The Top 10 NFL Rivalries
By Bob D'Angelo, Smack Zone Contributor
Another NFL regular season kicks off tonight, rekindling some longtime clashes that bear watching this season.
Pun intended. The Bears and Packers renew their feud Sunday at Soldier Field. So here’s a look at our top 10 NFL rivalries, past and present.
Chicago Bears vs. Green Bay Packers
The two teams first met November 27, 1921, when Chicago blanked the Packers 20-0. Chicago leads the series 93–91–6.
They have played each other twice in the postseason. A week after Pearl Harbor, the Bears won 33-14 in the 1941 semifinals to avenge their only loss of the season. The Packers prevailed 21-14 in the 2010 NFC title game to reach Super Bowl XLV.
This is a quirky series. Remember defensive lineman William “The Refrigerator” Perry scoring a touchdown for the Bears on “Monday Night Football” in 1985?
Then there was Green Bay kicker Chester Marcol in 1980, who tried a game-winning field goal attempt in overtime. The ball was blocked and bounced back to Marcol, who sprinted around the left side for the game-winning score in a 12-6 decision.
Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Redskins
This rivalry began before the Cowboys were a gleam in original owner Clint Murchison Jr.’s eye. Murchison nearly had a deal to buy the Redskins from owner George Preston Marshall for $600,000 in the late 1950s, but Marshall wrecked the deal by changing the contract terms.
Marshall also tried to block the formation of the Cowboys franchise when the NFL considered expanding to Dallas for the 1960 season.
Oh, yeah. There were some contentious games, too.
On Thanksgiving Day in 1974, Cowboys rookie quarterback Clint Longley replaced the injured Roger Staubach and threw two TD passes for an improbable 24-23 win.
In 1991, Washington was 11-0 until losing 24-21 to Dallas, but the Redskins still won the Super Bowl that year. In 1989, the Cowboys went 1-15. Their lone victory? A 13-3 win against Washington.
The Redskins reached their first two Super Bowls (after the 1972 and ’82 seasons) by defeating Dallas in the NFC Championship Game.
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Oakland Raiders
This rivalry no longer has the intensity it did when both teams were powerhouses in the old AFL in the 1960s. But boy, could these teams hit.
Kansas City has won two of three postseason games against the Raiders. The most significant one was the final AFL Championship Game in January 1970, when the Chiefs intercepted four passes and engineered a 17-7 upset that sent K.C. into Super Bowl IV.
What Chiefs quarterback threw for the most yards against the Raiders? Elvis Grbac, who passed for 504 yards at Oakland in 2000. It wasn’t enough: the Raiders won, 49-31.
Steelers vs. Ravens
This series defines toughness. Pittsburgh and Baltimore are AFC North rivals who have met four times in the postseason, with the Steelers winning three times. The Ravens finally broke through in January 2015, winning 30-17.
Intense? Steelers coach Mike Timlin was fined $100,000 in 2013 for interference on Jacoby Jones’ kickoff return that had touchdown written all over it. But the Ravens won 22-20, thwarting a Steelers’ two-point conversion in the final minute.
Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings
This series began in 1961 when the Vikings entered the league, but the rivalry heated up when former Packers quarterback Brett Favre joined Minnesota in 2009 — and beat Green Bay twice, including a four-touchdown torching in his return to Lambeau Field.
They have met in the playoffs twice. The Vikings stunned the Packers 31-17 in a wild-card game at Lambeau during the 2004 postseason. Randy Moss “shined,” scoring two touchdowns and giving Packers fans a pantomime mooning after his second TD grab in the fourth quarter put the game away.
The Packers won the other meeting 24-10 eight years later to the day in another wild-card game.
San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks
This is one of the NFL’s newer rivalries. Since the Seahawks joined the NFC West in 2002, Seattle has won 16 of 27 meetings.
The signature game was the 2013 NFC Championship Game, when Seattle held off San Francisco 23-17. The game ended when Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman tipped away a pass in the end zone. Sherman then blasted 49ers receiver Michael Crabtree in a memorable postgame TV interview.
New York Giants vs. Philadelphia Eagles
This rivalry began in 1933 and has featured big plays and miracle finishes.
There’s “The Hit,” when Chuck Bednarik leveled Frank Gifford with a crunching tackle that forced a fumble. The Eagles recovered, taking another step toward the 1960 NFL title. Gifford was knocked out of action for 18 months.
Then there was the “Miracle at the Meadowlands” in 1978, when quarterback Joe Pisarcik just needed to take a knee to run out the clock. The Giants led 17-12 with 31 seconds left when Pisarcik fumbled the snap. Herman Edwards picked up the loose ball and returned it for a touchdown, helping the Eagles earn a wild-card berth.
