Which are the NFL’s biggest rivalries?

The NFL has no shortage of intense rivalries, but which teams have the most storied history against each other? We’ve crunched the numbers to find out.

On-field rivalries have played a major role in shaping the way that NFL fans watch and celebrate their favorite teams.

From regional disputes about the best competitors in a state to tough clashes between two frequent opponents, every team has an arch-nemesis that they just can’t seem to vanquish – but taking a side in these battles is also one of the best parts of being a fan!

Now, there are plenty of iconic rivalries between teams across the world of football, but it’s hard to say which is the biggest, which is why we’ve created an index to rank the top 10 NFL rivalries of all time!

Assigning each dispute a score from 0 to 100, we rated each rivalry based on social media data, average attendance, all-time record, and online search interest, combining them all together to show which teams are a part of the fiercest feuds in the league.

Here’s what we found.

The biggest NFL rivalries by the numbers

Starting off with the raw data, here are the biggest NFL rivalries based on numbers alone. For more information on how we analysed the data, check out the methodology at the bottom of the page.

1. Washington Commanders vs. Philadelphia Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles are known for their intense rivalries with a variety of teams, but our data shows that the Commanders are their biggest rivals, with their score of 63.89 out of 100 topping our list.

In the 181 games the two sides have played against one another, the Commanders lead with 90 wins compared to the Eagles’ 86, and there have been five ties in the history of their rivalry.

These games often draw huge crowds, with 177,000 online searches for Commanders vs. Eagles tickets last year, and their last five meetings have gone over stadium capacity, with 100.5% of the stadium’s seats sold (due to temporary seating).

The rivalry is also popular online, with 184,000 annual mentions on social media and an average of 3.05 million YouTube views across their three most recent games.

One of the most notable matchups in the rivalry was the ‘Body Bag Game’ on November 12th, 1990. Eagles coach Buddy Ryan boasted before the game that his opponents would “have to be carted off in body bags”, before nine Washington players had to leave the field with injuries. An Eagles player reportedly taunted the injured players by asking, “Do you need any more body bags?” Philadelphia ultimately won the game 28-14.

2. Dallas Cowboys vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Continuing the Eagles’ reputation for holding grudges against longtime opponents, their history with the Dallas Cowboys ranks second among NFL rivalries, with a score of 63.33. However, the Cowboys lead the matchup with 74 wins, while the Eagles trail with 59 victories.

The turnout for games between these two sides is always high, with 107.1% of the stadium filled in their last five matchups and 378,000 ticket searches last year. Both franchises also boast some of the loudest fan bases in the NFL, with 201,000 social media mentions of the rivalry last year and a 19% negative sentiment among supporters of each team.

The last three matchups between the sides have averaged around 2.55 million views on YouTube, but two of the rivalry’s most famous games were played more than 35 years ago.

Nicknamed the ‘Bounty Bowl’ following a 27-0 loss on November 23rd, 1989, Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson alleged that Eagles coach Buddy Ryan had taken out a $200 ‘bounty’ on former Eagle Luis Zendejas. In their next matchup on December 10th, 1989, Eagles fans pelted the field with beer, snowballs, and ice, which led to increased security at later games in the season.

3. New York Giants vs. Philadelphia Eagles

One of the longest-standing rivalries in NFL history, the Eagles round out their clean sweep of the top three with their series of games against the New York Giants, scoring 62.21 out of 100. The two franchises first clashed when the Giants were founded in 1933, but it wasn’t until the 40s and 50s that things heated up.

As with our other top rivalries, the Giants lead here in all-time wins, with 96 victories compared to Philadelphia’s 89, and the franchises have tied twice. Eagles vs. Giants games tend to be popular with fans of both teams, as their last five matchups averaged 98.4% stadium capacity. There were also 141,000 Google searches for tickets to their games against each other last year.

With 185,000 mentions on social media and a 15% negative sentiment between fan bases, the rivalry is as intense online as it is in person. The two cities often clash in other sports as well, such as the Mets-Phillies rivalry in MLB and the Flyers’ rivalries with the Rangers and Islanders in the NHL. However, it’s believed the rivalry is mainly regional, as New York City and Philadelphia are less than 100 miles apart.

