?

36. Chargers vs. 49ers. Did you know that former 49er Trey Lance is on the Chargers? Think they want him back? This is a Super Bowl XXIX rematch (49ers won 49-26).

35. Texans vs. Eagles. With the Eagles' struggling offense and the Texans' dominant defense, this might be the Super Bowl where a team produces negative offensive yards.

34. Chargers vs. Rams. I wish John Madden were still alive, if only because I'd love to hear what he would do with the name Ladd McConkey."

33. Jaguars vs. 49ers. Matchup of the No. 1 overall pick (Trevor Lawrence) with the Mister Irrelevant pick (Brock Purdy). The NFL is weird, man. Regular season: Jaguars won 26-21, Week 4.

Could Mr. Irrelevant really win a Super Bowl? (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)Kevin Sabitus via Getty Images

32. Bills vs. Packers. I feel like the Buffalo Bills lost in four straight Super Bowls" lore hasn't quite translated down to Gen Z, which is a good thing for Buffalo. Imagine the memes if that happened today.

31. Steelers vs. 49ers. Somehow these two teams have never played each other in a Super Bowl, despite each making it to the Big Game eight times.

30. Jaguars vs. Rams. If Matthew Stafford plays in another Super Bowl, aging dads all over the country are going to shred their shoulders trying to throw like him. Regular season: Rams won 35-7, Week 7.

29. Chargers vs. Packers. Technically proficient football, but we'll have to work to come up with a good narrative for this one.

28. Broncos vs. Panthers. A rematch of Super Bowl 50 (Broncos won 24-10). In other words: suit up, Cam Newton, here's your shot at redemption!

27. Chargers vs. Seahawks. We need the Chargers in the Super Bowl just to assault Jim Harbaugh with Michigan questions the whole week.

26. Patriots vs. Panthers. A Super Bowl XXXVIII rematch (Patriots won 32-29 in a surprisingly good game that came down to an Adam Vinatieri kick). Regular season: Patriots won, 42-13, Week 4.

25. Steelers vs. Eagles. Loser leaves Pennsylvania.

24. Jaguars vs. Seahawks. It's OK to admit you're still waiting for the Sam Darnold blowup game this season. Regular season: Seahawks won 20-12, Week 6

23. Steelers vs. Bears. Aaron Rodgers could play against the team he owns one more time! Regular season: Bears won 31-28, Week 12.

22. Broncos vs. 49ers. This is a Super Bowl XXIV rematch, back in the days when the 49ers did things like win Super Bowls 55-10. Ouch.

A Broncos-49ers Super Bowl would be a rematch of the biggest blowout in history when Jerry Rice and the Niners won 55-10 in Super Bowl XXIV. (Photo by Rich Pilling/Diamond Images via Getty Images)Diamond Images via Getty Images

21. Bills vs. Rams. Any drive that ended in anything less than a touchdown would be a failure and likely lead to a loss.

20. Steelers vs. Seahawks. Rematch of Super Bowl XL, which the Steelers won 21-10. Back in the regular season, the Seahawks easily won 31-17 in Week 2.

19. Texans vs. Bears. Watching Caleb Williams against the Texans' defense would be fun, in a sick kind of way.

18. Patriots vs. Packers. Brett Favre won his ring in this matchup back in Super Bowl XXXI, which the Packers won 35-21. This was when nobody thought the Patriots would ever be able to put together a decent Super Bowl team.

17. Steelers vs. Rams. A rematch of Super Bowl XIV, which the Steelers won 31-19. Terry Bradshaw was named MVP of that game despite throwing three interceptions.

16. Bills vs. Bears. A buffalo vs. a bear would be a hell of a fight, let's be honest.

15. Broncos vs. Eagles. The Eagles want to believe they can repeat as Super Bowl champions. Going through the AFC's No. 1 seed would be a rough way to do it. Regular season: Broncos won 21-17, Week 5.

14. Chargers vs. Bears. Seriously ... what if the Bears are good?

13. Bills vs. 49ers. Another matchup of early-90s titans that seems like it should have happened but never did.

12. Jaguars vs. Bears. This could be a battle for the future of the NFL, quarterback-wise. Anyone who can unlock Trevor Lawrence and Caleb Williams deserves all the credit in the world.

11. Broncos vs. Rams. Strength vs. strength - the Rams high-powered offense. vs. the Broncos Rocky Mountain-solid defense.

10. Bills vs. Seahawks. The No, No, No, No, No ... YES!" Bowl of quarterback performances.

9. Broncos vs. Seahawks. A rematch of Super Bowl XLVIII, which the Seahawks won 43-8. Best remembered for a snap flying over an unprepared Peyton Manning's head on the very first play of the game.

8. Patriots vs. Eagles. Rematch of Super Bowls XXXIX (Patriots won 24-21) and LII (Eagles won 41-33). Two words: Philly Special.

7. Broncos vs. Packers. Rematch of Super Bowl XXXII, where the Broncos won 31-24 and John Elway got his ring at last. Aww. Regular season: Broncos won 34-26, Week 15.

6. Patriots vs. Rams. Rematch of the first Super Bowl of the Tom Brady era (XXXVI, Patriots won 20-17) and the most boring (LIII, Patriots won 13-3). This one figures to be better.

5. Texans vs. Rams. Best defense vs. best offense? Yes, please. Regular season: Rams won 14-9, Week 1.

4. Patriots vs. Seahawks. Rematch of Super Bowl XLIX (Patriots won 28-24). Think the Seahawks will throw the ball at the goal line?

3. Broncos vs. Bears. A possible all-timer just because of the potential here. These two teams could meet in the next five Super Bowls.

2. Steelers vs. Packers. Rematch of Super Bowl XLV (Packers won 31-25). Regular season: Packers won 35-25, Week 8. Oh yeah, and there might be an Aaron Rodgers story or two told about this game.

1. Patriots vs. Bears. A Super Bowl XX rematch, which the Bears won 46-10. Or should I say: Da Bears. If Chicago reaches the Super Bowl on the 40th anniversary of the famed 1985 team, we better get a Super Bowl Shuffle Remix.