30 greatest NFL team rivalries of all-time

26. Atlanta Falcons vs. Carolina Panthers

As much as they don’t want to hear it, the one common factor between the Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons is both that teams are on the list of franchises still in search of that first Super Bowl title.

Unfortunately, both the Panthers and Falcons have been good enough to have Super Bowl caliber teams over the years. They both have two appearances in the big game to their name, yet both came up short each time.

Despite the high expectations entering the 2018 season, Carolina and Atlanta each fell shy of punching their tickets to the postseason. These rivals hope to get back on track next year with the talent they have to work with on both sides of the football.

This rivalry may only date back to 1995 when the Panthers became an expansion team, but the Falcons meeting their division rivals twice a year has helped these meetings earn the label of being the “I-85 Rivalry” due to how close they are distance-wise.

In 48 meetings between the two teams, the Falcons currently lead with a 30-18 record over the Panthers with three wins in a row, but Carolina still has plenty of time to catch up.

Competing in the NFC South in general is never easy. Every team always seems to have the kind of talent to make a case for being a contender, with the Panthers and Falcons being two perfect examples based off recent history.