Green Bay Packers vs. Pittsburgh Steelers: Which is the NFL's Greatest Franchise

Green Bay Packers vs. Pittsburgh Steelers is a showdown between two of the most storied franchises in all of football.

It's two teams with a lot of history, a lot of great players, and a lot of success. However, which one of them is the greatest franchise in NFL history? We break it down over five categories and wrap it all up at the end.

If you agree or disagree, let it be known in the comments. Who do you think is the best franchise in NFL history?

Green Bay Packers: Super Bowls

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26 Jan 1997: Quarterback Brett Favre of the Green Bay Packers celebrates after Super Bowl XXXI against the New England Patriots at the Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Packers won the game, 35-21. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bahr /Allsport

The Green Bay Packers have won three Super Bowls and been to another, making this Green Bay's fifth Super Bowl appearance.

Green Bay won the first two Super Bowls under Vince Lombardi and then went through a long drought before Brett Favre took the Packers to back-to-back Super Bowls, beating the Patriots and losing to John Elway's Broncos.

There's certainly a history of winning in Green Bay.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Super Bowls

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TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 01: Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates with the Vince Lombardi trophy after they won 27-23 the Arizona Cardinals during Super Bowl XLIII on February 1, 2009 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Flor

While Green Bay has been successful, there's no matching Pittsburgh's Super Bowl track record.

The Steelers have been to seven Super Bowls and won six of them, the only blemish coming at the hands of the Dallas Cowboys in the 1990s. Pittsburgh has the most Super Bowl wins of any franchise in the NFL and could extend that mark further in a couple of weeks.

It's hard to touch that kind of excellence.

Green Bay Packers: Long Term Success

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CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 23: Quarterback Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers looks to pass against the Chicago Bears in the NFC Championship Game at Soldier Field on January 23, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970, the Green Bay Packers have made the playoffs 15 times.

Green Bay made the playoffs six straight years from 1993 to 1998 but did have two long playoff droughts- one from 1973 to 1981 before making it in 1982; then again from 1983 to 1992 before starting the playoff streak.

That's a long time to go without any success.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Long Term Success

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PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 23: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers calls a play against the New York Jets during the 2011 AFC Championship game at Heinz Field on January 23, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Im

Since the merger, the Pittsburgh Steelers have a whopping 25 playoff appearances.

Not only that, but the Steelers made the playoffs for eight straight seasons in the 1970s and won four Super Bowls in that span. In fact, since joining the NFL, the most seasons Pittsburgh has gone without making the playoffs is four.

There is no team that has been more successful since the merger than the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Green Bay Packers: Hall of Fame Talent

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26 Jan 1997: Defensive lineman Reggie White of the Green Bay Packers looks on during Super Bowl XXXI against the New England Patriots at the Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Packers won the game, 35-21. Mandatory Credit: Al Bello /Allsport

If you go by primary members inducted into the Hall of Fame, the Packers are a hard bunch to top.

Green Bay has 21 members in the Hall of Fame, the second highest total behind the Chicago Bears, and some of them are a who's who of the NFL. Guys like Bart Starr and Paul Hornung. Not to mention the immortal Vince Lombardi, who is the greatest football coach of all time.

That's a list not many franchises can challenge.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Hall of Fame Talent

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PITTSBURGH, PA - OCTOBER 21: Retired Quarterback Terry Bradshaw of the Pittsburgh Steelers holds up his old number during the NFL game against the Indianapolis Colts at Heinz Field on October 21, 2002 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh won 28-10.(P

The Pittsburgh Steelers are a franchise that has seen some of the best players to ever play come through and put on the black and yellow.

There are guys like Franco Harris and Terry Bradshaw along with Mean Joe Greene and Jack Ham. Really, the list could go on and on. The Steelers have 18 primary members in the Hall of Fame. There will certainly be more as the years go by and it shows why Pittsburgh has been so successful.

So many franchises wish they could be the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Green Bay Packers: Coaching Legends

Green Bay had a coach so great, they named the Super Bowl trophy after him.

Vince Lombardi was a legend, an icon and a visionary. He changed the way football was played and there may not have been a coach who has done it as well as he has. Lombardi is the standard by which we measure all coaches and while there have been plenty of greats, none have loomed as large as he did.

It's really that simple.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Coaching Legends

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8 Nov 1989: Head coach Chuck Noll of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on during a game against the Denver Broncos at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Broncos won the game 34-7. Mandatory Credit: Tim de Frisco /Allsport

While he's no Vince Lombardi, Chuck Noll is no slouch either.

Noll coached the Steelers from 1969 to 1991 and in that time, Pittsburgh made the playoffs 12 times and won four Super Bowls. That's not a bad stretch. He had longevity unlike almost all other coaches and stayed successful through it all.

He's a Hall of Famer and with good reason.

Green Bay Packers: Venues

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GREEN BAY, WI - JANUARY 02: Quarterback Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers circles the field after the Packers win over the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field on January 2, 2011 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

What can you say about Lambeau Field?

It's a cathedral of football. If you're a pro football fan, you always hear that you have to see a game at Lambeau Field. There's not another venue like it in football and the fans and the atmosphere around the stadium just add to the experience.

There will never be another Lambeau Field.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Venues

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PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 23: Ziggy Hood #96 of the Pittsburgh Steelers is introduced prior to their 2011 AFC Championship game against the New York Jets at Heinz Field on January 23, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Imag

Heinz Field is a great place to see a football game, but Lambeau it is not.

However, being on the Three Rivers and around some of the most die hard and knowledgeable football fans makes Heinz Field one of the best places to see a game in all of the NFL. They are loud, and when those Terrible Towels get waving, there's nothing more intimidating for an opposing team.

As far as modern stadiums go, it's one of the best.

Conclusion

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PITTSBURGH - JANUARY 11: (L-R) Hines Ward #86, Jerome Bettis and Ben Roesthisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers look on from the sideline against the San Diego Chargers during their AFC Divisional Playoff Game on January 11, 2009 at Heinz Field in Pitt

In the end though, it has to be the Pittsburgh Steelers.

There's so much success there and in the NFL, everything is defined by success. Sure, Green Bay has seen its share as well, but the Steelers are the embodiment of success in the NFL. Since 1969, the Steelers have had three head coaches.

Pittsburgh has won more Super Bowls than any other franchise and could win its third in a short period of time, when that's not the norm in the NFL. Every franchise in football should want to be like the Pittsburgh Steelers.