TODAY’S NFC PLAYOFF GAME

DALLAS (11-6) at CAROLINA (12-4)

1 p.m., Channel 11

America’s Most Wanted versus Cinderella. How do the Cowboys respond to a week of turmoil? How do they handle a team they have never played? The Panthers are 8-0 at home but playing their most meaningful game to date in Ericsson Stadium. Carolina’s biggest victory as a franchise came in San Francisco this year and allowed them to run off with the NFC West Division title. The Panthers fought off the 49ers with offense, although their strength appears to be on defense; they led the NFL in sacks with 60.

--Say what: Cowboy running back Emmitt Smith has the NFL record for most consecutive playoff games with a touchdown--eight. Smith, who has topped the 100-yard mark seven times in the postseason, ran for 116 against Minnesota after a lackluster regular season.

--Player to watch: Carolina tight end Wesley Walls. The Panthers don’t figure to match up well against the Cowboys’ defense, but Walls had 61 catches and 10 touchdowns in the regular season and provides quarterback Kerry Collins with a safety outlet in the event he’s pressured. If Walls can keep the Cowboys’ safeties occupied, running back Anthony Johnson might not have to contend with an eight-man defensive front.

--Finally: The Cowboys avoided a first-round visit to Green Bay or another matchup with the 49ers and drew the upstart Panthers, who should be star-struck by the arrival of Aikman, Smith and Irvin. The Panthers don’t seriously think they can beat the Cowboys, do they? Or is this all some master plan arranged for the benefit of a Carolina-Jacksonville Super Bowl?