The 5 Best Non-Divisional NFL Rivalries Since 2000

Rivalries are what make sports fun. There is nothing like the enjoyment of beating a bitter rival, and the heartbreak of losing to your arch-nemesis will keep you up at night. Fortunately for the NFL, the league has several rich rivalries that have only gotten better over the last few years.

We know about all of the intra-division rivals, such as the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears. And who could forget about the hard-nosed matchups between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens? 

The Cowboys and Eagles have played some unbelievable games as of late, but there are also a handful of non-divisional matchups that have caught the public’s eye over the last few years. So without further ado, here are the top-five non-divisional rivalries that have captured the attention of NFL fans since 2000.

1. Buffalo Bills vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes. That is what has made this rivalry so special over the last seven years. It’s a relatively new rivalry, but generational talents at quarterback have made this must-see TV whenever they are matched up against one another. They have battled in some of the best games in the NFL, and they also seem to bring out the best in one another.  

Since 2020, the teams have met in the playoffs four times, most memorably the 2022 AFC Divisional Round thriller in Kansas City, which is otherwise known as the “13 Seconds Game.”

That game featured four lead changes in the final two minutes, ending in overtime (and prompting an NFL overtime rule change). The Chiefs have held the edge in postseason play, but the Bills have certainly pushed them to the limit and have been uber-successful against Kansas City in the regular season.

In an era of parity and the salary cap, few non-divisional rivalries can deliver as consistently as Bills vs. Chiefs. As both teams remain contenders, the saga shows no signs of cooling off. Sign us up for more Josh Allen vs. Patrick Mahomes for the next several years.

2. Indianapolis Colts vs. New England Patriots

This is a rivalry that has cooled off some in recent seasons, but you would be hard-pressed to find a better matchup than this over the last 25 years. It started with Peyton Manning and Tom Brady, and they battled for the better part of the last two decades.

From 2001 to 2010, the two franchises dominated the AFC, and it was nearly a given that they would meet in the postseason. They met in the playoffs five times, including three AFC Championship games. 

The Patriots, led by Brady and Bill Belichick, won the first two postseason encounters, establishing their dynasty. However, the Colts finally broke through in the 2006 AFC Championship, defeating New England 38–34 on their way to winning Super Bowl XLI.

That was the moment when Manning finally got his signature win over Brady and conquered some demons (he would beat Brady again in 2015, which led to another Super Bowl win, albeit with the Denver Broncos).

Regular-season matchups were often intense too, with the teams splitting many memorable contests. After Manning’s departure to Denver and injuries, the rivalry slowed down in the 2010s, but Brady’s later years still managed to keep this matchup interesting. 

There was a moment when it felt like Andrew Luck would extend this rivalry, but that quickly passed due to injuries and an early retirement.

Overall, the Patriots hold the edge in the series, but the Colts’ 2006 breakthrough remains a pivotal chapter in both franchises’ lore. This matchup reminds us of the golden era of AFC quarterback play and produced some of the most-watched games of the 21st century. The hope is that Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes can continue their rivalry and become the modern-day Manning vs. Brady.

3. Dallas Cowboys vs. Green Bay Packers

The Packers and the Cowboys are one of the NFL’s oldest rivalries, and it started with the Ice Bowl in 1967. It has only grown since then, as they’ve met in the postseason nine times, including in the 1995 NFC Championship Game.

The rivalry was reignited in the 2014 NFC Divisional playoffs at Lambeau Field. The Cowboys trailed late when a potential go-ahead catch by Dez Bryant was controversially overturned, allowing Green Bay to win 26–21. The “Dez Caught It” debate remains one of the most debated officiating moments of the decade.

Two years later, in the 2016 NFC Divisional round in Dallas, the Packers were tied with Dallas with only seconds left. Aaron Rodgers found Jared Cook for a stunning 36-yard sideline catch, followed by Mason Crosby’s game-winning 51-yard field goal for a 34–31 victory.

The Micah Parsons trade only made this rivalry stronger, and a 40–40 tie in 2025 added another memorable moment. The rivalry has always highlighted star power, especially at the quarterback position. Bart Starr, Troy Aikman, Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers, Tony Romo, Dak Prescott, and now Jordan Love. And with these teams set to meet again in 2026, the rivalry should only continue to grow.

4. New England Patriots vs. Baltimore Ravens

This rivalry peaked during the Ray Lewis–Tom Brady era, pitting Baltimore’s ferocious defenses against New England’s high-flying offense.

The teams met in the playoffs four times between 2009 and 2014, with the Ravens winning two of those games, most notably the 2012 AFC Championship (28–13) en route to Super Bowl XLVII victory.

The 2014 Divisional Round matchup is one of the best playoff games in the last 25 years, with the Patriots overcoming two separate 14-point deficits. And how could we forget the 2011 matchup that sent the Patriots to the Super Bowl after Billy Cundiff missed a 32-yard field goal to send the game into overtime for the Ravens.

Regular-season clashes were equally memorable, which often were low-scoring affairs decided by field position, turnovers, and special teams. Stars like Ed Reed, Terrell Suggs, and Joe Flacco delivered iconic performances against Brady, Gronkowski, and the Patriots’ machine.

The rivalry produced several classics that helped define the toughest tests of the Brady–Belichick dynasty and the Ravens’ rise as consistent AFC contenders. And now, the hope is that Drake Maye and Lamar Jackson can continue this rivalry into the future, as it’s one of the best non-divisional AFC matchups we have every year.

5. Dallas Cowboys vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

It feels a bit weird to put a rivalry between two teams in opposite conferences, but the Cowboys and Steelers are two iconic franchises who always seem to produce awesome games whenever they play one another. There is obviously a long history between these two franchises in the 1970s and 1990s, but their matchups in the 2000s have been amazing.

The Steelers won an unbelievable game in 2008 when Deshea Townsend intercepted Tony Romo and took it to the house. Four years later, Brandon Carr nearly did the same thing to Ben Roethlisberger, picking him off in overtime to set up the comeback win for the Cowboys. 

The 2016 matchup might have been the game of the year, with Ezekiel Elliott scoring the game-winning touchdown late. Dallas got the 35-30 win over Pittsburgh with a rookie Dak Prescott and Elliott. Their 2024 matchup came down to a fourth-down play on the goal line as Prescott found a tightly covered Jalen Tolbert for the game-winning touchdown.

While these teams only played every four years, it seems like we always get a tight contest that comes down to the wire. And given the long history between the two squads, it felt like too good a rivalry not to include.