The Super Bowls We Never Got: Reversing the AFC and NFC Championship Games
Championship Sunday decides which two teams will compete for the Lombardi Trophy, but it also eliminates two teams that reached the final four. Two teams that most people forgot about. This article reverses those results to construct alternate Super Bowl matchups using the conference championship losers from the last eleven NFL seasons, including the just-completed 2025-26 playoffs. These teams earned the right to play for a title, but fell one game short. What would these alternate matchups have looked like?
The analysis examines how schemes meet schemes, not who would have won. These matchups reveal patterns about playoff variance, stylistic contrasts, and the types of championship-caliber teams that repeatedly miss the final stage. The conference championships eliminate elite teams not because they lack quality but because playoff football magnifies matchup dynamics and situational execution. These alternate pairings offer insight into roads not taken.
What if we lived in a world where the conference championship losers actually won those games? Every January, two incredible teams fall one game short of the Super Bowl. This exercise flips the script: the AFC and NFC Championship losers become our alternate Super Bowl matchups. It’s a fun thought experiment about the roads not taken, the “what could have been” scenarios that make playoff football so unpredictable.
Over the last eleven seasons, we’ve seen some wild conference championship games. Some featured backup quarterbacks. Others showcased defensive slugfests. A few had controversial endings. By reversing these results, we get to imagine entirely different Super Bowl matchups—some featuring coaches and quarterbacks who never quite got their championship moment despite being one game away.
These aren’t predictions or fantasy scenarios. They’re just a look at what these alternate matchups would have looked like based on who these teams actually were during those playoff runs. Who was coaching? Who was playing quarterback? How did they navigate their way to the final four? Let’s explore the Super Bowls that never happened.
Where Is This Year’s Super Bowl?
Super Bowl LX will be played in Santa Clara, California, on the 8th of February, in front of a sell-out crowd that doesn’t care about spending thousands of dollars for a ticket, given the relevance of the event. This year’s edition promises to be as exciting as ever, with football fans looking all around for favorites to bet on. To stay up to date on the latest Super Bowl betting odds, you can visit Oddschecker, an online comparison site that offers daily offers and bonuses on the main NFL matches, such as playoff games and, obviously, the Super Bowl.
The Lombardi Trophy is the ultimate prize in pro football and one of the most treasured championships in sports. It’s not surprising at all since winning one is among the toughest feats possible for an athlete. The NFL is designed for equity and parity, and only one team in 32 may aspire to win the Super Bowl. The game is played at the end of a long, tiring season, after more than 20 matches among elite athletes who give their all every Sunday. A lot of players retire after winning it, underlining how fulfilling it is for a pro player.
Super Bowl Matchups if things were reversed
2025-26 Season
This would have been such a weird game. Picture this alternate universe Super Bowl: Sean Payton’s Broncos riding their elite defense all the way to the championship game, except Bo Nix is injured and veteran backup Jarrett Stidham has to start against Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay’s Rams. Denver finished 14-3 with the AFC’s top seed, winning an absurd nine of eleven one-score games behind their defense and Pat Surtain II locking down opposing receivers. They beat Buffalo in the divisional round before Nix went down with an ankle injury, then squeaked past New England in a blizzard with Stidham managing the game. The Rams, meanwhile, came in as a fifth seed, with Stafford throwing to Puka Nacua and Davante Adams in McVay’s heavy personnel system that featured three tight ends battering defenses. They knocked off the Bears in overtime and upset the top-seeded Seahawks 31-27 despite special teams breakdowns. This would have been the ultimate “backup QB with an elite defense” versus “veteran gunslinger” matchup. Stidham had minimal playoff experience, while Stafford was hunting his second ring. Payton would have needed to win through field position, running back J.K. Dobbins, and trusting his defense to create short fields. McVay would have attacked Denver’s simplified offense by loading the box and daring Stidham to beat them downfield. In reality, both teams fell short, Denver to the Patriots in that defensive struggle, and the Rams to Seattle after they couldn’t overcome their own mistakes.
