NFL dream match-up a possibility

United States football fans are bracing themselves for the National Football League (NFL) season climax with divisional playoffs, or quarter-finals, due to start this weekend.

Philadelphia play at Chicago and Oakland visit New England tomorrow. Baltimore play at Pittsburgh and Green Bay travel to St Louis on Sunday.

The dream Super Bowl match-up is the NFL's best offence versus the best defence. The possibility exists that Americans will see that game next month.

The St Louis Rams, with the league's most potent offence, have the home-field advantage in the National Football Conference.

The Pittsburgh Steelers, with the league's most suffocating defence, have the home-field advantage in the American Football Conference.

If the Rams and Steelers survive their conference games (the semi-finals) and advance to the Super Bowl, it will be the first time the No 1 offence and defence will battle on the game's largest stage.