A Ravens Fan Perspective: Making a Case for the Best Rivalry in Football

Every NFL season, the fans always deal with the highs and lows of our teams.

Whether losing a valuable player on our defense for the rest of the season, experiencing a losing streak, or leaps and bounds with our new coaches, no matter what your record is, there is one time during the season that you can look forward to: The Rivalry Games.

From the eyes of an NFL fan, a rivalry can be broken down in so many ways—it can be a rivalry that has been built within a division of two teams that are always fighting for a right to earn playoff births.

Yet, that is not the only prize in the rivalry games. It is and will always be about the bragging rights.

We are lucky to see teams face each other twice in one season, which always brings the anticipated rivalry to its highest peak.

We have the NFC East, one of the divisions that holds these rivalries, involving the Dallas Cowboys, the New York Giants, along with the Philadelphia Eagles. You also see other division rivalries in the NFC North, between the Chicago Bears, the Green Bay Packers, and the Minnesota Vikings.

Not only do they gain the recognition and respect, but you also have to consider the high television ratings whenever these teams match up on the field.

The other type of rivalry we have isn't within a division, but has been forged from the amount of times they have met in important games.

The perfect example is the New England Patriots vs. the Indianapolis Colts.

Both squads have met countless times in the regular season; however, both are known for the classic games in the playoffs.

A rivalry that hasn't been around the longest time, it features the two best quarterbacks in the sport, and the discussion of who is the better quarterback.

Usually the only exception to a non-divisional rivalry, it's one you can't miss.

There is one rivalry, however, that tops them all.

The show of defense, where defense is made, the motto of "defense win championships" was believed to be born.

When the Baltimore Ravens meet the Pittsburgh Steelers in the epic battle, the highlight of that Sunday is talked about every single day the week before.

There is no doubt that Raven and Steeler Nation have made their plans the day the schedule is released.

I could tell you right now, if a woman asked one of these fans out to a party a week before, the door would be shut right in her face.

The rivalry begins with the fans each Sunday morning, and ends with the fans (sometimes in the parking lot).

Most importantly though, the whole NFL world comes out twice a year to watch this game.

Sure, you have some of the rivalries that are just watched by the teams' fans.

However, a small amount of these are watched by everyone.

The world is watching the hitting of Ray Lewis and Ed Reed from the Ravens, along with James Harrison and Troy Polamalu of the Steelers.

Both teams have been consistent in being the top two defenses for quite some time, so you can expect to see a low-scoring match up with hard hitting.

The rivalry has played a huge part in playoff participation, especially seeding, since the rivalry began.

Both of these teams have been clear representatives of the AFC North, with one of the teams involved in postseason each year, and this past year was the first time the Ravens and Steelers met in the postseason.

Each organization has experienced a down season throughout the rivalry, yet there is no change of scenery when these teams play.

One may have an advantage over another each season, yet the game has never changed because of the difference of records.

Most importantly, each team has respect for each other.

It's expected that the players respect one another, like most rivalries; however, the fans deep down respect the team as well.

It will never be shown in public how much respect everyone involved has for each other.

This is why the rivalry is one of the best in sports.

On the field, you see the hits, the bloody noses

At home, in the bars, one fan arguing with another.

But when the time comes, the true respect and presence each team has makes the rivalry better then any other.

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Matt Miselis is a writer for BleacherReport.com.