My Top Current NFL Rivalries

As an avid sports fan one word that I always hear while watching sporting events is the term "rivalry." What makes a game between two certain teams a rivalry? My answer... hatred, pure hatred. The fact that you hate the other team on the other side of the field/court is what differentiates "rivalry" games from other contests. Now I know a lot of people may say that my use of the word 'hate' is a bit over the top there, but if you are a sports fan dedicated to certain teams then you understand why I use the word when describing rivalry games. Just ask a Red Sox fan if they hate the Yankees or ask a die hard Alabama fan what they think of Auburn. Trust me I know exactly how they'll describe their animosity towards their most despised opponent.

With the football season quickly approaching I decided to shift my focus to some of the top rivalries in the National Football League. NFL fans are surely relieved that the lockout has finally come to an end and their favorite teams are working hard at training camp fine-tuning both sides of the ball and narrowing down their official rosters. This got me thinking the other day about which games of the NFL season I was most looking forward to and I immediately thought of the intense rivalries that will be renewed as soon as we hit Week 1. So here are my top current NFL rivalries with a analysis of each one.

Most Storied Rivalry
Green Bay Packers vs Chicago Bears

Analysis:  Arguably the top two teams in the NFC North, the Bears and Packers, have been playing since 1921 and easily considered one of the top rivalries in the league of all time. It is always a very competitive game when these two get together. They play what many consider to be real football, tough defense mixed with trying to run the ball down your throat and they do it in two of games coldest weather stadiums. There is nothing better than staying in your house all warm during christmas time and turning on the t.v. to watch these two football giants go at it in the white snow and sub-freezing temperatures. With names such as Brett Favre, Brian Urlacher and now Aaron Rodgers this is one of my favorite games to watch every season.
Edge:  Although the Bears lead 92-84-6 all time in the rivalry this is about who has the edge currently. Chicago last won a Super Bowl in 1985 and lost the 2006 Super Bowl to the Colts. They claimed division crown in '05, '06, and '10 and have very little to show for these efforts. The Packers on the other hand are coming off a Super Bowl winning season in 2010 and previously won it all in 1996 under the helm of Favre and then lsoing the 1997 Super Bowl the following year. They won the north division in '02, '03, '04, and '07 while being a wild card team last year en route to the title. My edge goes to the Green Bay Packers.

HOF QB vs HOF QB
New England Patriots vs Indianapolis Colts

Analysis:  How can this game not be fun? The top two QB's in the NFL today go at it once every year during the regualr season. Tom Brady and Peyton manning have helped make their teams 2 of the top 3 AFC teams this past decade, combining to win 6 AFC championships since 2001. Watching these two QB's go at it every year always makes for an exciting game. Knowing that every drive you're watching one of the best QB's of all-time lead his team just adds to the excitement. This rivalry has provided so many intense moments over the recent decade that it is always a highly anticipated contest.
Edge:  Let's look at how close this rivalry is. Since 2002 they have hooked up 11 times, 3 of which were in the playoffs, with the Patriots holding a 6-5 edge including a 2-1 playoff advantage.The Patriots also hold a close lead in total points scored in this rivalry since '02 with a 288-281 lead. For what seemed like forever Brady owned Manning in this rivalry, winning his first six games over him. Manning's big moment was a huge comeback win over the Patriots in the '06 AFC Championship and propelling him to his only Super Bowl. But with Brady having won 3 Super Bowls and having more success my edge goes to New England.

Most Underrated Rivalry
New Orleans Saints vs Atlanta Falcons

Analysis:  In my opinion the Saints-Falcons rivalry is far and away the most underrated rivalry in the NFL today. The rest of the NFL has let this game go by the waist side for so many years due to lack of historical success by the two teams. But, recently they have been two of the top teams in the NFC. As a Saints fan I have been able to see this rivalry first hand and trust me when I say that these two teams "hate" each other. Fans despise each other because currently each feels that they are the true franchise of "The Deep South." Just last year, during a great regular season run by Atlanta, their city council declared Dec. 27 as "Atlanta Falcons Day" which was also the day they hosted the Saints on MNF and inevitably lost.
Edge:  The Falcons hold a head-to-head lead of 45-39 over the Saints currently. They have met only once in the postseason with Atlanta emerging victorious. Atlanta has been to one Super Bowl back in 1998 losing to Denver. They have been crowned division champions 3 times since their super bowl run including '98, '04, and '10. The Saints have also been to one Super Bowl recently in 2009 defeating the Colts. They also reached to NFC Championship in '06 losing to Chicago. They were divisions champions in '00, '06 and '09. Since '00 the Saints hold a 14-8 edge coupled with a 4-1 adantage on primetime MNF and along with a Super Bowl Championship my edge goes to New Orleans.

Most Heated Rivalry
Baltimore Ravens vs Pittsburgh Steelers

Analysis:  If you consider yourself a football fan at all then you know what I mean by the "most heated" rivalry game. It seems like every other day we see on ESPN where a plyer from either team is talking trash about the other. I think what makes this rivalry the most heated and the best rivialry in the league is the fact that both teams set their main focus on the defensive side of the ball. Both pride themselves on having tough, hard-nosed defenses that like to hit people...hard. With players such as Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, James Harrison and Lamar Woodley they have earned their reputations as the best defenses around. There isn't much better than watching them battle in the freezing cold (even though they play Week 1 of upcoming season) and seeing one win by a field foal just about every game.
Edge:  In the 2000s the Steelers hold a 15-10 advantage including 3-0 in the playoffs. Pittsburgh has won the division 6 of the last 10 years and also winning 2 Super Bowls during that stretch. They also lost last years title game to Green Bay. The Ravens last won the division in '06 and also in '03. In addition to that they were crowned Super Bowl champions back in 2000. But, after watching so many Ravens-Steelers games over the years it seems that the Steelers always hold the upper hand because they always seem to win the big matchup when it matters. My edge goes to Pittsburgh.


I hope you guys enjoyed my first ever blog post. I'm new to this and hope to progress with my writing and content as well. Feel free to drop a comment off at any time with suggestions and possible topics you'd like me to cover. I'm open to just about anyhting. Thanks and be on the lookout for future posts.

Matthew Hall