There isn't an active rivalry out there right now that features two better quarterbacks. Peyton Manning (right) and Tom Brady won five of the NFL MVP awards from 2003-2009, with Manning taking two. In their previous matchup last season, the Colts were down by 17 in the fourth quarter, but Manning rallied the Colts to within three points before falling short. The Pats' regular season record against Indy is 6-4 since the start of the 2001 season. The Patriots hold a 2-1 postseason advantage in recent years.

This NFC North rivalry skyrocketed to an entirely new level when longtime Packers quarterback Brett Favre ended up in Minnesota. The Green Bay faithful thought it saw the last of its favorite QB when Favre "retired" in March 2008. Then he ended up with the Jets in a trade after a dramatic offseason. Then Favre joined the dreaded Vikings, and while the Ol' Gunslinger ran out of fuel in his final season, just his presence in Viking Purple was enough to get Green Bay fans riled up. The last time Favre walked off Lambeau Field? It was to a chorus of boos after a dreadful performance in a 31-3 Minnesota loss.

Overshadowed by Indy's rivalry with New England, Philip Rivers (left) and the San Diego Chargers have long been a thorn in the side of Peyton Manning's Colts. The Chargers are one of only two teams (the other being the Patriots) to beat the Colts in the postseason twice since 2003. In '05, the Chargers upset the Colts to end Indy's perfect season in Week 15. Manning threw a career-high six picks in San Diego in 2007 and the Chargers finished off the Colts in the postseason two months later. In Week 12 last season, Manning threw four interceptions in a 36-14 loss to the Chargers.

Most NFC East division battles can be considered big rivalries, but this one became extra spicy last offseason. Donovan McNabb, perhaps Philly's best QB ever, was traded the 'Skins . . . prompting fans and pundits to scratch their heads. In their first meeting of 2010, the Redskins injured Philly's new starter Michael Vick in a Washington win. Then in Week 10, as if the Eagles needed more incentive against a rival, the Redskins reportedly taunted star WR DeSean Jackson for missing time with a concussion. The Eagles responded with a 59-28 drubbing as Vick accounted for six TDs.

This is one of the few rivalries out there where the team winning the coin toss might opt to play defense first. Every season, the Ravens and Steelers can typically lay claim to the title of the NFL's best defense. The rivalry has all the elements of great feud, including trash talk. Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs (left) once claimed there was a "bounty" on Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward. Suggs later said it was a joke, but we wouldn't put it past these teams to take it over the line. The Steelers hold the edge in the overall standings at 21-12, including playoffs.

Rex Ryan (left) revived this rivalry upon joining the New York Jets in 2009. Before that season began Ryan went after the Pats, claiming he "never came here to kiss Bill Belichick's rings." Ryan also sent a voicemail to Jets season ticket holders urging them to make the upcoming game vs. New England "miserable for Brady and Co." in '09. The Jets won that game and hold the advantage in the series under Ryan at 3-2 (including their playoff win in January). The Jets have gotten the Pats' attention. Tom Brady, who claimed he boycotted the HBO series "Hard Knocks" that featured the Jets, said he did so because "I hate the Jets."

This NFC North rivalry holds the title as the league's longest rivalry, with 182 regular and postseason games having been played since 1921. Both teams boast Pro Bowl quarterbacks, with Aaron Rodgers (left) captaining the Packers and Jay Cutler leading the Bears. Both squads also met in the NFC title game last season, with the Packers winning en route to a Super Bowl run. The Bears hold the all-time series at 92-84-6.

One of the great rivalries in the NFL, the Giants and Cowboys have nothing but bad blood between them. Hall of Fame coach Tom Landry played a role in the fate of both franchises, playing for and coaching the Giants from 1947-59. One year later he became head coach of the expansion Cowboys piling up a 35-17-2 record against New York in his 29 seasons. The most recent chapter in this bitter rivalry centers around the Giants effectively ending Dallas' playoff dreams when Giants LB Michael Boley drove Tony Romo into the ground (pictured), fracturing the QB's collarbone.

With each passing game Houston's rivalry with Tennessee grows more heated. Forget the fact that the Titans were uprooted from Houston (then called the Oilers) and moved to Nashville against the wishes of the fans. Today's rivalry centers around two players: Titans cornerback Cortland Finnegan and Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson. Tempers boiled over in Houston's 20-0 win over the Titans last Npovember as Finnegan and Johnson took their chippy feud to a new level by fistfighting.

For the past few seasons the Saints have been the toast of the NFC South. The Falcons and Bucs are ready to start staking their claim as not only the NFC South's best, but possibly even the NFC's best team. While this rivalry isn't full-bodied yet, consider that the Falcons' Matt Ryan (left) and the Bucs' Josh Freeman are two of the young star QBs in the league. Atlanta's Mike Smith was the 2008 Coach of the Year, while Tampa Bay's Raheem Morris is making a case for the honor this season. Give this rivalry a few years to age, and we're sure it'll be a good one.