The participants in Super Bowl LVII will be determined this Sunday in the NFC Championship Game and the AFC Championship Game. But it’s only natural to want to look ahead. So, which matchups might make for the best game in Super Bowl LVII on February 12?
Chiefs vs. Eagles
All four matchups would be highly anticipated and entertaining, but the potential Chiefs-Eagles showdown stands out just a bit over the other three. It would feature the likely 2022 NFL MVP (Patrick Mahomes) and MVP runner-up (Jalen Hurts) at quarterback, the first Super Bowl between two brothers (Jason and Travis Kelce), and Andy Reid facing the franchise he helped take to new heights from 1999-2012. Kansas City will be looking for its second championship in four seasons, while the Eagles will look to win five years after their lone Super Bowl in franchise history.
Bengals vs. Eagles
With respect to the Chiefs and the Niners, Bengals-Eagles would arguably feature the two best all-around teams from the 2022 season, and it’d profile as a very close showdown on both sides of the ball. Joe Burrow and Jalen Hurts played before in the College Football Playoff (an LSU blowout in the Peach Bowl during which Burrow threw seven touchdowns), so an NFL rematch between the two Heisman finalists might be fun. The confidence and swagger the Bengals going up against the determined Philly squad could lead to fireworks.
Bengals vs. 49ers
Similarly, Cincinnati can get under the skin of their opposition (including controversial cornerback Eli Apple), and it’s easy to envision an extremely intense battle between the Bengals and the 49ers. This one would be the third Super Bowl matchup between the two franchises, with Joe Montana and company taking the hearts of Cincy in the previous two—and the Bengals are still looking for their first Super Bowl victory decades later. Also, San Francisco beat the Bengals in overtime last season—26-23 on an acrobatic play at the pylon by receiver Brandon Aiyuk—in one of the games of the year.
Chiefs vs. 49ers
Finally, while a Chiefs-49ers rematch from Super Bowl LIV (won by Mahomes and KC) would hopefully also be entertaining, it doesn’t feel as fresh as the other possibilities after it took place just a few years ago. However, it was an excellent game—closer than the 31-20 score indicated (the Chiefs scored 21 fourth-quarter points)—so hopefully part two would be even better. One huge concern is that the Chiefs already destroyed the Niners this season back in October, and they might have the number of the vaunted San Francisco defense; but the Niners are a different team now and would have Christian McCaffery more acclimated after he didn’t make a huge impact in the first matchup.