Huddle In for the Biggest NFL Rivalries
The NFL has a long history of fierce rivalries, as teams compete in one of the most hard-hitting and competitive sports in the world. The game has drastically changed since its creation in 1920, but with more than 100 years of competing, cities, teams, and fans continue to form and maintain new and old rivalries.
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys
The Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys is a historic rivalry dating back to 1961 when they were put in the same division. Being in the same division and playing at least two games against each other per season has led to some heated confrontations. The Cowboys dominated the Eagles in the 1960s and 1970s, winning 11 straight games from 1967–1972 and another nine straight from 1974–1978.
In the late 1980s, Eagles head coach Buddy Ryan was rumored to have put a bounty on Cowboys’ star quarterback Troy Aikman and kicker Luis Zendejas. The next few decades saw each team spawn new NFL stars, including Terrell Owens (T.O.), Donovan McNabb, and Tony Romo. After a 2017 Eagles Super Bowl win, 2018 started off with a pre-game brawl between the two teams.
Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers rivalry began with the introduction of the Ravens to the league in 1996. Since then, the Ravens and Steelers have been some of the biggest rivals in the NFL. Located within 300 miles of each other, both teams are composed of diehard fans that would do anything for their teams. The Ravens and Steelers were even through the 2000s, with a 6-6 record between 2002 and 2007. The 2008 AFC Championship game, won by the Steelers, continued to fuel the rivalry between the two teams. The year 2016 brought an Antonio Brown touchdown catch with four seconds left on the clock to seal a victory and divisional title for the Steelers over the Ravens.
Please note that Huddlecourt and its content providers may receive compensation for some links to products and services featured on this website. Rest assured that we have handpicked these products to provide you with the best options available.
Dallas Cowboys vs. San Francisco 49ers
Having met in the playoffs numerous times, the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers have one of the biggest rivalries that dates back to the 1960s. The two teams have met nine times in the playoffs, with the Cowboys up 5-4. The Cowboys got numerous victories over the 49ers in the 1970s with playoff wins in 1970, 1971, and 1972. The 49ers then won the 1981 NFC Championship game with Dwight Clark’s game-winning touchdown on a pass from Joe Montana — historically known as “The Catch.” The two teams also met in three consecutive NFC Championship games in 1992, 1993, and 1994. A recent San Francisco win in the 2023 Divisional Round put the 49ers on top of the rivalry for the time being.
Washington Commanders vs. Philadelphia Eagles
The Washington Commanders vs. the Philadelphia Eagles is one of the oldest rivalries in the NFL. Starting with their first game in 1934, the Commanders and Eagles have played each other more than 175 times. The notorious and controversial 1990 “Body Bag Game” left the Eagles injuring nine Commanders players. The teams are located within 200 miles of each other, and have played against one another for almost 90 years.
New York Giants vs. Dallas Cowboys
The New York Giants vs. Dallas Cowboys rivalry stems from both teams being in the NFC East Division. Since 1960, these two teams have played against each other more than 120 times. The Cowboys lead the rivalry — which is fueled by both teams competing in two annual high-stakes divisional games — with a record of 73-47-2.
New Orleans Saints vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The New Orleans Saints vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers rivalry started when the Buccaneers ended their abysmal 0-26 start in the league when they defeated the Saints in 1977. Now both part of the NFC South Division, the Saints and Buccaneers face off in two games each season. Their rivalry continues to be stoked, especially since Tom Brady led the Buccaneers to defeat Drew Brees and the Saints in their only playoff matchup ever in the 2020–2021 NFC Divisional round.
Seattle Seahawks vs. Arizona Cardinals
Having played each other more than 45 times, the Seattle Seahawks and the Arizona Cardinals are strong rivals. Both in the NFC West Division, the Cardinals’ and Seahawks’ continuous battle for divisional dominance fuels the rivalry. With a 25-22-1 record favoring the Seahawks, the rivalry has been as strong as ever. Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray has brought a resurgence to the Cardinals; in 2021, he led the Cardinals to their first playoff game since 2015.
Atlanta Falcons vs. New Orleans Saints
With both teams in the NFC South Division, the Atlanta Falcons’ and New Orleans Saints’ rivalry is as hot as ever. The Falcons and Saints have incredibly loyal fans, and these two teams constantly fight for regional and divisional bragging rights. As of their game on December 18, 2022, the total record between these rivals is tied at 54-54. The rivalry is apparent whenever these two teams play, as Saints fans’ chants of “who dat?” are commonly answered with “dirty birds” by Falcons Fans.
Arizona Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Rams
The historic rivalry of Arizona Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Rams dates back to 1937. Since then, the teams have a total record of 48-40-2 favoring the Rams. The rivalry recently heated up with a 2021 playoff win by the Rams. Both teams have been dominant against each other throughout their long rivalry. The Cardinals held an eight-game win streak over the Rams between 2006–2010, and the Rams retaliated with their own eight-game win streak over the Cardinals from 2017–2021.
Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Commanders
The Dallas Cowboys and Washington Commanders have one of the longest-standing rivalries in the NFL. Since 1961, both teams have played each other at least two times a year. Between 1960 and 2022 they have faced each other 126 times with a 76-48-2 record favoring the Cowboys. Surprisingly, the Cowboys and Commanders have only faced off in the playoffs two times: in 1972 and 1983, with both wins going to the Commanders.
Other NFL Rivalries
There are numerous other exciting NFL rivalries that add to the league’s drama. In the AFC and NFC, rivalries like Bengals vs. Ravens, Browns vs. Steelers, Bills vs. Chiefs, and many more keep fans on the edge of their seats. Each of these matchups has its own history, its moments of glory, and its heart-pounding clashes. These rivalries showcase the essence of NFL football, where competitiveness and passion reign supreme.
Ranking the NFL’s Top 5 Greatest Rivalries
There are plenty of notable rivalries across the league. Here are our rankings of the top five rivalries in NFL history.
The NFL is wildly popular no matter the matchup. If you’re here, you likely knew that already. Nonetheless, one fascinating data point to drive that home is the fact that a Thursday Night Football game between the 4-9 Los Angeles Rams and the 5-8 Las Vegas Raiders last December garnered a shade under 10 million viewers, per The Athletic.
Yes, many pigskin enthusiasts religiously tune into whatever football is available to them. Even when it’s Baker Mayfield and Derek Carr desperately clinging to starting jobs in a meaningless late-season ball game. But certain matchups definitely garner more attraction and anticipation. Sometimes it’s just due to the quality of the competitors. But in certain rivalry games, records go out the window altogether.
The Top 5 Rivalries in NFL History
That said, oftentimes, both teams involved are quite good. Many rivalries are born out of two heavyweights jockeying for position year after year. Sometimes, that leads to mutual respect. More often, it leads to widespread animosity. Once a rivalry is fully established, there tends to be a healthy mix of both. And those are the matchups we intend to highlight here today.
Rivalries of recent ilk that warranted brief consideration included the Cincinnati Bengals vs. the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers vs. the Los Angeles Rams. As fiercely as those matchups have been contested of late, however, they simply don’t have enough history behind them.
Honorable mentions include the Seattle Seahawks vs. the San Francisco 49ers as well as virtually every NFC East/AFC North pairing that didn’t quite make the cut.
In composing these rankings, we gave consideration to the length of the rivalry, the level of animosity between foes, and how evenly matched their contests traditionally are.
Please note that Huddlecourt and its content providers may receive compensation for some links to products and services featured on this website. Rest assured that we have handpicked these products to provide you with the best options available.
5. Dallas Cowboys vs. San Francisco 49ers
We kick off our rankings with a historic rivalry that has enjoyed something of a recent reboot. The Cowboys and 49ers regularly clashed for conference supremacy all throughout the 70s, 80s, and 90s. In fact, the two teams have squared off in nine different postseasons, including six times in the NFC Championship Game. On five of those occasions, the winner of their playoff bout would go on to win the Super Bowl.
Those postseason contests led to many fond (and some not-so-fond) memories for fans on both sides. Niners fans still reminisce about Joe Montana’s dart to Dwight Clark in the back of the end zone to win the 1981 NFC Championship, a reception commonly referred to as “The Catch.” Jimmy Johnson’s famed rallying cry of “How Bout Them Cowboys?” was born as a result of Dallas’ 1992 NFC Championship triumph over San Fran.
After a few years as playoff afterthoughts, both teams have become regular postseason attendees once more. And their proclivity to one another remains. San Fran and Dallas have squared off in the last two playoffs, with the Niners squeaking out one-score wins both times. San Fran’s pair of playoff victories actually knotted the all-time series up at 19-19-1.
More Football Content on Huddlecourt
Click here to read more and discover why the NFL is taking the football world by storm. Let the excitement begin!
4. Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cincinnati Bengals
The Steelers and Bengals have been divisional foes for over 50 years now. But due to the matchups being historically one-sided in Pittsburgh’s favor, the rivalry between the two ball clubs only really kicked into high gear during the last 20 or so years. It all started with a low hit from Pittsburgh defensive tackle Kimo von Oelhoffen.
Von Oelhoffen’s late hit on Cincinnati quarterback Carson Palmer in the 2005 AFC playoffs (whether intentional or not) led to a torn ACL/MCL for the promising young quarterback. It turned the tide in a game that Cincinnati players and fans felt was theirs to win and altered the team’s future trajectory as well. Not to mention it led to many unsavory accusations of von Oelhoffen’s character.
The rivalry stagnated for a time, with Pittsburgh regularly beating up on or breaking the hearts of otherwise formidable Bengals squads in the 2010s. But the animosity between the two sides ratcheted way up when Vontaze Burfict emerged as a menacing force in the middle of Cincinnati’s D.
