Rivalries are the heartbeat of the NFL. They bring out the best (and sometimes the worst) in players, coaches, and fans alike. Whether born from decades of history, bitter playoff battles, or simple geographic pride, these rivalries define the very spirit of football. In this article, I rank the 10 greatest rivalries in NFL history, starting at 10 and ending at the very best.
10. Washington vs. Dallas
All-Time Record: Cowboys 79 – Washington – 49 – Ties 2
The rivalry between the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Commanders (formerly Redskins) is one of the oldest and most bitter in the NFC East. Fueled by history, pride, and decades of dramatic moments, this matchup has delivered some of the NFL’s most heated battles.
The 1970s were defined by two coaching titans: Tom Landry in Dallas and George Allen in Washington. Their clash reached its peak in the 1972 NFC Championship, when Washington blew out Dallas 26-3 on New Year’s Eve, ending the Cowboys’ dream of a repeat title.
The feud even spilled off the field. In 1961, a group of Cowboys fans known as the “Cowboy Chicken Club” tried to smuggle dozens of chickens into D.C. Stadium as a halftime protest against Washington’s segregationist hiring policies. While that stunt was stopped, the pranks escalated the following year when a live turkey was planted in owner George Preston Marshall’s hotel room and costumed fans disrupted the National Anthem by throwing eggs and releasing a live chicken on the field. It was chaos, exactly the kind this rivalry thrives on.
Over the years, Dallas and Washington have battled for division titles, playoff spots, and pride. Wild moments include a last-second playoff berth clincher, and even a strange 2015 power surge that knocked out the scoreboard after the final whistle.
Whether it’s a playoff-deciding clash or a midseason grudge match, every Cowboys-Commanders game carries history, hatred, and just enough unpredictability to steal the show.
9. Chiefs vs. Raiders
All-Time Record: Chiefs 75 – Raiders 55 – Ties 2
Few rivalries in football history capture the spirit of the old-school AFC like the Chiefs and Raiders. Born in the fire of the 1960s AFL, this matchup has always been about more than just football: it’s a grudge match built on hatred, pride, and sheer physicality. Kansas City brought class and consistency. Oakland brought chaos and intimidation. And together, they built a rivalry that’s spanned generations.
The drama stretches across eras:
– Wild AFL playoff battles.
– The infamous 1971 game that ended in a 7-7 tie after a bench-clearing brawl between Ben Davidson and Otis Taylor.
– Joe Montana’s late-career Monday Night Football comeback win in a Chiefs uniform.
– Even recent matchups haven’t lost their flair. In 2024, a fumbled snap in the final minute swung victory to Kansas City, leaving Raiders fans in disbelief once again.
The arrival of Patrick Mahomes has shifted the balance firmly in the Chiefs’ favor, but the bitterness hasn’t faded.
8. Falcons vs. Saints
All-Time Record: Falcons 56 – Saints 56
This rivalry is as close as it gets. As of 2025, the Falcons and Saints are deadlocked at 56 wins apiece, a stat that says it all. Every meeting feels like a battle for supremacy in the South, where pride hits harder than any blitz. It’s Georgia vs. Louisiana. Dirty Birds vs. Who Dat.
Atlanta built an early lead, dominating the series into the 2000s. But once Sean Payton and Drew Brees arrived in New Orleans, the tide shifted. The Saints stormed back, turning what was once a lopsided matchup into a tense, back-and-forth war.
The games themselves are often chaos:
– The “Big Ben Right” miracle in 1978 saw Steve Bartkowski throw a Hail Mary for the win.
– In 1991, Michael Haynes broke loose for a 61-yard playoff-clinching score.
– Even Morten Andersen, one of the league’s most respected kickers, wasn’t spared and Saints fans booed him mercilessly after he signed with Atlanta.
Games are emotional, intense, and unpredictable. The insults are creative, the tension is real, and while fists haven’t flown yet, beads, boos, and broken hearts have. It may not get the national spotlight, but make no mistake: Falcons vs. Saints is one of the NFL’s most underrated rivalries.
7. Patriots vs. Colts
All-Time Record: Patriots 53 – Colts 32
In the 2000s, few matchups captivated NFL fans like Patriots vs. Colts.
