The field to reach Super Bowl LIV in Miami dwindled to four teams on Sunday, with both higher seeds (Kansas City, Green Bay) holding ground in the Divisional Playoff round.
This sets the table for Championship Weekend next Sunday, with the upstart Titans and high-octane Chiefs battling for the AFC title (3:05 p.m. EST kickoff) … followed by a classic clash of Packers-Niners for the NFC crown (6:40 p.m. kickoff).
From an NFL perspective, of course, the league would have been thrilled to have all four high seeds playing for the right to make the Super Bowl (just three made the final foursome).
After all, the top-seeded Baltimore Ravens, who got bounced from championship contention Saturday night, had previously won 12 straight games and featured the presumptive front-runner for NFL MVP — quarterback Lamar Jackson.
However, the 6-seeded Titans have been a fascinating watch, thanks to Derrick Henry’s absurd rushing tallies (three straight games of 180-plus yards, four total TDs during this span) and Tennessee’s fearless and uncanny knack for slaying the AFC’s biggest, baddest dragons.
In fact, should the Titans win on Sunday (at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City), it would mark the club’s fourth victory over an AFC division champion … in as many weeks. Whoa!
And before you ask, no other AFC team has pulled off that feat in modern-day history.
Put it all together, and it’s an easy weekend to sell to NFL Nation and Madison Avenue, on the whole, given the star power of the four remaining quarterbacks (Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes, Jimmy Garopplo, Ryan Tannehill), along with the intriguing potential of each Super Sunday matchup.
Bottom line: The people of Miami, along with those planning to be in south Florida for Super Bowl Week, really can’t go wrong with the final matchup — no matter how it shakes out.
Which brings us to this question for the BATSBY Sports audience: Which potential clash for Super Sunday holds the greatest appeal?
SUPER BOWL POSSIBILITIES
**Chiefs vs. Niners (the playoffs’ most devastating offense vs. the postseason’s stingiest defense)
**Niners vs. Titans (potentially one of the most physical clashes in Super Bowl history … both clubs could exceed 175 rushing yards)
**Titans vs. Packers (Green Bay head coach Matt LaFleur was formerly Tennessee’s offensive coordinator)
**Packers vs. Chiefs (dream matchup of superstar quarterbacks — Aaron Rodgers vs. Patrick Mahomes)
