Carolina Panthers: Top 5 Rivalries 2.0
4. San Francisco 49ers
Series Record: 11-7
Key Panthers Win: 1995
When the Panthers entered the League, the two powers in the NFC were the Dallas Cowboys and the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers were the team of the 80s, looking to extend things through Steve Young. Dallas was the team of the 90s who had to fight through the 49ers to reach their success.
More from Old North Banter
- Carolina Panthers: Secondary battles to watch in training camp 2020
- Carolina Panthers: 2020 training camp kicks off on Tuesday
- NC Colleges Provide Coronavirus Results from Athletic Departments
- Court alleges Zion’s Stepfather received $400k
- UNC Football gets Commitment from Top Cornerback
By joining the NFC West, the Carolina Panthers got to look at the 49ers twice a year. Any team success for the Panthers meant beating the 49ers, and that was not easy.
The Panthers made their mark quickly, beating the 49ers in 1995 and sweeping them in 1996 to win the division crown. Then things fizzled, but the rivalry remained important when the Panthers hired George Seifert as their second coach.
These days the 49ers, like the Rams, are generally far away. However the two games in the 2013-14 season were hotly contested. It seemed like a throwback although the styles of football were far different from the teams of the nineties.
I still feel that Tim McKyer‘s interception win in 1995 was the biggest win of the series for the Panthers. It was the first year for the team and showed the Panthers did belong in the division and the league.
Next: Number 3