What are the biggest NFL rivalries in history?
To answer this question, you will find that the NFL includes some of the most intense sporting rivalries in the world.
Since its founding over a century ago, the National Football League (NFL) has progressed to become the most prestigious American football league on the planet and one of the best sports leagues in the world.
In the decades it took for the NFL to firmly establish its name among the top sports leagues, the league has recorded several historic events.
Some of these events include the league's expansion to its current size of 32 teams, including the merger between the National Football League and its rival, the American Football League.
This merger can be seen as the start of a good march for the NFL.
The merger led to the formation of the Super Bowl, which ranks as the most watched annual sporting event in the United States.
While all of this certainly popularized the NFL and made it a success, the NFL rivalries formed the basis of the NFL and AFL rival that made its way into the NFL teams, thus strengthening the influence of the league.
Like all other sports, rivalries between NFL teams have created a sense of anticipation among fans, who anxiously watch rival teams fight each season in the Super Bowl.
The most intense and greatest NFL rivalries of all time
10. Los Angeles Chargers vs. Denver Broncos
Global Series Leader: Broncos 68-52-1
Responsible for the playoff series: Broncos 1-0
Longest winning streak: Broncos, 7 years old (1975-1978)
From their stint in the American Football League (AFL), the Los Angeles Chargers built their momentum.
They became one of the best teams in the league and even won the AFL Championship in 1963.
Before the AFL-NFL merger, the Chargers reigned supreme over the Broncos.
However, following the merger, the Broncos began to generate momentum, particularly in the 1970s.
A momentous moment of the 1970s was the Broncos' campaign in 1977, where they won 11 of their 12 games as they made their way to their very first Super Bowl appearance.
However, during the 1980s and 1981 seasons, quarterbacks armed Chargers John Jefferson, Charlie Joyner, Dan Fouts and Kellen Winslow dominated the Broncos, as they have appeared in successive AFC title games.
The arrival of John Elway in 1983 ended the Charger's dominance.
In his 16 years with the Chargers, the Broncos have scored 22 victories while tasting defeat for the Chargers 10 times.
In 2006, when Philip Rivers became the Charger's starting quarterback, the Broncos' dominance ended.
Between 2006 and 2011, the two teams met 11 times, with the Chargers winning nine.
In the 2012 offseason, a new hero for the Broncos emerged, in the person of Peyton Manning, who led the Broncos to 8 wins in 9 games against the Chargers.
The rivalry is one of the most intense and entertaining.
It will surely get even more exciting as a new set of established players are set to play for both teams.
9. Atlanta Falcons vs. New Orleans Saints
Global Series Leader: Falcons 53-49
Longest winning streak: Falcons, 10 (1995–1999)
One of the lesser-noticed rivalries in the NFL, the rivalry between the Falcons and the Saints, had been intense since its debut in 1967.
Although the Falcons are ahead by a 10-game winning streak, the Saints have been trying to make a comeback since manager Sean Payton arrived on board in 2006.
The addition of Drew Brees to the Saints squad made the team a fierce competitor.
In the last five games between the two teams, Brees has emerged victorious four times.
While the Saints have dominated the Falcons lately, the Falcons haven't been entirely defenseless.
In 2016, as the Falcons made their way to the Super Bowl, the Saints were one of several teams they defeated along the way.
Although largely underestimated, this rivalry has seen a remarkable change in dominance since the duo of Drew Brees and Sean Payton helped the Saints record their most notable streak in history.
For future clashes, we can only remain hopeful that both sides will raise their sights on the pitch and catapult the rivalry into the national spotlight.
8. Buffalo Bills vs. Miami Dolphins
Global Series Leader: Dolphins 61-50-1
Responsible for the playoff series: Bills, 3-1
Longest winning streak: Dolphins, 20 years old (1970-1979)
It's one of the biggest NFL rivalries in history, dating back to the American Football League.
After the merger, the Buffalo Bills beat the Dolphins five times of their eight matches.
However, with the arrival of Don Shula, known as the winningest coach in NFL history, the Dolphins dominated the rivalry.
Between 1970 and 1979, the Dolphins won every game of their game against the Bills.
The Miami Dolphins haven't only dominated the rivalry during this time; they won three AFC championships and won two Super Bowl titles.
However, the Dolphin's dominance ended in the late 1980s.
It was then that coach Marc Levy teamed up with talents Andre Reed, Jim Kelly, Bruce Smith and Thurman Thomas.
Between 1987 and 1995, the two teams met 21 times, with the Bills dominating with 17 wins.
