The last time the Dallas Cowboys were in the Super Bowl, the Carolina Panthers were in their first season of existence, that's how long the Super Bowl drought's been for Dallas.
Of the eight teams left in the NFL playoffs, the Cowboys have gone the longest without a Super Bowl appearance.
The Cowboys last trip to the Big Game came after the 1995 season when they beat the Steelers 27-17 in Super Bowl XXX. Including this season, the Cowboys have been to the playoffs eight times since then, but haven't been able to advance past the divisional round.
The next longest drought belongs to the Panthers, who made their first and only Super Bowl appearance in 2003. Carolina would lose to New England 32-29 in the Super Bowl that year. The Panthers made it to the NFC title game in 2005, but lost to the Seahawks.
The other six teams left in the playoffs aren't really in a Super Bowl drought. The Colts, Broncos, Ravens, Packers and Seahawks have all played in at least one of the past five Super Bowls.
Peyton Manning's Colts lost to the Saints 31-17 in Super Bowl XLIV. The Packers beat the Steelers in Super Bowl XLV. The Patriots lost to the Giants in Super Bowl XLVI and the Ravens beat the 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII.
Then we had last season, where the Seahawks trounced the Broncos 43-8 in Super Bowl XLVIII.
If Cowboys seem extra excited this week, it's because they're getting close to two decades without a Super Bowl appearance.
