Falcons–Panthers rivalry
Atlanta Falcons
Carolina Panthers
First meetingSeptember 3, 1995
Falcons 23, Panthers 20 (OT)
Latest meetingDecember 17, 2023
Panthers 9, Falcons 7
Next meeting2024
Statistics
Meetings total58
All-time seriesFalcons, 36–22
Largest victoryFalcons, 41–0 (2002)
Longest win streakFalcons, 6 (2000–2002)
Panthers, 3 (2012–2013)
Current win streakPanthers, 1 (2023–present)
Championship success
Super Bowl championships (0)
  • Atlanta (0)
  • Carolina (0)

Conference championships (4)

Division championships (12)

The I-85 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. The two teams have played each other twice a year since then, having competed in the NFC West from 1995–2001 and would reach new heights in the early 2000s with the NFC South in 2002.[1][2][3][4] Atlanta holds a 36–22 lead in the series. The two teams have not met in the playoffs.

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 known as the "I-85 Rivalry"[5] due to Atlanta and Charlotte being only four hours apart on Interstate 85.[6][7] Games between the two teams feature large contingents of visiting fans in both cities.[8][9][10]

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."[5] Later that season, Carolina defeated Atlanta 21–17 for their seventh win of the year–the most ever for an expansion franchise.[11] 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.[12]

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.[13] 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.[12] Overall, the Falcons won 13 of 20 games in the series during the 2000s.[14]

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.[15]

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.[16] The Falcons however shocked the Panthers and beat them with a final score of 20–13.[17] 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)
SeasonSeason seriesat Atlanta Falconsat Carolina PanthersOverall seriesNotes
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)
SeasonSeason seriesat Atlanta Falconsat Carolina PanthersOverall seriesNotes
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
2002 Falcons 2–0 Falcons
41–0		 Falcons
30–0		 Falcons
11–5		 Both teams realigned into the newly created NFC South. 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)
SeasonSeason seriesat Atlanta Falconsat Carolina PanthersOverall seriesNotes
2010 Falcons 2–0 Falcons
31–10		 Falcons
31–10		 Falcons
20–12		 Falcons clinch NFC South and home-field advantage in their home win.
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		 Panthers clinch NFC South title in their away win.
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. Falcons home win in week 17 clinches the final NFC Wild Card spot while also denying the Panthers the NFC South title.
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
2020s (Tie, 4–4)
SeasonSeason seriesat Atlanta Falconsat Carolina PanthersOverall seriesNotes
2020 Tie 1–1 Panthers
23–16		 Falcons
25–17		 Falcons
33–19		 Falcons fired head coach Dan Quinn following game in Atlanta.
2021 Tie 1–1 Panthers
19–13		 Falcons
29–21		 Falcons
34–20
2022 Tie 1–1 Falcons
37–34(OT)		 Panthers
25–15 		Falcons
35–21
2023 Tie 1–1 Falcons
24–10		 Panthers
9–7 		Falcons
36–22
Summary of Results
SeasonSeason seriesat Atlanta Falconsat Carolina PanthersNotes
Regular season Falcons 36–22 Falcons 21–8 Falcons 15–14

References

  1. ↑ Hack, Damon (December 10, 2002). "PRO FOOTBALL; N.F.L. Shuffle Gives Rise To South". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
  2. ↑ Harry, Chris (November 17, 2002). "THE NEW SOUTH". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
  3. ↑ "New NFL alignment created for 2002". Deseret News. May 22, 2001. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
  4. ↑ "SI.com - Photo Gallery - Top 10 New NFL Rivalries". August 17, 2010. Archived from the original on August 17, 2010. Retrieved December 27, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  5. 1 2 McFadden, Will (September 13, 2018). "The I-85 Divide: When the Falcons and Panthers first met in 1995, everything changed". www.atlantafalcons.com. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
  6. ↑ Jussim, Matthew. "10 most intense NFL rivalries". Men's Journal. Retrieved August 10, 2022.
  7. ↑ Penny, Austin (September 23, 2008). "Panthers-Falcons Rivalry Sees Renewed Importance". Bleacher Report. Retrieved August 10, 2022.
  8. ↑ Edwards, Charles. "Breaking Down the I-85 Rivalry: What It Means for Carolina and Atlanta". Bleacher Report. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  9. ↑ "The I-85 Divide: When the Falcons and Panthers first met in 1995, everything changed". www.atlantafalcons.com. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  10. ↑ "Time Machine: The Beginning of the I-85 Rivalry". www.atlantafalcons.com. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  11. ↑ NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York,NY, ISBN 0-7611-2480-2, p. 92
  12. 1 2 Penny, Austin (September 23, 2008). "Panthers-Falcons Rivalry Sees Renewed Importance". Bleacher Report. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
  13. ↑ Tabeek, Matthew (June 10, 2017). "Michael Vick's top-five moments with the Atlanta Falcons". www.atlantafalcons.com. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
  14. ↑ Cunningham, Michael. "'It's personal' for Falcons in rivalry with Panthers". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. ISSN 1539-7459. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  15. ↑ Jackson, Kendall (December 28, 2014). "Falcons crushed 34-3 by Panthers". The Falcoholic. SB Nation. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
  16. ↑ "Falcons vs. Panthers - Game Summary - December 13, 2015 - ESPN".
  17. ↑ "Panthers vs. Falcons - Game Summary - December 27, 2015 - ESPN".
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