Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

sluggermatt15 wrote: ↑Sun Sep 20, 2026 11:55 am For this rivalries list, are we talking about historically or currently, as in today? The OP says in 2010, so...

The list was made in 2010. It seems that they generally tried to do historical rivalries, but it does seem that they placed some emphasis on how relevant it was at the time it aired (Ravens-Steelers and Colts-Patriots most notably there)

2010 or now, it’s a dumb list and the usual tortured logic applies.

Cowboys-Redskins ruled out because of relevance in 2010. OK, but Browns-Bengals was somehow relevant at the time? Please.

I think if you asked most Browns fans who their biggest rival is they would say the Steelers, not the Bengals. And I think plenty of Steelers fans feel the same way, even if the rivalry has been one-sided for a long time.

Ten Minute Ticker wrote: ↑Mon Sep 21, 2026 12:23 am 2010 or now, it’s a dumb list and the usual tortured logic applies.

Cowboys-Redskins ruled out because of relevance in 2010. OK, but Browns-Bengals was somehow relevant at the time? Please.

I think if you asked most Browns fans who their biggest rival is they would say the Steelers, not the Bengals. And I think plenty of Steelers fans feel the same way, even if the rivalry has been one-sided for a long time.

The ultimate sign that Browns-Bengals doesn’t really belong; let alone that high:

They interviewed Willie McGinest who played for Cleveland from 2006-2008, and he said he never knew those two were rivals until they told him.

This show was garbage and this was one of the worst rankings/episodes. Crazy how NFL Network went down the crapper the way it did in the 2010's, what a waste.

ShinobiMusashi wrote: ↑Sun Sep 27, 2026 12:16 am This show was garbage and this was one of the worst rankings/episodes. Crazy how NFL Network went down the crapper the way it did in the 2010's, what a waste.

There are some segments and episodes of that show that I liked, but I’ll be the first to admit that it was probably a cheap to produce NFL Films production that was wraparound material likely used for filler on NFL Network.

The best episodes and segments of NFL Top 10 are from 2007-2014, then they started interviewing to too many non football or sports media people and the presentation got way worse the last 4-5 years.

There are far worse presented episodes of NFL Top 10 in its later years than Top 10 Rivalries, but that one is probably the worst list as a list they ever made in my opinion no matter how well or poorly presented it is.

THIS one is All-Time tops with me...(Lions/Browns '50s second-best)...

https://profootballresearchers.com/foru ... php?t=8305

Years ago I wrote an article about what constitutes the greatest college football rivalries and thought to see if it were applicable to NFL rivalries.

The eight ingredients I believe that help constitute the greatest of rivalries:
1. A LONG HISTORY OF PLAYING EACH OTHER WITH CONTINUANCE OF PLAY.
Bears-Packers certainly for example. How often do the Steelers-Cowboys face one another? Nebraska-Oklahoma was once one of college football's greatest rivalries and now they no longer play each other on an annual basis.
2. NEAR EQUALITY OF SERIES RECORD AND THE RIVALRY ISN’T ONE SIDED FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME.
Bears are 98-109-6 vs Green Bay. In comparison, Dallas is 82-49-2 vs Washington. I would think in the '70s the Vikings dominated the Lions and Bears and Packers. Kansas City is 76-56-2 against the Raiders of what once was the greatest AFL rivalry. Dallas is 19-21-1 against San Francisco. The Eagles are 96-89-2 against the Giants. There have been long stretches when Ohio State has dominated Michigan and USC dominated Notre Dame and vice versa. Didn't the Bills go the entire decade of the '70s and not beat the Dolphins and now the Bills have dominated the Dolphins of late.
3. THE GAMES ARE CLOSE.
Goes without saying doesn't it but is often overlooked.
4. THE GAMES ARE OF SIGNIFICANCE – WHAT’S AT STAKE IS MORE THAN JUST BRAGGING RIGHTS.
Division titles on the line....Conference championships perhaps - Steelers-Ravens. Army-Navy is often only for bragging rights without any national implications.
5. LARGE UPSETS OCCUR – ONE CAN TRULY THROW AWAY THE RECORD BOOK WHEN THESE TWO TEAMS PLAY.
On any given Sunday anything can happen. You don't see point spreads as large in the NFL as compared to college such as when Pitt was a 28-point underdog and upset #2 West Virginia in 2007 in the Backyard Brawl.
6. UPSETS OF SIGNIFICANT CONSEQUENCE.
This doesn't take place nearly as often as in college football. Pitt's upset of West Virginia kept #2 West Virginia from playing for a national championship.
7. A HISTORY OF EXCELLENCE
This certainly wasn't the case for many Bears-Packers games in the past as neither were in contention for a playoff berth. As stated earlier, Army-Navy is often only for bragging rights without any national implications.
8. PROXIMITY
Steelers-Browns, Browns-Bengals, Bears-Packers, Steelers-Ravens, etc. all fit that description.