4. Buffalo Bills vs. Kansas City Chiefs

While the Bills and the Chiefs have been playing each other for decades, their rivalry has grown in recent years into one of the most intense in the NFL. Buffalo currently leads with a 31-26-1 record, and the rivalry’s index score of 59.75 earns it a fourth-place finish in our list.

Since the Bills vs. the Chiefs is a relatively new-school rivalry, it’s become a popular topic of discussion on social media. The matchup was mentioned a massive 209,000 times online last year, with an incredible 3,165,000 searches for tickets, and the three most recent games in the feud have averaged 3.89 million views on YouTube.

A key part of the rivalry is the personality clash between Buffalo QB Josh Allen and Kansas City QB Patrick Mahomes, who are often considered the two best players at their position. The two sides have met in some of the most high-stakes games of the last few years, including the 2024 AFC Championship Game, which has led to their matchups averaging a 98% attendance in their three most recent meetings.

5. Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears

With a history dating back to 1920, the rivalry between the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears is one of the oldest and most intense in the NFL. The two sides have played more than 200 games against one another, with the Packers winning 108 matchups, the Bears 96, and 6 ending in ties.

The rivalry featured the first ejection of a player from an NFL game, when the Bears’ Frank Hanny and the Packers’ Walter Voss were removed from the field after punching each other in 1924.

Their last five games have filled 97.9% of the stadium on average, with 275,000 online ticket searches over the previous year. The rivalry has also been mentioned 129,000 times on social media in the last 12 months, with its 25% negative fan sentiment ranking as the highest in our data.

Plus, with 1.02 million average viewers on the last three Packers-Bears games, the online audience remains dedicated to their favorite teams. Their overall score of 55.92 ranks them at No. 5.

6. Cleveland Browns vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Another defining rivalry in midwestern football is the Cleveland Browns vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers. Although the Browns’ poor performance since 1999 has led to the animosity between the two sides cooling, the teams are still two of the most popular in the AFC North, making them long-time rivals.

Currently, the Steelers lead the Browns 83-64-1, but Cleveland once held a significant 31-9 lead in the 1950s and 1960s. The two sides have a 21% negative sentiment toward one another, according to 181,000 social media mentions over the last year, and their last three games have averaged 1.94 million YouTube views.

There’s still high demand for their games in person, too: they have sold 98.7% of their stadiums’ seating at their last five meetings, and 144,000 online ticket searches were recorded for their games last year. With a total index score of 52.86, they rank sixth among NFL rivalries.

7. Los Angeles Rams vs. San Francisco 49ers

Despite being regional rivals, fans of the 49ers and the Rams rank among the most respectful in our data towards each other, with negative sentiment of just 4%. However, with an index score of 52.24, their rivalry still finishes at No. 7 on our rankings.

The two Californian teams are incredibly evenly matched across their history, with the Rams holding a narrow lead of 79-72-3. Their last five matchups sold 104.8% of their stadiums’ seating capacity on average, with 192,000 online ticket searches last year.

Plus, with an average of 2.10 million YouTube views across their three most recent meetings, there’s a strong online audience for the rivalry. The heat between the two teams has also been mentioned 157,000 times on social media over the last year, making it a hot topic among NFL fans.

8. San Francisco 49ers vs. Dallas Cowboys

Since the 49ers and the Cowboys don’t share a division, they don’t play against each other as often as many of our other highest-ranking teams. However, with the 49ers taking a narrow lead with a record of 21-19-1, they’re two of the most evenly matched franchises in the league.

Their most recent games have also been viewed more than any other matchup in our top 10, with their last three meetings averaging 4.16 million YouTube views. However, because the teams don’t clash as often as our other highest-ranked rivalries, ticket demand has been low, with just 12,000 online searches last year.

But, with that being said, the average attendance of 106.6% over their last five matchups and 90,000 social media mentions of the rivalry last year, there’s no denying the two teams remain a major draw when they face off.

With a total index score of 51.78 out of 100, the 49ers vs. Cowboys rivalry is the eighth-most heated on our rankings.

9. Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants

When the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants first met in 1960, the game ended in a 31-31 tie. Since then, though, the Cowboys have taken the lead in the rivalry at 78-42-2, having beaten the Giants in eleven of their twelve most recent games.

When the two teams face off, there’s always a sizeable audience, as their last five matchups have sold 108.7% of their stadiums’ full seating capacity. The last three games in the rivalry have also averaged 2.38 million YouTube views, with 67,000 searches for Giants vs. Cowboys tickets last year.

The rivalry has been mentioned 158,000 times on social media, making it one of the most discussed in the NFL, with the two sides’ fans showing 14% negative sentiment towards each other, according to our data. These factors combine to give the Cowboys vs. Giants a score of 51.51, ranking it as the league’s ninth-largest rivalry.

10. Buffalo Bills vs. Miami Dolphins

Rounding out our top 10 is the Buffalo Bills’ rivalry against the Miami Dolphins, which is one of the most evenly matched in the NFL. The Dolphins currently lead by just two games, with their 63 wins narrowly beating the Bills’ 61, plus one draw.

With both teams in the AFC East, they typically clash twice each season, leading to an intense fan rivalry with 20% negative sentiment across 138,000 social media mentions last year. The last five meetings between the sides have averaged 100.1% ticket sales, with 135,000 Google searches for tickets last year alone.

Additionally, with an average of 1.82 million YouTube views across the previous three matchups, fans are particularly invested in clashes between the two teams. These add up to give the Dolphins vs. Bills rivalry a score of 51.42 out of 100, earning them 10th place on our rankings.

What does the data tell us?

Our top 10 shows that divisional rivalries spark the fiercest loyalty among fans, with just two of our highest-ranking matchups crossing over into different divisions. Regional rivals also face each other more often during a regular season, meaning fans have more history to draw on.

The rankings also show that specific teams inspire much more heated rivalries than others. The Philadelphia Eagles, for example, are involved in all three of the league’s biggest feuds, while the Dallas Cowboys also make three appearances on the rankings.

Both teams have sizeable fan bases and have made multiple Super Bowl appearances, which could play a role in other teams’ supporters disapproving of them.

What do the pros say about the biggest NFL rivalries?

Our rankings show the biggest rivalries in the NFL based on numerical data, but the size of football feuds is very subjective, especially for those close to the teams. With that in mind, what do NFL coaches and players have to say about the biggest rivalries in the league?

Mike Smith

Mike Smith has worked in coaching positions for several of the biggest NFL teams, including the Baltimore Ravens and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but his most notable role was as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons from 2008 to 2014. The Falcons have an intense regional rivalry with their fellow NFC South team, the New Orleans Saints, which he has previously discussed in an exclusive Betway interview:

“I’ll tell you, the rivalry between the Falcons and the New Orleans Saints is one of the fiercest and most entertaining in all of the NFL. It hasn’t been around that long. […] But these two teams came into the league at almost the exact same time, and geographically, they’re close to each other as well. It’s often called a hate-hate relationship by both fan bases, and I could not agree with that more.”

Smith says he still hates going to New Orleans to this day, claiming he wears a hat when he walks down the street to avoid “crazy” Saints fans who call him out as he walks by. He notes that, although the cities are close, they’re complete opposites.

When asked about what other clashes between teams he enjoys the most, Smith listed the Eagles-Giants and Packers-Bears rivalries among his favorites, noting that they date back to the early years of the NFL:

“…those are the longest tenured rivalries, and they’re hard to beat because there’s usually three, four or even five generations of families which have been fans of those teams. And when they get to the stadium, there’s a real hatred for the fans wearing the other teams’ jerseys.”

DeAngelo Hall

The NFC East division is one of the most fiercely competitive in all of the NFL, with the Cowboys, Giants, Eagles, and Commanders all sharing intense rivalries. Former cornerback DeAngelo Hall played for Washington between 2008 and 2017, and previously told Betway how fierce the competition between teams in the division was, but also pointing out that the teams know each other so well due to playing each other more often:

“Sometimes, as a corner, you go out there and press a guy and think ‘oh, he’s a little faster than I thought’, or if you hit a guy, you might think ‘oh, he’s a little stronger than I thought.’ But, if it’s the second time, you’ve already seen the opponent. You’ve had a chance to go through all of their tape, so there shouldn’t be any surprises.”

