Who do you want to see play in the Super Bowl? It’s an important question. Two weeks of hype — as only the Super Bowl can produce — is at stake. We grade the potential matchups: Ravens vs. 49ers
The most obvious storyline is the Harbowl — 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh vs. brother John of the Ravens. But didn’t we already do that on Thanksgiving, the first time brothers coached against each other in NFL history, blah, blah, blah? That game was a dud, a 16-6 Ravens win, and so is this tired angle. Two weeks of Jack Harbaugh talking about how competitive his boys were, followed by an Alabama-LSU-style battle of strong defenses and marginal quarterbacks. No thanks. Grade » D
Patriots vs. 49ers
There’s plenty to like here: the offense of New England vs. the defense of San Francisco, blue bloods Bill Belichick and Tom Brady vs. party crashers Jim Harbaugh and Alex Smith and the clash of Terminator tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Vernon Davis. In addition, Brady grew up a 49ers fan in the Bay area and will try to grab his fourth Super Bowl ring to match his hero, Joe Montana. Grade » B+
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Giants vs. Patriots
This is the matchup NBC wants and for good reason. The media markets are big. The teams are national brands. The quarterbacks are stars. But most of all, it’s a rematch of one of the most memorable Super Bowls in history, four years ago when the Giants prevented the Patriots from finishing 19-0. The principals remain intact. The Darth Vader of coaches, Belichick, would be in revenge mode. Why not do it again? Grade » A
Giants vs. Ravens
This is a Super Bowl rematch as well. But 11 years later, there is little clamor to relive the Ravens’ 34-7 victory — unless you’re from Baltimore. The storylines would be predictable: Eli Manning vs. the Ravens’ defense, Manning trying to win in his brother’s building and an I-95 Super Bowl. How cool would it be, however, if Ray Lewis could get another MVP and walk away from the game in storybook fashion? Grade » C-
– Kevin Dunleavy
