The rivalry intensified in the 2010s as two franchise quarterbacks— for the Falcons and Cam Newton for the Panthers—battled for division supremacy.
: Between 2012 and 2015, Carolina won five out of six games, including a 38-0 shutout in 2015.
The rivalry began on September 3, 1995, as the expansion Panthers faced the Falcons in their first-ever regular-season game, a contest Atlanta won 23-20 in overtime. For the first seven years, both teams competed in the NFC West before being moved to the newly formed NFC South in 2002.
: While the teams have never met in the postseason, their games frequently carry direct playoff implications, such as the 2025 season where the Falcons' victory over the Saints indirectly secured the NFC South title for the Panthers. Modern Dynamics and Recent Trends