CHARLOTTE - As the NFL celebrates its 100th season, and the Panthers celebrate 25 seasons of football, the team's longest series hits a benchmark this week.
Carolina and New Orleans will square off for the 50th time on Sunday, marking the most contests against any one opponent in Panthers franchise history.
The Panthers and Saints have played each other twice a season, every season, since 1995. The teams even played three times in 2017 as they met in New Orleans in the Wild Card round of the playoffs, marking the first time since divisional realignment in 2002 that two NFC South teams ever met in the playoffs.
Remarkably, the all-time series is nearly even. Carolina leads 25-24. All-time points scored? Panthers 1082, Saints 1070.
A quick glance at the series results offers a pretty strong correlation between both teams highs and lows over the last 25 years.
The Panthers trail the all-time series against the Saints, 27-29. Carolina has played New Orleans more than any other team in its history.
Carolina Panther Luke Kuechly (59) keeps his eyes on New Orleans Saint quarterback Drew Brees at Bank of American Stadium on Sunday, September 24, 2017 in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers' Rod Smart (32) runs past cheering teammates for a 100-yard kick return for a touchdown during the second quarter against the New Orleans Saints in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday Oct. 5, 2003. (AP Photo/Rick Havner)
Carolina Panthers play against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, September 27, 2015 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers play against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, December 22, 2013.
Carolina Panthers play against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, December 22, 2013.
Carolina Panther Christian McCaffrey (22) makes a reception in the red zone against the New Orleans Saints at Bank of American Stadium on Sunday, September 24, 2017 in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers play against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, October 16, 2016 at the Mercedes Benz Super Dome in New Orleans, LA.
The Carolina Panthers play against the Miami Dolphins during week ten of the regular season on Monday, November 13, 2017, at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.
The Carolina Panthers play against the Miami Dolphins during week ten of the regular season on Monday, November 13, 2017, at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.
The Carolina Panthers play against the Miami Dolphins during week ten of the regular season on Monday, November 13, 2017, at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers play against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, December 22, 2013.
The Carolina Panthers play against the Miami Dolphins during week ten of the regular season on Monday, November 13, 2017, at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers play against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, October 16, 2016 at the Mercedes Benz Super Dome in New Orleans, LA.
Carolina Panthers play against the New Orleans Saints in Bank of America Stadium on Thursday, October 30, 2014 in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers play against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, December 22, 2013.
Carolina Panthers play against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, December 22, 2013.
Carolina Panthers play against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, December 6, 2015.
Carolina Panthers play against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, September 27, 2015 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers play against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, September 27, 2015 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams in action during an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Oct. 19, 2008. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Carolina Panther Curtis Samuel (10) evades New Orleans Saints Marcus Williams at Bank of American Stadium on Sunday, September 24, 2017 in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers play against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, October 16, 2016 at the Mercedes Benz Super Dome in New Orleans, LA.
New Orleans Saints defenders Roman Harper (41) and Jason David (42) try to defend Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith (89) in the second half of their NFL football game in the Superdome in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2008. Smith caught the long pass to keep the Panthers' game-winning drive alive as they defeated the Saints 33-31. (AP Photo/Chris Martinez)
Carolina Panthers play against the New Orleans Saints in Bank of America Stadium on Thursday, October 30, 2014 in Charlotte, NC.
New Orleans Saints' Drew Brees (9) looks to pass as Carolina Panthers' Julius Peppers (90) defends during the second quarter of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Oct. 19, 2008. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
The Carolina Panthers play against the Miami Dolphins during week ten of the regular season on Monday, November 13, 2017, at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers against the New Orleans Saints during the wild card round of the NFL playoffs at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Sunday, January 7, 2018 in New Orleans, LA. (Photo by Melissa Melvin-Rodriguez)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme (17) scrambles as New Orleans Saints' Charles Grant (94) pursues during the second half of the Panthers' 30-7 win in an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Oct. 19, 2008. (AP Photo/Rick Havner)
The Carolina Panthers play against the Miami Dolphins during week ten of the regular season on Monday, November 13, 2017, at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers play against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, December 6, 2015.
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) is sacked by Carolina Panthers outside linebacker Thomas Davis in the second half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2015. (AP Photo/Jonathan Bachman)
Carolina Panthers play against the New Orleans Saints in Bank of America Stadium on Thursday, October 30, 2014 in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers play against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, December 6, 2015.
