Rivalries are a natural aspect of any sport, and the NFL is no exception. The Atlanta Falcons have two significant rivalries in the league, one with the New Orleans Saints and the other with the Philadelphia Eagles.
In both instances, the flames have been fanned brightly over the years, making for intense matchups that are eagerly anticipated by fans every season. This article explores these two legendary rivalries, delving into their history and significance and highlighting some of the most notable moments in their respective timelines.
Rivalry with New Orleans Saints
The Falcons vs Saints rivalry is one of the most heated and long-standing in the NFL, with a history that spans back to their first meeting in 1967. The two teams are both from the South, which only adds fuel to the fire.
They play each other twice every year in one of the most exciting battles of the season, and their intense clashes have been known to spill over into unsportsmanlike conduct and even fights. The turning point in the Falcons-Saints rivalry came during the 1978 season.
The Falcons were trailing the Saints 17-13 with only nine seconds left on the clock, and they were 66 yards away from the endzone. Everyone, including the Saints, thought the game was as good as won.
However, Falcons quarterback Steve Bartkowski had other ideas. He threw a desperation Hail Mary pass towards receiver Billy “White Shoes” Johnson, who caught the ball and ran it 80 yards for the game-winning touchdown.
That play, dubbed “Big Benie’s Miracle Pass” by Falcons fans, gave birth to a new era of hope and excitement in Atlanta. The rivalry reached its highest intensity level after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
The Saints had to spend the entire season playing their home games in other cities due to the hurricane’s destruction. When the two teams met in the Georgia Dome that year, the Falcons’ fans were not pleased with how heavily the television networks were favoring the Saints.
The game ended with a verbal confrontation between the two teams that nearly turned physical, cementing the rivalry’s already intense reputation.
Rivalry with Philadelphia Eagles
The Atlanta Falcons’ rivalry with the Philadelphia Eagles goes back several decades, but it only hit its peak in the 2000s. The two teams have met five times in the playoffs, with the Eagles coming out ahead in four of those matchups.
This adds an extra layer of contention to their already heated regular season games. One of the most significant moments in the Falcons-Eagles rivalry came during the Michael Vick era.
Vick, who spent six seasons with the Falcons and led them to the NFC Championship game in 2004, was the source of many highlight-reel plays when they played the Eagles, his former team. In 2006, the Falcons beat the Eagles 24-14 in a game where Vick rushed for 166 yards and two touchdowns.
These games were some of the most exciting in NFL history, featuring high-skill plays that thrilled fans on both sides. Donovan McNabb was a major player in the Eagles’ side of the rivalry.
The former Eagles quarterback had a longstanding rivalry with the Falcons, which manifested through four playoff games between the two teams in just seven years. McNabb and Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan were neck and neck when it came to their performance in these games, with McNabb leading the Eagles to three wins, while Ryan led the Falcons to one.
Conclusion
The Atlanta Falcons have two of the most heated, long-standing rivalries in the NFL. Their matchups with the New Orleans Saints and the Philadelphia Eagles have always been eagerly anticipated by fans, with their intense battles and historic moments becoming cherished memories.
Understanding the history and significance of these rivalries is crucial in appreciating the NFL’s rich tapestry, with every game carrying a legacy that spans back decades. Rivalries are what make sports entertaining and memorable.
The Atlanta Falcons have two more significant rivalries in the NFC South division with the Carolina Panthers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. These heated rivalries have been known to produce intense and physical games that are eagerly anticipated by fans every season.
This article explores the history of these rivalries, highlights their significance, and provides insights into some of the most memorable moments in their rich tapestry.
Rivalry with Carolina Panthers
The Atlanta Falcons and the Carolina Panthers have been division rivals since 2002 when the NFC South was founded. The rivalry has always been fiercely contested, with both teams looking to get the better of each other every time they meet.