Predicting the Spread: Rams -6.5
2024-25 Season
Josh Allen’s Bills are reaching yet another conference championship only to fall short, a story Bills fans know too well. Buffalo went to Kansas City and lost 32-29 in the AFC Championship, marking their fifth straight conference title game appearance under Sean McDermott. Allen was operating at an MVP level with Stefon Diggs gone, distributing to a committee of receivers and creating explosive plays with his legs. Meanwhile, across the conference, Jayden Daniels’ rookie season became the stuff of legend. Dan Quinn’s Commanders shocked everyone by reaching the NFC Championship as a sixth seed, with Daniels orchestrating their tempo-based offense and Terry McLaurin making huge plays. They stunned the Lions in the divisional round before getting blown out 55-23 by the Eagles in Philly. This alternate Super Bowl would have been fascinating: Allen trying to finally break through and get his ring against a rookie quarterback in his first year. The Bills had the better roster and more playoff experience, but Washington’s speed-based offense and Daniels’ poise were turning heads. Quinn, the former Falcons coach who blew a 28-3 Super Bowl lead, would have gotten another shot at redemption. McDermott was still searching for his first championship. Both teams played aggressive, QB-driven football, but Buffalo’s defense created takeaways at a historic rate while Washington’s young roster was still learning championship-level situational football. Instead, we got Chiefs-Eagles again.
2023-24 Season
Lamar Jackson’s Ravens and the Lions’ first-ever AFC Championship appearance are two franchises desperately seeking validation. Baltimore went 13-4 behind Jackson’s MVP season and their dominant rushing attack under John Harbaugh. They steamrolled everyone until hitting Kansas City’s defense in a 17-10 AFC Championship loss, where situational execution betrayed them. Detroit’s story was even more emotional: Dan Campbell’s culture transformation, Jared Goff’s redemption arc, and a city that hadn’t seen this level of success in decades. They went into San Francisco and blew a 24-7 halftime lead, losing 34-31 when the 49ers scored 27 unanswered points. This alternate Super Bowl would have featured two of the league’s most physical rushing attacks: Baltimore with Jackson and their zone-read concepts versus Detroit’s mauling offensive line, pounding defenders into submission. Jackson was seeking his first championship to validate his MVP credentials. Goff was trying to prove he could win the big one after being traded away by the Rams. Campbell’s aggressive fourth-down philosophy against Harbaugh’s conservative playoff approach. Both teams emphasized controlling possession and winning time-of-possession battles.
The game would have likely been a rock fight, two teams determined to establish physical dominance through their ground games, with whoever won third-down conversions and red-zone battles emerging victorious.
2022-23 Season
Joe Burrow and the Bengals made their second straight conference championship, losing to Kansas City 23-20 in a game that came down to late-game execution. Zac Taylor’s offense was built around Burrow slinging it to Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, operating from spread formations and attacking vertically. They’d already been to one Super Bowl and lost, and Burrow was determined to get back. The 49ers, led by Kyle Shanahan, reached the NFC Championship with Brock Purdy, “Mr. Irrelevant,” the last pick of the draft, starting at quarterback after injuries to Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo. They had Christian McCaffrey creating mismatches and a dominant defensive line, but got demolished 31-7 by the Eagles. This matchup would have been a clash of offensive philosophies: Cincinnati’s aggressive downfield passing versus San Francisco’s methodical run-based system with play-action layered off it.
Burrow is seeking validation after last year’s Super Bowl loss to Purdy, trying to complete one of the wildest Cinderella stories in NFL history. The 49ers’ defensive front against Cincinnati’s rebuilt offensive line was the key individual matchup. Shanahan’s creativity in the red zone versus Taylor’s willingness to let Burrow throw it 40+ times. Both teams were dealing with their own narratives, Burrow trying to avoid being labeled as someone who couldn’t finish, Purdy trying to prove he wasn’t just a system quarterback.
2021-22 Season
This would have been a Super Bowl rematch that never happened. Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid’s Chiefs reached their fourth straight conference championship but lost to Cincinnati 27-24 in overtime after blowing a second-half lead. They had Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce creating matchup nightmares, but their defense couldn’t stop Joe Burrow when it mattered. The 49ers, running Kyle Shanahan’s system with Jimmy Garoppolo at quarterback, reached the NFC Championship and lost to the Rams 20-17 after failing to finish drives. They had Deebo Samuel operating as both receiver and running back, creating unique personnel problems, plus a defense featuring dominant linebacker play. This alternate matchup would have been Kansas City’s speed and explosiveness against San Francisco’s physical approach. Mahomes is trying to get his second ring at age 26, versus Garoppolo seeking validation as a championship quarterback after years of doubt. It would have been a rematch of Super Bowl LIV, which Kansas City won 31-20, but with different rosters and storylines. The Chiefs operated best in high-possession games with multiple explosive plays; the 49ers preferred grinding the clock with sustained drives. Reid’s offensive genius against Shanahan’s scheme wizardry. The quarterback gap between Mahomes and Garoppolo would have been massive, potentially decisive. Instead, the Rams and Bengals gave us a different story.
