NEW ORLEANS (Ticker) -- Bill Parcells and the Dallas Cowboys are headed to "the tournament." The New Orleans Saints are not as fortunate.
The Cowboys lost any chance to win the NFC East title when the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Washington Redskins on Saturday night, but they are in the playoffs for the first time since 1999.
"I'm pleased to get my team in the tournament," said Parcells of becoming the first coach in NFL history to direct four organizations in the playoffs. "I'm happy with the players. They've bought into what we're trying to do."
Dallas sealed at least a wild card berth with a 19-3 victory over the New York Giants last week. Ironically, Parcells had his greatest success with the Giants, leading them to Super Bowl titles in 1986 and 1990.
The Cowboys endured three straight 5-11 seasons under former coach Dave Campo before owner Jerry Jones lured Parcells out of retirement and immediately put life back into the storied franchise.
"This season is beyond expectations," Jones said of his team's first playoff berth since 1999. "You have to give credit to coach Parcells."
"After going 5-11 three years in a row, two years with me, it's great to play for a coach with knowledge of every single situation you are going to encounter on the football field," said Cowboys quarterback Quincy Carter, who threw for 240 yards and a touchdown in the win over the Giants.
Since yielding 76 points in consecutive losses to Miami and Philadelphia, the Cowboys have allowed just a field goal in back-to-back wins over Washington and the New York Giants.
While the Cowboys are toasting Parcells, Jim Haslett is feeling the heat in New Orleans.
After leading the Saints to a division title and the first playoff win in franchise history in 2000, Haslett has failed to take them to the postseason since then.
Last week, the Saints suffered their wackiest loss under Haslett, falling to the Jacksonville Jaguars, 20-19, after John Carney missed the potential game-tying extra point on the final play of the game. The defeat officially eliminated them from playoff contention.
New Orleans had scored a 75-yard touchdown after a series of laterals before the missed extra point. With six seconds left and the Saints trailing, 20-13, Aaron Brooks passed to Donte' Stallworth, who flipped the ball to Michael Lewis. He pitched back to Deuce McCallister, who lateraled to Jerome Pathon, who raced the final 21 yards and dove into the end zone.
