The physical nature of the game contributed to an emotional experience for fans, setting the tone for the newly formed rivalry for years to come.

As Falcons play-by-play announcer Wes Durham recalled, "I remember a lot of Panthers fans being there.

[13] In 2002, the Falcons and Panthers were moved to the NFC South along with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints, adding intensity to the rivalry.

By the end of the 2004 season, Atlanta had won 9 of 10 meetings in the decade, with Carolina's only win coming during the year of its Super Bowl appearance in 2003.

During the last week of the 2014 season, the Panthers and Falcons faced each other in a must-win game for the NFC South division title and playoff berth.

Despite Atlanta winning earlier in the season, Carolina handily won this game 34–3, becoming just the second team in NFL history to clinch a division title with a losing record at 7–8–1.