The Dallas Cowboys make their way to Redskins Stadium as these bitter combatants renew one of the top rivalries in NFL history.

The Cowboys own a 43-33-2 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 three meetings between the clubs.

Last season, Dallas swept this bitter series for the first time since 1994; in Week 5 at Washington, Cowboys' RBs Emmitt Smith (28-120-1 TD) and Chris Warren (14-104-2 TDs) both topped the century mark on the ground and the Dallas' defense limited the 'Skins to just 256 total yards in an easy 31-10 victory.

Two months later in the clubs' regular-season finale on a Sunday evening (ESPN) at Texas Stadium (Week 17), 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.

Since 1961, the Cowboys and 'Skins have met twice during the regular season each year (with the exception of the '82 strike campaign, when the Cowboys won the lone regular-season clash); over that span, Dallas has swept Washington 9 times, the 'Skins have swept Dallas just 3 times, while the clubs have split their season series 23 times (there were ties in 1961 and '62).

Despite last year's victory, the Cowboys are just 2-5 in their last 7 visits to Washington dating back to 1992.

Worth noting is that this marks the 8th time the Cowboys and Redskins have met on opening day, with Dallas owning a 5-1-1 mark in those previous 7 contests.

Numbers: In 16 career meetings with the Redskins, Cowboys' RB Emmitt Smith has amassed 1,889 yards from scrimmage (343-1,652-18 TDs rushing, 48-237-1 TD receiving) and scored 19 touchdowns. In 19 career meetings with the Redskins, Cowboys' WR Michael Irvin has caught 91 passes for 1,305 yards and scored 11 touchdowns. Cowboys' QB Troy Aikman has completed 283-of-473 passes for 3,119 yards, 16 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 17 career meetings with the Redskins (9-8 as starter). After scoring just 25 offensive touchdowns in 16 games in 1997 (6-10), the Cowboys scored 38 offensive touchdowns in 16 games in '98. They scored 30 or more points in 7-of-16 games in 1998 (10-6), this after reaching the 30-point mark just once in '97. Including playoffs, in 9 games vs. NFC East rivals in '98, Cowboys were 8-1, totaling 228 points (25.3 PPG) and 23 offensive touchdowns. The Cowboys did not commit a turnover in 7-of-16 contests in '98. RB Emmitt Smith has totaled 125 rushing touchdowns, 35 of those scores from one yard out. Including playoffs, Dallas allowed 14 TD passes in their last eight games, this after giving up just nine touchdown passes in their first nine contests in '98.

After scoring just 93 points in their first seven games (0-7) in '98, the Redskins have scored 226 points in their last nine contests (6-3). Since 1993, the Redskins have given up 130 or more yards rushing in 48-of-96 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 20 of those 96 games. Washington has allowed 120 or more yards rushing in six straight games and 12 of their last 16 contests dating back to '98. They allowed three or more sacks in 13-of-16 games in '98. RB Skip Hicks has scored eight touchdowns in his last nine games dating back to '98.

Things To Look For: Chan Gailey's first season at the helm of the Cowboys was a success, even though last year's NFC East title was followed by an early playoff exit. Norv Turner would love the opportunity to lose a postseason game, if only his team could get to the playoffs. Dallas owned its divisional competition a year ago, but they may find Redskins' QB Brad Johnson and company a much-improved foe.

Etc.: The Cowboys own an NFL-best 29-9-1 record on opening day. Including playoffs, the Cowboys are 48-19 (2-1 in playoffs) vs. NFC East competition since 1991, including 16-9 vs. divisional competition since '96 (8-1 in '98). Since 1993, the Redskins are 36-59-1 and have started eight different quarterbacks (since-departed QBs Mark Rypien, Cary Conklin, Rich Gannon, John Friesz, Heath Shuler, Gus Frerotte, Jeff Hostetler, Trent Green) over that span. The Redskins are just 14-33-1 vs. divisional competition since 1993 (2-6 in '98), 5-7 vs. the Cowboys and just 9-26-1 vs. the rest of the NFC East. Washington is 16-23-1 in their last 40 contests after opening 7-1 in '96.

Cowboys' WR Michael Irvin (11,737) needs 97 yards to tie Don Maynard (11,834) for 9th place on the NFL's all-time receiving yardage list. RB Emmitt Smith (12,566) needs 173 yards to tie Tony Dorsett (12,739) for 4th place on the NFLs all-time rushing list. Smith (2,914) needs 22 rushing attempts to tie Dorsett (2,936) for 6th place on the NFLs all-time rushing attempts list. Redskins' WR Irving Fryar (11,983) needs 17 yards to become just the 8th player in NFL history with 12,000 receiving yards.