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10 Great Super Bowl Matchups Fans Never Got to See

Every January, you’ll hear a whiffed field goal or imagine what could’ve been if that fumble or pass interference hadn’t happened.

By Sanu Abraham · Sportskeeda

Published: Thursday, 15 October 2026 at 7:29 PM

Key Things to Know

Writer Sanu Abraham details ten highly anticipated Super Bowl matchups that never happened due to postseason eliminations.
A 2018 Saints-Patriots meeting was thwarted after a controversial missed pass interference call in the NFC Championship Game.
The 1985 Dolphins missed a rematch against the 15-1 Bears following an AFC Championship Game loss to New England.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Sanu Abraham highlights ten historic Super Bowl matchups that never materialized due to playoff upsets and near misses. The retrospective details marquee clashes that fell short, including potential showdowns between the 1976 Raiders and Cowboys, Drew Brees' Saints and Tom Brady's Patriots in 2018, and a 2018 rematch between the high-scoring Rams and Chiefs.

Other missed pairings featured the 1990 49ers against the Bills, Aaron Rodgers' Packers versus Brady's Patriots in 2011 and 2014, and the 1998 showdown between the 15-1 Vikings and the Broncos.

Read the full article on Sportskeeda

10 Great Super Bowl Matchups Fans Never Got to See

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