The Top 5 Fiercest NFL Rivalries of All Time
The National Football League has many major franchises with a long history of strong performance and top-notch players. From the league-dominating Green Bay Packers to the storied powerhouses like the Pittsburgh Steelers, the league has many teams that form some of the most exhilarating matchups in the world of professional sports. While the list of the top fiercest NFL teams is long, we put together our top five of the best of the best rivalries among these top teams in the league.
You’ll definitely want to catch these top rivalries (and more) in person at some point.
Being able to root for your favorite team as they compete against their arch-nemesis is a truly unforgettable experience.
NFL History
Before we get into the particulars of the NFL’s current top rivalries, let’s go back in time a bit. The NFL, also known as the National Football League, didn’t always exist. Prior to the NFL, athletes competed without an agreed-upon set of official rules.
When the NFL came to be in 1920, the organization was called the American Professional Football Association. (The organization didn’t change its name to the one we know today until 1922.)
The early years of the NFL were rough — marked by instability and constant pressure from competitor leagues like the American Football League. Early on, the NFL struggled to make money and gain notoriety, but this changed after the American Football League folded.
It wasn’t until years later, in the 1960s, that the American Football League returned to the professional football scene and once again competed for resources with the NFL. Unlike last time though, the two organizations agreed on a merger in 1966, with the AFL’s teams transferring to the NFL and all teams competing in the NFL’s Super Bowl by the 1970s.
NFL Divisions
The NFL has eight geographical divisions, which consist of four teams each. NFC divisions stand for the National Football Conference divisions, while the AFC divisions stand for the American Football Conference divisions.
NFC East
- Dallas Cowboys
- New York Giants
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Washington Football Team (the Commanders)
NFC North
- Chicago Bears
- Detroit Lions
- Green Bay Packers
- Minnesota Vikings
NFC West
NFC South
AFC East
- Buffalo Bills
- Miami Dolphins
- New England Patriots
- New York Jets
AFC North
- Baltimore Ravens
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Cleveland Browns
- Pittsburgh Steelers
AFC South
AFC West
Check out our list of the top five fiercest NFL rivalries of all time:
1. Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens
Steelers and Ravens History
The Steelers began play in the 1930s. The Pittsburgh Steelers team plays its home games at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh. The stadium has a seating capacity of about 68,000, which makes it smaller than the average football stadium in the United States.
The Pittsburgh Steelers claimed their first Super Bowl victory in 1975. The Steelers soon made a name for themselves by being the only team to win a Super Bowl title back-to-back and the first to win four Super Bowls.
The Baltimore Ravens began as a Cleveland team before they moved to Baltimore and began play in 1996, the same year that the rivalry between the Steelers and the Ravens began. The Ravens started off with a high after beating the Cincinnati Bengals in their first game. The following years saw the Ravens take home a division title and saw them appear in the NFL playoffs. They won their first Super Bowl title in 2001.
The Baltimore Ravens team plays its home games at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. The stadium is around the average size of a football stadium, with a seating capacity of more than 70,000.
Steelers vs. Ravens Rivalry History
The Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens rivalry began in 1996 when the Steelers handed down a solid defeat to the newly-minted NFL team. The rivalry remains one of the NFL’s fiercest; both the passionate fans and super-dedicated athletes help keep this rivalry alive. That time when head coach Mike Tomlin decided to interfere in a kickoff and received a huge fine also helped keep the flame of this rivalry burning.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens Season Updates
The Pittsburgh Steelers finished the previous season with underwhelming results with a 9-8 record. The Baltimore Ravens did somewhat better, closing the season with a 10-7 record.
Overall, the Ravens finished a step above the Steelers, who finished slightly above the Cleveland Browns. The Bengals finished the 2022 season as the AFC North division’s leader.
2. Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears
Packers and Bears History
Like the Packers, the Chicago Bears are one of the NFL’s oldest and longest-running franchises. The team plays its home games at Soldier Field. In just 74 years, the Chicago Bears earned their place as a heavy-hitting team with a 586-384-42 record.
