And then there were four.
The Baltimore Ravens, San Francisco 49ers, Detroit Lions, and Kansas City Chiefs are still alive in the race for the Lombardi Trophy. Here's how the potential Super Bowl LVIII matchups stack up ahead of the conference championship games.
4. Ravens vs. Lions
No matter the contestants, Super Bowl LVIII will be epic, evidenced by the fact that a potential meeting between two of football's hottest offenses ranks fourth on this list.
Looking for their first Super Bowl title, the Lions made history this season by winning their first-ever NFC North title, hosting a playoff game for the first time since 1994, and clinching their first NFC championship appearance in 31 years. It's hard to keep up with Detroit's offense, which is led by quarterback Jared Goff and coordinated by one of the NFL's most creative play-callers, Ben Johnson. There's a reason Johnson probably won't be in Detroit next season - he's arguably the league's hottest commodity among head coaching candidates.
The Ravens also have an explosive offensive unit with a standout offensive coordinator on the sideline. Baltimore looks as good as it's ever looked in the Lamar Jackson era, as the star quarterback is expected to win his second NFL MVP award this year.
The biggest difference between Baltimore and Detroit is on the defensive side of the ball. There may not be a defense better than the Ravens' this campaign. Meanwhile, the Lions do have a Pro Bowler in defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, but their unit has been below average all season. Detroit had a hard time stopping Jackson and allowed 503 total yards to Baltimore in Week 7 when the Ravens blew out the Lions 38-6.
3. Chiefs vs. 49ers
A Super Bowl rematch between the Chiefs and 49efs could be in play on Feb. 11 - and the storylines around both teams are relatively similar to when they first met in Super Bowl LIV.
In addition to an elite defense, San Francisco once again has one of football's most balanced and talented rosters while being led by a quarterback who overachieves by playing in coach Kyle Shanahan's prolific offensive system. Meanwhile, Kansas City rosters all-time greats Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, who have won two Super Bowl titles along with coach Andy Reid. The Chiefs no longer have Tyreek Hill - who was clutch in the previous big game versus San Francisco - but their defense has significantly improved in recent years.
Jimmy Garoppolo, Shanahan, and Co. had a 10-point fourth-quarter lead over the Chiefs in the 2020 Super Bowl but weren't able to hold on. That dropped Shanahan to 0-2 in Super Bowl appearances as head coach or coordinator. It'd be interesting to see if Brock Purdy could help Shanahan exorcise his Super Bowl demons in an epic championship rematch versus Mahomes and the NFL's newest dynasty.
2. Chiefs vs. Lions
The final game of the 2023 season being the same matchup that kicked off the campaign would be fascinating. The Chiefs hosted the Lions in the season opener back in September, but Detroit showed that its year would be special by shocking the reigning Super Bowl champs 21-20 in a thriller at Arrowhead Stadium. A lot has changed since that bout, though.
Kansas City didn't have Chris Jones and Kelce on the field when it played Detroit in Week 1, as the defensive lineman negotiated a new contract and the tight end battled a knee injury. They're back and remain cornerstones of a Chiefs team that continues to have unprecedented playoff success with Reid and Mahomes.
The Lions are one of this season's best storylines. One of the least successful teams in NFL playoff history, Detroit has put on a show and established itself as a contender after going 12-5. The Lions may not be as balanced as the Chiefs, but Detroit's creative offense has been a threat to basically every defensive unit this season. This would also be another highly anticipated meeting between Mahomes and Goff, who seem to always offer thrilling matchups. In addition to their Week 1 meeting, Goff was also at quarterback for the Rams when Los Angeles beat Kansas City 54-51 in a historic Monday Night Football in 2018.
One of 12 NFL teams without a Super Bowl title, the Lions trying to lift the Vince Lombardi Trophy for the first time against a young NFL dynasty would be remarkable. Since the 2019 season, the Chiefs have played three Super Bowls, winning two of them.
1. Ravens vs. 49ers
For a second straight season, the two No. 1 seeds can face off in the Super Bowl. Baltimore and San Francisco were the two best teams in the regular season, and both were quarterbacked by MVP contenders. But it's not the QB matchup that makes this potential tilt must-watch TV. As efficient as Purdy was in 2023, he isn't on the same level as Jackson, the MVP front-runner who's coming off an excellent divisional-round game.
Expect explosive plays if those teams square off in Las Vegas next month. The 49ers roster the league's deepest group of skill-position players with Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, and Brandon Aiyuk, all of whom topped 1,000 scrimmage yards in the regular season. The Ravens have less star power but surrounded Jackson with weapons like Zay Flowers, Odell Beckham Jr., Rashod Bateman, and Mark Andrews, who's expected to return from injury soon.
What also makes the 49ers and Ravens so good is their ability to win games on the other side of the ball. Baltimore and San Francisco ranked first and third, respectively, in points allowed in 2023. With the likes of Nick Bosa, Fred Warner, Chase Young, and Javon Hargrave, the Niners' defensive unit - just like their offense - has stars on basically every level. The Ravens may not have as many superstars defensively, but Roquan Smith, Jadeveon Clowney, Kyle Hamilton, and Justin Madubuike, among others, have turned heads.
Purdy threw four interceptions when these teams faced off in a December game that had big MVP implications. Jackson became the favorite over Purdy and McCaffrey for the league's top individual award after helping Baltimore defeat San Francisco 33-19. Would Purdy and Co. get the last laugh in a second meeting between them?
There's also championship history here, as the Ravens earned a 34-31 triumph over the 49ers - then led by coach Jim Harbaugh and quarterback Colin Kaepernick - in Super Bowl XLVII back in 2013. We'd be in for a treat if these powerhouses headline another Super Bowl this year.
