Panthers to meet Cardinals in NFC championship game
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) The Carolina Panthers will host the NFC championship game for the first time after knocking out the two-time conference champion Seattle Seahawks 31-24 on Sunday.
The top-seeded Panthers (16-1) will host the Arizona Cardinals next Sunday for a spot in the Super Bowl. The Cardinals (14-3) beat the Green Bay Packers 26-20 in overtime on Saturday night.
It is Carolina's fourth appearance in the NFC title game and first since 2005.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Panthers and Cardinals have not played this season.
This will be the third time since 2008 the Cardinals have visited the Panthers in a playoff game. In 2008, the Cardinals upset the No. 2-seeded Panthers 33-13 in the divisional playoffs en route to their only Super Bowl appearance.
The Panthers defeated the Cardinals at home 27-16 in the wild card round last season.
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