In 1988, the Eagles had forced overtime and had lined up for a game-winning field goal. Luis Zendejas’ kick was blocked, but he picked it up and lateraled to lineman Clyde Simmons, who scored a touchdown.
Dolphins vs. Jets
Miami and New York have played some classics. The greatest might have been Dan Marino’s fake spike in 1994 that capped Miami’s comeback from a 24-6 deficit.
With Miami at the Jets’ 8, Marino signaled he would spike the ball to stop the clock. Instead, he threw a TD dart to Mark Ingram with 22 seconds left to give the Dolphins a 28-24 victory.
The 1982 AFC Championship Game is the only postseason meeting between the two division rivals, and it was notable for an Orange Bowl turned into a quagmire by heavy rains the week of the game.
Miami intercepted Richard Todd five times, with A.J. Duhe swiping three passes. His 35-yard pick for a touchdown sealed Miami’s 14-0 win and sent the Dolphins to Super Bowl XVII.
In 1986, Marino and Ken O’Brien combined for 884 passing yards and 10 touchdowns, with Marino throwing six. But O’Brien’s four TDs went to Wesley Walker, who tied the game with his third scoring catch and won the game in overtime with TD No. 4 in a 51-45 final.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cleveland Browns
The “Turnpike Rivalry” has mirrored the hard-nosed image of both blue-collar cities. Ask quarterback Terry Bradshaw, who was lifted and spiked into the turf by Joe “Turkey” Jones in a 1976 game.
The teams first met in 1950 when the Browns won 30-17 at Pittsburgh. Cleveland dominated the first 20 years of the series, but Pittsburgh took control when both teams were moved into the AFC in 1970.
Even when the Browns moved to Baltimore to become the Ravens, Cleveland’s “new” Browns feuded with Pittsburgh. Cleveland running back William Green and Pittsburgh linebacker Joey Porter traded punches during pregame warm-ups in 2004.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Dallas Cowboys
OK, it’s not a traditional rivalry, but it deserves to be here for producing two of the most memorable Super Bowls, both won by Pittsburgh during the 1970s. The rosters of both teams were littered with Hall of Famers.
Dallas got some payback in Super Bowl XXX, beating the Steelers 27-17.
Another NFL regular season kicks off tonight, rekindling some longtime clashes that bear watching this season.
Pun intended. The Bears and Packers renew their feud Sunday at Soldier Field. So here’s a look at our top 10 NFL rivalries, past and present.
Chicago Bears vs. Green Bay Packers
The two teams first met November 27, 1921, when Chicago blanked the Packers 20-0. Chicago leads the series 93–91–6.
They have played each other twice in the postseason. A week after Pearl Harbor, the Bears won 33-14 in the 1941 semifinals to avenge their only loss of the season. The Packers prevailed 21-14 in the 2010 NFC title game to reach Super Bowl XLV.
This is a quirky series. Remember defensive lineman William “The Refrigerator” Perry scoring a touchdown for the Bears on “Monday Night Football” in 1985?
Then there was Green Bay kicker Chester Marcol in 1980, who tried a game-winning field goal attempt in overtime. The ball was blocked and bounced back to Marcol, who sprinted around the left side for the game-winning score in a 12-6 decision.
Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Redskins
This rivalry began before the Cowboys were a gleam in original owner Clint Murchison Jr.’s eye. Murchison nearly had a deal to buy the Redskins from owner George Preston Marshall for $600,000 in the late 1950s, but Marshall wrecked the deal by changing the contract terms.
Marshall also tried to block the formation of the Cowboys franchise when the NFL considered expanding to Dallas for the 1960 season.
Oh, yeah. There were some contentious games, too.
On Thanksgiving Day in 1974, Cowboys rookie quarterback Clint Longley replaced the injured Roger Staubach and threw two TD passes for an improbable 24-23 win.
In 1991, Washington was 11-0 until losing 24-21 to Dallas, but the Redskins still won the Super Bowl that year. In 1989, the Cowboys went 1-15. Their lone victory? A 13-3 win against Washington.
The Redskins reached their first two Super Bowls (after the 1972 and ’82 seasons) by defeating Dallas in the NFC Championship Game.
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Oakland Raiders
This rivalry no longer has the intensity it did when both teams were powerhouses in the old AFL in the 1960s. But boy, could these teams hit.
Kansas City has won two of three postseason games against the Raiders. The most significant one was the final AFL Championship Game in January 1970, when the Chiefs intercepted four passes and engineered a 17-7 upset that sent K.C. into Super Bowl IV.
