# Falcons–Panthers rivalry

The Falcons–Panthers rivalry or I-85 rivalry is a National Football League (NFL) rivalry between the Atlanta Falcons and the Carolina Panthers.
The rivalry began in 1995 when the Panthers joined as an expansion team. The two teams have been in the same division since the Panthers joined the league, and thus play each other twice a year. For their first seven years, the Panthers were alongside the Falcons in the NFC West. In 2002, both teams would be put in the newly established NFC South.
It is known as the "I-85 rivalry" 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.
The Falcons lead the overall series, 37–23. The two teams have not met in the playoffs.

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

### 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. 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. 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.
In week 16 of the 2015 season, the Panthers came into Atlanta with a perfect 14–0 record as 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 earlier, when they lost 38–0. The Falcons however shocked the Panthers and beat them with a final score of 20–13. Only the Falcons and the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50 beat the Panthers that season.

## Season-by-season 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' inaugural 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
In Atlanta, the Falcons score their most points in a game against the Panthers. 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
During the NFL realignment, both teams are moved to the newly created NFC South. In Atlanta, the Falcons record their largest victory over the Panthers with a 41–point differential.
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
In Atlanta, the Panthers score their most points in a game against the Falcons.
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
First time in which both teams made the playoffs in the same season.
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
In Atlanta, the Falcons clinch the NFC South, a first-round bye, and home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs with their 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
In Atlanta, Panthers' win clinched them the NFC South. As of March 19, 2025, this remains the most recent season in which the Panthers swept the Falcons in the season series.
2014
Tie 1–1
Panthers 34–3
Falcons 19–17
Falcons 24–16
Panthers' win clinched them the NFC South division, becoming the second team in NFL history to clinch the division with a losing record, and eliminated the Falcons from playoff contention.
2015
Tie 1–1
Falcons 20–13
Panthers 38–0
Falcons 25–17
In Charlotte, the Panthers record their largest victory over the Falcons with a 38–point differential. The Falcons' victory in Atlanta was the Panthers' only regular season loss in their 2015 season. Panthers lose Super Bowl 50.
2016
Falcons 2–0
Falcons 48–33
Falcons 33–16
Falcons 27–17
In Atlanta, the Falcons finish with 571 total yards, setting a franchise record for their most total yards in a game. Falcons QB Matt Ryan threw for 503 yards, setting a franchise record for their most passing yards in a game (broken in 2024). The Panthers also set a franchise record for the most passing yards allowed in a game. WR Julio Jones finished with 300 receiving yards. Last matchup at Georgia Dome. Falcons lose Super Bowl LI.
2017
Tie 1–1
Falcons 22–10
Panthers 20–17
Falcons 28–18
Falcons open Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Falcons win clinched them the last playoff spot while also denying the Panthers from clinching the NFC South.
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, 5–5)
SeasonSeason seriesat Atlanta Falconsat Carolina PanthersOverall seriesNotes
2020
Tie 1–1
Panthers 23–16
Falcons 25–17
Falcons 33–19
Following their loss, Falcons fire head coach Dan Quinn.
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
2024
Tie 1–1
Panthers 44–38 (OT)
Falcons 38–20
Falcons 37–23
In Atlanta, Panthers tied their most points scored in a game against the Falcons (2005). :
Summary of Results
SeasonSeason seriesat Atlanta Falconsat Carolina PanthersNotes
Regular season
Falcons 37–23
Falcons 21–9
Falcons 16–14 :