The Cardinals make their first of two trips to the Meadowlands this season as the Jets (off last week) hosts this interconference setting for the first time since 1978.

These teams have split their previous four regular-season battles, with New York posting a 31-21 victory at Sun Devil Stadium in 1996 in the most recent encounter between these clubs (the Jets' lone win in a 1-15 season).

The Cardinals are 0-2 lifetime on the road in this series, their last visit to New York to face the Jets resulting in a 23-10 loss in 1978 at Shea Stadium.

Numbers: The Cardinals have been outscored a combined 66-3 in the first quarter in 7 games in '99. Including playoffs, the Cardinals have committed two or more turnovers in 40 of their last 49 contests dating back to '96. The Cardinals have forced 37 turnovers in 12 wins, but have just 21 takeaways in 13 losses (including playoffs) dating back to '98. They have been limited to fewer than 300 yards of total offense and have been limited to 16 or fewer points in six straight games. The Cardinals have been limited to fewer than 100 yards rushing in four straight games.

Including playoffs, during the Bill Parcells Era with the Jets (1997-99), QB Vinny Testaverde has thrown 31 touchdown passes and just 11 interceptions while being sacked only 21 times in 17 games with the team. However, five other Jets' quarterbacks (since-departed Neil O'Donnell and Glenn Foley, as well as Ray Lucas, Tom Tupa and Rick Mirer) have combined to throw 27 TD passes and 19 interceptions while being sacked 71 times. Including playoffs, the Jets have committed just 18 turnovers in 14 wins, 28 turnovers in 11 losses dating back to '98. The Jets have allowed four or more sacks in 4-of-7 contests in '99. They have allowed 23 sacks in seven games in '99, this after allowing just 25 sacks in 16 games in '98.

Things to look for: Vince Tobin's forgettable season continues to get worse as the Cardinals' offense looks even bleaker without QB Jake Plummer. Bill Parcells has his own problems with the Green and White and figures to switch quarterbacks once again, giving Rick Mirer the nod again. An awful lot has gone very wrong for a pair of clubs that looked to be on the upswing following promising '98 campaigns.

Etc.: Jets head coach Bill Parcells is 13-4-1 lifetime vs. the Cardinals (11-4-1 with the Giants from 1983-90, 2-0 with Patriots from 1993-96). Cardinals WR Rob Moore (599) needs one catch to become the 21st player in NFL history with 600 career receptions. The Cardinals are just 3-15 vs. AFC teams dating back to 1995 (0-2 in '99). The Jets are 9-20 vs. NFC teams dating back to 1992 (0-1 in '99). The Jets have lost three straight games, and four straight home games.