CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (Ticker) -- Bill Parcells and the Dallas Cowboys are back in the playoffs. The Carolina Panthers are in the playoffs for just the second time in franchise history.
On Saturday night, Parcells and the Cowboys visit the Panthers in an NFC wild card game.
After three straight 5-11 seasons, the Cowboys turned to Parcells - one of the most successful coaches in NFL history - to resurrect their proud franchise.
Parcells delivered and has the Cowboys back in the postseason for the first time since 1999. Parcells, who won two Super Bowls with the New York Giants and took the New England Patriots to one, has an 11-6 career record in the postseason.
It has been an even longer drought for the Panthers, who won the NFC South title and are back in the playoffs for the first time since 1996.
The first playoff trip was a memorable one for Carolina, which advanced to the NFC championship game by defeating the defending Super Bowl champion Cowboys, 26-17, in the divisional round.
Earlier this season, the Cowboys posted a 24-20 victory over the Panthers in Dallas on November 23.
Long snapper Jeff Robinson caught a five-yard touchdown pass and reserve running back Aveion Cason scored on a 16-yard run in the third quarter to lead the Cowboys
Dallas' defense stuffed Stephen Davis, holding the 1,000-yard rusher to 59 yards on 26 carries. Jake Delhomme also was unable to pick up the slack for the Panthers, completing just 9-of-24 passes for 175 yards and a touchdown.
Delhomme and Davis will need to find a way to make plays against the Cowboys' defense which ranks first in the NFL. Dallas finished third in scoring defense, allowing 16.3 points.
Quincy Carter did not have the benefit of a strong running game either, but threw for 254 yards and two touchdowns for the Cowboys in the first meeting.
But playing away from home will be a major challenge for the Cowboys, who were blanked at New England, 12-0 on November 16 and walloped at Philadelphia, 36-10 on December 7 in their last two road contests against playoff teams.
Dallas leads the series, 4-2.
