IRVING, Texas (AP) -- In a season marked by underachievement throughout the NFC, it's only fitting the final wild-card berth comes down to a game between two 7-8 teams.

The Dallas Cowboys are guaranteed of making the playoffs by beating the New York Giants in Texas Stadium on Sunday. Things are a bit more complicated for the Giants, who could be practically eliminated by kickoff.

The win-and-you're-in scenario should comfort Dallas. Then again, the Cowboys already would be in if they knew how to handle prosperity. Since knowing a 3-0 finish would win the division, they've lost two straight to teams that won't make the playoffs.

"We've had so many chances, it's crazy," safety Darren Woodson said. "But this is it. If we don't win this one, we'll be at home, vacationing, watching other teams."

The Cowboys took that lonely feeling for a test ride last weekend after a Friday loss in New Orleans left them expecting to be eliminated. Instead, they learned late Sunday that they were alive -- and in control.

As incredible as that is, Dallas could even end up with the

fifth seed if Detroit loses. That's the potential reward awaiting a team that has gone 4-8 and hasn't won consecutive games since starting the season 3-0.

"It's been a strange season all the way around," running back Emmitt Smith said. "I don't know what it is. All I know is that everybody in the NFL is going through something this year."

New York has spit in the face of opportunity, too.

The Giants opened December with consecutive victories, then doused whatever momentum they'd built by losing the next two. They've dropped five of seven since a bye week in early November.

But redemption -- aka, a playoff spot -- awaits if Arizona beats Green Bay and the Giants beat the Cowboys, as they did 13-10 in October.

"It's good to know parity is working for us," cornerback Jeremy Lincoln said.

Technically, New York would still be alive even if Green Bay wins. However, the Giants would have to beat the Cowboys by 56 points more than the Packers' margin of victory. Carolina also is alive at 7-8, but to get in the Panthers need a blowout over New Orleans and a New York victory or a Cowboys-Giants tie.

As ridiculous as it all sounds, you can't rule anything out in a season when only five of the 15 NFC teams have winning records. After Sunday, that number could go down to four. Seven AFC teams already are assured of finishing above .500.

"You've got more teams coming down the wire having a chance to make the playoffs, and that's what the league wants to keep a whole bunch of cities interested," Giants coach Jim Fassel said. "In some aspects, we better not get frustrated by it. We've just got to keep fighting our way through it."

Fassel expects the Giants to keep fighting Sunday regardless of the Arizona-Green Bay outcome. Quarterback Kerry Collins, however, admitted a Packers win would change things.

"I don't think it should affect how we play or how we approach the game. But human nature says that it probably will," said Collins, who is 3-0 against Dallas from his days in New Orleans and Carolina.

Both teams will be playing with their ears still ringing from speeches made earlier in the week.

Fassel has made it clear that every player's final evaluation for the season will hinge on this game. Anyone not deemed capable of helping New York win a championship may not return next season.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones -- who after the Saints game said he felt "a little foolish and stupid" for having spent $41 million in bonuses this past summer -- called about 20 veterans into his office on Monday to make sure they realize what's at stake in this game.

Jones had never before held such a gathering in his 11 seasons in Dallas.

"I enjoyed it," cornerback Deion Sanders said. "If that speech doesn't encourage us million-dollar players, then something is wrong with this team."

A big reason the Giants beat the Cowboys earlier this season was holding Smith to 26 yards on 22 carries, a 1.2-yard average that's among the worst of his career.

"That was our very best game up front, without a doubt," Fassel said. "I can't expect us to play that good again."

With these teams, low expectations are probably best.

NY GIANTS Season schedule and results

DALLAS Season schedule and results

September 12 @Tampa Bay W 17-13 September 19 Washington L 21-50 September 26 @New England L 14-16 October 3 Philadelphia W 16-15 October 10 @Arizona L 3-14 October 18 Dallas W 13-10 October 24 New Orleans W 31-3 October 31 @Philadelphia W 23-17 November 14 Indianapolis L 19-27 November 21 @Washington L 13-23 November 28 Arizona L 24-34 December 5 NY Jets W 41-28 December 12 @Buffalo W 19-17 December 19 @St. Louis L 10-31 December 26 Minnesota L 17-34 January 2 @Dallas 4:05pm ET

September 12 @Washington W 41-35 September 20 Atlanta W 24-7 October 3 Arizona W 35-7 October 10 @Philadelphia L 10-13 October 18 @NY Giants L 10-13 October 24 Washington W 38-20 October 31 @Indianapolis L 24-34 November 8 @Minnesota L 17-27 November 14 Green Bay W 27-13 November 21 @Arizona L 9-13 November 25 Miami W 20-0 December 5 @New England L 6-13 December 12 Philadelphia W 20-10 December 19 NY Jets L 21-22 December 24 @New Orleans L 24-31 January 2 NY Giants 4:05pm ET

Records source: STATS, Inc.

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