Pittsburgh’s most heated sports rivalry is Steelers-Patriots. Much of it is jealous. The Patriots have the best organization in pro sports. They have the best quarterback and best coach. There is a feeling the Steelers can’t beat the Patriots. Many hate that even more than they hate Bill Belichick and Tom Brady.
The greatest rivalry of all time here is Steelers-Raiders. Good vs. evil. Art Rooney Sr. vs. Al Davis. It lasted only five years when the teams played each season in the playoffs from 1972-76, but there was nothing like it. It started with the Immaculate Reception, when Franco Harris broke the Raiders’ hearts, and ended with the Criminal Element trial, when Raiders cornerback George Atkinson unsuccessfully sued Chuck Noll for slander after Atkinson had mugged Lynn Swann on the field.