NFL: Ranking the Four Best Rivalries in the League

2. San Francisco 49ers vs Seattle Seahawks

Dec 23, 2012; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) holds onto the ball while San Francisco 49ers defensive end Ray McDonald (91) and inside linebacker NaVorro Bowman (53) try to tackle during the 1st half at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

The San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks don’t have much history, but the two teams definitely don’t like each other.

Ever since Pete Carroll took the reins in Seattle and Jim Harbaugh took over in San Francisco, the 49ers and Seahawks have been playing quality football.

If it wasn’t for a last-second field goal by the Atlanta Falcons in the second round of the 2013 playoffs, the two teams would have battled in the NFC Championship Game. In 2012, the 49ers and Seahawks combined to go 22-9-1.

Rookie Russell Wilson and second-year prodigy Colin Kaepernick led their teams to the playoffs and at least one playoff win. Seattle came just shy of the NFC Championship Game, but showed everyone that it will be a force for years to come. In their Super Bowl run, the 49ers did the same thing.

Then, both teams killed it in the offseason.

The Seahawks added playmakers like Percy Harvin, Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett, and the 49ers added Anquan Boldin, Nnamdi Asomugha, Eric Reid, Tank Carradine and others. Both teams appear to be flawless, and both teams will be in the Super Bowl hunt once again.

That will lead to more great football between the two teams. There have already been some good games between the two, including Week 7 of the 2012 season, when the 49ers held off the Seahawks 13-6. In Week 16 of the 2011 season, the 49ers edged the Seahawks 17-16.

In the most recent clash between the teams, Seattle lit up CenturyLink field with a 42-13 win in Week 16 of the 2012 season. Despite the one-sided score, the game was exciting.

In 2013, the games will be even tighter. Harbaugh and Carroll have history from their days at Stanford and USC, when Harbaugh’s Cardinal ran up the score on Carroll’s mighty Trojans. The two coaches aren’t exactly best friends, and the players don’t get along well either.

Even opposing players and coaches haven’t been getting along too well. Seahawks cornerback Brandon Browner said that he would put his hands around Harbaugh’s neck if Harbaugh was lined up against him.

Bay Area Sports Guy also went into detail about how Seahawks fans don’t like the 49ers, and the same goes for 49ers fans. While the two teams don’t have much history, the fans and players hate each other. The games have been intense, and the rivalry will continue to escalate rapidly.

And as that happens, this rivalry will become the best in football. However, right now, there’s still one rivalry that’s better.