During the Bills' dominance in the late 1980s and early 1990s, they won four AFC championships.
They also kept the Dolphins from reaching the Super Bowl.
The rivalry between the two sides has been somewhat balanced in the 21st century, with the two sides exchanging victories.
Since 2000, the two teams have met 40 times, with the Bills dominating with a 22-18 victory.
7. San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Rams
Global Series Leader: 49ers, 71-67-3
Responsible for the playoff series: 49ers, 1-0
Longest winning wtreak: 49ers, 17 years old (1990-1999)
The rivalry between the two teams appeared to subside after the Rams moved from Los Angeles to St. Louis.
However, the rivalry appears to be gaining national attention since the Rams returned to Los Angeles in 2016.
The Los Angeles Rams have been in good shape lately.
The franchise has won the NFC title and two division championships.
The San Francisco 49ers have also been in terrific form.
They beat the Los Angeles Rams in 2019 to become the NFC Champion.
Both teams have been one of the best in the NFL in recent years.
In the early years of rivalry, particularly in the 1960s, the 49ers, armed with the "Fearsome Foursome," traded victories with the Rams.
From the 1960s, the Rams began to dominate rivalries.
The Rams have beaten the 49ers 23 of the 27 times they met between 1967 and 1980.
The height of their domination was between 1973 and 1980, when they won eight successive AFC titles and qualified for the Super Bowl.
They put on an impressive performance, despite losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The 1980s saw a change in the rivalry, as Bill Walsh coached the 49ers to become one of the best in league history.
Armed with talented stars like Joe Montana, Roger Craig, Jerry Rice and Ronnie Lott, the team has won four Super Bowl titles in nine years.
During that time, the 49ers were outscoring 13-8 in their game against the Rams.
The dominance of the San Francisco 49ers entered the 1990s.
They had 17 successive victories over the Rams and won the Super Bowl in 1994.
However, that domination ceased in 1999, with the two teams holding no distinct superiority.
6. New York Jets vs. New England Patriots
Global Series Leader: Patriots, 67-54-1
Responsible for the playoff series: Patriots, 2-1
Longest winning streak: Jets, 9 years old (1966-1970)
Since the two teams joined the expanding AFL franchises in 1960, the Patriots and Jets have closed their doors every year.
In the early years of the rivalry, the Patriots proved to be the better side.
But between 1966-1975, they had a record 17 wins and a draw in 20 encounters against the Patriots.
During this period, the most memorable season remains the 1968 season.
An unstoppable Jets beat the Boston Patriots before defeating the Baltimore Colts to become Super Bowl III champion.
However, with the addition of cornerback Mike Haynes and linebacker John Hannah to the Patriots team in the 1970s, the team began to dominate the rivalry.
Between 1976 and 1980, the Patriots beat the Next eight times in ten games.
The 1980s saw the two teams exchange victories, with no apparent dominant team.
This remained the case until billionaire owner Robert Kraft took over the Patriots franchise in 1993.
In fact, it marked the dawn of the Patriots' dominance in the NFL.
Since Robert Kraft took over ownership of the franchise, the Patriots hold a 38-18 record on the Jets.
Coach Bill Bellichick, the man often considered the genius behind the franchise's success, suffered three straight losses after taking over the team in 2000.
Still, he continued to set a solid 31-11 record.
The Patriots have dominated the rivalry and the NFL in recent years.
However, the Jets managed to add bad blood to the rivalry - by knocking it off the field.
In 2010, the Patriots suffered a surprising loss in the 2010 playoffs to the Jets.
In addition, the controversy surrounding Bill Bellichick's move from the Jets to the Patriots has also intensified the rivalry.
Global Series Leader: Giants, 103-69-4
Responsible for the playoff series: Even at 1-1
Longest winning streak: Redskins, 11 (1971-1976)
The rivalry between the two teams is one of the oldest rivalries in NFL history.
It dates back to years before WWII, specifically 1932.
In 1943, the two teams met in the playoffs for the very first time.
The Washington football team, led by esteemed Hall of Fame quarterback Sammy Baugh, emerged victorious before falling to the Chicago Bears in the NFL championship.
The victory was just one of the few the Washington football team has recorded this decade.
But the Giants dominated the rivalry.
Between 1949 and 1964, the Giants beat the Washington football team 25 times in 31 encounters, with just five losses and one draw.
During that time, the Giants won their fourth NFL title to become one of the best teams in the league.
In 1971, the ...
