Rivalries are an integral part of sports, and the NFL is no exception. These heated battles between teams go beyond mere competition. They are fueled by history, geography, and sometimes even personal grudges. In this article, we tackle the biggest rivalries for each NFL team, examining the history and intensity behind these foes.
Arizona Cardinals Hated Rival: Seattle Seahawks
In 2002, the NFL realigned divisions and a new rivalry was born in the NFC West. The Cardinals/Seahawks in what you could dub “Battle of the Birds”. While this rivalry has cooled off recently, during the 2010s, it was very common to see these two teams squaring off in some type of significant NFL matchup.
Atlanta Falcons Hated Rival: New Orleans Saints
This NFC South rivalry has produced countless memorable moments and epic showdowns over the years, with both teams vying for divisional supremacy. The rivalry has been fueled by the intense regional pride and the passionate fan bases of Atlanta and New Orleans. The battles between the Falcons and Saints are characterized by intense competition, violent football, and fierce trash talk.
Baltimore Ravens Hated Rival: Pittsburgh Steelers
The animosity the Steelers and Ravens have for each other is fierce. Both teams pride themselves on their defense and when these two teams battle on the gridiron, it’s a physical and intense matchup. Former Steelers player Hines Ward said it best. “The coaches hate each other, the players hate each other. There’s no calling each other after the game and inviting each other out to dinner. But the feeling’s mutual; they don’t like us, and we don’t like them. There’s no need to hide it. They know it, and we know it.”
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Buffalo Bills Hated Rival: Kansas City Chiefs
One of the newest rivalries on this list is the Bills Mafia hatred for the Kansas City Chiefs. This matchup is fueled behind Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen. These two are widely considered to be the next generation of quarterbacks. The matchups are fast-paced, have tons of offense, and usually are seen at some point during the AFC playoffs.
Carolina Panthers Hated Rival: Atlanta Falcons
The rivalry between the Carolina Panthers and the Atlanta Falcons has been labeled the I-85 Rivalry which is the interstate that connects the two cities. When these two teams meet, expect the stadium to be loaded with fans of both teams due to the cities being in such close proximity to each other.
Cincinnati Bengals Hated Rival: Pittsburgh Steelers
When the Bengals and Steelers match up, there are a few things for certain. It’s going to be an intense football game with hard hits and bad blood. The careers of Le’Veon Bell, Antonio Brown, and Ryan Shazier altered against Cincinnati mostly at the hands of Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict. Steelers did get some revenge with JuJu Smith-Schuster destroying Vontaze Burfict on a peel-back block. While those names are gone, current stars Ja’Marr Chase and Minkah Fitzpatrick have made sure this rivalry still stays intense.
Chicago Bears Hated Rival: Green Bay Packers
From the first-ever NFL ejection of a player fighting to Aaron Rodgers proclaiming “I Own You” to Bears fans, Bears and Packers is the oldest rivalry in NFL History. This rivalry dates back to the early 1920s and has had over 200 meetings between the two. You can bet when these two teams meet there is no love lost between them.
Cleveland Browns Hated Rival: Cincinnati Bengals
This rivalry has been dubbed the “Battle of Ohio.” This rivalry goes back all the way to Cincinnati Bengals Founder/Owner Paul Brown. Brown coached Cleveland to three NFL championships in 1950, 1954 and 1955 but was fired in January 1963 amid a power struggle with team owner Art Modell. In 1968, Brown co-founded and was the first coach of the Bengals. This rivalry isn’t just on the field but also in the front office.
Dallas Cowboys Hated Rival: Philadelphia Eagles
For decades, these two teams have clashed on the field, creating memorable moments, fierce competition, and two fan bases that lives and breathes this rivalry. From Cowboys players and coaches being pelted with snowballs during a game to Drew Pearson’s 2017 Draft Rant on Eagles fans, this rivalry has many memorable moments to embody the hatred each team has for each other.
