The Cardinals head to Texas Stadium to battle the Cowboys (off last week) as these longtime NFC East rivals square off once again.

While the Cowboys have more than doubled (49-24-1) the Cardinals' win total in this series and have prevailed in 16 of the last 18 meetings (including playoffs) between the clubs dating back to the teams' second encounter in 1990, one of those losses came in last year's playoffs.

Last season, Dallas swept the regular-season series for the seventh time in 8 seasons; on opening day at Texas Stadium (Week 1), Cowboys QB Troy Aikman threw for 256 yards and 2 touchdowns (2 INTs), and ran for a pair of scores as the Cowboys kicked off the Chan Gailey Era with a 38-10 triumph.

Nine weeks later at Sun Devil Stadium (Week 11), Cowboys RB Emmitt Smith would finish the afternoon with 118 yards rushing and three touchdowns as Gailey's club built a 28-0 second-quarter advantage, but Cardinals QB Jake Plummer would throw for 465 yards and three touchdowns (1 INT) and saw his club come up short in the final minute as Dallas barely held on for a 35-28 win.

Seven weeks later in the 1998 NFC Wild Card Game at Texas Stadium, Plummer would throw for 213 yards and a pair of touchdowns (2 INTS) and the Cardinals' defense limited Dallas to 96 yards rushing and intercepted Aikman three times in a stunning 20-7 upset triumph--the Cardinals' first postseason victory since winning the 1947 NFL Championship Game.

The Cardinals have dropped nine straight regular-season contests at Texas Stadium (by a combined score of 270-94) dating back to 1990, their last win in Dallas a 19-10 victory in 1989.

Numbers: In 18 career games vs. the Cardinals (including playoffs), Cowboys RB Emmitt Smith has amassed 2,098 yards from scrimmage (389-1,690-23 TDs rushing, 51-408-0 receiving), scored 23 touchdowns and totaled 8 100-yard rushing games. Smith has totaled 128 rushing touchdowns, 36 of those scores from one yard out. Smith has rushed for 100 or more yards in 8 of his last 14 contests dating back to '98.

Cardinals QB Jake Plummer has thrown two or more interceptions in three straight games (5, including playoffs dating back to '98). The Cardinals have committed four turnovers in each of their first three games in '99. Including playoffs, the Cardinals have committed two or more turnovers in 37 of their last 45 contests dating back to '96. The Cardinals have forced 35 turnovers in 11 wins, but have just 17 takeaways in 10 losses dating back to '98 (including playoffs). Arizona has scored 292 points and allowed 323 points in their last 13 games (6-7) dating back to '98, including playoffs.

Including playoffs, in 10 games vs. NFC East rivals dating back to '98, the Cowboys are 9-1, totaling 269 points (26.9 PPG) and 29 offensive touchdowns in those 10 contests. In nine games vs. the rest of the NFL dating back to '98, Cowboys were 3-6, totaling 184 points (20.4 PPG) and 18 offensive touchdowns. IF HE PLAYS: Including playoffs, Cowboys CB Deion Sanders has scored 21 touchdowns in 6 different ways (8 interceptions, 5 punt returns, 3 kickoff returns, 3 receptions, 1 rushing and 1 fumble recovery) in 10 NFL seasons (1989-98). Including playoffs, the Cowboys have allowed 17 TD passes in their last 10 games dating back to '98, this after giving up just nine touchdown passes in their first nine contests in '98.

Things To Look For: Last season, Jake Plummer was the catalyst to Arizona's playoff drive, but his shaky '99 performance has put Vince Tobin's club in a very early hole. And things don't get any easier against the revenge-minded and well-rested Cowboys, who remember what happened the last time the Cardinals came to town. Chan Gailey will turn RB Emmitt Smith loose against a struggling Arizona defensive unit.

Etc.: The Cowboys are 2-0 for the first time since 1995. WR Michael Irvin (747) needs three catches to tie Charlie Joiner (750) for 9th place on the NFL's all-time receptions list. Irvin (11,872) needs 128 yards to become just the 9th player in NFL history with 12,000 receiving yards. RB Emmitt Smith (2,966) needs 30 rushing attempts to tie Eric Dickerson (2,996) for 4th place on the NFL's all-time rushing attempts list, and 34 rushing attempts to become just the fourth player in NFL history with 3,000 career rushing attempts.