Every major sport needs a good rivalry to keep fans interested in the game long after their home or favorite team is eliminated from championship contention. The NBA had the Celtics and Lakers in the 1980s, the NHL had the Red Wings and Avalanche in the 1990s, and the MLB has the Yankees and Red Sox in the current day. But for years, the NFL has been devoid of a real rivalry. Excessive parity and bad ownership has led to several long-standing rivalries, such as the Bears and Packers, to become meaningless to all but the fans of the two teams.

In the last six years, however, the NFL may be seeing one of the best rivalries in modern-day sports develop. After Tom Brady led the New England Patriots to the 2001 Super Bowl, many wrote the feat off as a fluke. Titles in 2003 and 2004 proved even the team’s greatest critics wrong as they stormed into the title of a dynasty.

Somewhat overlooked in the championship success of the Patriots, however, was the consistent regular season performance of the Indianapolis Colts. Led by All-Pro quarterback Peyton Manning, the Colts were a perennial playoff contender, but seemed to always end the season in the same way; with a loss to the Patriots.

That all changed in 2007.

After a two-year rebuilding process in which the Colts vamped up their defense while Manning and the offense dominated the league, Indianapolis stormed its way into the 2007 Super Bowl title. With only one championship under its belt, it may be premature to call their relationship with the Patriots a rivalry for the ages. With one or two more rings on the Colt player’s hands, however, there will be no question.

Just look at the facts. The Patriots and the Colts have made every postseason for the past four years. The only other team to accomplish such a feat is the Seattle Seahawks, who play in the weaker NFC conference. The two teams have also met three times in the playoffs in that span, with New England leading the series 2-1. And if that wasn’t enough, NFL scheduling allows them to meet in the regular season of every season; the game is usually lauded as the best before the playoffs begin.

So here are two top teams, each with at least one title, consistently vying to be the best in the NFL. It should come as no surprise that the two biggest contenders for the Super Bowl next season are the Colts and the Patriots. And it shouldn’t shock anyone that the game everyone has circled on their calendar in November 4th, 2007 when Brady visits Manning in Indianapolis.

So keep an eye out for match-ups between these two teams because in twenty years it is quite possible that Brady vs. Manning will be talked about as much as Bird vs. Magic. It may not be a rivalry for the history books just yet, but it very close to being so.