NFL Interconference Rivalries

So Dave Dameshek shared with Bill Simmons his idea for interconference rivalry games in the NFL, similar to what works so well in the college game. So of course, I had to go ahead and figure out the matchups. It works out better than you might expect.



Tier 1: In-city rivals
Raiders - 49ers
Jets - Giants

Tier 2: In-state rivals
Chiefs - Rams
Texans - Cowboys
Steelers - Eagles
Dolphins - Bucs
Ravens - Redskins

Tier 3: Regional/Connected Rivals
Chargers - Cardinals (5 hours apart, both places really hot)
Browns - Lions (3 hours apart, Lake Erie, vying for most depressing city)
Broncos - Seahawks (only teams out west, and former division rivals)
Titans - Falcons (4 hours apart)
Jaguars - Panthers (southeast and expansion teams in same year)
Colts - Bears (3 hours apart and Super Bowl XLI)

Tier 4: Unrivals
Patriots - Vikings (both mascots are historical figures?)
Bills - Saints (Buffalo wings vs gumbo/muffaletas?)
Bengals - Packers (small, sleepy midwest towns?)

Okay, so 6 teams get screwed. But 26 teams get really good games.

Of course it would never happen, because it creates a severe imbalance. If I was an Eagles fan I wouldn't be too happy about playing the Steelers every year while the Cowboys get to play the Texans every year. But hey, they do it in baseball.

At the very least, it could be the 3rd preseason game every year, the one that teams play full out for. It still wouldn't be that exciting but it's better than nothing. (For the record, I know the Chiefs and Rams already meet every year in the preseason for the Governor's Cup, and it's at least semi-interesting.

P.S. You could match the Texans with the Saints, in the Reggie Bush Bowl, as they are regionally close. That would open up the Cowboys to play the Pats, in the America's Team bowl. Then you could move the Bills to the Packers (battle across the Great Lakes, wings vs cheese) and have the Vikings play the Bengals in the (who gives a shit?bowl, purple vs orange).