Where have all the great NFL rivalries gone?

The NFL is only as good as its best rivalries.

This season had its fair share of wild finishes and dramatic moments, but it lacked the defining rivalries between teams that we have known and loved.

So what's gone wrong? Let's look at why some of the NFL's best rivalries lost their steam this season.

Ravens-Steelers

Not long ago, this was the defining rivalry in the NFL.

It was highlighted by Hall of Fame defensive players all over the field. Ed Reed, Troy Polamalu, Ray Lewis, and James Harrison were the focal points of many defensive showdowns.

Where are the 16-13 score games that we all love? Where are the games when the Steelers and the Ravens redefined physicality and defensive dominance time and time again?

In this season's matchup, we were forced to watch two backup quarterbacks face off in a sloppy Thursday night game.

What? Joe Flacco isn't a backup?

Well still, both team's moved away from what made this rivalry great. When Ben Roethlisberger returns, the Steelers will be an offensive juggernaut. The Ravens will recover from this disappointing season, as they are one of the league's most stable franchises for a reason.

But this rivalry appears to have lost its spark because they both no longer consider defense above all else.

Seahawks-49ers

This rivalry was meant to be the new "Ravens-Steelers," in that two young, talented defenses would face off twice a year, but with an extra wrinkle. With Colin Kaepernick and Russell Wilson under center, these games could be blown open by an electric play from one of these guys.

Unfortunately, this rivalry fell apart after only several successful iterations.

The 49ers shoulder most of the blame. They parted ways with loud-mouthed - but always interesting - Jim Harbaugh and replaced him with a doormat salesman.

That dominant defense was decimated by retirements in one of the worst offseasons in recent memory. Patrick Willis: gone. Justin Smith: gone. Chris Borland: gone.

Aldon Smith had to go after one too many incidents off the field, and the team lost its heart when Frank Gore left in free agency.

This culminated in a showdown Thursday night, in which the 49ers barely put up a struggle against the Seahawks, losing 20-3.

The Seahawks, now sitting at 3-4, are too talented to not turn their season around. But in doing so, they'll leave the 49ers behind.

It appears we'll be deprived of what was setting up to be an all-time great rivalry.

Patriots-Colts

Is this a rivalry? The Patriots outscored the Colts 223-100 in their five meetings since Andrew Luck was drafted.

This is the NFL equivalent of a full-grown man using his outstretched arm to hold a flailing child at bay by their head. Let's move on.

Any NFC East team-Any NFC East team

The NFL thinks its audiences love watching two NFC East teams face off in prime time.

Cowboys-Giants were on SNF in Week 1. Redskins-Giants graced our screens on TNF in Week 3. Giants-Eagles were on MNF in Week 6.

The problem with this is, none of the NFC East matchups offer anything in terms of real, fiery rivalries at the moment.

With Tony Romo out, the Cowboys lost their prime-time appeal. No one is worried about a Redskins future led by Kirk Cousins. With Chip Kelly in Philadephia, that team no longer has its edge that once put it in such contrast with the level-headed Giants of Tom Coughlin and Eli Manning.

Maybe Romo's return, and a wide-open divisional race will add some spice. But in terms of a long-term rivalry, there appears to be little brewing in the NFC East, despite the NFL's best efforts.