Green Bay Packers take on the Minnesota Vikings in Week 6 of the 2017 NFL Season
Packers vs Vikings Live While there have been a host of compelling playoff rivalries that have developed over the years, the NFL's longest rivalries have been divisional matchups. The frequency in which the teams play one another, along with the rivalries that have developed with competing cities, has helped make several divisional matchups some of the best rivalries the league has to offer.
With the start of the 2020 season just around the corner, we decided to look back at the NFL's 10 greatest division rivalries. We are limiting each team to one rivalry on this list.
10. Chargers vs. Broncos
Overall series lead: Broncos, 68-52-1
Playoff series lead: Broncos, 1-0
Longest winning streak: 7 (Broncos, 1975-78)
One of the AFL's best teams during the league's first several seasons, the Chargers, winners of the 1963 AFL championship, posted a 15-5 record against the Broncos prior to the AFL-NFL merger of 1970. The Chargers, who appeared in five AFL title games during a six-year span, were led by Hall of Fame receiver Lance Allworth, who led the AFL in receiving yards and touchdown receptions on three different occasions.
Denver flipped the rivalry on its head in the '70s, winning 11 of 12 games during one stretch that included a series sweep of the Chargers en route to their first Super Bowl appearance in 1977. The Broncos' "Orange Crush" defense, led by Tom Jackson, Lyle Alzado and Randy Gradishar, would eventually have its hands full with the Chargers' "Air Coryell" offense, led by quarterback Dan Fouts, John Jefferson, Charlie Joyner and Kellen Winslow. With its offense leading the way, San Diego won seven of 10 matchups against Denver from 1978-82 while making consecutive trips to the AFC title game in 1980 and 1981.
The arrival of John Elway in Denver in 1983 shifted the balance of power back to Denver, who went 22-10 against the Chargers during Elway's 16 seasons with the Broncos. While the Broncos became one of the NFL's most consistent winners with Elway at quarterback (Denver won three AFC titles in the '80s before winning their first two Super Bowl titles in 1997 and '98), the Chargers also tasted some success during that time, winning four of six games against Denver from 1992-95 while punching the franchise's first Super Bowl ticket in 1994. The Chargers' best player during this time was linebacker Junior Seau, who earned induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015.
Denver continued having the upper hand in this series until Philip Rivers became the Chargers' starting quarterback in 2006. With Rivers, Hall of Fame running back LaDainian Tomlinson, tight end Antonio Gates and linebacker Shawne Merriman, San Diego won nine of its 11 games against the Broncos from 2006-11. Denver flipped the script after signing Peyton Manning during the 2012 offseason, as Manning's Broncos won eight of their nine matchups against San Diego that included their 2013 playoff victory over Rivers and the Chargers. This rivalry should be one to keep an eye on in the coming years, with both teams ushering in new eras with Drew Lock and Justin Herbert under center.
9. Falcons vs. Saints
Overall series lead: Falcons, 53-49
Longest series winning streak: 10 (Falcons, 1995-99)
While this matchup has typically failed to generate national attention, the Falcons-Saints rivalry has been one of the NFL's most intense matchups since the teams began playing each other in 1967. Despite nine- and 10-game winning streaks, the Falcons only have four more wins in this series, as the Saints have made significant headway since hiring Sean Payton in 2006 and acquiring quarterback Drew Brees during the same offseason. Since then, the Saints are 18-9 against the Falcons, including wins in four of their last five matchups. Atlanta has had its moments against New Orleans in recent years, however, as the Falcons' 2016 Super Bowl run included a season sweep of the Saints.
The most famous game between the two teams took place in 2006, when the Saints, playing their first game in the Superdome since Hurricane Katrina, defeated Michael Vick and the Falcons on "Monday Night Football." Steve Gleason's blocked punt, which resulted in the game's first touchdown, spearheaded the Saints to a 24-3 win that galvanized the entire state of Louisiana. The win also signaled the start of the greatest run of success in franchise history, as the Saints would advance to the NFC Championship Game that season before winning their first Super Bowl three years later.
Payton and Brees helped turn around a rivalry that had been dominated by the Falcons during the previous decade, specifically from 1995-99. The Falcons, led by quarterback Chris Chandler, running back Jamal Anderson, receivers Tony Martin and Terance Mathis, linebacker Jessie Tuggle and cornerback Ray Buchanan, swept the Saints during the '98 regular season en route to advancing to the franchise's first Super Bowl.
8. Bills vs. Dolphins
Overall series lead: Dolphins, 61-50-1
Playoff series lead: Bills, 3-1
Longest winning streak: 20 (Dolphins, 1970-79)
An old AFL rivalry, the Dolphins won just three of their first eight matchups against the Bills before Don Shula arrived in Miami in 1970. The arrival of Shula marked the beginning of the Dolphins' dynasty as well as their decade-long dominance over the Bills, as Miami did not lose a single game against Buffalo from 1970-79. The Dolphins, who won two Super Bowls and three AFC championships over that span, were a major reason why O.J. Simpson and the Bills made just one playoff appearance during the decade.
The Dolphins continued to control the rivalry until the late '80s, when the Bills, led by head coach Marv Levy and fellow Hall of Famers Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas, Andre Reed and Bruce Smith, went 17-4 against the Dolphins from 1987-1995. While Buffalo won four AFC titles over that span, it also played a significant role in denying Shula and Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino from making a return trip to the Super Bowl after appearing in the big game together in January of '85. The Bills won all three of their playoff matchups over the Dolphins during this span that included an upset win over Miami in the 1992 AFC Championship Game. Marino and company did get a little payback in the 1998 playoffs, with the Dolphins edging the Bills in overtime in the wild card round.