Although the rivalry has not enjoyed the storied history of the Falcons’ rivalries with the New Orleans Saints or the Philadelphia Eagles, the Falcons-Panthers games are still some of the most highly anticipated matchups in the NFL today. The physicality of games between these two teams has been on the rise in recent years, and it is not uncommon to see heated altercations between players on the field.
In 2016, the Falcons embarrassed the Panthers with a 48-33 victory in which they racked up over 500 yards of offense. The loss left a bitter taste in the Panthers’ mouths and fueled their desire to get revenge in the following year’s games.
The 2017 season saw the rivalry between the Falcons and the Panthers reach new heights. The mostly physical game ended with a 22-10 victory for the Falcons, but the most memorable moment of the game came from a fight between the two teams that almost involved both teams’ entire roster.
That fight continued in the tunnel on the way to the locker rooms, marking one of the nastiest altercations in recent NFL history. The rivalry between the Panthers and the Falcons is a fierce one, with each team always looking to come out on top in their divisional games.
Rivalry with Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers were once members of the same division known as the NFC West. The rivalry between both teams did not truly start until they were placed in the newly created NFC South division in 2002.
From that point, the rivalry began to develop, taking on a new level of intensity as the stakes grew higher. The Falcons and the Buccaneers’ earlier divisional games were marred with dirty play and unnecessary roughness penalties.
One of the most significant incidents occurred in 2003, when a Panthers player was left with a concussion and a neck injury following a vicious hit by a Buccaneers player. This incident only intensified the rivalry between the two teams, with the Falcons making efforts to ensure that dirty play and unnecessary roughness would not define their matchups.
In recent years, the rivalry between the Falcons and the Buccaneers has taken on a new meaning, with each team looking to assert their dominance within the NFC South division. In 2015, the Falcons clinched a divisional title when they beat the Panthers in Week 16, a result that handed the division to the Panthers’ bitter rivals, the Buccaneers.
That outcome fueled the rivalry between the Falcons and Buccaneers, creating an atmosphere of heightened intensity, and has since led to greater physicality and nastiness in their matchups.
Conclusion
The Atlanta Falcons have been involved in some of the NFL’s most intense and heated rivalries over the years. From their NFC South divisional rivalries with the Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers to their long-standing battles with the New Orleans Saints and Philadelphia Eagles, the Falcons have always been at the forefront of legendary rivalries.
For fans of the Falcons, knowing the history of these rivalries is crucial in understanding the rich tapestry of the NFL and the dynamic matchups that occur each season. The Atlanta Falcons have engaged in many fierce rivalries throughout their history, and their NFC South divisional battles with the Carolina Panthers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are no exception.
The Falcons’ rivalries have been characterized by physicality, intensity, passion, and unforgettable moments that have shaped NFL history. It is important to appreciate and understand these rivalries because they signify the heart of the NFL, where passion meets tradition, and electrifying matchups create memories that last a lifetime.
FAQs:
Q: What are the Falcons’ two NFC South divisional rivals? A: The Falcons’ two NFC South divisional rivals are the Carolina Panthers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Q: How long have the Falcons been division rivals with the Panthers and Buccaneers? A: The Falcons have been division rivals with the Panthers since 2002 and with the Buccaneers since 2002, when the NFC South was created.
Q: What led to the physicality in the Falcons’ rivalry with the Panthers? A: Physicality between the Falcons and Panthers intensified in recent years, fueled by a highly physical game in 2017 that almost involved both teams’ entire rosters.
Q: Why did nasty play and unnecessary roughness occur in the Falcons’ earlier games with the Buccaneers? A: Dirty play and unnecessary roughness occurred in the Falcons’ earlier games with the Buccaneers, with a significant incident occurring in 2003 when a Panthers player sustained severe injuries following a vicious hit by a Buccaneers player.
Q: Why is it important to understand and appreciate the Falcons’ rivalries? A: Understanding and appreciating the Falcons’ rivalries is significant because it signifies the heart of the NFL, where passion meets tradition, and electrifying matchups create memories that last a lifetime.