Most One-Sided Rivalries in Professional Sports
Rivalries usually thrive on uncertainty, the kind of back-and-forth that keeps fans hooked for years. Every season brings new stakes, fresh grudges, and the possibility that either side could walk away with the win. That’s the version of rivalry people like to celebrate.
There’s another side to the story. Some matchups tilt so heavily in one direction that the outcome starts to feel inevitable. The history is still emotional, the fan bases still care, but the competitive balance barely exists. These are the rivalries remembered for long streaks, lopsided records, and one team carrying most of the bragging rights across entire eras.
The NFL’s Longest Lesson in Ownership
Image via Wikimedia Commons/Mike Morbeck
The Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears have been facing each other for over a century, and it’s been a masterclass in how a rivalry can evolve. The Bears controlled the early years by piling up wins through the 1920s and 1950s. Then the script flipped.
Since the 1960s, the Packers have taken charge, now leading the series by a wide margin and holding a six-game winning streak. Packers fans still talk about Aaron Rodgers’ “I own you” shout at Soldier Field. That moment captured decades of dominance in one sentence and sealed Green Bay’s reputation as the Bears’ recurring headache.
When Showtime Met Sacramento
In the NBA, the Los Angeles Lakers have been an obstacle for many teams, but none have struggled against them more than the Sacramento Kings. Los Angeles has taken nearly two-thirds of their regular-season games and won eight of nine playoff series.
The early 2000s battles were especially rough for Sacramento when Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal repeatedly ended their playoff dreams. The Kings had talent with Chris Webber, Mike Bibby, and Peja Stojaković leading the charge, yet every season ended the same way once they ran into the Lakers.
The Baseball Curse That Changed Sides
The rivalry between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees began in 1919 when Boston traded Babe Ruth to New York and sparked what became known as the “Curse of the Bambino.”
Over the next 86 years, the Yankees collected 26 World Series titles while Boston couldn’t win one. Everything changed in 2004 when the Red Sox came back from a 0-3 series deficit in the ALCS to eliminate New York and end the curse.
Since then, Boston has won four championships to New York’s one.
Montreal’s Ice-Cool Dominance
Image via Wikimedia Commons/Paul Keleher
Hockey fans know no rivalry runs deeper than the Montreal Canadiens and the Boston Bruins.
These two have met more than 900 times, and Montreal still holds the edge in both regular-season and playoff records. Out of 34 postseason series, the Canadiens have claimed 25.
Boston has improved its record since the late 1980s, but Montreal’s 24 Stanley Cups to the Bruins’ six keep the balance clear.