NFC

SATURDAY

Arizona (9-7) at Dallas (10-6)

Time: 1 p.m.

TV: Channel 7

* How they got here: Arizona won its final game to wrap up the final NFC wild-card spot; Dallas won the East Division.

* 1998 meetings: Dallas won both games. In the first, a 38-10 victory, Emmitt Smith rushed for 122 yards and Troy Aikman passed for 256 yards and two touchdowns. The Cowboy defense held Arizona to 45 yards rushing. Jake Plummer passed for only 166 yards. The Cowboys’ victory in the rematch was a bit closer, 35-28. Smith rushed for 118 yards and three touchdowns as the Cowboys defeated Arizona for the 16th time in 17 games. Arizona was trailing, 35-7, before Plummer rallied the Cardinals with 21 second-half points. Plummer passed for 465 yards in the game.

* About Arizona: The Cardinals are lucky to be in the playoffs, and barring a major miracle from Plummer, have little chance of advancing past the Cowboys.

* About Dallas: Chan Gailey should be commended for the job he has done this season, but this aging team is no longer the powerhouse it once was.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

HOW THEY COMPARE

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CATEGORY ARIZ DAL Scoring offense 20.3 23.8 Scoring defense 23.6 17.2 Rushing offense* 106.8 123.9 Passing offense* 215.8 214.3 Total offense* 322.6 338.1 Rushing defense* 121.0 102.6 Passing defense* 204.9 222.2 Total Defense* 325.9 324.8

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*Does not include Sunday’s game

ARIZONA

(9-7)

10 At Dallas 38

14 At Seattle 33

17 Philadelphia 3

20 At St. Louis 17

20 Oakland 23

20 Chicago 7

7 At N.Y. Giants 34

17 Detroit 15

29 Washington 27

28 Dallas 35

45 At Washington 42

24 At Kansas City 34

19 N.Y. Giants 23

20 At Phila. (OT) 17

19 New Orleans 17

16 San Diego 13

DALLAS

(10-6)

38 Arizona 10

23 At Denver 42

31 At N.Y. Giants 7

12 Oakland 13

31 At Washington 10

27 Carolina 20

12 At Chicago 13

34 At Philadelphia 0

16 N.Y. Giants 6

35 At Arizona 28

30 Seattle 22

36 Minnesota 46

3 At New Orleans 22

17 At Kansas City 20

13 Philadelphia 9

23 Washington 7