Denver Broncos Hated Rival: Las Vegas Raiders
Another rivalry that goes back to the 1960s and back to the AFL/NFL merger. The matchups are fierce, physical, intense, and highly competitive. Some memorable moments in this rivalry include Raiders lineman Lincoln Kennedy charging into the stands after a Bronco fan hit him with a snowball. Raiders coach Mike Shanahan leaving the Raiders and becoming Denver’s head coach after a contract dispute. Let us also not forget the infamous chain-snatching fight between Broncos Aqib Talib and Raiders Michael Crabtree.
Detroit Lions Hated Rival: Green Bay Packers
Just like their counterparts in the NFC North, Lions fans hold a hatred for the green and gold. Let’s not forget Thanksgiving day when Lions defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh pushed Green Bay offensive lineman Evan Dietrich-Smith’s head into the ground three times before stomping on his arm causing a Suh ejection. Sadly, that was not Suh’s only altercation with Green Bay. In a 2014 game against the Packers, Suh stepped on Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ calf. Suh was initially given a one-game suspension, although it was reduced to a fine.
Green Bay Packers Hated Rival: Chicago Bears
One of the best rivalries in sports history is between the Bears and the Packers. Bears fans have suffered for years and years of tremendous quarterback play whether that was Aaron Rodgers, Brett Favre, or Jordan Love. Meanwhile, Chicago has never had a quarterback pass for 4,000 yards in a season.
Houston Texans Hated Rival: Tennessee Titans
In 1996, the Titans, who were then the Houston Oilers, relocated to Nashville and became the Tennessee Titans. There is no love lost between these two franchises and a 2010 regular season matchup between these two foes proved that. One of the best NFL fights occurred when Texans wideout Andre Johnson threw haymakers on Titans cornerback Cortland Finnegan.
Indianapolis Colts Hated Rival: New England Patriots
This rivalry was based on two Hall of Fame signal callers. Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. In the early 2000s, the Colts and Patriots would constantly see each other in a high-stakes matchup whether it was the regular season or during the playoffs.
Jacksonville Jaguars Hated Rival: Tennessee Titans
When the Titans and Jaguars play, you can expect a close physical football game. The rivalry escalated when the Titans coach claimed that playing in Jacksonville was like a home game. Duval fans did not take kindly to those comments.
Kansas City Chiefs Hated Rival: Cincinnati Bengals
Pat who? Those words sparked by Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase sparked the next NFL rival. Chiefs players did not take kindly to those words, especially Patrick Mahomes. Mahomes took to social media showing off his two superbowl rings with the response “That’s who”. This is the modern-day Tom Brady-Peyton Manning feud with Joe Burrow and Patrick Mahomes taking their place. This rival is just beginning with many more memorable moments to come.
Los Angeles Chargers Hated Rival: Las Vegas Raiders
This rivalry spans all the way back to the days of the AFL (American Football League). One of this rivalry’s most memorable moments was the “Holy Roller” game”. That game featured a Raiders controversial last-second victory when quarterback Ken Stabler fumbled the ball forward, and it was illegally advanced by Raiders players into the end zone for a touchdown. The Powder Blues hatred for the Black and Silver runs deep. Even after numerous relocations by both teams, one thing stays constant for Charger fans. Their hatred for “The Black Hole.”
Las Vegas Raiders Hated Rival: Denver Broncos
Even though the team’s location may have changed, the hatred for the Broncos still remains strong. These AFC West teams have no love lost for each other and every time they meet it is a physical football game.
Los Angeles Rams Hated Rival: San Francisco 49ers
Seattle is not the only team to hold a resentment towards the San Francisco 49ers. The battle for California supremacy has been compared to the Giants-Dodgers rivalry. Rams fans often refer to the 49ers as the “Whiners’ due to their perception of their fans and players being entitled and blaming the referees as well as other factors. 49ers fans in turn refer to the Rams as the “Lambs” due to their view of weakness and lack of championship titles.
Miami Dolphins Hated Rival: New England Patriots
The Patriots seem to be a common theme for a team’s most hated rival. Is it because of the New England Dynasty or was it TB12 ripping out the hearts of other team’s fan bases for so many years? One thing is for sure Dolphins fans had to endure both and it’s now time for them to dish it back with Tom Brady’s retirement.
