Arizona Cardinals to face Carolina Panthers in Wild Card round

Dec 29, 2014, 12:23 AM | Updated: 3:10 am

The Arizona Cardinals are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2009-10 and will travel to Charlotte to take on the Carolina Panthers in the Wild Card round on Saturday, Jan. 3 at 2:35 p.m.

Arizona started the season 9-1, but a myriad of injuries, particularly to their starting and back-up quarterbacks, caused them to finish the season with an 11-5 record, good enough for the fifth seed in the NFC.

Carolina won the lowly NFC South with a record of 7-8-1, beating the Atlanta Falcons in their regular season finale to clinch the division. The Panthers are only the second team to win their division with a losing record (Seattle Seahawks won the NFC West at 7-9 in 2010).

Carolina and Arizona did not meet during the 2014 season, with their last matchup coming in Week 5 of last season, a 22-6 Arizona win in Glendale.

The last time Arizona traveled to Charlotte for a playoff game was in 2009. The Cardinals upset the Panthers 33-13 in the Divisional round on the road to their Super Bowl appearance.

That game was the last road playoff win for the Cardinals. Arizona is 0-1 on the road since.

Only Larry Fitzgerald, Lyle Sendlein and Calais Campbell remain on the Cardinals’ roster from that game.

Drew Stanton’s status for next weekend’s game is up in the air due to a knee injury.

Arizona will rely on its “next man up” mentality to advance in the playoffs with, at best, an injured back-up quarterback.

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Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Floyd, right, celebrates after scoring on a 20-yard touchdown reception with tackle Bobby Massie during the first quarter of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 28, 2014. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Anquan Boldin (81) runs toward the end zone to score on a 76-yard touchdown reception during the first quarter of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 28, 2014. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

Arizona Cardinals tight end Darren Fells (85) catches a pass in front of San Francisco 49ers strong safety Antoine Bethea (41) during the first quarter of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 28, 2014. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh watches from the sideline during the first quarter of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 28, 2014. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Arizona Cardinals' Ted Ginn (19) is tackled by San Francisco 49ers defensive back L.J. McCray (31) after returning a kickoff during the first quarter of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 28, 2014. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

San Francisco 49ers running back Frank Gore (21) runs from Arizona Cardinals defensive end Matt Shaughnessy during the first quarter of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 28, 2014. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) is tackled by San Francisco 49ers linebacker Michael Wilhoite, left, and strong safety Craig Dahl during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 28, 2014. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Floyd (15) catches a pass against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 28, 2014. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Floyd (15) catches a pass over San Francisco 49ers strong safety Craig Dahl (43) during the second quarter of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 28, 2014. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Ryan Lindley (14) passes against the San Francisco 49ers during the first quarter of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 28, 2014. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

San Francisco 49ers running back Frank Gore (21) runs against Arizona Cardinals free safety Tyrann Mathieu during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 28, 2014. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Anquan Boldin (81) runs against Arizona Cardinals free safety Tyrann Mathieu (32) during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 28, 2014. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) runs past Arizona Cardinals linebacker Kevin Minter during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 28, 2014. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Floyd (15) scores on a 41-yard touchdown reception over San Francisco 49ers strong safety Craig Dahl (43) during the second quarter of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 28, 2014. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Floyd (15) scores on a 41-yard touchdown reception over San Francisco 49ers strong safety Craig Dahl during the second quarter of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 28, 2014. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Floyd, top, celebrates after scoring on a 41-yard touchdown reception with wide receiver John Brown (12) in front of San Francisco 49ers strong safety Craig Dahl (43) during the second quarter of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 28, 2014. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) passes as Arizona Cardinals defensive end Josh Mauro (73) applies pressure during the second quarter of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 28, 2014. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

San Francisco 49ers defensive back Chris Culliver (29) runs from Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Floyd (15) after intercepting the ball from quarterback Ryan Lindley during the third quarter of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 28, 2014. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

San Francisco 49ers running back Frank Gore (21) walks on the sideline during the third quarter of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 28, 2014. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

San Francisco 49ers fullback Bruce Miller, center, is congratulated by head coach Jim Harbaugh, left, and running back Alfonso Smith (38) after scoring on a 3-yard touchdown reception against the Arizona Cardinals during the third quarter of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 28, 2014. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

San Francisco 49ers running back Frank Gore (21) is tackled by Arizona Cardinals defensive end Tommy Kelly (95) and nose tackle Dan Williams (92) during the third quarter of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 28, 2014. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Justin Smith (94) smiles during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 28, 2014. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver John Brown (12) runs from San Francisco 49ers defensive back Leon McFadden (30) during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 28, 2014. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians watches from the sideline during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 28, 2014. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh walks off the field after an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 28, 2014. The 49ers won 20-17. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, left, hugs running back Frank Gore (21) after an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 28, 2014. The 49ers won 20-17. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh, facing, hugs Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians after an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 28, 2014. The 49ers won 20-17. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

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