Falcons–Panthers rivalry

The Falcons–Panthers rivalry is a rivalry between the Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers of the National Football League. Both franchises have a combined eleven divisional titles (ten as members of the same division) and three Super Bowl appearances, with the Falcons appearing in Super Bowl XXXIII and the Panthers appearing in Super Bowls XXXVIII and 50.

The Falcons and Panthers have played each other twice a year since 1995, as members of both the NFC West (1995-2001) and NFC South (2002-present) divisions. Their games have been marked by intensity, close scores, and remarkable performances.

It is also known as the I-85 Rivalry due to Atlanta and Charlotte being only four hours apart on Interstate 85. Indeed, games between the two feature large contingents of Falcons fans at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte and Panthers fans at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.

Beginnings
Carolina's first ever regular season game was a 23–20 overtime loss to the Falcons on September 3, 1995. Later that season, Carolina defeated Atlanta 21–17 for their seventh win of the year–the most ever for an expansion franchise. Atlanta played host to the first regular season game played at Bank of America Stadium (then Ericsson Stadium) in 1996, which Panthers won.