I was recently watching the Football Life episode on the Immaculate Reception (one of my earliest NFL memories) and recalling what a great rivalry the Steelers and Raiders had in the 70s. So I started thinking about what other great non-division rivalries there have been in the NFL.
The Patriots and the Colts (when Peyton was there) is obviously a great example of a recent such rivalry. The Niners and the Packers had a pretty good rivalry going during the 90s, and later on, briefly, so did the Titans and Ravens.
For the Giants, the one that comes to mind is of course with the Niners, as well. The Packers and Giants are also starting to revive their old rivalry which previously faded out before the Super Bowl era started. I'm not sure if Giants-Patriots really qualifies as they probably don't meet each other often enough.
What are your thoughts on the best non-division rivalries you can recall in the NFL, at least during the Super Bowl era? I generally don't include geographical rivalries, such as Giants-Jets, Niners-Raiders, since again I don't think they really meet often enough in meaningful games.
8 times they've met in the playoffs with a 4-4 split. 5 times they have gone through each other in the playoffs en route to a Super Bowl win.
49ers - '81, '84
Giants - '86, '90 and '11
Don't forget about the '02 debacle or the '93 butt kicking. Or on a positive note, the first home playoff game/win at Giants Stadium in '85.
The Giants essentially ended Montana's career with the 49ers as well as their 3-peat chances.
The 49ers handed LT a playoff loss in his rookie season and in the last game of his career.
The 2002 game was the beginning of the end for the Fassel era.
Anything that happens with these two franchises feels bigger when the other team is involved. And if the Giants can make it to the playoffs this year, expect to meet the 49ers again.
From a Giants perspective, I was amused by how we played the Vikings almost every year. Plus two playoff matchups - one painful loss for each side.
Giants-49ers (Going to be a renewed rivalry)
Pats-Ravens (two playoff games, some very good regular season games. Kyle Boller almost ended their 11-0 start, played an OT game in 2010, last-second FG game earlier this yr)
Packers vs. Falcons - Two premier QBs and offenses, already a playoff matchup.
Packers-Saints, Packers-49ers, and 49ers-Saints also have the potential to become great rivalries with the current rosters.
The problem is that these teams play so infrequently. Giants-Packers have already played 6 times since 07 and we'll play them again next year. We just seem to naturally draw them (both finish 1st or 2nd in the same year).
It's not like a Brady-Manning deal where they are locks to win their division and play every year. For example, if we finish 2nd this year, we'll play SEA instead of SF next year and SF will play ATL instead of NOR. There is so much parity as far as finished standings annually in all the divisions that it is hard for the marquee NFC teams to matchup if it's not predetermined scheduling or in the playoffs.
Since 1981 the teams have combined for 9 SB wins and played in the post season 8 times, splitting the 8. Included in there are some epically historic games, the 90 NFC Title game, the 2011 NFC Title game, the 2002 comeback game. These are NFL classics
One could argue:
-Giants-Niners (although it was dead for the late 90s and past decade)
-Giants-Packers (50s/60s/current but was dead for 40 years)
-Giants-Bears (50s/60s/80s)
-Giants-Vikings (90s-mid 00's)
-Giants-Rams (late 80s)
Others
-Cowboys-Packers (60/90s)
-Cowboys-Niners (80s/90s)
-Cowboys-Steelers (70s/90s)
-Eagles-Bus (early 2000s)
-Packers-Niners (90s)
-Bears-Niners (80s)
-Pats-Colts (Peyton)
-Pats-Steelers (90s/current)
-Dolphins-Steelers (70s/80s)
-Raiders-Steelers (70s/80s)
But if one or both stink, they are gone, unlike divisional.