The games became consistently brutal, dirty affairs. Le’Veon Bell, Antonio Brown, and Ryan Shazier all suffered career-altering injuries against Cincinnati. JuJu Smith-Schuster became a hero in Pittsburgh for decleating Burfict. Joey Porter (then a coach), Burfict, and Pacman Jones collaborated on one of the wildest endings in NFL playoff history. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
The violence has cooled down some in recent years, but there’s still no love lost between these two teams. See Ja’Marr Chase give Minkah Fitzpatrick the double bird for evidence of that.
Stream NFL Games on Fubo
Fubo TV offers a free trial, allowing fans without cable subscriptions to stream the NFL Network games live. It’s a convenient option to ensure you don’t miss any of the international action.
3. Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears
It’d be near criminal to omit the NFL’s oldest rivalry from a list such as this. In a similar vein, it can’t earn the top spot because of how lopsided it’s been of late. As Aaron Rodgers so astutely pointed out during a more-recent-than-it-probably-seems touchdown celebration, Green Bay has owned Chicago of late. In fact, Green Bay holds a jarring 48-19 head-to-head advantage over the Bears since the onset of the 90s.
That makes it all the more surprising to learn that Green Bay’s all-time edge in the series is a measly 10 games at 105-95-1. They had to dominate over three decades split between Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers to create any distance between themselves and the Monsters of the Midway.
Sure, recent Bears highlights are all, depressingly, Jay Cutler and Mitch Trubisky. But once upon a time, the Bears, buoyed by the likes of Walter Payton, William Perry, Richard Dent, Mike Singletary, etc., were a fearsome force in the NFL. They still get their day here, even if most readers don’t remember it firsthand.
2. Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys
Truthfully, this list could be comprised entirely of NFC East rivalries, and most football enthusiasts likely wouldn’t bat an eye. The “Beast” is perhaps the NFL’s most historic division, and there’s plenty of bad blood between the quartet of teams that call it home. But that only serves to illuminate what is perhaps the division’s most heated rivalry.
The Eagles and Cowboys have combined to win eight of the last 10 NFC East Championships — almost always with the other providing their fiercest competition. At this point, it’s surprising when the division doesn’t come down to a late-season game between the two.
They’re natural rivals. Philadelphia is, historically, a blue-collar, working man’s city. And their blueprint for winning often imitates that fact. The Birds rely on hard-running offense, stifling defense, and a chip-against-the-world mentality to notch victories. The glitzy, glamorous Cowboys, meanwhile, have the white-collared owner, the world-renowned cheerleaders, and, typically, a marketable star under center — as well as the star at midfield.
The Cowboys have the all-time edge at 73-55, fitting for the “kid who has everything” persona many attribute to Dallas. But the Eagles have proven plenty pesky for them over time. Whether it’s Eagles fans cheering a severe injury to Michael Irvin or Cowboys fans celebrating Dak Prescott crushing green hearts in overtime, there’s no love lost in this feud.
1. Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens
What Steelers/Ravens lacks in legacy, it more than makes up for in competitiveness. And violence. These two teams have been at each other’s necks virtually ever since the Ravens joined the NFL in 1996. They’ve amassed a combined 15 AFC North Championships since the division’s inception in 2002. And they’ve almost always had to go through one another to get there.
Urban legend has it that notorious Steelers tough guy Joey Porter sought out notorious Ravens tough guy Ray Lewis at Baltimore’s team bus after a 2003 contest, feeling disrespected after Lewis mocked his trademark sack celebration. There was bad blood before then, but this is the moment many refer to as the origin of this now-storied rivalry.
In the two decades since, there are unforgettable moments aplenty. There was Ravens linebacker Bart Scott leveling Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, as well as Haloti Ngata shifting the quarterback’s nose. Ravens fans likely fondly recall Torrey Smith’s late game-winner back in 2011.
On the Black and Gold side, Steelers fans won’t soon forget Ryan Clark’s collision with Willis McGahee or Troy Polamalu’s pick-six to clinch Pittsburgh’s ticket to Super Bowl 43. On the other side of the ball, Pittsburgh fans have a moment to cling to as well with Antonio Brown’s game-winning immaculate extension.
The Steelers have the all-time series advantage at 33-25. But there’s no more glaring case of “throw the records out the window” than in Baltimore vs. Pittsburgh. There hasn’t been a game decided by more than one possession since 2019. And that, above all else, is what makes it the NFL’s best rivalry.
Wrapping the NFL Rivalries Up
In the world of the NFL, rivalries are the lifeblood of the sport. The intense competition, historic moments, and the passion they evoke from fans make these matchups a spectacle to behold. Whether it’s the classic battles like the Packers vs. Bears, the heated confrontations between the Eagles and Cowboys, or the hard-hitting clashes between the Steelers and Ravens, these rivalries add depth and excitement to every NFL season.
So, which NFL rivalry is your favorite? Is it the storied history of the Cowboys vs. 49ers, the intense divisional battles between the Steelers and Bengals, or perhaps another classic showdown? No matter your preference, one thing is for sure – NFL rivalries will continue to captivate fans and shape the league for years to come.
