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Buccaneers–Falcons rivalry

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Atlanta Falcons
Location	Tampa Bay, Atlanta
First meeting	November 27, 1977 Falcons 17, Buccaneers 0
Latest meeting	December 10, 2023 Buccaneers 29, Falcons 25
Next meeting	2024
Statistics
Meetings total	61
All-time series	Buccaneers: 31-30
Largest victory	Buccaneers: 48-10 ( 1987) Falcons: 56-14 ( 2014)
Longest win streak	Buccaneers: 6 (1997-2003) Falcons: 5 (2008-2010), (2016-2018)
Current win streak	Buccaneers: 1
Championship Success
Super Bowl Championships (2) Buccaneers (2) – 2002, 2020 Falcons (0) Super Bowl Appearances (4) Buccaneers (2) – 2002, 2020 Falcons (2) - 1998, 2016 Conference Championships (4) Buccaneers (2) – 2002, 2020 Falcons (2) - 1998, 2016 Division Championships (14) Buccaneers - 9 NFC Central (3): 1979, 1981, 1999 NFC South (6): 2002, 2005, 2007, 2021, 2022, 2023 Falcons - 6 NFC West (2): 1980, 1998 NFC South (4): 2004, 2010, 2012, 2016 Wild Card Births (13) Buccaneers (5) – 1982, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2020 ATL (8) - 1978, 1982, 1991, 1995, 2002, 2008, 2011, 2017

150km
100miles

ATL

TP

  

Locations of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons

The Buccaneers–Falcons rivalry is a rivalry between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League. ^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]}

The two teams met for the first time in 1977 when the Panthers were an expansion team. ^[6] However, the rivalry did not develop until 2002, when the Buccaneers and Panthers were placed in the newly formed NFC South division, resulting in two meetings annually. The matchup immediately became popular, and by many accounts intensified into a heated rivalry starting in 2003, as the Buccaneers and Panthers were contenders for the NFC South title for much of the early-to-mid 2000s. ^{[2] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14]}

The annual games have been described as "physical" ^[4] and numerous players have suffered season-ending injuries. Among the most serious were Chris Simms, who suffered a ruptured spleen in 2006, and Kavika Pittman, who suffered a career-ending knee injury. ^[4] Return specialist Clifton Smith suffered concussions in both meetings in 2009, ^{[4] [15]} the first from a high hit by Dante Wesley, who was subsequently ejected and suspended for one game. ^[16]

The Buccaneers lead the overall series, 31-30 The two teams have not met in the playoffs.

Notable moments

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

Neither team made the playoffs in 2006, however, the first meeting between the two teams on September 24 is remembered for the injury to Chris Simms. Both teams entered at 0–2, and the game turned into a hard-hitting, physical contest in hot, humid conditions. Late in the third quarter, Tampa Bay quarterback Chris Simms was hit on a two-yard bootleg play. He had to momentarily leave the game. Initially diagnosed as bruised ribs, Simms returned minutes later to lead a go-ahead field goal drive. Simms received several other vicious hits that likely aggravated his condition. Carolina got the ball back with less than two minutes left. With only six seconds left in regulation, Panthers kicker John Kasay kicked a game-winning field goal, and Carolina won 26–24.

After the game, Simms complained of ongoing pain, and was admitted to the hospital. It was discovered that he had suffered a ruptured spleen, was experiencing internal bleeding, and required immediate emergency surgery. ^[17] Had the injury not been diagnosed in a timely manner, it could have been fatal. Simms was placed on injured reserve, and ultimately never played another down with the Buccaneers.

On December 8, 2008, the teams met tied atop division and were fighting for a possible first-round playoff bye. The game had a "playoff atmosphere." The game turned Carolina's way early, and despite a Bucs rally, the Panthers won convincingly. Carolina steamrolled the Buccaneers defense with 299-yard rushing, and essentially clinched the NFC South division with the victory. The loss started Tampa Bay on a downhill spiral, and the Buccaneers dropped the next three games as well. Tampa Bay fell to 9–7 and missed the playoffs. Shortly thereafter, head coach Jon Gruden was fired. Carolina improved to 12–4 and won the division, but were knocked out of the playoffs in the division round by Arizona.

2010s Matt Ryan Era

2020s

Tampa Bay signed quarterback Tom Brady prior to the 2020 season. Around the same time, Carolina parted ways with Cam Newton, who had been suffering through two injury-plagued seasons. The Buccaneers swept Carolina in 2020, their first season sweep since 2016, en route to a victory in Super Bowl LV. Tampa Bay swept the Panthers again, winning the NFC South in 2021, the first time sweeping in consecutive seasons. At four games, it was also Tampa Bay's longest win streak in the rivalry.

In 2022, Carolina defeated Tampa Bay 21–3 in their first meeting in Charlotte in October. The result was seen as an upset, as the Panthers were only 1–5 entering the game. In Week 17, the two teams faced each other in Tampa, with the NFC South title on the line. Tom Brady threw three touchdown passes to Mike Evans, and won the game 30–24, clinching the division title. ^[18]

Game results

See also

• National Football League rivalries

Notes

References

Works cited

• BucPower.com