At the center of it all? Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning. Two of the greatest quarterbacks ever, with six MVPs between them, trading blows in some of the most intense matchups the league has seen. On the sidelines, Bill Belichick and Tony Dungy played chess while their teams played war. Add in a little extra drama like Josh McDaniels famously bailing on the Colts’ head coaching job in 2018 and this rivalry had everything.
Early on, Brady owned the stage. He won his first six matchups against Manning, including the brutal 41-0 “Snow Bowl” beatdown in the 2004 playoffs. But Manning wasn’t done. In 2006, he led the Colts back from an 18-point hole to win the AFC Championship in a 38-34 thriller, one of the greatest comebacks in postseason history.
The fireworks never stopped. Whether it was a back-and-forth shootout or a controversial call, every game came with high stakes and highlight-reel moments. And then there’s the unforgettable “Colts Catastrophe” in 2015, a failed trick play that lives on as one of the worst calls ever.
This matchup is so memorable that CBS named it the top rivalry of the 2000s, and it’s hard to argue with that. Brady vs. Manning, Legend vs. Legend.
6. Giants vs. Eagles
All-Time Record: Eagles 96 – Giants 89 – Ties 2
Few rivalries are as bitter (or as personal) as Giants vs. Eagles. Separated by just 90 miles, these two franchises have spent nearly a century trading punches on the field and insults off it.
One of the most famous games happened in 2010, called the “Miracle at the New Meadowlands.”:
With the Giants up 31-10 late in the 4th quarter, Philly mounted a jaw-dropping comeback, scoring four touchdowns in under seven minutes. The final blow came on a punt return by DeSean Jackson as time expired, stunning New York and launching the Eagles into the playoffs.
But the rivalry doesn’t stop off the field. Eagles fans light “Big Blue” candles just to troll their neighbors, while Giants fans mock the “Curse of Billy Penn” and Philly’s tortured baseball history. Every time these teams play, it’s a big deal: not just for football, but for bragging rights between two proud cities.
5. Raiders vs. Steelers
All-Time Record: Raiders 17 – Steelers 16
In the 1970s, no rivalry was nastier than Raiders vs. Steelers. This was practically a full-blown war in cleats. Between 1972 and 1976, the Raiders and Steelers met five straight years in the playoffs, trading blows in what became one of the most physical, bitter rivalries in NFL history.
The games were brutal, and so were the words:
– After a string of violent hits, Steelers coach Chuck Noll famously called Raiders DB George Atkinson “the criminal element” of the NFL, prompting a defamation lawsuit.
– One of the wildest moments came in 1971, in a game that ended in a 7-7 tie. On a crucial 4th down, a brawl between Ben Davidson and Otis Taylor led to offsetting penalties, wiping out a Pittsburgh first down and forcing a Raiders field goal to tie the game. The benches cleared, fists flew, and tensions only grew.
Though they haven’t met as frequently in recent decades, the rivalry still lives on. The all-time series remains razor close, but what makes this rivalry unforgettable isn’t just the score, it’s the attitude. These are two old-school franchises with loyal, fiery fanbases who never forget. The black and gold vs. the silver and black will always mean more than just another game on the schedule. It’s a throwback to an era where every hit came with a message, and every loss left a scar.
4. Cowboys vs. Eagles
All-Time Record: Cowboys 74 – Eagles 58
Few rivalries capture the chaos of the NFC East quite like Cowboys vs. Eagles. Dallas embraces its label as “America’s Team,” while Philadelphia wears its ‘outsider’ status with pride. Though the Cowboys lead the all-time series with 74 wins in 132 meetings, the gap has narrowed in recent decades.
However, some of the rivalry’s wildest chapters came in the late ’80s:
– In 1989, the so-called “Bounty Bowl” became national news when Eagles coach Buddy Ryan was accused of putting bounties on Cowboys players.
– The following game in Philadelphia saw fans bombard the Dallas sideline with snowballs, ice, and beer, forcing the NFL to take rare action to clear the sidelines midgame.
– On the field, the talent has been just as fierce. Legends like Reggie White and Brian Dawkins brought defensive fire for Philly, while Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin, and Emmitt Smith defined Dallas dominance in the ’90s.
