NFL Rivalries 2017: New England Patriots vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

The mother of all NFL rivalries is mainly for the fans. but do the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers actually hate one another? How strong will this rivalry be in 2017?

As the 2017 NFL season has all but arrived, we will continue looking at the league’s best and hottest rivalries. Not every rivalry stands the same in a given year. Some are just as lively as ever, while others have fizzled out for whatever reason.

Next up is the mother of all NFL rivalries, the AFC slug-fest between the New England Patriots and the Pittsburgh Steelers. While New England may dominate in the wins column, these teams bring a level of excitement league wide whenever they face off. Who holds the edge this season?

Two brothers from New York, Dan Salem and Todd Salem, discuss NFL Rivalries 2017 in today’s NFL Sports Debate.

New England Patriots vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

The mixing of elites that takes place in the AFC between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New England Patriots is an incredible rivalry. Both of these teams have found themselves in other rivalries, but this specific matchup may be the most intriguing league-wide. That doesn’t mean each team cares about the other as its main rival, but the rest of us always tune in.

Let’s hit up the rivalry questionnaire.

1. Is this still a rivalry?

Todd Salem: Yes, but as I said, it’s probably more of a public rivalry than a personal one. The rivalry has developed recently out of the teams meeting so often when both are battling for titles. These meetings have even come in the postseason. However, New England has had the much better time of things, including in those playoff matchups. We the people know this is a bitter AFC rivalry; I’m just not sure the Patriots would agree.

Dan Salem: This is an incredible public rivalry for the NFL at large. Tom Brady versus Ben Roethlisberger is a matchup we as fans look forward to every season, if and when it comes. But if either player changed teams, the rivalry would move with them. We saw this happen with Peyton Manning.

While Pittsburgh finds its biggest rival within its own division, the Steelers may be New England’s biggest rival. No one in the AFC East has been on par with the Patriots during the Belichick era. Bill hates the Jets for personal reasons, but Pittsburgh has presented actual competition in both the regular season and playoffs. New England doesn’t have many legitimate rivals, unless a superstar quarterback is involved. This matchup checks all the boxes.

2. Which side of this pairing would you rather be on?

Todd Salem: New England is always the answer to whatever was asked until Tom Brady and/or Bill Belichick retire. Pittsburgh isn’t too far behind New England in terms of talent in this conference, but everyone is behind New England regardless. It only helps the decision that the Pats have beaten Pittsburgh four straight, including last year’s conference title game.

Dan Salem: I don’t care that New England has won more times head to head, or won more championships. The Steelers have a history of winning and are a more likable team in our current era of football. Yes, I said it. Big Ben and Pittsburgh are more likable than Brady and the Patriots. Plus the Steelers have Antonio Brown, which is awesome. I’m not rooting for the Patriots under normal circumstances, so I’m firmly on the Pittsburgh side of this rivalry.

3. What should we expect from this matchup in 2017?

Todd Salem: The two sides meet up once this year thanks to dueling first-place schedules. The game comes in Week 15 at Pittsburgh. I give the Steelers a fighting chance of holding on for a home-field win, especially if New England is cruising towards another division title by that point. If the two teams meet again in the playoffs, however, the Patriots have Pittsburgh’s number, regardless of site.

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Dan Salem: Both teams will be very good this season and both will find themselves in the playoffs. New England is winning their regular season matchup, however. The Patriots don’t rest down the stretch. They hammer it home and roll into the playoffs as hot as possible. That means beating the Steelers on their home turf in Week 15. I don’t believe that New England will return to the Super Bowl, so if these teams meet in the playoffs, then the Steelers find a way to win.

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