Editing Atlanta Falcons (section)

===Divisional===
====New Orleans Saints====
{{Main|Falcons–Saints rivalry}}
The Falcons have shared a heated divisional rivalry with the [[New Orleans Saints]] (first the NFC West, and now the NFC South). The two teams were often basement-dwellers in the division; but the rivalry grew as a means of pride between the two cities, as they were the only two NFL teams in the [[Deep South]] for multiple decades. The series is the oldest and most iconic rivalry in the NFC South as the two teams have long harbored bad blood against one another.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/page/hotread140903 |title=Tomlinson: Falcons-Saints rivalry runs deep |last=Tomlinson |first=Tommy |date=September 2, 2014 |website=ESPN |language=en |access-date=July 12, 2019 |archive-date=July 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190712161939/https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/page/hotread140903 |url-status=live }}</ref> The series is currently tied at 55–55, including the most recent loss to the Saints on January 7, 2024, when the Falcons lost 48–17.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Atlanta Falcons vs. New Orleans Saints: Head-to-Head Reg Season and Playoffs Stats Comparison |url=https://stathead.com//football/vs/atlanta-falcons-vs-new-orleans-saints |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=Stathead.com |language=en}}</ref>

====Carolina Panthers====
{{Main|Falcons–Panthers rivalry}}
In addition, the Falcons share a similar, rivalry with the [[Carolina Panthers]], with both teams having been in the [[NFC West]] from the Panthers' founding in 1995 to the NFL realignment in 2002. Similar to their rivalry with the Saints, the Falcons have often endured several competitive divisional battles with the Panthers for lead of the [[NFC South]], though the two have yet to meet in the postseason. The series is also known as the "'''I-85 Rivalry'''"<ref name = "Falcons POV">{{Cite web |url=https://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/the-i-85-divide-when-the-falcons-and-panthers-first-met-in-1995-everything-chang?campaign=sf:fanshare:facebook |title=The I-85 Divide: When the Falcons and Panthers first met in 1995, everything changed |last=McFadden |first=Will |date=September 13, 2018 |website=www.atlantafalcons.com |language=en-US |access-date=July 7, 2019}}</ref> due to [[Atlanta]] and [[Charlotte, NC|Charlotte]] being only four hours apart on [[Interstate 85]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jussim |first=Matthew |date=October 17, 2022 |title=10 most intense NFL rivalries |url=https://www.mensjournal.com/sports/top-10-most-intense-nfl-rivalries-all-time/ |access-date=August 10, 2022 |website=Men's Journal |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Penny |first=Austin |date=September 23, 2008 |title=Panthers-Falcons Rivalry Sees Renewed Importance |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/60907-panthers-falcons-rivalry-sees-renewed-importance |access-date=August 10, 2022 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en}}</ref> The Falcons lead the series 36–22.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Atlanta Falcons vs. Carolina Panthers: Head-to-Head Reg Season and Playoffs Stats Comparison |url=https://stathead.com//football/vs/atlanta-falcons-vs-carolina-panthers |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=Stathead.com |language=en}}</ref>

====Tampa Bay Buccaneers====
{{Main|Buccaneers-Falcons rivalry}}
The Falcons share a less-intense divisional rivalry with the [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]] since the NFL realignment in 2002. The two had been regional opponents but very little had linked any further animosity towards the two as the Buccaneers played in the former [[NFC Central]] before the realignment.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 17, 2010 |title=SI.com – Photo Gallery – Top 10 New NFL Rivalries |url=http://images.si.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/2005/12/15/gallery.newrivals/content.6.html |access-date=December 27, 2022 |archive-date=August 17, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100817012329/http://images.si.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/2005/12/15/gallery.newrivals/content.6.html |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ikic |first=Adnan |date=September 18, 2021 |title=Falcons vs. Buccaneers: a look at the series history |url=https://www.thefalcoholic.com/2021/9/18/22672493/falcons-vs-buccaneers-a-look-at-the-series-history-week-2-2021 |access-date=December 27, 2022 |website=The Falcoholic |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Series History: Buccaneers-Falcons |url=https://www.buccaneers.com/news/series-history-buccaneers-falcons-17997318 |access-date=December 27, 2022 |website=www.buccaneers.com |language=en-US}}</ref> The two teams would find themselves competing over staff and players alike, particularly during the 2000s after the Falcons had lured general manager [[Rich McKay]] after winning [[Super Bowl XXXVII]] the season prior.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Henry |first=George |date=December 16, 2023 |title=Falcons hire McKay as GM |url=https://www.gadsdentimes.com/story/news/2003/12/16/falcons-hire-mckay-as-gm/32328445007/ |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=Gadsden Times|agency=Associated Press |language=en-US}}</ref> McKay's ties with Tampa extend into his family as his father [[John McKay (American football)|John McKay]] was head coach of the Buccaneers for nine seasons.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Scott |date=October 28, 2015 |title=Falcons Lead Bucs in All-Time Series |url=https://www.buccaneers.com/news/falcons-lead-bucs-in-all-time-series-16177808 |access-date=December 27, 2022 |website=Buccaneers.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Beheler |first=Christopher |date=November 21, 2012 |title=Atlanta Falcons vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: A History of Violence |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1417342-atlanta-falcons-vs-tampa-bay-buccaneers-a-history-of-violence |access-date=December 27, 2022 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Williams |first=Pete |url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/865093417 |title=The draft : a year inside the nfl's search for talent|via=WorldCat |date=2013 |publisher=St. Martin's Press |isbn=978-1-4299-1001-9 |oclc=865093417}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Choate |first=Dave |date=September 15, 2021 |title=What is the defining moment of the Falcons-Buccaneers rivalry? |url=https://www.thefalcoholic.com/2021/9/15/22673546/what-is-the-defining-moment-of-the-falcons-buccaneers-rivalry |access-date=December 27, 2022 |website=The Falcoholic |language=en}}</ref>