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Carolina Panthers: The Five Best Rivalries 3.0

By John Woodcock

Dec 24, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) looks to pass the ball during the first half against the Atlanta Falcons at Bank of America Stadium. The Falcons defeated the Panthers 33-16. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 24, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) looks to pass the ball during the first half against the Atlanta Falcons at Bank of America Stadium. The Falcons defeated the Panthers 33-16. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /
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1. Atlanta Falcons

carolina panthers
Dec 28, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) throws incomplete after being hit by Carolina Panthers defensive end Charles Johnson (95) during the second quarter at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /

Series Record: 17-27

Key Panthers Win: 2014

3. 44. 34. 87. Final

The neighbor down I-85 is the one team on this list that the Panthers do not have a winning record against. The reasons can be linked to quarterback play.

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The Falcons owned the series when Michael Vick was his prime, sometimes finding impossible ways to beat the Panthers. Vick was doing this when the John Fox teams were at their best too. It was incredibly frustrating.

Matt Ryan owns a five game win streak against the team that ended a couple of years ago. The Panthers were exposed by Julio Jones in the first game of 2016 and could not get past their own turnovers in game 2. That meant a season sweep by the Super Bowl losing Falcons.

The Falcons are always around it seems and always competitive with the Panthers regardless of record. The series has personal rivalries too. There was Steve Smith vs DeAngelo Hall for a few years.

The first game in 1995 tells the story of much of the series. That game went down to the final gun and then into overtime. The Falcons won, but the Panthers had shown they were here to do more than show up as an expansion team.

Both teams turned in bad 2014 seasons, but the division was so bad that both were still in contention for the playoff berth for winning the NFC South.

The Panthers went on a remarkable streak, but it all could have ended in Atlanta where the Panthers had suffered reverses before. Not this time, the Panthers took care of business and held off the Falcons and Saints for that final playoff berth.

Next: One Take on the 1st Three Rounds of the Panthers 2017 Draft

To complete the frustration of playing Atlanta, the Falcons were the only team to defeat the Panthers during the 2015-6 regular season.

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