One of the best aspects of sports is the rivalries and the NFL is no different. Rivalries bring out the immense excitement in fans and push teams and individuals to be the best they can be.
In the 21st century, the Seahawks have gone from being a lower tier franchise to a team who is more often than not a playoff, and sometimes Super Bowl, contending organization. Of course, no team enjoying this kind of success can get through without picking up a few enemies along the way.
Here are the Top 5 current rivalries for the Seattle Seahawks.
Honorable Mentions – Carolina Panthers and Dallas Cowboys
It seems the Seahawks and the Panthers always end up playing each other at least once a year. Although these games are typically very close, due to the fact both teams are almost identically built, this admittedly isn’t too much of a rivalry.
The Seahawks outright own the Panthers, as Carolina has only won twice this decade against Seattle, and has only four wins total when playing the Seahawks. In the end, Russell Wilson and Co. always seem to make the necessary plays late that the Panthers don’t.
As for the Cowboys, there really isn’t much juice to make this a memorable rivalry. Sure the games are also competitive, but other than a botched Tony Romo field goal attempt in 2007, there aren’t any other historic moments to differentiate Cowboys/Seahawks games from normal match-ups and a noteworthy series.
No. 5 – New England Patriots
The Seahawks vs. the Patriots is almost like the NFL equivalent of a solar eclipse – a rare occurrence, but a sight to behold.
When Seattle and New England clash, these end up being hard fought games, with the last three ending with scores of 31-24, 28-24, and 24-23. In the Pete Carroll era, Seattle holds a 2-1 edge over the Pats, but New England’s lone win was in Super Bowl XLIX.
Malcolm Butler’s goal-line interception of Russell Wilson will go down as one of the most iconic plays in Super Bowl history and will live on in infamy for Seahawks fans.
The 12th Man will never forget the Patriots denying Seattle a chance to repeat as World Champions, and for that, New England still makes the rivalry cut. However, due to the infrequent schedule between these two teams, it’s harder to have them ranked higher than No. 5.
All-time record: Tied 9-9
No. 4 – San Francisco 49ers
There was a time when the Seahawks and 49ers rivalry was unquestionably the best in the NFL. Head coach Jim Harbaugh and quarterback Colin Kaepernick facing off against the Legion of Boom at the height of their powers produced some of the most brutally physical games in recent memory.
Now the Niners are a shell of themselves. They have gone from a team competing for Super Bowls to a perennial Top 5 pick in the draft. In their last 11 meetings, San Francisco has only notched one victory over Seattle.
The Seahawks typically dominate the Niners, but they make the cut at No. 4 by virtue of being in the NFC West and are guaranteed two games with the Seahawks each year. Perhaps the return of quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo will bring life back into this rivalry.
All-time record: Seahawks lead series 25-16
No. 3 – Pittsburgh Steelers
In many ways, Pittsburgh’s rivalry with the Seahawks is very similar to New England’s – both teams rarely play Seattle, both produce memorable games with Seattle, and both have beaten Seattle in the Super Bowl.
Although, it’s not just that the Steelers beat the Seahawks, it’s how. When the Seahawks lost Super Bowl XLIX to the Patriots, the game was defined by the product on the field between the two teams. When the Steelers beat the Seahawks in Super Bowl XL, the most memorable moments were the actions of the referees.
To this day, Super Bowl XL remains one of the most controversially officiated games in league history, and the 12th Man still believes the Seahawks were robbed as every questionable call went Pittsburgh’s way.
The Steelers rise to No. 3 on this list as the bitter memories of Seattle’s first trip to the Super Bowl still linger, and the fact the Seahawks will play Pittsburgh in Week 2 this year.
All-time record: Tied 9-9
No. 2 – Green Bay Packers
Seattle vs. Green Bay is quietly one of the best rivalries in the NFL right now. Since 2012 the Seahawks and Packers have played seven times, with Seattle taking a 4-3 advantage and all their wins coming at home.
This rivalry is jam-packed with many unforgettable moments, such as the infamous “Fail Mary” play, or the Packers blowing a 19-7 lead with 2:10 remaining in the 2014 NFC Championship. Most recently, the Seahawks effectively knocked the Packers out of the playoffs last year in a 27-24 victory to drop Green Bay to 0-5 on the road for the first time since 1979.
What makes this such a great rivalry is the fact Green Bay lands plenty of its own shots as well. In 2016 the Packers helped cost the Seahawks a first-round bye when they defeated Seattle 38-10 with Wilson throwing five interceptions. In Seattle’s last trip to Lambeau Field, the Packers shut the Seahawks out of the end zone in a 17-9 win.
Games between these two teams are physical, often sloppy, and usually come down to the wire with plenty of stakes on the line.
All-time record: Packers lead 13-9
No. 1 – Los Angeles Rams
Even before the Rams became the offensive superpower they are today, they have always been a thorn in Seattle’s side. In fact, the Seahawks have only ever swept the Rams once in the same year during the Russell Wilson era. For whatever reason, this team has always seemed to have Seattle’s number.
Now the Rams are one of the best teams in the league and have recently bullied their way to back-to-back NFC West titles, with three straight wins over the Seahawks. They are the only division rival to have a winning record over Wilson.
The Seahawks played the Rams tough in 2018, but came up short both times. Right now the road to reclaiming the NFC West runs through the City of Angels. If Seattle wants to prove they are legitimate contenders, the Seahawks will have to take down their top rival in 2019.
All-time record: Seahawks lead 23-19