Hall says that any game he played at his divisional rivals’ home grounds felt particularly heated, but singled out Philadelphia as the most hostile crowd, stating he never felt safe there. He also recalled playing at the Eagles’ old ground, Veterans Stadium, while he was a college player for Virginia Tech:

“We played Temple up there and heard all the stories about them having a jail at the bottom of the stadium. Those Philly fans definitely need a jail in there because they can get rowdy.”

Daunte Culpepper

One of the most notable rivalries to miss a spot on our list is the Minnesota Vikings vs. the Green Bay Packers. Dating back to 1961, the Packers currently lead 66-60-3 over their divisional rivals. Their two fan bases have been at odds for years, with wide receiver Randy Moss mooning the Green Bay crowd during the two sides’ first playoff game in 2004. Brett Favre’s move from the Packers to the Vikings also heightened tensions between the two franchises.

Former Vikings quarterback Daunte Culpepper described the rivalry with the Packers as “amazing” in a previous Betway interview, saying that “everybody talks about [it]”.

“We want to win every game, but the Vikings fans, they want to win no other game more than that game. If you want to win two games a year, they want to win those two games. […] I’m glad and thankful I was able to experience those games against Green Bay because every game was always a nail-biter, there were no real blowouts, and it was a lot of fun.”

When asked about what the best current rivalries in the league are, Culpepper noted that lots of other divisions have fierce competitions, but that the Packers-Vikings clashes will always be his favorites:

“You’ve got the AFC North division with the Ravens and the Browns, that’s a good one. The Giants and the Cowboys, Philadelphia and the Cowboys – there are some great rivalries and I don’t know who’s the biggest, but I would say Green Bay and Minnesota has got to be one of the top ones.”

At the end of the day, rivalries help to sell tickets, promote debate between fans, and inspire loyalty in teams, making them an essential part of the NFL. So, if you’re looking to back your favorite team in their next game, why not play along from home with Betway?

Head to our NFL betting page for the latest odds on all the biggest games of the season so that you can stay up-to-date on all the latest action.

Methodology

We analysed data on 30 NFL rivalries. To do this, 8 different factors were used. Once the data for the factors was collected, the factors were then normalised, to provide each factor with a score between 0 and 1. If data was not available, a score of 0 was given.

The normalised values were then combined, to give each rivalry a total score out of 100. The rivalries were then ranked from highest to lowest, based on their total scores. 

The factors used are as follows:

•       Total Matchups – The total number of times both teams have faced each other across all-time.

•       All-Time Record Difference – The difference in the number of wins both teams have had in the rivalry matchup.

•       Total Playoff Matches – The number of times both teams have faced each other during the postseason.

•       % of Stadium Filled in last 5 Meetups – The average attendance in the last 5 meetups between the two teams, as a percentage of the respective team’s stadium capacity. Note: this value may be higher than 100% due to the way NFL tickets are sold i.e. temporary seating.

•       Average YouTube Viewership – The average number of views the official NFL highlights have, of the last 3 meetups between the teams, to the nearest hundred.

•       Average Negative Sentiment between the Teams – The average negative sentiment when searching for ‘Team A’ in the location of Team B, and vice versa.

•       Ticket Search Volume – The total number of searches between Nov 2024 – Oct 2025, for the prompt ‘Team A vs Team B tickets’ and vice versa.

•       Brandwatch Rivalry Mentions – The total number of mentions between 14 Nov 24 – 13 Nov 25, for the prompt ‘Team A vs Team B’.

The factors were indexed as follows:

•       All-Time Record Difference – Lower is better.

•       All Other Factors – Higher is better.

The factors were weighted as follows:

•       Total Matchups – 30%

•       All-Time Record Difference – 5%

•       Total Playoff Matches – 10%

•       % of Stadium Filled in last 5 Meetups – 15%

•       YouTube Viewership – 15%

•       Negative Sentiment between the Teams – 10%

•       Ticket Search Volume – 5%

•       Brandwatch Rivalry Mentions – 10%

All data is correct as of 14th November 2025.