The Redskins head to Texas Stadium as the Cowboys are in position to sweep this bitter rivalry for the second straight season.

Back on opening day at Redskins Stadium (Week 1), a see-saw affair the Cowboys jump out to a 14-3 second-quarter lead, only to watch the Redskins score 32 consecutive points to take a 35-14 lead into the final quarter. But Cowboys QB Troy Aikman would finish the afternoon with 362 yards passing and a career-high five touchdowns (3 INTs), his fourth score of the day a 12-yard connection to WR Michael Irvin with 1:46 remaining in regulation to send the game into overtime. Just 2:13 into the extra session, Aikman found a wide-open Raghib Ismail down the middle of the field for a 76-yard touchdown to give Chan Gailey's club a wild 41-35 victory.

The Cowboys now own a 44-33-2 overall edge in the standings in this storied series (including a pair of Washington victories in the 1972 and '82 NFC Championship Games) and have now prevailed in the last four meetings between the clubs.

Since 1961, the Cowboys and Redskins have met twice during the regular season each year (with the exception of the '82 strike campaign, when the Pokes won the lone regular-season clash). Over that span, Dallas has swept Washington nine times, the Redskins have swept the Cowboys just three times, while the clubs have split their season series 23 times (there were ties in 1961 and '62).

As for the Redskins last visit to Irving (Week 17 of '98), Cowboys RBs Emmitt Smith ran for just 67 yards but scored two touchdowns as the Cowboys became the first NFC East team to post an 8-0 record within the division thanks to a 23-7 victory.

The Redskins have dropped three straight and are just 2-7 in their last nine visits to Texas Stadium dating back to 1990.

Numbers: In 17 career meetings with the Redskins, Cowboys RB Emmitt Smith has amassed 1,995 yards from scrimmage (366-1,761-19 TDs rushing, 52-234-1 TD receiving) and scored 20 touchdowns. In 18 career meetings with the Redskins (10-8 as starter), QB Troy Aikman has completed 311-of-522 passes for 3,481 yards, 21 touchdowns and 16 interceptions.

In his last seven starts (2 with Minnesota in 1998, 5 with Washington in 1999), Redskins QB Brad Johnson has completed 134-of-218 passes (61.5 percent) for 1,836 yards, 15 touchdowns and just five interceptions, with his team scoring a combined 243 points (31, 38, 35, 50, 27, 38 and 24 points) in those contests. RB Stephen Davis has rushed for 491 yards and nine touchdowns in five games in 1999, running for 100-plus yards in two of those contests. In his three 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.

In his last 16 games dating back to '98, Redskins WR Michael Westbrook has caught 68 passes for 1,203 yards and 10 touchdowns, totaling 100 or more yards receiving in six of those games. In his three previous seasons (1995-97), Westbrook caught 102 passes for 1,586 yards and just five touchdowns in 35 games and totaled 100 or more yards receiving in just 2 of those contests. After scoring just 93 points in their first seven games (0-7), Redskins have scored 400 points in their last 14 contests (10-4) dating back to '98. Since 1993, the Redskins have given up 130 or more yards rushing in 51-of-101 games, 200 or more yards on the ground in 11 of those contests, while limiting the opposition to fewer than 100 yards rushing in just 21 of those 101 games. RB Skip Hicks has scored nine touchdowns in his last 14 games dating back to '98.

In 12 games vs. NFC East rivals dating back to '98 (under head coach Chan Gailey), Cowboys are 10-2, totaling 317 points and 33 offensive touchdowns in those 12 contests, scoring 30 or more points in seven of those games. Cowboys RB Emmitt Smith has totaled 130 rushing touchdowns, 37 of those scores from one yard out. Smith has rushed for 100 or more yards in nine of his last 17 contests dating back to '98. Smith has scored at least one touchdown in six straight games dating back to '98. Including playoffs, CB Deion Sanders has scored 21 touchdowns in six different ways (8 interception returns, 5 punt returns, 3 kickoff returns, 3 receptions, 1 rushing, 1 fumble return) in 11 NFL seasons (1989-99). The Cowboys have outscored the opposition a combined 37-3 in the first quarter in five games in '99. They have limited the opposition to 13 or fewer points in four straight games.

Things To Look For: Following their memorable Week 1 collision, the Cowboys looked like a team back to championship form while the 'Skins' defense continued to look like a liability. But the last month or so has seen a change in both clubs as Chan Gailey's team is struggling on offense while Norv Turner's squad may be the best team in the NFC East. The Redskins can make a major statement with a victory here.

Etc.: The Redskins are 4-1 for the first time since 1996, when they opened 7-1 but finished 9-7 and failed to qualify for the playoffs. They are just 16-34-1 vs. divisional competition since 1993 (2-1 in '99), 5-8 vs. the Cowboys and just 11-26-1 vs. the rest of the NFC East. WR Irving Fryar (792) needs eight catches to become just the 7th player in NFL history with 800 career receptions. Fryar (12,070) needs 76 yards to tie Charlie Joiner (12,146) for 7th place on the NFL's all-time receiving yardage list.

Cowboys' RB Emmitt Smith (3,040) needs 22 rushing attempts to tie Barry Sanders (3,062) for 2nd place on the NFL's all-time rushing attempts list.