Even in down years, the emotion never fades. Whether it’s a Thanksgiving Day showdown, a prime-time playoff decider, or a late-season grudge match with playoff implications, this rivalry always delivers. And no matter the record, it always feels personal.
3. Steelers vs. Ravens
All-Time Record: Steelers 36 – Ravens 27
There may be older rivalries, but few match the sheer intensity of Steelers vs. Ravens. Since Baltimore joined the league in 1996, this AFC North clash has grown into one of the NFL’s most hard-hitting, emotionally charged matchups.
Both teams are built on toughness. The Steelers carry the legacy of the Steel Curtain, while Baltimore proudly follows in the footsteps of Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, and the 2000 defense that won it all.
Some of the league’s most memorable clashes have come from this rivalry:
– In 2008, with a Super Bowl appearance on the line, Troy Polamalu’s pick-six of Joe Flacco sealed the AFC Championship for Pittsburgh.
– In Week 14 of 2017, the Steelers edged the Ravens 39-38 in a shootout rarely seen between these two, with lead changes, clutch throws, and a wild finish.
– Their 2010 playoff duel saw the Steelers erase a 21-7 deficit with a second-half comeback, again eliminating Baltimore from the postseason.
The sideline tension runs just as deep. Coaches Mike Tomlin and John Harbaugh have shared fiery postgame moments. In an NFL era dominated by high-flying offenses, Steelers-Ravens is a throwback. It’s tough. It’s personal. And it never disappoints.
2. Cowboys vs. 49ers
All-Time Record: 49ers 21 – Cowboys 19 – Ties 1
When the Cowboys and 49ers meet, the stakes are usually sky-high. This is a rivalry defined not by geography, but by legacy: Two of the NFL’s most iconic franchises colliding on football’s biggest stages. Between them, they’ve won 10 Super Bowls (five each) and shaped entire eras of the league. From the 1970s through the 2010s, Dallas and San Francisco faced off 12 times in the playoffs, including multiple NFC Championship games where the winner often went on to hoist the Lombardi Trophy.
Quarterback duels have defined this rivalry:
– Joe Montana leading San Francisco to four NFC titles in the ’80s
– Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, and Michael Irvin powering the Cowboys’ dynasty in the ’90s
– And in the 2020s, new names like Dak Prescott and Brock Purdy renewing the rivalry.
Of course, it’s impossible to talk about this matchup without mentioning “The Catch”, Dwight Clark’s leaping grab from Montana in the 1981 NFC title game: One of the most iconic plays in NFL history. That moment ignited a new chapter for the Niners while sending the Cowboys home in heartbreak.
These games often come down to one mistake, one highlight, or one controversial call. And because the teams are so closely matched in history, talent, and ambition, every meeting feels like a heavyweight bout with championship energy.
1. Packers vs. Bears
All-Time Record: Packers 108 – Bears 96 – Ties 6
The oldest rivalry in NFL history, and still the most intense.
This rivalry has everything:
– Hall of Fame legends: From Curly Lambeau, Bart Starr, and Brett Favre to Dick Butkus, Walter Payton, and Mike Singletary.
– Trash talk and drama: Just ask Aaron Rodgers, who once famously declared at Soldier Field, “I still own you.” (he wasn’t wrong).
– Absurd moments: Like in 1936, when a Packers fan ran on the field and sucker-punched a Bears lineman after a series of rough hits. Or the infamous 1989 “Instant Replay Game,” when a last-second Packers touchdown was ruled good after a video review, snapping a 5-year losing streak and fueling Bears fans’ hatred of replay for years.
Chicago dominated early with legends like Red Grange and Dick Butkus, but Green Bay has been feasting since 1992. From Favre to Rodgers, and now Jordan Love, the Packers rattled off an 11-game win streak from 2019 to 2024. (Bears fans finally caught a break on January 1st, 2025, their lone win in that span. A New Year’s miracle).
What makes this rivalry so great isn’t just the games, it’s the cultural clash. You’ve got Wisconsin cheese curds vs. Chicago deep-dish. Lambeau Leaps vs. whatever Chicago’s doing these days. And if you ever forget how deep it runs, just walk into either city wearing the wrong jersey. You’ll find out real fast.
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