Good stories abound in potential Super Bowl pairings

	It's hard to imagine anyone looking forward to facing the Chargers in the Super Bowl more than their former QB Drew Brees. Bob Rosato/SI

Also in this column:
• LT's record
• Saban rumors
• Rookie race

With Super Bowl XLI in Miami less than eight weeks away, the big day is closer than you think. So close that we're starting to make out the faint outlines of the Super pairing taking shape. Here are 13 juicy Super Bowl matchups we'd love to see:

1. New Orleans-San Diego -- How much fun would the Drew Brees Bowl be? The Saints new quarterback has been playing like a man on a mission all season, but against his former Chargers teammates -- and San Diego general manager A.J. Smith, who gave up on him -- Brees would be motivated to the max. LaDainian Tomlinson and Reggie Bush in the same game wouldn't be too shabby either.

2. New England-Dallas -- The "Bill Bowl'' angle would be so overwhelming that media members would risk certain death by stampeding if they happen to stumble on their way to Bill Belichick's or Bill Parcells' daily media briefings. Count on Belichick's briefings to be, well, briefer, than those conducted by his spotlight-loving former boss.

3. New Orleans-Indianapolis -- The first dome team versus dome team pairing in Super Bowl history. Somebody would have to join the 1999 Rams as the only indoor team to cop a Lombardi Trophy. As a bonus, it would pit two first-time Super Bowl teams and the best two quarterbacks in the league this season. Not to mention a Peyton vs. Payton angle.

4. Baltimore-Dallas -- We'd have a rematch of Super Bowl V, also played in Miami, 36 years ago. Sort of. The Colts, not the Ravens, beat the Cowboys in the "Blunder Bowl,'' a game remembered for its sloppy play and many turnovers.

5. Indianapolis-Dallas -- Or would this be the real Super Bowl V rematch, with the Colts-Cowboys squaring off again? Is it the city or the nickname that determines a team's true identity? Remind me to ask that noted pro football historian, Dr. Z.

6. San Diego-Chicago -- Get ready for the irresistible force meets the immovable object angle. The league's top-scoring offense meets the league's stingiest defense. LT in the open field, putting his best move on Brian Urlacher could be fun.

7. Baltimore-Chicago -- Or maybe you'd prefer the NFL's best two defenses squaring off, in the first 13-10 Super Bowl in league history? Think of the linebackers who would be in this one: Urlacher, Ray Lewis, Lance Briggs, Bart Scott, Terrell Suggs and Adalius Thomas.