New Orleans Saints kicker Olindo Mare right, tries to grab the ball as Steve Weatherford (7) scrambles with Carolina Panthers Richard Marshall after the kick was blocked in the second half of their football game in the Superdome in New Orleans Sunday, Oct. 7, 2007. The Panthers won 16-13.(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Carolina Panthers receiver Steve Smith (89) gets by New Orleans Saints cornerback Fred Thomas on his way to a 15-yard, third-quarter touchdown during an NFL football game in Baton Rouge, La., on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2005. The Panthers won 27-10. (AP Photo/Paul Rutherford)
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, bottom, lies on the field after being sacked by Carolina Panthers defender Richard Marshall (31) in the second half of their NFL football game in the Superdome in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2008.(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Carolina Panthers linebacker Mark Fields (58) celebrates sacking New Orleans Saints quarterback Aaron Brooks (2), center, on ground (partially obscured), at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2002. The Panthers defeated the Saints, 10-6. On ground at right is Saints' Spencer Folau.(AP Photo/Doug Keese)
Carolina Panthers' Ken Lucas, left, intercepts a pass intended for New Orleans Saints' Marques Colston, right, during the third quarter of the Panthers' 30-7 win in an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Oct. 19, 2008. (AP Photo/Rick Havner)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Matt Moore (3) scrambles during an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 25, 2007. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
Carolina Panthers kicker John Kasay, center, is surrounded by his teammates after his field goal as time expired in an NFL football game in the Superdome in New Orleans on Sunday, Oct. 7, 2007. The Panthers won 16-13. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
The celebration begins as Carolina Panthers' Todd Sauerbrun (10) John Kasay (4) and Kris Mangum (86) enjoy their 23-20 victory over the New Orleans Saints, Sunday, Oct. 26, 2003, in the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. Kasay kicked the game-winning field goal in overtime. Leave the field for the Saints is Jay Bellamy (20). Holding for Kasay was punter Todd Souerbrun (10). (AP Photo/Andrew Cohoon)
New Orleans Saints defenders Johnathan Sullivan, left, and Brian Young (66) pursue Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme (17) during the first half of an NFL football game at LSU's Tiger Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2005, in Baton Rouge, La. The Panthers won 27-10. (AP Photo/Bill Feig)
Carolina won four of the first five games in 1995-97 as the team won the division in 1996. New Orleans then took eight of the next 10 contests as Carolina went six straight years without a winning season and the Saints had a division title.
The Panthers then won 11 of 15 matchups between the 2002 and 2009 seasons as Carolina had three playoff appearances and two trips to the NFC Championship in that time. The pendulum swung back to New Orleans with four straight wins under Drew Brees, followed by the Panthers success in the Cam Newton era. Between 2012-16, Carolina went 7-3 against New Orleans, winning three games in the Superdome, including the 2015 division clincher.
Recently, the series has swung back to New Orleans as they have won two consecutive NFC South titles and gone 4-1 against Carolina with the only loss in Week 17 last year when Brees didn't play.
Division rivalry games can be funky. Oftentimes the better team doesn't win as both teams know each other so well. For instance, in Carolina's six division title seasons, the Panthers have gone 7-5 against the Falcons, however, they were 10-2 against New Orleans in those same season.
There's something about New Orleans and Carolina that really serves as a litmus test for where each team is and where they are going.
And there have been some pretty dramatic and riveting game moments in the rivalry as well.
John Kasay hit game-winning field goals in 1996, 2003, 2007 and 2008. The 2003 game-winner set an NFL record for three consecutive road overtime wins, while the 2008 field goal clinched Carolina's NFC South title.
Domenik Hixon made the biggest play in his Panthers career with a diving, game-winning catch with 23 seconds remaining to beat New Orleans in 2013 in the pouring rain.
In 2014, a 41-10 blowout and "endzone dustup" on the road in the Superdome sparked a four-game winning streak to end the season which gave Carolina consecutive NFC South titles, the first consecutive winner in division history.
Josh Norman's diving interception with 1:17 left to preserve a 27-22 win at home in 2015, then Jerricho Cotchery's game-winning catch with just over a minute left in New Orleans just three months later.
In 2017, in one of the top 10 most watched TV events of the year, Carolina came to within inches of an upset comeback in the Wild Card playoff at New Orleans as Devin Funchess couldn't corral a Cam Newton pass in the end zone.
Carolina enters this 50th matchup having lost five of the last seven in the series. New Orleans has won two straight division titles and have a three-game lead on Carolina in this year's division race. But this series has swung unexpectedly in the past. Who's to say it's not about to swing again on Sunday?
