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Sunday marks the seventh time the Panthers have opened the season against a division opponent. They have not fared well in the previous games, going 1-5 with three losses by five points or fewer. A look at those games:
1 1995: Atlanta 23, Carolina 20 (OT): In their inaugural game, the Panthers tied it late on a touchdown catch by Willie Green only to lose in overtime on a 35-yard field goal by Morten Andersen at the Georgia Dome.
2 1996: Carolina 29, Atlanta 6: Kerry Collins threw for 198 yards and two touchdowns and John Kasay kicked five field goals in the Panthers’ first game in their new stadium.
3 1998: Atlanta 19, Carolina 14: The Dirty Birds began their Super Bowl season with a win in Charlotte, which Andersen sealed with a fourth-quarter field goal.
4 1999: New Orleans 19, Carolina 10: The Panthers managed only 12 first downs and lost three turnovers to spoil George Seifert’s debut with Carolina.
5 2005: New Orleans 23, Carolina 20: John Carney kicked a 47-yard field goal with 3 seconds left as the Saints won two weeks after Hurricane Katrina ripped through New Orleans.
6 2006: Atlanta 20, Carolina 6: Michael Vick tossed two touchdown passes and defensive end John Abraham had two sacks and forced two fumbles in his first game with the Falcons.
