With hundreds of games in each NFL season, even the most dedicated fan would struggle to remember them all. This guide looks at how teams are matched up and takes you through some of the best NFL seasons and best NFL games of all time.
- Importance and Popularity of NFL Matchups
- Key Factors in Analyzing NFL Matchups
- Memorable NFL Matchups in History
- FAQs
Importance and Popularity of NFL Matchups
Regular-Season Matchups
During the NFL regular season, each team plays 17 games against 14 different opponents. These opponents include 3 teams from the same division, 6 teams from different divisions in the same conference, and 5 teams from divisions in the other conference. NFL scheduling is arranged so that each team will play every other team at least once every 4 years.
Divisional Rivalries: Clash of Pride and Legacy
Divisional rivals are the only opponents a team will face twice a year, every year. This frequency of meetings means that many of the fiercest rivalries in the NFL are between teams who share a division. Winning your division also guarantees a place in the NFL playoffs, which is a huge incentive for teams with big ambitions.
Primetime Matchups: Lights, Cameras, and National Attention
NFL games draw huge TV audiences as well as massive crowds within the stadium. Broadcasters work closely with league officials to finalise each season’s schedule, ensuring that every team gets a similar number of primetime TV slots. Certain weeks in the calendar are also designated flexible scheduling weeks, allowing the league to choose the most highly anticipated NFL games for the primetime spots.
Key Factors in Analyzing NFL Matchups
Offense vs. Defense: The Battle for Dominance
Games can be won on offense or on defense, and teams are often stronger in one or other of these key aspects of the sport. American football is unusual for team sports because the offensive and defensive players are typically entirely separate, with each player highly specialised for their individual position. NFL coaches study each opponent closely, devising plans for their offense and defense to counter the specific threats of their counterparts.
Defense: The Art of Stopping the Opposition
Defenses are relied upon to stop the threat of the opponent’s offense, and defensive players have clearly defined roles. Defensive linemen (or rushers) line up on the line of scrimmage, with the role incorporating both defensive tackles and defensive ends. Linebackers play behind this line, positioned to rush the passer and cover the receivers. Defensive backs are the final group, comprising cornerbacks and safeties. These players defend against passing plays while also serving as the last line of defense against running plays.
Memorable NFL Matchups in History
Super Bowl Matchups
Some of the most memorable Super Bowl matchups include:
- Super Bowl LI (New England Patriots 34, Atlanta Falcons 28, 2017) – the Falcons came out storming, taking a 21-0 lead and looking set to claim Atlanta’s first ever NFL championship. Tom Brady’s Patriots did not let that happen, scoring 31 straight points to stage the biggest comeback in Super Bowl history. This is also the only Super Bowl to be decided in overtime
- Super Bowl XLII (New York Giants 17, New England Patriots 14, 2008) – going into this game, the Patriots were on course for the second ever undefeated season in the NFL and their 4th Super Bowl title in 7 years. The Giants had no expectations but defied the odds, beating Brady’s juggernaut of a team with a miraculous pass from Eli Manning that David Tyree managed to catch against his helmet in the final minutes
- Super Bowl III (New York Jets 16, Baltimore Colts 7, 1969) – the first game to carry the name “Super Bowl” and the third after the merger of the NFL and AFL, this contest put the championship game on the map as an unmissable sporting event. Joe Namath led the Jets to victory despite the AFL being widely considered an inferior conference, and lived up to his promise a few days made before the Super Bowl: “We’re gonna win the game. I guarantee it.”
Classic Rivalries and Nail-Biting Finishes
Close games are always more intense for both players and fans. Some exciting football clashes that have gone down to the wire include:
- “The Immaculate Reception” – on 23 December 1972, the Pittsburgh Steelers were trailing the Oakland Raiders 7-6 with 22 seconds left to play. Steelers QB Terry Bradshaw threw a pass that bounced off Raiders safety Jack Tatum, but Steelers fullback Franco Harris caught the ball in the air and ran for a touchdown. Harris secured the AFC divisional title for his team and took the Steelers to the next round of the playoffs
- “The Catch” – the 1981 NFC Championship Game saw the Dallas Cowboys meet the San Francisco 49ers. The Cowboys were up with 58 seconds remaining, but 49ers QB Joe Montana had engineered a powerful late drive, and Dwight Clark leapt into the air to catch a touchdown pass and tie the score. Kicker Ray Wersching claimed the extra point and San Francisco won the game
- “13 Seconds” – Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes are 2 of the great modern quarterbacks, and both put on a show in the 2021 meeting of the Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs. In the final 2 minutes of regulation time, the teams scored a combined 25 points and the leader changed 4 times. The Chiefs eventually won in overtime with a final touchdown
Games that Defined Careers and Legacies
Some games are notable for all-round team excellence, but others are famous for extraordinary individual performances. Some of the greatest games by single players include:
- Ernie Nevers, Chicago Cardinals v Chicago Bears (1929) – Nevers set an NFL record that has still never been beaten, scoring all the Cardinals’ 40 points in a dominant 40-6 victory
- Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints v Minnesota Vikings (2020) – Kamara equalled another of Nevers’ records in this match, becoming the second ever player to record 6 rushing touchdowns in a single game
- Dan Marino, Miami Dolphins v Los Angeles Rams (1986) – Marino threw at least 400 passing yards in 13 different games, and against the Rams he threw for 403 yards and recorded 5 touchdowns
FAQs
What were the most-watched football telecasts in the United States?
Of the 30 most-watched US TV broadcasts of all time, 22 are Super Bowls. Some of the games that drew the biggest audiences include:
- Super Bowl XLIX – 114.4 million viewers (1 February 2015)
- Super Bowl LVI – 112.3 million viewers (13 February 2022)
- Super Bowl XLVIII – 112.2 million viewers (2 February 2014)
- Super Bowl 50 – 111.9 million viewers (7 February 2016)
How many viewers watched Super Bowl LVII?
Super Bowl LVII broke records as the most-watched TV broadcast of a Super Bowl ever. On 12 February 2023, 115.1 million viewers in the United States tuned in to watch the Kansas City Chiefs defeat the Philadelphia Eagles. This beat the previous high of 114.4 million for Super Bowl XLIX in 2015, when the New England Patriots won against the Seattle Seahawks.
Which teams have a historic rivalry in the NFL?
The oldest rivalry in the NFL is Green Bay Packers vs Chicago Bears. These teams have faced each other over 200 times, and the Packers lead the series with 106 wins. Both clubs are among the oldest in the league, and their first meeting came all the way back in 1921. Together they have won more than 20 NFL championships.
Which teams will face each other in each division?
AFC East:
- Buffalo Bills
- Miami Dolphins
- New England Patriots
- New York Jets
AFC North:
- Baltimore Ravens
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Cleveland Browns
- Pittsburgh Steelers
AFC South:
- Houston Texans
- Indianapolis Colts
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Tennessee Titans
AFC West:
- Denver Broncos
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Los Angeles Chargers
NFC East:
- Dallas Cowboys
- New York Giants
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Washington Commanders
NFC North:
- Chicago Bears
- Detroit Lions
- Green Bay Packers
- Minnesota Vikings
NFC South:
- Atlanta Falcons
- Carolina Panthers
- New Orleans Saints
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
NFC West:
- Arizona Cardinals
- Los Angeles Rams
- San Francisco 49ers
- Seattle Seahawks