Minnesota Vikings Hated Rival: Green Bay Packers
Bears fans aren’t the only ones who hold a disdain for the Green Bay Packers. Vikings fans also claim the cheeseheads as their most hated rival. Each encounter between these two teams is not just a game; it’s a battle for supremacy in the NFC North. The rivalry only intensified when longtime Packer Brett Favre signed with division rival Minnesota in 2009.
New England Patriots Hated Rival: New York Giants
If it wasn’t for Eli Manning and the Giants, Tom Brady would have two more Superbowl rings, the Patriot Dynasty would have two more Lombardi trophies, and the Patriots would have also pulled off an undefeated season. Boston fans will always hold disdain for the G-Men for ruining their pursuit of perfection.
New Orleans Saints Hated Rival: Atlanta Falcons
The rivalry only intensified more between these two teams in 2023 when in a blowout, New Orleans scored a rushing touchdown from victory formation on the Falcons. Backup quarterback Jameis Winston took full responsibility on the play call but that did not stop then-Atlanta Head Coach Arthur Smith from exchanging words with New Orleans Saints coach Dennis Allen.
New York Giants Hated Rival: Philadelphia Eagles
The rivalry between the Giants and the Eagles is one of the longest rivalries in the NFL going back to the 1930s. The animosity between the fan bases runs deep, with games between these teams often characterized by hard-fought battles and dramatic moments. The rivalry has seen iconic plays and unforgettable moments, such as the famous “Miracle at the Meadowlands”.
New York Jets Most Hated Rival: New England Patriots
This AFC East Rivalry has its share of drama. From Bill Belichick backing out of the Jets head coaching job for the Patriots to the Jets accusations of the Patriots taping defensive signals, this rivalry never has a dull moment. Let us also not forget when the Jets knocked Patriot quarterback Drew Bledsoe out of the game which ushered in the TB12 era of football.
Philadelphia Eagles Hated Rival: New York Giants
Another historic rivalry is between the cities of Philadelphia and New York. It doesn’t matter whether it’s the Knicks and Sixers, Flyers and Rangers, Phillies and Mets, these two fanbases do not like each other and it is no different between the Eagles and Giants.
San Francisco 49ers Most Hated Rival: Seattle Seahawks
This fairly new rivalry has been marked by intense games, playoff matchups, and a strong dislike between the fan bases. One of the most iconic moments in this rivalry came during the 2013 NFC Championship Game. The Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman’s post-game rant on 49ers’ wide receiver Michael Crabtree after a game-winning play against the 49ers added fuel to the rivalry.
Seattle Seahawks Hated Rival: San Francisco 49ers
There are not many words needed in this one to sum up this rivalry. Simply, google “Richard Sherman rant on Michael Crabtree” and you will see why these two teams have no love lost for each other.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Hated Rival: New Orleans Saints
It’s easy to see for Tampa Bay fans that their most hated rival is the New Orleans Saints. These two teams don’t like each other and it seems every year there is a brawl between the two teams that usually revolves around Tampa’s Mike Evans and Saints Marshon Lattimore. When these two teams play, it is circled on the calendar.
Pittsburgh Steelers Hated Rival – Baltimore Ravens
If you want hard-hitting, violent, smash-mouth football turn on a Steelers-Ravens game. Whether the game comes in the regular season or post-season, Pittsburgh-Baltimore is going to be a physical defensive game.
Tennessee Titans Hated Rival – Houston Texans
Since the Houston Texans’ expansion into the league in 2002, there has been some animosity between them and their fellow AFC South rival the Tennessee Titans. Titans fans proudly wear their Houston Oiler jerseys during throwbacks and even claim to be Houston’s true team. Texans fans are less than amused.
Washington Commanders Hated Rival: Philadelphia Eagles
It was a coin flip between Philadelphia and Dallas for Washington’s biggest rival. Ultimately, it’s Dem Boyz down in Dallas. This rivalry has featured the “Monday Night Miracle” This rivalry even includes teams shipping in their own sideline benches to the opposing team’s stadium during their matchups.
