EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The Panthers spoiled Jim Fassel's final game with the Giants and set up a wild-card playoff matchup against former New York coach Bill Parcells.
Jake Delhomme threw two touchdowns in Carolina's biggest offensive show of the season and former Giants assistant John Fox and the Panthers posted a 37-24 victory on Sunday in Jim Fassel's final game after seven seasons in New York.
While Fox is looking forward to Saturday's game against Parcells and his Dallas Cowboys in Carolina, he walked off the field knowing he had sent a good friend home a loser.
"I spent the very first moment with him when he was hired and the very last," said Fox, who hugged Fassel after the game. "I feel proud to have been associated with him. He has a lot to be proud of, as I told him."
The victory was the third straight for the Panthers and it set up a rematch with the Cowboys. Dallas defeated Carolina 24-20 on Nov.23 in Dallas.
"They beat us the last time and we have to give them credit," Delhomme said. "I'm glad we're playing at home. It's going to be a battle because they're going to come in ready to play. It's what you play for. Now everything gets speeded up. It's time to go."
The loss was the eighth straight for the Giants, who started the season with Super Bowl hopes, only to see it turn into a major disappointment. New York gave away two games early in the season, which was later ruined by injuries.
Fassel's eyes welled as he looked back on his tenure, which included three postseason appearances, highlighted by a Super Bowl trip in 2001.
"I feel maybe it is a better place than when I came in," Fassel said. " I know a lot of the older players have said that to me and that has stuck with me a lot."
Steve Smith scored on a 53-yard punt return, Ricky Manning Jr. had a 27-yard interception return for a score and John Kasay kicked field goals of 42, 33 and 34 yards as the Panthers prepped for only their second trip to the postseason by opening a 20-0 lead.
This is the first Giants team to finish the season with eight straight losses since 1966, when the team was 1-12-1.