Packers vs. Bears Rivalry History
Since they formed, the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears have met more than 200 times, allowing ample fertile ground for this rivalry to develop. Early on in the teams’ rivalry, the Chicago Bears claimed several victories over the Packers, gaining a series lead that the Packers surpassed in 2017.
The Packers vs. Bears rivalry is one of the most enduring rivalries and is one of the most entertaining. The proximity between these two teams also helps keep the rivalry alive.
Recent Packers vs. Bears matchups include a 2020 game that occurred at Lambeau Field. The 2020 game saw the Bears take a defeat. Likewise, a 2021 game in December at Soldier Field saw another Chicago Bears defeat.
Packers vs. Chicago Bears Season Updates
The Packers and the Bears finished last in the NFC North division, with one of their top rivals, the Minnesota Vikings, coming out on top as the division’s leader. While the Packers are one of the NFL’s strongest teams, their 2022 season performance was disappointing to many longtime fans.
The Bears, by contrast, finished this season with a very underwhelming performance and a 3-14 record. The Chicago Bears have what it takes to meet the Packers head-on, but to do so, the team will have to make significant changes to its performance.
3. Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Commanders
Cowboys History and Washington Commanders History
The Cowboys got their start in the 1960s as part of one of the AFL’s charter teams. The Commanders, formerly known as the Redskins, began play in the 1930s.
Cowboys vs. Commanders Rivalry History
The Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants rivalry dates back to the 1960s when the teams competed against each other for the first time at Yankee Stadium. In total, the teams met more than 120 times.
Cowboys vs. Commanders Season Updates
The Dallas Cowboys had a good season, finishing up the season with a 12-5 record, placing them just under the NFC East division leader. Without a doubt, the Cowboys remain one of the top NFC East teams to watch in the upcoming season.
On the other hand, the Washington Commanders had a less-than-spectacular season this time around, finishing last in their division with a record of 8-8-1. If the Commanders can patch up their weak points and leverage their top players, the team stands a chance to compete against the Cowboys.
4. New York Giants vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Giants and Eagles History
The Giants got their start around the same time as the Eagles did and won their first Super Bowl title in 1987.
The Eagles began play in the 1930s. After going through a rough patch, the Eagles bounced back with the help of Coach Dick Vermeil, who led the team to their first Super Bowl appearance in the 1980s.
Giants vs. Eagles Rivalry History
The Giants vs. Eagles rivalry is one of the fiercest in the NFL, dating back to the 1930s. Even though both teams are historically two of the strongest in the league, the Eagles lead this series and often dominate their division.
Giants vs. Eagles Current Season Updates
The 2022 season was a rough one for the New York Giants, who ended up finishing second-to-last in the NFC East division, just a step above the Commanders. On the other hand, the Philadelphia Eagles came out on top, leading their division with a 14-3 record.
This proves that the Eagles are more than ready to be one of the upcoming season’s top contenders. If the Giants want to stay relevant, they’ll have to step up their game in order to bring the Eagles down a notch.
5. New England Patriots vs. New York Jets
Patriots and Jets History
The Patriots are notably an NFL team with consistently solid performances.
Like the Patriots, the Jets also began play in the 1960s as part of the AFL’s charter teams.
Patriots vs. New York Jets Rivalry History
The rivalry between the Patriots and the New York Jets began in the 1960s with a series of trading and coaching issues, like when Bill Belichick famously signed with the Jets and then joined the Patriots just a day later.
Patriots vs. Jets Current Season Updates
The Patriots and the New York Jets had underwhelming performances this year, closing out the season at the bottom of the AFC East division. The Patriots came out on top, beating the New York Jets record of 7-10 with their own 8-9 record.
The two rivals fell to the resurgent Buffalo Bills, which saw a season record of 13-3. By all accounts, the Patriots stand to make a comeback. If they can deal with their weakness and work up some smart strategies, the Patriots and the Jets might stand a chance at becoming contenders in the upcoming season.
NFL Events and Game Tickets
Now that you know our top five fiercest NFL rivalries, you might want to find out how to get NFL tickets to the next upcoming game. The upcoming season is sure to be one of the best, so get your tickets while they’re still available.
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