Top 10 Best NFL Rivalries of All Time
These rivalries are fueled by decades of bad blood, bitter playoff showdowns, and fanbases that flat-out can't stand each other. We're talking about the matchups where the hatred runs so deep it gets passed down like a family heirloom.
Maybe it's the classic division rival that just won't go away, or maybe it's that team your franchise always seems to run into on the road to the Super Bowl. Either way, it's personal.
This list is packed with some of the most heated and most talked-about rivalries in NFL history. You get to help decide which ones truly stand above the rest. If you think your team's feud belongs at the top, this is your chance to make some noise.
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Steelers vs. Ravens
The Steelers and Ravens bring to life the very definition of a rivalry. Back when these two teams had the top defenses in the league, these games were full of hard hits, sacks, punts, and turnovers, and only a few points would determine the winner.
As the defenses lost their power, they became some of the best shootout games to watch. Perhaps the best part of the rivalry is the respect for one another. Joe Flacco said beating the Steelers without Big Ben on the field just isn't the same, and I'm sure Ben would say the same thing regarding Joe.
Although this may be one of the newer rivalries in Steelers Nation, it is by far the best, by far the biggest, and some will even argue that it is one of the best in the entire sports world.
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Bears vs. Packers
Go find Mike Ditka. He can give you an insider view of how much blood is in the water between Green Bay and Chicago. They have rivaled each other since before the NFL grew to its size today. Two of the oldest teams in the league.
I remember seeing a quote by Mike Ditka saying how much he wanted to beat Green Bay at Lambeau. However, the issues normally followed with dealing with ice-covered fields. GB and Chicago hardly ever played in Lambeau at a time that wasn't around 10-5 degrees F.
George Halas vs. Earl "Curly" Lambeau. That's how old this rivalry is. The rivalry today isn't what it used to be. In the past, names like Butkus and Nitschke dominated defenses, and Starr and Sayers led the offenses. These two teams had a healthy hatred for each other. In the present, money has taken a lot of the ferocity out of the players.
Mike/Wautoma, WI
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Cowboys vs. Commanders
I understand why Bears-Packers is higher, but Ravens-Steelers? No. As a Cowboys fan, nothing I hate more than the Redskins. They are the worst team ever. I hate Washington. This really means something. This rivalry is much higher than Steelers-Ravens. The Ravens have barely existed. The only reason Ravens used to be the Browns.
I honestly don't know why this isn't at least number two on the list, maybe even tied for number one (but I respect that the Packers and Bears is a MUCH older rivalry). As a Cowboys fan, I instantly hate anyone that is a Redskins fan, or anyone in our division for that matter. We all hate each other with a passion.
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Colts vs. Patriots
Luck vs. Brady is always something fun to look forward to, even though the Pats are a better team all around.
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Eagles vs. Cowboys
The hatred the fans have for each other is unmatched in sports. From the cheering of Irvin's career-ending injury to the body bag game, the fans wish for the other team's failure as much as their own team's success.
I was at the first Bounty Bowl at Texas Stadium in 1989. For years after that, the hatred was so intense that grocery stores in Texas would pull Philly Cream Cheese off the shelves the week we played the Eagles.
Eagles and Cowboys, as of right now, are the biggest rivals in the NFC East, which makes for interesting seasons. But to be fair, we all hate each other.
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Packers vs. Vikings
Underrated rivalry. It may not be as historically strong as Bears-Packers, but who could top that history? Back to Vikings-Packers, there is lots of history between the two teams, from Antonio Freeman's improbable OT catch to Moss mooning the crowd.
On top of that, fans of both teams flat-out hate each other. This has all the ingredients of a fierce rivalry.
This rivalry is heating up again. The Vikings won the NFC North in the last game of the season by beating the Packers, and the Vikings won again at their new stadium. This will be the premier rivalry in the NFC North until Chicago or Detroit step up their game.
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Browns vs. Steelers
The Browns vs. the Steelers is the top rivalry - the real one, not the phony Steelers vs. Ravens. Nothing is hated more in Cleveland than the Steelers.
When you see Mason Rudolph vs. Miles Garrett, you know you're going to see something special.
I live in Ohio, and I can confidently say this is a very big rivalry. I am a Steelers fan, and I get weird looks from all the Browns fans. It's fun to see them go 0-16.
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Chiefs vs. Raiders
I feel like this rivalry isn't as well known as some just because it's the Chiefs, but any fan of them knows to just naturally hate the Raiders or Broncos.
This should be in the top 5 and way before Broncos vs. Raiders.
