LANDOVER, Md. (AP) -- The Washington Redskins haven't been this healthy in years. The Dallas Cowboys are missing at least three key defensive starters, and Deion Sanders will keep everyone on their toes until kickoff guessing whether he can play on the toe he hurt last year.

The Redskins are at home, playing a hated rival and they're unveiling a defense with six first-round draft choices. Two of them, rookie Champ Bailey and 39-year-old Darrell Green, will make for an intriguing matchup against Michael Irvin and Dallas newcomer Raghib Ismail.

	INJURY REPORT
	Cowboys: OUT: TE Mike Lucky (foot); CB Kevin Smith (back). DOUBTFUL: CB Deion Sanders (toe). QUESTIONABLE: LB Quentin Coryatt (Achilles). PROBABLE: WR Chris Brazzell (knee); S Kenny Wheaton (knee). Redskins: OUT: RB Larry Bowie (ankle). QUESTIONABLE: CB Tito Paul (knee). PROBABLE: TE Stephen Alexander (knee); DE Kenard Lang (ankle).

But the Redskins are a team on edge. Beyond the win-or-else pressure from new owner Daniel Snyder, there is the memory of last year's disastrous opener at New York, when the Giants scored two quick third-quarter touchdowns and sent Washington snowballing to an 0-7 start and a 6-10 season.

"The first game sets the tone for the whole season," defensive end Kenard Lang said. "This game is the most important game."

The veteran Cowboys aren't as keen on taking Sunday's result as a bellwether for the season, but Troy Aikman understands the Redskins' feelings. Simply rewind to one year ago, when Dallas was coming off its own frustrating 6-10 season.

"I think we're more confident than we were at this time last year," Aikman said. "Even though we knew we were a better football team than that, we still had some uncertainties as far as how it was going to come together.

"They got off to a rocky start. This opener, I would think, would be even more important than a normal season opener for them," he said.

The Cowboys, by the way, won big in their opener last year, 38-10 over Arizona, and went on to win the division.

The Redskins could get a similar bounce this year because they are catching the Cowboys at the right time.

Cornerback Kevin Smith is out with a bad back, linebacker Quentin Coryatt has an ailing Achilles tendon, and defensive tackle Leon Lett is suspended. Sanders, who has barely practiced on the big left toe that was surgically repaired in April, will decide Sunday morning if he can go.

If Sanders plays, and if he's the regular Deion, the game changes dramatically. If he doesn't, the Cowboys could be hard-pressed to find enough players to cover the three wide receiver formation of Michael Westbrook, Albert Connell and Irving Fryar, plus Larry Centers and Brian Mitchell out of the backfield.

"You prepare as if he's going to play," Centers said. "Then, if he doesn't, you're pleasantly surprised."

Fortunately for the Cowboys, the Redskins are hardly an offensive juggernaut. Conversely, the last thing the Redskins need to face in the opener is a tough defense.

New quarterback Brad Johnson has an iffy knee, and the line protecting him has been tenuously rebuilt after allowing 61 sacks last year. Center Cory Raymer is the only offensive player starting in the same place he did a year ago.

The stronger battle comes with the tried-and-true crew of Aikman, Emmitt Smith, Irvin & Co. confronting a starting defense that didn't allow a touchdown in preseason.

Ismail gives the Cowboys the speedy receiver they've been missing since Alvin Harper left five years ago, which means Green can no longer concentrate solely on Irvin.

"Rocket definitely can stretch the field," said Green, who has spent the last month tutoring Bailey for this moment. "It's going to be double trouble."

As for the game's importance, locker room leader Centers brought a gem of an analogy from Arizona to Washington to calm his new teammates' nerves.

"I think we need to take on a golf mentality," Centers said. "Realize that if we hit a bad shot or if we hit a good shot, don't get too high or don't get too low. Just finish the hole, write the score down and go to the next one the following week.

"The good news is we have an opportunity to go out and get a birdie early against a division opponent."

DALLAS Season schedule and results

WASHINGTON Season schedule and results

September 12 @Washington 1:00pm ET September 20 Atlanta 9:00pm ET October 3 Arizona 1:00pm ET October 10 @Philadelphia 1:00pm ET October 18 @NY Giants 9:00pm ET October 24 Washington 1:00pm ET October 31 @Indianapolis 1:00pm ET November 8 @Minnesota 9:00pm ET November 14 Green Bay 4:15pm ET November 21 @Arizona 4:15pm ET November 25 Miami 4:15pm ET December 5 @New England 8:20pm ET December 12 Philadelphia 1:00pm ET December 19 NY Jets 4:15pm ET December 24 @New Orleans 3:05pm ET January 2 NY Giants 4:05pm ET

September 12 Dallas 1:00pm ET September 19 @NY Giants 1:00pm ET September 26 @NY Jets 1:00pm ET October 3 Carolina 4:05pm ET October 17 @Arizona 8:20pm ET October 24 @Dallas 1:00pm ET October 31 Chicago 1:00pm ET November 7 Buffalo 1:00pm ET November 14 @Philadelphia 1:00pm ET November 21 NY Giants 4:15pm ET November 28 Philadelphia 1:00pm ET December 5 @Detroit 1:00pm ET December 12 Arizona 1:00pm ET December 19 @Indianapolis 1:00pm ET December 26 @San Francisco 8:20pm ET January 2 Miami 4:15pm ET

Records source: STATS, Inc.

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