Falcons–Panthers rivalry

The Falcons–Panthers rivalry is a rivalry between the Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers of the National Football League. The rivalry began in 1995 when the Panthers joined as an expansion team. Both teams competed in the NFC West from 1995–2001 and the NFC South since its creation in 2002. Atlanta holds a 32–18 lead in the series. The two teams have not met in the playoffs.

Atlanta Falcons–Carolina Panthers

Atlanta Falcons Carolina Panthers
First meeting	September 3, 1995 Falcons 23, Panthers 20 (OT)
Latest meeting	December 8, 2019 Falcons 40, Panthers 20
Next meeting	TBD
Statistics
Meetings total	50
All-time series	Falcons, 32–18
Largest victory	Falcons, 41–0 (2002)
Longest win streak	Falcons, 6 (2000–02) Panthers, 3 (2012–13)
Current win streak	Falcons, 5 (2017–Present)
Championship success
Super Bowl championships (0) Atlanta (0) Carolina (0) Conference championships (4) Atlanta (2) – 1998, 2016 Carolina (2) – 2003, 2015 Division championships (12) Atlanta (6) – 1980, 1998, 2004, 2010, 2012, 2016 Carolina (6) – 1996, 2003, 2008, 2013, 2014, 2015

The Falcons and Panthers have won a combined 11 division titles since 1995 and each have made two Super Bowl appearances: The Falcons in Super Bowls XXXIII and LI and the Panthers in Super Bowls XXXVIII and 50. Neither team has won a Super Bowl championship. Coincidentally, both teams lost their Super Bowls to the same two AFC teams: the Denver Broncos and the New England Patriots. On the contrary, all 14 other NFC teams have won at least one NFL championship prior to the AFL–NFL merger, a Super Bowl trophy, or both.

It is also known as the "I-85 Rivalry"[1] due to Atlanta and Charlotte being only four hours apart on Interstate 85. Games between the two teams feature large contingents of visiting fans in both cities.

History

1995–99: Beginnings

Carolina's first ever regular season game was a tightly contested 23–20 overtime loss to the Falcons on September 3, 1995. This game was notable as NFL fans in the Carolinas who were formerly Falcons fans switched allegiance when the Panthers began play, filling up the Georgia Dome. The physical nature of the game contributed to an emotional experience for fans, setting the tone for the newly formed rivalry for years to come. As Falcons play-by-play announcer Wes Durham recalled, "I remember a lot of Panthers fans being there. I remember a lot of people from Charlotte, who had obviously driven down. And it was already being promoted as the 'I-85 Rivalry.' I remember that however they scored the touchdown towards the end of regulation it got loud. It was mostly Panthers fans."[1] Later that season, Carolina defeated Atlanta 21–17 for their seventh win of the year–the most ever for an expansion franchise.[2] Carolina faced Atlanta in the first regular season game played at Ericsson Stadium (now Bank of America Stadium) in 1996, which the Panthers won. Carolina won at home against the Falcons in each of its first three years as a franchise, carrying a 4–2 mark over Atlanta before the Falcons evened the series to 5–5 by the end of the 1990s.[3]

2000s

In 2002, the Falcons and Panthers were moved to the NFC South along with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints, adding intensity to the rivalry. Coming off their Super Bowl appearance in 1998, the Falcons began dominating the Panthers during the early 2000s. By the end of the 2004 season, Atlanta had won 9 of 10 meetings in the decade, with Carolina's only win coming during the year of its Super Bowl appearance in 2003. A notable game occurred in 2004, when the Falcons came back to beat the Panthers with a Michael Vick rushing touchdown followed by an interception of Jake Delhomme by the Falcons defense to set up the game-winning field goal.[4] By 2007, the Panthers made it more even, sweeping the Falcons for the first time since 1997 in 2005, but were still 2–6 at home against Atlanta.[3] Overall, the Falcons won 13 of 20 games in the series during the 2000s.

2010s

By 2011, Matt Ryan had long taken over at quarterback for the Falcons after Vick was involved in a dog-fighting scandal in 2007. The Panthers drafted Auburn quarterback Cam Newton first overall that year after 2010 draft pick Jimmy Clausen was an inadequate replacement for Jake Delhomme.

During the last week of the 2014 season, the Panthers and Falcons faced each other in a must-win game for the NFC South division title and playoff berth. Despite Atlanta winning earlier in the season, Carolina handily won this game 34–3, becoming just the second team in NFL history to clinch a division title with a losing record at 7–8–1.[5]

In week 16 of the 2015 season, the Panthers came into Atlanta with a perfect 14-0 record opposed to the Falcons 7-7 record. Many anticipated the Falcons, who had started 6-1, but then went 1-7, would lose as they had two weeks ago, when they lost 38-0.[6] The Falcons however shocked the Panthers and beat them with a final score of 20-13.[7] Only the Falcons and the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50 beat the Panthers that season.

