Minnesota Vikings rivalry with the Packers is among the best in the NFL

There is a lot of history between the Minnesota Vikings and the Green Bay Packers. Those two teams have developed one of the best rivalries in the NFL.

Games between the Minnesota Vikings and the Green Bay Packers always seem to have a little more “oomph” to them than any other games on the schedule. There are some great reasons these two teams are often mentioned in the same breath when discussing the best teams in the NFC.

Of course, both teams are situated in the NFC North and play each other at least twice a year. Plus, Minnesota and Wisconsin share a border with fans of each team trickling into the territory of the other state.

But it’s a lot more than just groupings and geography that makes games between these two teams so great.

In franchise history, the Vikings have played the Packers 115 times with the outcomes pretty evenly split. Minnesota has won 53 of those games with Green Bay picking up 59 victories and there being three ties. In addition, the teams have met in the playoffs twice, splitting those games right down the middle.

Recently, The Sporting News released a list of the best rivalries in the NFL and the beef between the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers landed them in the number seven spot on the countdown by Todd Haislop.

Here is what Haislop had to say about this rivalry:

"“Both of these teams expect to contend in 2019, but each knows the other will be a significant barrier to success. Don’t expect this rivalry to cool down anytime soon.”"

Right now, the Vikings are owning this rivalry. Green Bay has only won one of the last seven matchups between the two teams and has yet to beat Minnesota at U.S. Bank Stadium. However, the tide has flowed back and forth between the franchises, with Chicago making a nice run once in a while and the Lions sprinkling in a few great seasons here and there.

The number one rivalry on the list is between the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys. Anyone who has seen interactions between fans of these two teams likely knows and understands why the hatred between the two franchises is so strong and the stories are legendary.

While the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers are rivals, there is still a sense of civility and respect between the two franchises that can be felt when watching them play. Now the fans…that respect isn’t always there when it comes to the green and gold interacting with the purple and gold.