Quote from: 1.21GW on January 21, 2014, 08:17:54 AM
Really?  I never thought of Seattle as rivaling anyone in their entire existance in the NFL (the current two-year Niners media-made rivalry notwithstanding).

I don't know about the past...but the current rivalry isn't "media-made". SF & Seattle are clearly the 2 best teams in the NFC West (actually the NFC), and have been for the past 3 seasons. Both teams are built very similar, they're close so the fans travel, and the teams don't really like each other. It obviously isn't the oldest rivalry in the NFL, but I don't think there's a better active one right now.

It has actually become fairly entertaining this season. Before the game in SF, a group of Seattle fans pooled their money to have a plane fly over Candlestick for 30 minutes befoe the game pulling a 12th man banner. In response, a group of SF fans pooled their money to have a couple billboards put up in the Seattle area reminding us how many Superbowl titles the Niners have won.  

No one gives a crap about Arizona or St. Louis.

I think it was media-made to start with because I don't remember it being a thing until the Wilson / Kap comparisons got made in sports media mid last year.  But because the teams became the two best in the NFC and because the players bought into the rivalry narrative, it has quickly blossomed into a fierce competition that I hope continues indefinitely.

I guess I'm just arguing symantics---I consider a rivalry something with a longer history of iconic games with something on the line that ultimately encompass different personnel, different styles of play, different eras, etc.  Manning/Brady is a good example, as is pretty much every permutation of NFC east teams.  Anyway, the current 49ers/Seahwaks agon is pretty dang good and I hope it continues for years to come.  But as a niners fan, I'd prefer outcomes turn out the other way.

Quote from: 1.21GW on January 21, 2014, 10:15:03 AM
Anyway, the current 49ers/Seahwaks agon is pretty dang good and I hope it continues for years to come.  But as a niners fan, I'd prefer outcomes turn out the other way.

SF had their chance...3 straight NFC Championship games, and a SB. Not bad! Time for Seattle to have a go!

I think we should have some good entertainment for years to come. Both are young teams, with young QBs, superb defenses, and great coaches.   I expect Kaepernick to develop into the better QB over time, but who knows, Wilson might surprise me. He's a really smart guy and a hard worker...Kaep has more natural talent though.

Quote from: Triple J on January 21, 2014, 10:27:27 AM
SF had their chance...3 straight NFC Championship games, and a SB. Not bad! Time for Seattle to have a go!

Yeah, I'm sure Bills fans reminisce positively on how they made 4 SBs in a row. 

Quote from: 1.21GW on January 21, 2014, 10:37:09 AM
Yeah, I'm sure Bills fans reminisce positively on how they made 4 SBs in a row. 

That would be me    Poor Jim Kelly.

And Thurman and Bruce.  All great players (and seemingly good guys) that deserved to win one.

Quote from: Triple J on January 21, 2014, 09:37:17 AM
I don't know about the past...but the current rivalry isn't "media-made". SF & Seattle are clearly the 2 best teams in the NFC West (actually the NFC), and have been for the past 3 seasons. Both teams are built very similar, they're close so the fans travel, and the teams don't really like each other. It obviously isn't the oldest rivalry in the NFL, but I don't think there's a better active one right now.

It has actually become fairly entertaining this season. Before the game in SF, a group of Seattle fans pooled their money to have a plane fly over Candlestick for 30 minutes befoe the game pulling a 12th man banner. In response, a group of SF fans pooled their money to have a couple billboards put up in the Seattle area reminding us how many Superbowl titles the Niners have won.  

No one gives a crap about Arizona or St. Louis.

St. Lous was the Niners' rival back in the eighties-nineties

Quote from: Desert Dust on January 21, 2014, 03:51:19 PM
St. Lous was the Niners' rival back in the eighties-nineties

When they were the Los Angeles Rams. Weren't the Cowboys their big rival in the 90s though? It seems like one of them was always in the SB around that time.

Quote from: Triple J on January 21, 2014, 04:31:57 PM
When they were the Los Angeles Rams. Weren't the Cowboys their big rival in the 90s though? It seems like one of them was always in the SB around that time.

Yes, the Rams went downhill after they moved to St. Louis, and so went the rivalry. It was the Pack and the Boys rivaling the Niners in the 90s.

Quote from: 1.21GW on January 21, 2014, 08:17:54 AM
Really?  I never thought of Seattle as rivaling anyone in their entire existance in the NFL (the current two-year Niners media-made rivalry notwithstanding).

That's what I was thinking. Rivals are usually fighting over important games, and Seattle hasn't had too many in their history.

An interviewer once asked Steffi Graf about her rivalry with Gabriela Sabatini. (#1&#2 female tennis players)

Graf responded, "We've played 18 times and she's won two. You call that a rivalry?"

Quote from: Desert Dust on January 21, 2014, 05:04:19 PM
That's what I was thinking. Rivals are usually fighting over important games, and Seattle hasn't had too many in their history.

An interviewer once asked Steffi Graf about her rivalry with Gabriela Sabatini. (#1&#2 female tennis players)

Graf responded, "We've played 18 times and she's won two. You call that a rivalry?"

Seattle leads the series (16-15). Just sayin'   That said, it is definitely a new rivalry.

Quote from: Triple J on January 21, 2014, 06:13:43 PM
Seattle leads the series (16-15). Just sayin'   That said, it is definitely a new rivalry.

5 Super Bowl victories to maybe 1. Seattle was never relevant before, so it was never much of a rivalry. Now, Yes.

Quote from: Desert Dust on January 21, 2014, 06:21:51 PM
5 Super Bowl victories to maybe 1. Seattle was never relevant before, so it was never much of a rivalry. Now, Yes.

Ah yes, the SB victory argument. Last one being 20 years ago, so yeah.  Candlestick might have even been a nice field back then!   Seattle has never won one though...they went 8 years ago and lost. Seattle has a miserable sports history...WTF, we have the Mariners.  

Neither team has San Francisco hasn't been relevant since 2002 when they were placed in the same division though. Seattle has won 6 NFC West championships since then. New era, new teams, new rivalry now though.  

Quote from: Triple J on January 21, 2014, 06:48:42 PM
Seattle has won 6 NFC West championships since then.

Meh...  NFC West in last decade = chronically bad division.

That said...

Quote from: Triple J on January 21, 2014, 06:48:42 PM
Seattle has never won one though...they went 8 years ago and lost. Seattle has a miserable sports history...WTF, we have the Mariners. 

Don't give up, Triple J.  Consider Boston as a model: Sox had a 8-decade old monkey on their back, and Pats were perpetually mediocre, with 1985 and 1997 SBs as two disappointing exceptions.  Then, in early 2000s, something happened and now both are perpetual contenders with insufferable fans.   

  We'll never be as bad as Sox/Patriots fans!