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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CLEVELAND, OHIO – OCTOBER 31: Safety Terrell Edmunds #34 of the Pittsburgh Steelers tries to stop wide receiver Jarvis Landry #80 of the Cleveland Browns during the second half at FirstEnergy Stadium on October 31, 2021, in Cleveland, Ohio. The Steelers defeated the Browns 15-10. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO – OCTOBER 31: Safety Terrell Edmunds #34 of the Pittsburgh Steelers tries to stop wide receiver Jarvis Landry #80 of the Cleveland Browns during the second half at FirstEnergy Stadium on October 31, 2021, in Cleveland, Ohio. The Steelers defeated the Browns 15-10. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

6. Top NFL Rivalries – Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cleveland Browns

  • All-Time History: Steelers lead 78-61-1
  • First Meeting: Oct. 7, 1950 (Browns 30, Steelers 17)
  • Last Meeting: Oct. 31, 2021 (Steelers 15, Browns 10)
  • Postseason History: Steelers lead 2-1

The AFC’s oldest rivalry is also one of the NFL’s fiercest. Pittsburgh and Cleveland are separated by just 135 miles, allowing fans from both teams to make the trip to away games to add to the atmosphere of these games.

The series was extremely one-sided early on as the Browns came over from the All-American Football Conference as a powerhouse and dominated a pathetic Steelers’ franchise, racking up a 31-9 advantage before the AFL-NFL merger. The Steelers were initially an easy pick from the NFL to move to the AFC and Cleveland agreed to move with them to preserve their rivalry while starting a new one with the AFC’s Cincinnati Bengals.

Things changed dramatically with the rise of the Steelers, who won 15 of 20 meetings during the Steel Curtain dynasty years of the 1970s. The series then reached a state of equilibrium for the remainder of the Browns’ initial run in Cleveland before Art Modell moved the franchise to Baltimore, leaving the rivalry dormant for three years.

The new Browns eventually became a perennial punching bag for the Steelers, who crushed their bitter rival repeatedly after Cleveland rejoined the NFL in 1999. Things finally swung back in Cleveland’s favor a bit last season when the Browns beat the Steelers to get in the playoffs before blowing out Pittsburgh at Heinz Field to knock out their long-time rivals, setting the stage for some huge drama between the franchises in the coming years.

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