The Dolphins make their first regular-season appearance in Washington since 1990 as this interconference series is renewed for the first time in the regular season since 1993.

Including postseason, the Dolphins own a 6-3 edge in the standings (including a 14-7 win in Super Bowl VII at the L.A. Coliseum and a 27-17 setback in Super Bowl XVII at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena) and posted a 17-10 Monday night victory in 1993 at Pro Player Stadium in the most recent battle between the clubs.

Dolphins own a 2-2 mark in four previous road tilts in this series, including a 42-20 setback at RFK Stadium in 1990 in the Fins' last visit to the nation's capital.

Numbers: Dolphins QB Dan Marino has thrown 12 touchdown passes and 16 interceptions and could finish with more interceptions than touchdown passes for the first time in his 17-year NFL career. The Dolphins have allowed nine defensive touchdowns returns (7 interceptions, 2 fumbles) in 15 games in '99. The Dolphins defense has allowed 22 touchdowns, while Miami's offense and special teams have given up 10 touchdowns (7 interceptions, 2 fumbles, 1 kickoff) in 15 games in '99. Dolphins PK Olindo Mare has kicked an NFL-record 38 field goals in 15 games in '99. Including playoffs, Dolphins have allowed 265 points in 20 wins, 370 points in 13 losses dating back to '98. Since 1996 (including playoffs), under head coach Jimmy Johnson, the Dolphins have totaled 119 sacks and 95 takeaways in 37 wins but just 38 QB traps and 37 takeaways in 29 losses. The Dolphins have committed 2 or more turnovers in six straight games. They have not intercepted a pass in 3 straight games.

In his last 17 starts (2 with Minnesota in 1998, 15 with Washington in 1999), Redskins QB Brad Johnson has thrown for 4,327 yards, 29 touchdowns and just 16 interceptions, with his team scoring a combined 491 points (31, 38, 35, 50, 27, 38, 24, 20, 48, 17, 28, 23, 20, 17, 28, 21 and 26 points) in those contests. In his last 26 games dating back to '98, Redskins WR Michael Westbrook has caught 106 passes for 1,902 yards and 15 touchdowns, totaling 100 or more yards receiving in 9 of those games. In his 3 previous seasons (1995-97), Westbrook caught 102 passes for 1,586 yards and just 5 touchdowns in 35 games and totaled 100 or more yards receiving in just 2 of those contests. IF HE PLAYS: Redskins RB Stephen Davis has rushed for 1,405 yards and 17 touchdowns in 14 games in 1999, running for 100-plus yards in 6 of those contests. In his 3 previous seasons (1996-98), Davis rushed for 815 yards and five touchdowns in 42 games and had failed to gain 100 or more yards rushing in any of those contests. Since 1993, the Redskins have given up 130 or more yards rushing in 55-of-111 games, 200 or more yards on the ground in 13 of those contests, while limiting the opposition to fewer than 100 yards rushing in just 26 of those 111 games. After allowing a team-record 61 sacks in 16 games in '98 (3 or more sacks in 13 of those contests), the Redskins have allowed 29 sacks in 15 games in '99, 3 or more sacks in just 5 of those 15 contests. They have allowed 11 sacks in nine wins, 18 sacks in six losses in '99. The Redskins have committed 18 turnovers in their last eight games (4-4) after committing just seven turnovers in their first seven contests (5-2) in '99. The Redskins have allowed 162 points in nine wins, 205 points in six losses in '99. RB Skip Hicks has scored 10 touchdowns in his last 24 games dating back to '98. The Redskins have forced two or more turnovers in three straight games.

Things to look for: Thanks to their Monday night loss to the Jets, the Dolphins no longer control their own destiny and have made this contest meaningless in terms of the playoffs, although Jimmy Johnson would like to see his team play a good game for the first time in two months. Norv Turner's Skins can still earn a first-round playoff bye, but a solid effort from the defense would be much more important.

Etc.: The Redskins are NFC East champions for the first time since 1991 (when they won Super Bowl XXVI) and in the playoffs for the first time since 1992. Since 1970, the champion of the NFC East has always won a minimum of 10 games, the only one of the six current divisions to make that claim since the merger. The Redskins are 9-6, and with a loss will become the first NFC East champion in history not to win at least 10 games.

Dolphins QB Dan Marino (27th) and Redskins CB Darrell Green (28th) were the final two selections in the first round of the 1983 NFL draft, and two of only three active players from the '83 NFL draft -- along with Tennessee OL Bruce Matthews (also a first-round selection in '83). Green has 50 career interceptions, but has never intercepted Marino or recorded an interception vs. Miami in his 17-year NFL career. Since 1996 (including playoffs), under head coach Jimmy Johnson, the Dolphins are 30-21 vs. AFC teams and just 7-8 vs. NFC competition. The Dolphins are 74-30 lifetime in interconference games (2-1 in 99) dating back to 1970. The Redskins are just 9-16 vs. AFC teams since 1993 (1-2 in 99).