2020-21 Season
The Bills’ first conference championship in 27 years ended with a 38-24 loss to Kansas City. Josh Allen broke out under Brian Daboll’s aggressive passing attack, but Kansas City’s offense was simply unstoppable. Sean McDermott had built a defense around zone coverage and disciplined gap fits. Green Bay went 13-3 with Aaron Rodgers winning MVP under first-year coach Matt LaFleur, who installed his outside zone system. They lost to Tampa Bay 31-26 in the NFC Championship after Rodgers threw three straight second-half interceptions. This would have been Allen’s improvisation and athleticism against Rodgers’ systematic precision and pre-snap mastery. Two cold-weather franchises with passionate fanbases are facing off. Allen was in his breakout season, transforming from raw talent into an elite quarterback. Rodgers was approaching his late-30s, trying to add to his championship legacy. LaFleur’s creative play design versus McDermott’s defensive fundamentals. Both teams emphasized getting their quarterbacks into favorable third-down situations and creating explosive plays through play-action. The Packers had Davante Adams winning one-on-one coverage; the Bills had Stefon Diggs creating separation everywhere. Special teams would have mattered, Buffalo’s coverage units were excellent. This was two ascending organizations (Buffalo) versus sustained excellence (Green Bay), trying to capture another title before the window closed. Instead, Tom Brady beat both of them.
2019-20 Season
Remember when Derrick Henry went nuclear in the playoffs? Remember when the Titans almost went to the Super Bowl?
The Titans rode his historic rushing performance all the way to the AFC Championship, where they lost to Kansas City 35-24 after falling behind early and abandoning their identity. Mike Vrabel’s team operated with heavy personnel, with Ryan Tannehill throwing play-action shots off Henry’s downhill running. Henry rushed for 182 yards against Baltimore in the divisional round, absolutely dominant. The Packers, in Matt LaFleur’s first season, lost to San Francisco 37-20 in the NFC Championship after their defense couldn’t stop the 49ers’ rushing attack. Aaron Rodgers was efficient in LaFleur’s system, but they couldn’t match San Francisco’s physicality. This alternate Super Bowl would have been Tennessee’s throwback, old-school power football against Green Bay’s modern systematic concepts. Henry was having a historic playoff run that deserved a shot at the championship stage. Rodgers was adjusting to a new coach after years of Mike McCarthy. Vrabel, the former Patriots linebacker, is coaching against LaFleur’s West Coast principles. The stylistic contrast was stark: Tennessee wanted limited possessions and clock control; Green Bay preferred more plays and diverse formations, creating confusion. Weather could have been a factor; both teams operated well in cold conditions, but Tennessee’s commitment to running would have given it an advantage in adverse weather. Instead, Kansas City and San Francisco gave us a Super Bowl decided on the goal line.
2018-19 Season
The first year of the Patrick Mahomes era ended with Kansas City losing 37-31 in overtime to New England in the AFC Championship. Andy Reid’s offense was historically explosive. Mahomes threw 50 touchdowns in the regular season with Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, and a cast of weapons creating space everywhere. Their defense, however, was a liability all season. Drew Brees and Sean Payton’s Saints lost to the Rams 26-23 in overtime in one of the most controversial games in playoff history (the missed pass interference call). New Orleans had one of football’s most balanced attacks with Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram creating diverse rushing threats while Brees operated with surgical precision. This would have been an absolute shootout: two high-powered offenses featuring Hall of Fame quarterbacks in vastly different career stages. Mahomes, 23 years old, revolutionized the position with off-platform throws and no-look passes. Brees, approaching 40, is orchestrating one of football’s most efficient systems. Reid and Payton are two offensive masterminds with championship pedigrees. Kansas City’s speed-based attack against New Orleans’ methodical approach. Both defenses struggled to contain explosive plays, making it feel like a track meet. The quarterback narratives were compelling: Mahomes ascending to superstardom versus Brees chasing one final championship before retirement. Two football-centric cities with passionate fanbases. Instead, Tom Brady and the Patriots spoiled Kansas City’s party, and the Rams ended New Orleans’ season with help from the officials.
