Rivalries
The Panthers have developed a number of rivalries during their time in the NFL. The Panthers maintain heated rivalries with each of their fellow NFC South members. In particular, the team's biggest rivals are the Atlanta Falcons and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Falcons are a natural geographic rival for the Panthers, as Atlanta is located 230 miles (370 kilometers) south on I-85. The Panthers rivalry with Tampa Bay is perhaps the most intense rivalry in the NFC South; the rivalry began heating up in 2003 when Panthers defensive tackle Brentson Buckner declared fellow Panther Kris Jenkins the best interior lineman in the NFL as opposed to Tampa's Warren Sapp. The rivalry became more intense when the Panthers beat Tampa Bay in overtime in what ESPN.com writer Pat Yaskinskas described as "one of the most physical contests in recent memory". Due to the intensity of the rivalry, several players have suffered severe injuries. Buccaneers quarterback Chris Simms ruptured his spleen after being hit front and back by two Panthers players. Panthers defensive tackle Kavika Pittman suffering a career-ending injury on a block; some of his teammates alleged the hit was cheap play. In one of the dirtier plays of the series, Panthers cornerback Dante Wesley illegally hit Tampa's punt returner Clifton Smith in the throat before Smith had even caught the ball. This resulted in Wesley being ejected from the game, and also sparked a brief melee between the two teams.
Outside the division, the Panthers have several other rivals. During their time in the NFC West, the Panthers began developing a rivalry with the San Francisco 49ers. However, this rivalry faded after the NFL moved the Panthers out of the NFC West. The Panthers maintain rivalries with the Arizona Cardinals and Dallas Cowboys, both of whom the Panthers have played frequently.
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