Fansided

30 greatest NFL rivalries of all-time

By Josh Criswell

Aug 15, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; General view of golden NFL shield logo in the end zone to commemorate Super Bowl 50 during the preseason NFL game between San Francisco 49ers and the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 15, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; General view of golden NFL shield logo in the end zone to commemorate Super Bowl 50 during the preseason NFL game between San Francisco 49ers and the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Aug 29, 2013; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) and New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) meet on the field after the game Gillette Stadium. The Patriots defeated the Giants 28-20. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 29, 2013; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) and New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) meet on the field after the game Gillette Stadium. The Patriots defeated the Giants 28-20. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports /

20. New York Giants – New England Patriots

The New England Patriots and New York Giants have met just 11 times throughout their storied histories, but that does not prevent their rivalry from ranking among the NFL’s best of all-time.

In 2008, the Patriots and Giants met in the Super Bowl, in what was supposed to be the finishing touch on a historic season for New England. The Patriots entered the game as the clearcut favorite after becoming the first team since the 1972 Miami Dolphins to finish the regular season with an unblemished record, and the first to do so since the schedule was expanded to 16 games.

Eli Manning and the Giants had different plans.

New England held a late lead, but New York took control of the ball down 14-10 with one more chance to pull off the upset. Aided by an improbable off-the-helmet grab by wide receiver David Tyree and a last-minute touchdown catch from Plaxico Burress, the Giants did just that.

The two teams met for a Super Bowl rematch four years later. Although not as heavy underdogs in that game, New York shocked the Patriots once again.

The Giants lead the series 6-5-0, with a 12-point edge in point differential. This parity is not what fans remember, though.

What lands this rivalry among the best ever is the pair of remarkable Super Bowl showdowns of the past decade that left two of the greatest teams of the Patriots dynasty searching for answers and gave Eli Manning one more Super Bowl victory than his record-setting big brother.

Next: 19. San Fransisco 49ers - Seattle Seahawks

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