2017-18 Season
The year of defense. Jacksonville’s ferocious defense, featuring Jalen Ramsey, A.J. Bouye, and Calais Campbell, dominated opponents all season under Doug Marrone. They led New England 20-10 in the fourth quarter of the AFC Championship before Tom Brady orchestrated a comeback. Blake Bortles was managing games while Leonard Fournette pounded the rock. Minnesota had one of the league’s best defenses with Harrison Smith and a loaded secondary, plus Case Keenum operating efficiently in Pat Shurmur’s system with Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs. They beat New Orleans on the Minneapolis Miracle, then got destroyed 38-7 by Philadelphia in the NFC Championship. This alternate Super Bowl would have been an absolute defensive slugfest, two elite secondaries playing aggressive coverage, two dominant defensive fronts creating chaos. Bortles versus Keenum at quarterback, neither inspiring confidence, both relying on their defenses to create short fields. Marrone and Mike Zimmer are coaching conservative, field-position-oriented football. Both teams emphasized takeaways and special teams play. The game would have likely been ugly, low-scoring, and decided by one or two explosive plays. Neither offense wanted to throw the ball 40 times. Both defenses created turnovers through pressure and coverage. This was the ultimate “can defense win championships?” matchup in an era increasingly dominated by offense. Instead, we got Nick Foles’ magic and Tom Brady’s ageless excellence.
2016-17 Season
The Killer B’s—Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown, and Le’Veon Bell—were in their absolute prime. Mike Tomlin’s Steelers won seven straight to end the season, then demolished Miami and Kansas City before losing to New England 36-17 in the AFC Championship when Tom Brady picked them apart. Pittsburgh’s offense was explosive and diverse, using Bell’s patience as a runner and Brown’s route precision to create big plays. Aaron Rodgers dragged the Packers to the NFC Championship on a late-season hot streak, but they got blown out 44-21 by Atlanta when their defense couldn’t stop anything. Mike McCarthy’s offense was simple: give Rodgers the ball and let him work magic. Jordy Nelson provided a vertical threat. This would have been two explosive offenses featuring elite quarterback play and premier skill-position talent: Roethlisberger’s big arm and Brown’s route-running against Rodgers’ improvisation and Hail Mary heroics. Tomlin’s aggressive defensive blitzing versus McCarthy’s traditional approach. Both teams relied heavily on their quarterbacks, creating plays outside of the structure. Bell’s running ability against Green Bay’s front seven. Brown’s precision routes against Green Bay’s cornerbacks. Rodgers is extending plays against Pittsburgh’s pass rush. The game would have been high-scoring, with big plays determining the outcome. Both teams were built to outscore opponents rather than control tempo. Instead, Atlanta’s explosive offense dominated Green Bay, and New England’s championship experience overwhelmed Pittsburgh’s talent.
2015-16 Season
Tom Brady and Bill Belichick versus Carson Palmer and Bruce Arians, veteran excellence everywhere. The Patriots reached the AFC Championship at 12-4, then lost to Denver 20-18 in a defensive struggle where Brady faced constant pressure from the Broncos’ historic defense. New England operated methodically with Brady’s precision and Rob Gronkowski’s matchup dominance, but their offensive line struggled to protect Brady late in the season. Arizona featured one of the league’s most explosive offenses with Palmer distributing to Larry Fitzgerald and a loaded receiving corps. Arians’ vertical passing concepts created deep shots downfield. They went 13-3, then got demolished 49-15 by Carolina in the NFC Championship when they couldn’t contain Cam Newton. This alternate Super Bowl would have featured two experienced systems, each with veteran quarterbacks who understood situational football. Brady is seeking his fifth championship at age 38, while Palmer’s seeking his first at age 36, following an unexpected late-career renaissance. Belichick’s scheme versatility is preparing for Arizona’s diverse formations. Arians’ aggressive downfield philosophy versus New England’s ball-control approach. Brady’s quick release against Arizona’s pressure packages. Palmer’s arm strength creates vertical opportunities against New England’s coverage versatility. Gronkowski’s mismatches in the red zone versus Arizona’s creative play design. Both teams understood the importance of third-down efficiency and red-zone execution. This would have been a tactical battle between experienced coaches who knew playoff football required finishing drives and protecting possessions. Instead, Denver’s defense denied Brady, and Carolina’s explosive offense overwhelmed Arizona’s struggling defense.
Quick List
- 2025-26: Broncos vs. Rams
- 2024-25: Bills vs Commanders
- 2023-24: Ravens vs Lions
- 2022-23: Bengals vs 49ers
- 2021-22: Chiefs vs 49ers
- 2020-21: Bills vs Packers
- 2019-20: Titans vs Packers
- 2018-19: Chiefs vs Saints
- 2017-18: Jaguars vs Vikings
- 2016-17: Steelers vs Packers
- 2015-16: Patriots vs Cardinals
