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1996 - Last time Carolina and SF were both playoff teams


dos poptarts

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Sure seems like an eternity ago, but for those younger Panther fans (or SanFran bandwagoners), these teams battled twice a year in the NFC West. The last time both teams were good at the same time was during the Panthers 2nd season.

 

The first meeting (Sept 22nd, 1996) was total domination by the Panthers in Carolina.

 

The Carolina Panthers can no longer be considered a surprise, an underdog or a pleasant novelty. Rather, after the second-year club's 23-7 victory over the San Francisco 49ers today before 72,224 fans at Ericsson Stadium, Carolina has established itself as a solid, disciplined team, and a force in its division.

''This whole two-week preparation, all everybody talked about was we'll show them last year wasn't a fluke,'' quarterback Steve Beuerlein said, referring to the Panthers' 13-7 victory at San Francisco last season. ''They think it was a fluke. We're going to get after these guys, and let them know who's in control in the N.F.C. West.''

http://www.nytimes.com/1996/09/23/sports/panthers-upset-of-49ers-almost-looks-too-easy.html

 

The 2nd meeting in Candestick had similar results and of course no respect for Carolina again.

 

Pregame memo to the Panthers from the 49ers: You are not Dallas. You are not Green Bay. There is no rivalry here. You are not in our league.

Final score, before 66,291 stunned fans in 3Com Park: Carolina 30, San Francisco 24. The only lessons taught here today were by the Panthers.

http://www.nytimes.com/1996/12/09/sports/get-used-it-panthers-beat-niners-again-take-division-lead-playoff-berth.html

 

Both teams entered the playoffs at 12-4, with the Panthers winning the division and a bye. SanFran entered as a wildcard. Teams did not meet in the Playoffs, SanFran lost to GreenBay in the divisional round while the Panthers were laying the blackcat curse on the Cowbows, who would not win another playoff game for 13 years. Panthers would travel up to GB and lose to the eventual SB champs, Packers.

 

This defense is better than that '96 team and that SanFran team had Steve Young, Rice, Terrell Owens and were just 2 years removed from a Superbowl win. I'm not worried about Kaep, Crabtree, Davis, and Gore.

 

Offense...that's Zod's thread on Schula.

 

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