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Broncos vs. Raiders
There are few football games closer and angrier than when the Broncos play the Raiders. Blood and fantastic plays are a norm. The only reason it shouldn't be higher is that the gap still exists right now. But soon, you will see tremendous football again.
It's a pretty serious rivalry here in Colorado.
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Saints vs. Falcons
This is our oldest rival and most hated. It doesn't matter where either team stands with the rest of the league - when these two teams meet, it's a battle, and they play like it's a Super Bowl.
The fans hate each other and the other team, and any player that leaves one of these teams and joins the other is a traitor and hated for life.
However, as a Falcons fan, I've made the trip to the SuperDome almost every year for over 30 years. These are the two regular season games that I would miss only through dire emergency, and the ones I hate, dread, look forward to, and love the most every year.
Most Falcons fans, especially older fans, and Saints fans feel the same way.
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Cowboys vs. Bills
The Cowboys are the last team I want the Bills to lose to. At least nothing about the Bills is overrated, besides Josh Allen.
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Panthers vs. Seahawks
I love panthers because they have a good offense.
I do hate the seahawks.
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49ers vs. Cowboys
How is this not number one? This is the most legendary rivalry in new history. Joe Montana and Dwight Clark made the greatest play in conference championship history. Then Steve Young and Troy Aikman met three straight times in the NFC championship, and things got even more heated. Seriously, this is not number nine.
While not much history here right now, I would have to say San Francisco vs. Seattle is the most heated rivalry in football.
The fact that when these teams met in the playoffs, the winner would go on to be the Super Bowl champions.
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Bengals vs. Browns
These guys are so intense - hell with it, they're in the same state! They're so close! Paul Brown was originally head coach of the Browns and later founded the Bengals, and boy, these teams are evenly matched.
The Browns typically win the TNF game because Dalton chokes during prime time, but the Bengals dominate the Browns (shut them out 30-0 in 2014) in the second divisional regular time (1 PM) game. So this rivalry will fight to the end.
This is a literal brother vs. brother rivalry. Paul Brown founded the Browns, and when he was kicked out of the organization, he founded the Bengals in spite of Cleveland. Not to mention Sam Wyche trash-talking the Cleveland fans after he found trash on the field. This should be number one.
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Giants vs. Cowboys
Cowgirls suck. Most of their fans are leftover bandwagon fans from their "glory days." Nowadays, they're horrible with Tony the choke artist as their QB. Nothing makes me happier than seeing the Cowboys lose. Love when the Giants block them from the playoffs.
Have always hated the Cowboys, especially in the early '90s. Big division rivalry here.
There is a reason why this is always on Sunday night.
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Eagles vs. Giants
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49ers vs. Seahawks
It sucks that both are tied for last in the NFC West as of right now (2015-2016 season). The Niners are picking up, but the Hawks are just getting worse. I would've loved a Niners vs. Hawks NFC championship match to decide who goes to the Super Bowl.
This rivalry is very heated. I wonder who will win the NFC division in 2015-2016. So far, the 49ers look strong!
This rivalry is the best in the West.
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Seahawks vs. Rams
Yup, the tensions between the Seahawks and Rams have grown tremendously over the 2010s. I'd argue it's a bigger rivalry than with the 49ers. Imagine the two meetings in the NFC Championship game one day.
They completely hate each other.
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49ers vs. Rams
It's northern vs. southern California (a la Dodgers/Giants). This rivalry certainly lost steam when the Rams moved to St. Louis. But now that they're back in LA, it should be back on.
Man, I hate the Rams so much. This rivalry has been cold as of late, but especially since the Rams are back in California, I think it may pick up some steam.
This is one of those forever rivalries that has no end.
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Raiders vs. Chargers
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Giants vs. Jets
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Steelers vs. Bengals
It isn't the oldest of rivalries, but it's grown increasingly bitter since the 2005 wild card round in which former Bengals QB Carson Palmer tore his ACL, leading to a Bengals loss.
The Bengals and Steelers have never had much love for each other, but with the events of the 2015 season in which there were altercations throughout the second regular season game and then the complete brutality of the wild card playoff game, resulting in numerous key injuries, personal foul calls, fines, and a suspension, this rivalry has been pushed into greater prominence.
It's not a traditional rivalry, but there's plenty of bad blood to go around.
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Vikings vs. Bears
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Ravens vs. Patriots
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Dolphins vs. Jets
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Patriots vs. Jets
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Steelers vs. Cowboys
This should be number 1 because they always play in the real matchup rather than divisional rivals.
You will never find a Steelers fan that doesn't hate the Cowboys.