Game results

Atlanta Falcons vs. Carolina Panthers Season-by-Season Results
1990s (Tie, 5–5) Season Season series at Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers Overall series Notes 1995 Tie 1–1 Falcons 23–20(OT) Panthers 21–17 Tie 1–1 Panthers join the NFL as an expansion team and are placed in the NFC West along with the Falcons. The game in Atlanta was the Panthers' first game as an NFL franchise 1996 Tie 1–1 Falcons 20–17 Panthers 29–6 Tie 2–2 Panthers open Ericsson Stadium (now known as Bank of America Stadium) 1997 Panthers 2–0 Panthers 9–6 Panthers 21–12 Panthers 4–2 1998 Falcons 2–0 Falcons 51–23 Falcons 19–14 Tie 4–4 Falcons lose Super Bowl XXXIII 1999 Tie 1–1 Falcons 27–20 Panthers 43–28 Tie 5–5
2000s (Falcons, 13–7) Season Season series at Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers Overall series Notes 2000 Falcons 2–0 Falcons 13–12 Falcons 15–10 Falcons 7–5 2001 Falcons 2–0 Falcons 24–16 Falcons 10–7 Falcons 9–5 Panthers lose 15 straight games after winning their season opener, becoming the first team to lose 15 straight games in the same season. 2002 Falcons 2–0 Falcons 41–0 Falcons 30–0 Falcons 11–5 Falcons' 41–0 is the largest margin of victory in the series for either team 2003 Tie 1–1 Falcons 20–14(OT) Panthers 23–3 Falcons 12–6 Panthers lose Super Bowl XXXVIII 2004 Falcons 2–0 Falcons 34–31(OT) Falcons 24–10 Falcons 14–6 Falcons win 7 straight home meetings (1998–2004) 2005 Panthers 2–0 Panthers 44–11 Panthers 24–6 Falcons 14–8 2006 Tie 1–1 Panthers 10–3 Falcons 20–6 Falcons 15–9 2007 Tie 1–1 Panthers 27–20 Falcons 20–13 Falcons 16–10 2008 Tie 1–1 Falcons 45–28 Panthers 24–9 Falcons 17–11 2009 Tie 1–1 Falcons 28–20 Panthers 28–19 Falcons 18–12
2010s (Falcons, 14–6) Season Season series at Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers Overall series Notes 2010 Falcons 2–0 Falcons 31–10 Falcons 31–10 Falcons 20–12 2011 Falcons 2–0 Falcons 31–17 Falcons 31–23 Falcons 22–12 2012 Tie 1–1 Falcons 30–28 Panthers 30–20 Falcons 23–13 2013 Panthers 2–0 Panthers 21–20 Panthers 34–10 Falcons 23–15 2014 Tie 1–1 Panthers 34–3 Falcons 19–17 Falcons 24–16 Game in Atlanta was the final game of the season and winner-take-all game for the NFC South title. The Panthers won the game to clinch the division and the Falcons missed the playoffs. 2015 Tie 1–1 Falcons 20–13 Panthers 38–0 Falcons 25–17 Falcons' win in Atlanta was the Panthers' only loss in a 15–1 regular season. Panthers lose Super Bowl 50 2016 Falcons 2–0 Falcons 48–33 Falcons 33–16 Falcons 27–17 Falcons lose Super Bowl LI 2017 Tie 1–1 Falcons 22–10 Panthers 20–17 Falcons 28–18 Falcons open Mercedes-Benz Stadium 2018 Falcons 2–0 Falcons 31–24 Falcons 24–10 Falcons 30–18 2019 Falcons 2–0 Falcons 40–20 Falcons 29–3 Falcons 32–18
Summary of Results Season Season series at Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers Notes Regular season Falcons 32–18 Falcons 19–6 Falcons 13–12

References

1. McFadden, Will (2018-09-13). "The I-85 Divide: When the Falcons and Panthers first met in 1995, everything changed". www.atlantafalcons.com. Retrieved 2019-07-07.
2. NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York,NY, ISBN 0-7611-2480-2, p. 92
3. Penny, Austin (2008-09-23). "Panthers-Falcons Rivalry Sees Renewed Importance". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2019-07-07.
4. Tabeek, Matthew (2017-06-10). "Michael Vick's top-five moments with the Atlanta Falcons". www.atlantafalcons.com. Retrieved 2019-07-07.
5. Jackson, Kendall (2014-12-28). "Falcons crushed 34-3 by Panthers". The Falcoholic. SB Nation. Retrieved 2019-07-10.
6. https://www.espn.com/nfl/game?gameId=400791604
7. https://www.espn.com/nfl/game?gameId=400791563