IRVING, Texas -- A team usually needs a solid defense to get to the Super Bowl. But how do you get there with an offense that can't outscore its own defense?


This is the problem the defending Super Bowl champion Dallas Cowboys ponder as they come off a less-than-impressive Monday night victory over New Orleans and prepare for Saturday's final regular-season game against the New York Giants at the Meadowlands.


The Cowboys returned two interceptions for touchdowns to eliminate the Saints from playoff contention 24-16. Two weeks ago, Dallas needed a 94-yard interception return for a touchdown by Darren Woodson to knock off Philadelphia.


"We've got to get our offense going," Pro Bowl center Mark Stepnoski said. "The defense has been carrying this team. The offense isn't getting the job done. We'll never get to the Super Bowl playing like this."


Quarterback Troy Aikman missed two games with a sprained knee and the offense played well enough to get past Green Bay and Philadelphia.


Aikman returned against the Cleveland Browns, played poorly by his own admission, and Dallas lost 19-14. He threw two interceptions against the Saints and the offense accounted for only 10 points.


"I just feel so-so about the way I've played and the way the whole team has played," Aikman said. "We're going to have to play better in all phases of the game if we get to do what we want to do and that's win a third consecutive Super Bowl."


Offensive coordinator Ernie Zampese said, "We put some good drives together against the Saints. Now we need to put the whole offensive package together."


Complicating matters is the second hamstring injury of the season to running back Emmitt Smith. He suffered a right hamstring pull on Oct. 2 and pulled his left hamstring against New Orleans.


The Cowboys need Smith in the lineup against the Giants to get back their offensive timing. But is it worth the risk of aggravating Smith's injury?


The game against the Giants means nothing to the Cowboys, who clinched a bye in the first round and will host a divisional playoff game on Jan. 7 or 8. San Francisco has the home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.


But the Cowboys still need a solid game against the Giants for polishing and positive thinking as they head into the playoffs looking for a record third consecutive Super Bowl ring.


Despite all the ambiguity remaining, there are some certainties about the National Football League playoff race. It is clear that the San Francisco 49ers and Pittsburgh Steelers will have home-field advantage right up to the Super Bowl.


And it is certain that the Cowboys, Miami Dolphins, San Diego Chargers and Cleveland Browns have qualified for the postseason.


And 16 teams -- including the Buffalo Bills -- won't be playing in January. As of now, 13 have been eliminated.


One other thing: Nine teams, including fourth-fifths of the National Football Conference Central Division, are in the running for the remaining six playoff spots.


Among those teams are one that lost seven straight (the New York Giants), one that has done almost all its winning behind a backup quarterback (the Chicago Bears) and one that seems to win despite itself (the Los Angeles Raiders).


"There's a lot of football left," said Patriots coach Bill Parcells, who has worked his miracles in New England much quicker than anyone -- including, most likely, himself -- could have foreseen. "When you've been in the league as long as I have you retain that thought. A lot of things can happen in a short time."


A lot of things must happen in a short time, one week to be exact. But Dallas made that list a little shorter when they removed the Saints.


That leaves six teams going for four NFC berths -- the Central title and three wild cards. None of those combatants plays each other, but the Bears play the Patriots, who must win at Chicago or have Kansas City lose to the Raiders to get an AFC wild card. The Patriots also could win the AFC East by beating the Bears and having Miami lose to Detroit on Christmas night.


Detroit also resides in that silly Central, where everybody but, naturally, Tampa Bay, has a shot at the division crown and a wild card. In fact, the pecking order is clear in the NFC Central: Minnesota, Detroit, Chicago and Green Bay, in that order.


If all four win, all are in, with Minnesota taking the division. If any of them lose, they're in danger of having the Giants or Cardinals steal away the wild-card berth.


The Vikings might have the easiest assignment, yet the toughest task. All they need is a final-game victory to finish 10-6 and win the division. But that victory must come against the best team in the league, the 49ers, on Monday night, after everyone else has finished.


And if they lose, while the other three Central teams win, they could sink to fourth in the division, and out of the playoffs if Arizona beats Atlanta and Dallas beats the Giants.


Got that?


Four of the contenders meet Saturday: The Patriots vs. the Bears, and the Chiefs vs. the Raiders. The winner of Kansas City-Los Angeles is in, no matter what the Patriots do.


Two contenders meet Sunday night, the Lions and Dolphins. Two others, Arizona (Atlanta) and Green Bay (Tampa Bay) have the possible good fortune of playing also-rans.


In other Saturday games, Pittsburgh plays at San Diego, Seattle at Cleveland, Buffalo at Indianapolis, Philadelphia at Cincinnati, New Orleans at Denver, the Jets at Houston, and Washington at the Los Angeles Rams.