# What Super Bowls have pitted #1 vs #2? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [December 16, 2011, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-super-bowls-have-pitted-1-vs-2/606348 "2011-12-16T00:16:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HubZilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ccd318/32.png) [@HubZilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HubZilla)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-super-bowls-have-pitted-1-vs-2/606348/1 "2011-12-16T00:16:44Z")
Usually, there are upsets in the playoffs, or the two best teams might be in the same conference. But what are the most recent Super Bowls to truly pit the two best teams in the NFL? And yes, I realize that the playoffs determine it. So, let’s just say the two best teams before the playoffs start. The home-field for the AFC vs the home-field for the NFC meet in the Super Bowl. Like in 1985: 15-1 Niners vs 14-2 Dolphins. But not like the early 90s Super Bowls where the Cowboys vs Niners from the NFC were better than the AFC team. ---
**Author:** ![davidw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c4cdca/32.png) [@davidw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidw)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-super-bowls-have-pitted-1-vs-2/606348/2 "2011-12-16T00:33:24Z")
Colts vs. Saints a couple of years ago… ---
**Author:** ![Bootis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e8c25b/32.png) [@Bootis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bootis)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-super-bowls-have-pitted-1-vs-2/606348/3 "2011-12-16T01:11:52Z")
> [@davidw](#): > > Colts vs. Saints a couple of years ago.. Maybe, but I don’t know if the Saints were a clear cut #2- heading in to the playoffs ESPN even had them ranked #5 in their power rankings. The Colts and Chargers were considered by many to be 1 and 2. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-super-bowls-have-pitted-1-vs-2/606348/4 "2011-12-16T02:26:53Z")
Since the merger back in 1970: 2009 Season: Colts and Saints\* 1993 Season: Bills and Cowboys 1991 Season: Bills and Redskins 1984 Season: Dolphins and 49ers 1983 Season: Raiders and Redskins 1981 Season: Bengals and 49ers 1977 Season: Broncos and Cowboys 1976 Season: Raiders and Vikings 1973 Season: Dolphins and Vikings 1972 Season: Dolphins and Redskins\*\* \*Like Bootis said, the Saints and the Chargers both had 13-3 seasons. \*\*The Redskins and the Steelers both had an 11-3 season and again I’m not sure which was ranked #2. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 8:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-super-bowls-have-pitted-1-vs-2/606348/5 "2011-12-16T08:39:51Z")
> [@Bootis](#): > > Maybe, but I don’t know if the Saints were a clear cut #2- heading in to the playoffs ESPN even had them ranked #5 in their power rankings. The Colts and Chargers were considered by many to be 1 and 2. Well, the Saints had NFC home field, which was one of the criteria in the OP. Sadly, the Saints pretty much have to have home field to get to the Super Bowl. They are very much not a cold weather team, and they seem to lose a step playing outside even when it is not cold or wet.