Fansided

Ranking the 25 biggest NFL rivalries of all time

By Mike Phillips

PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 26: Jackson Carman #79 of the Cincinnati Bengals in action against the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 26, 2021 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 26: Jackson Carman #79 of the Cincinnati Bengals in action against the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 26, 2021 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /
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GREEN BAY, WI – SEPTEMBER 20: Aaron Jones #33 of the Green Bay Packers runs a pass in for a touchdown during a game against the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field on September 20, 2021 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers defeated the Lions 35-17. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
GREEN BAY, WI – SEPTEMBER 20: Aaron Jones #33 of the Green Bay Packers runs a pass in for a touchdown during a game against the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field on September 20, 2021 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers defeated the Lions 35-17. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

24. Top NFL rivalries – Green Bay Packers vs. Detroit Lions

  • All-Time Record: Packers lead 105-72-7
  • First Meeting: Nov. 2, 1930 (Packers 47, Spartans 13)
  • Last Meeting: Sept. 20, 2021 (Packers 35, Lions 17)
  • Postseason History: Packers lead 2-0

History certainly adds to the intensity of an NFL rivalry and Packers-Lions certainly fits the bill. These teams first met back in 1930, when the Lions were known as the Portsmouth Spartans before moving to Detroit in 1934, and have established one of the NFL’s longest divisional rivalries.

Green Bay dominated the series early, winning 29 of the first 40 meetings, but Detroit bounced back by ripping off a 15-4-1 record in the 1950s to establish themselves as a threat. The two teams proceeded to trade blows through the 1990s when things started to get more lopsided in the Packers’ favor after the Lions’ collapse following the retirement of Barry Sanders.

The only two playoff meetings between the Packers and Lions came in consecutive years with Green Bay picking up a pair of four-point victories over Detroit. These teams are also matched up frequently on Thanksgiving, with the Packers and Lions facing off 22 times on Turkey Day over the course of their history, including some memorable contests like 1962’s Thanksgiving Day Massacre, when the Lions handed the Packers their only loss of the regular season while sacking Bart Starr 11 times.

This rivalry did gain some steam again in the 2010s when Detroit was a regular playoff threat but it could swing back heavily in favor of the Packers now that the Lions are rebuilding again. Detroit has at least made some progress in games at Lambeau Field, winning three times in their past six trips to Green Bay after going from 1992-2014 without a win on the Frozen Tundra.

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