What Chiefs quarterback threw for the most yards against the Raiders? Elvis Grbac, who passed for 504 yards at Oakland in 2000. It wasn’t enough: the Raiders won, 49-31.
Steelers vs. Ravens
This series defines toughness. Pittsburgh and Baltimore are AFC North rivals who have met four times in the postseason, with the Steelers winning three times. The Ravens finally broke through in January 2015, winning 30-17.
Intense? Steelers coach Mike Timlin was fined $100,000 in 2013 for interference on Jacoby Jones’ kickoff return that had touchdown written all over it. But the Ravens won 22-20, thwarting a Steelers’ two-point conversion in the final minute.
Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings
This series began in 1961 when the Vikings entered the league, but the rivalry heated up when former Packers quarterback Brett Favre joined Minnesota in 2009 — and beat Green Bay twice, including a four-touchdown torching in his return to Lambeau Field.
They have met in the playoffs twice. The Vikings stunned the Packers 31-17 in a wild-card game at Lambeau during the 2004 postseason. Randy Moss “shined,” scoring two touchdowns and giving Packers fans a pantomime mooning after his second TD grab in the fourth quarter put the game away.
The Packers won the other meeting 24-10 eight years later to the day in another wild-card game.
San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks
This is one of the NFL’s newer rivalries. Since the Seahawks joined the NFC West in 2002, Seattle has won 16 of 27 meetings.
The signature game was the 2013 NFC Championship Game, when Seattle held off San Francisco 23-17. The game ended when Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman tipped away a pass in the end zone. Sherman then blasted 49ers receiver Michael Crabtree in a memorable postgame TV interview.
New York Giants vs. Philadelphia Eagles
This rivalry began in 1933 and has featured big plays and miracle finishes.
There’s “The Hit,” when Chuck Bednarik leveled Frank Gifford with a crunching tackle that forced a fumble. The Eagles recovered, taking another step toward the 1960 NFL title. Gifford was knocked out of action for 18 months.
Then there was the “Miracle at the Meadowlands” in 1978, when quarterback Joe Pisarcik just needed to take a knee to run out the clock. The Giants led 17-12 with 31 seconds left when Pisarcik fumbled the snap. Herman Edwards picked up the loose ball and returned it for a touchdown, helping the Eagles earn a wild-card berth.
In 1988, the Eagles had forced overtime and had lined up for a game-winning field goal. Luis Zendejas’ kick was blocked, but he picked it up and lateraled to lineman Clyde Simmons, who scored a touchdown.
Dolphins vs. Jets
Miami and New York have played some classics. The greatest might have been Dan Marino’s fake spike in 1994 that capped Miami’s comeback from a 24-6 deficit.
With Miami at the Jets’ 8, Marino signaled he would spike the ball to stop the clock. Instead, he threw a TD dart to Mark Ingram with 22 seconds left to give the Dolphins a 28-24 victory.
The 1982 AFC Championship Game is the only postseason meeting between the two division rivals, and it was notable for an Orange Bowl turned into a quagmire by heavy rains the week of the game.
Miami intercepted Richard Todd five times, with A.J. Duhe swiping three passes. His 35-yard pick for a touchdown sealed Miami’s 14-0 win and sent the Dolphins to Super Bowl XVII.
In 1986, Marino and Ken O’Brien combined for 884 passing yards and 10 touchdowns, with Marino throwing six. But O’Brien’s four TDs went to Wesley Walker, who tied the game with his third scoring catch and won the game in overtime with TD No. 4 in a 51-45 final.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cleveland Browns
The “Turnpike Rivalry” has mirrored the hard-nosed image of both blue-collar cities. Ask quarterback Terry Bradshaw, who was lifted and spiked into the turf by Joe “Turkey” Jones in a 1976 game.
The teams first met in 1950 when the Browns won 30-17 at Pittsburgh. Cleveland dominated the first 20 years of the series, but Pittsburgh took control when both teams were moved into the AFC in 1970.
Even when the Browns moved to Baltimore to become the Ravens, Cleveland’s “new” Browns feuded with Pittsburgh. Cleveland running back William Green and Pittsburgh linebacker Joey Porter traded punches during pregame warm-ups in 2004.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Dallas Cowboys
OK, it’s not a traditional rivalry, but it deserves to be here for producing two of the most memorable Super Bowls, both won by Pittsburgh during the 1970s. The rosters of both teams were littered with Hall of Famers.
Dallas got some payback in Super Bowl XXX, beating the Steelers 27-17.