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New England Patriots: Power ranking the franchise’s top 5 rivalries

By Patrick Morgan

New England Patriots' Tom Brady, right, shakes hands with Indianapolis Colts' Peyton Manning after a game between New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts at Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts, Sunday, November 5, 2006. Colts won 27-20. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
New England Patriots' Tom Brady, right, shakes hands with Indianapolis Colts' Peyton Manning after a game between New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts at Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts, Sunday, November 5, 2006. Colts won 27-20. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND – NOVEMBER 14: Head Coach Rex Ryan of the New York Jets meets with Head Coach Eric Mangini of the Cleveland Browns when the Cleveland Browns host the New York Jets at Cleveland Browns Stadium on November 14, 2010 in Cleveland, Ohio. Jets beat the Browns, 26-20, in Overtime. (Photo by Al Pereira/New York Jets/Getty Images).
CLEVELAND – NOVEMBER 14: Head Coach Rex Ryan of the New York Jets meets with Head Coach Eric Mangini of the Cleveland Browns when the Cleveland Browns host the New York Jets at Cleveland Browns Stadium on November 14, 2010 in Cleveland, Ohio. Jets beat the Browns, 26-20, in Overtime. (Photo by Al Pereira/New York Jets/Getty Images). /

1. New York Jets

Pictured above are two of the most annoying and most despised NFL figures in New England Patriots lore: Eric Mangini and Rex Ryan.

Mangini actually used to be a revered figure around Boston, known to fans as the “Mangenius” who took over for Romeo Crennel as New England’s defensive coordinator in 2005 after winning three Super Bowls with the Patriots as a defensive assistant under Bill Belichick.

The rest, of course, is well-known to both New England fans and NFL followers alike: Mangini left the Patriots to become the new head coach of the New York Jets in 2006 and was the primary whistleblower the following year when he accused Belichick’s Pats of filming his Jets during the 2007 season … a scandal that would forever be known after as “Spygate.”

Mangini didn’t last very long in the Big Apple, getting fired after another dismal season in 2008.

His replacement was another pouty, outspoken, obnoxious figure to Patriots fans: ex-Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan.

Ryan made headlines right away during his introductory news conference as Gang Green’s new head coach:

“I never came here to kiss Bill Belichick‘s rings. I came here to win, let’s put it that way … I’m certainly not intimidated by New England or anybody else.”

Ryan’s Jets then proceeded to back up his brash talk by going just 4-9 against Belichick’s Patriots over the next six years. The highlight if you’re a Jets fan was a surprise road victory over the Pats in the Divisional round of the 2010 NFL playoffs. The lowlight if you’re a Jets fan was unquestionably Mark Sanchez’s butt fumble on Thanksgiving 2012.

Beyond just Mangini and Ryan, there’s a ton of historical animosity between the Patriots and the Jets. The two clubs came into the AFL at the same time and played in the same division, and they came into the NFL at the same time and played in the same division.

MetLife Stadium is far and away the closest geographically to Gillette Stadium. Boston and New York have a long-standing rivalry in sports, too, whether it’s Red Sox/Yankees, Patriots/Jets, Celtics/Knicks, or Bruins/Rangers.

Next. Ranking the Patriots' Super Bowl wins by excitement level. dark

This rivalry also is notable for its shared head coaches: Mike Holovak, Pete Carroll, Bill Parcells, and Bill Belichick himself — although Belichick infamously resigned as head coach of the Jets at his introductory news conference and before he ever coached a game for them, taking the Patriots HC job instead.

Without a doubt, the New York Jets are the No. 1 all-time rival of the New England Patriots.

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