The Arizona Republic has picked the New England Patriots and the Dallas Cowboys to be the two contenders in Super Bowl XLII on February 3 since the second week of the NFL season. The New England Patriots went 16-0 and claimed the #1 seed in the AFC and the Dallas Cowboys finished 13-3 and are the # 1 seed in the NFC. These 2 teams could still cross paths at the University of Phoenix Stadium. Dream match-ups don't always occur in the NFL however.
14 years have passed since the top seed from each conference has met in the Super Bowl. 1993 was the last time when the Cowboys beat Buffalo in Super Bowl XXXVII. When play-off participation increased from 10 to 12 teams the NFL began seeding its play-off brackets in 1990.
If the Cowboys and the Patriots do not match up next month, the odds are in favor for one of them to make it. The #1 seed has reached the Super Bowl 12 times in the last 13 years. The 2003 New England Patriots are the only # 1 seed to win the "Big Game" in this decade.
