With fans rushing to secure their NFL game tickets for the season, we take a look at some of the biggest and most ferocious rivalries in the league!
The Top NFL Rivalries of All Time
The Oldest Rivalry: Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears
The animosity between Packers and Bears fans dates to 1921, when the Chicago Staleys (a name that would change just 1 year later) crushed Green Bay 20-0 in their first meeting. Adding injury to insult, Packers player Howard Buck had his nose broken during the game by Chicago’s Tarzan Taylor. Since then, the teams have faced each other more than 200 times. The Packers lead the NFL’s most-played rivalry with 105 wins and are currently enjoying an 8-game victory streak against the Bears. Check the schedule to see when these titans of the NFC North will meet next.
NFC East Showdown: Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Commanders
Cowboys-Commanders is frequently cited as one of the biggest and best rivalries in the NFL – and in all American sports. The teams have shared a division since 1961 and currently compete for the NFC East each season. Dallas leads the 126-game series with 76 wins and recently recorded the biggest margin of victory in the rivalry’s history, defeating the Commanders 56-14 in 2021. Visit the schedule for details of the next meetings between these teams.
Physical Battle: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens
Since the Baltimore Ravens franchise was established in 1996, the team has faced the Steelers at least twice a year, every year. Both Baltimore and Pittsburgh are known for fielding tough, hard-hitting lineups, and this is one of the NFL’s most intense rivalries. The Steelers lead the series but not by much, with 33 wins to the Ravens’ 25. Check out the schedule to find upcoming games between these fiercely competitive AFC North giants.
AFC East Grudge Match: New England Patriots vs. New York Jets
The New York-Boston rivalry has found many expressions in sports, with Patriots-Jets inspiring some of the most passionate feeling. These northeastern teams have met at least 2 times each season since 1960. The Patriots lead the overall record with 73 wins to the Jets’ 54, and New York has not won this matchup since 2016. The Jets did enjoy dominant decades in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1990s, however, and Jets fans will be desperate for a long-awaited victory against their big rivals. See the rivalry schedule to find out when the teams will play each other next.
Modern Rivalries in the NFL
Los Angeles Rams vs. San Francisco 49ers
This California contest began in 1950 and quickly became one of the NFL’s biggest rivalries. In 1995, the Rams were relocated from the City of Angels to St. Louis, but fans’ passion for the Rams-49ers rivalry persisted despite the teams no longer sharing a state. Los Angeles welcomed the Rams back home in 2016, and the renewed geographical closeness brought extra fire to this 70-year-old conflict. The 49ers lead the series with 77 wins. Visit the schedule to see when the Rams will face their northerly rivals again.
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos
The Chiefs first met the Broncos when the American Football League was set up in 1960. Since the AFL-NFL merger, the teams have both been members of the AFC West, and they have faced each other 126 times in total. The 21st century has seen strong periods for both Kansas City and Denver, and no other team won the AFC West in the 2010s. The Chiefs have the lead in the all-time series with 71 wins to the Broncos’ 55. Check the schedule for the next meeting in this big NFL rivalry.
New England Patriots vs. Buffalo Bills
Another feisty rivalry based in the northeast, the 60-year-old battle between the Patriots and the Bills was, for a long time, one of the most competitive in the NFL. Tom Brady put an end to that. The Patriots led the series by just 3 wins at the end of the 1990s, but during Brady’s 2 decades in New England he beat the Bills 32 times and lost to them only 3 times. The Patriots now lead the record 77-49-1. View the schedule to see when Buffalo will play New England next.
The Legacy of NFL Rivalries
The significance of rivalries in shaping the league's identity
The NFL’s biggest rivalries have been crucial to the league’s longstanding popularity in the United States. More fans watch the NFL than any other sports league, and fierce contests between rival teams bring extra excitement to viewers. Recent changes to NFL scheduling have ensured that the final games of every season are held between intra-division rivals. With division placement a key factor in determining who will qualify for the playoffs, rivalries within divisions have become even more competitive.
Looking ahead to future rivalries
In recent years, the rivalry between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Cincinnati Bengals has become one of the best in the NFL. Although these teams have only met 33 times, their rivalry looks likely to dominate the AFC in coming seasons. The Bengals beat the Chiefs by 3 points in the AFC Championship in 2022. In the same game one year later, the Chiefs defeated the Bengals by an identical margin. Visit the rivalry schedule to see when the teams will meet each other again.
FAQs
How do NFL rivalries impact playoff scenarios?
The winners of each NFL division qualify automatically for the playoffs. The remaining spots are filled by the teams with the best divisional records. This makes intra-division games particularly meaningful, as each team tries to secure top spot in their group of 4. For this reason, many of the biggest NFL rivalries are between teams in the same divisions.
Can you provide examples of iconic moments in NFL rivalries?
Some legendary moments in NFL rivalries include:
- In 1990, a week before facing the Dallas Cowboys, head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles Buddy Ryan almost choked while eating a pork chop and was saved by his offensive coordinator. During the game, which came to be known as the “Porkchop Bowl”, Cowboys fans threw chops and fake meat products at Ryan and the rest of the Eagles bench.
- The Pittsburgh Steelers enjoy a longstanding rivalry with the Cleveland Browns. Although the fans’ temperatures rise for these exciting games, a 2009 matchup between the teams saw one of the coldest NFL games in history with a wind chill of –10 °F.
- In the Wild Card Round of the 2021/22 season, the Buffalo Bills beat the New England Patriots and played the first perfect offensive game by any NFL team in the process. The Bills scored a touchdown on every drive over the whole game, without any punts, kicks, or turnovers.
What is the significance of geography in NFL rivalries?
Geography is important for sporting rivalries, as teams aim to secure bragging rights in their local region. Although NFL teams are spread out across the country and can even occasionally change locations, rivalries are often based on geographical closeness. The rivalry between the New York Jets and the New England Patriots, for example, is part of a wider New York-Boston rivalry that extends beyond sports.
How do NFL teams prepare for rivalry games?
NFL teams prepare intensely for all games, but rivalry matchups always bring an extra enthusiasm. Players have been known to “smack talk” rival teams in the build-up to big games. Fans are especially excited to face their rivals, which can make stadium atmosphere even livelier than usual. Experienced NFL players can help their teammates prepare mentally for these feisty meetings.
How do NFL rivalries enhance the fan experience?
NFL rivalries make the fan experience particularly enjoyable, as both players and fans have an extra incentive to win when they face their rivals. Chants are louder, cheers more joyful, coaches more fired up. When the quality of play is similar between teams, these games can feel especially tense and competitive, making the viewing experience even more dramatic than usual.