on February 5, the Panthers already know they’ll face the reigning Super Bowl champion for the 18th consecutive season in 2017. It will mark the 12th time during the streak that the matchup has occurred in the regular season (six times it was a preseason matchup).
The streak began in the 2000 regular season with a victory over the St. Louis Rams fresh off their dramatic victory over the Tennessee Titans in Super Bowl XXXIV. That began a streak of four consecutive victories over reigning champions in the regular season, but in 2006, Carolina started another streak that it would love to end.