The Cowboys head to Sun Devil Stadium in position to sweep this divisional rivalry for the second straight season and the eighth time in 9 years.

Seven weeks ago at Texas Stadium (Week 4), Cowboys QB Troy Aikman threw for 192 yards and 2 touchdowns and the Dallas' defense scored twice (32-yard interception return by FS George Teague, 98-yard fumble return by DE Greg Ellis) as Chan Gailey's team rolled to an easy 35-7 victory.

The Cowboys have more than doubled (50-24-1) the Cardinals' win total in this series and have prevailed in 17 of the last 19 overall meetings (including playoffs) between the clubs dating back to the teams' second encounter in 1990, one of those losses a stunning 20-7 upset triumph by the Cardinals in the 1998 NFC Wild Card Game at Texas Stadium.

As for the Cowboys' last appearance at Sun Devil Stadium (Week 11 of '98), RB Emmitt Smith would finish the afternoon with 118 yards rushing and 3 touchdowns as Gailey's club built a 28-0 second-quarter advantage, but Cardinals QB Jake Plummer would throw for 465 yards and 3 scores (1 INT) and saw his club come up short in the final minute as Dallas barely held on for a 35-28 win.

The Cowboys are 8-3 in their last 11 road tilts in this series dating back to 1988 (9-3 lifetime at Sun Devil Stadium including Dallas' win over Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XXX).

Numbers: Including playoffs, in 14 games vs. NFC East rivals dating back to '98, the Cowboys are 11-3, totaling 362 points and 38 offensive touchdowns in those 14 contests. Including playoffs, Cowboys CB Deion Sanders has scored 22 touchdowns in 6 different ways (8 interceptions, 6 punt returns, 3 kickoff returns, 3 receptions, 1 rushing and 1 fumble recovery) in 11 NFL seasons (1989-99). The Cowboys have outscored the opposition a combined 64-6 in the first quarter in 9 games in '99.

The Cardinals have been outscored a combined 76-6 in the first quarter in 9 games in '99. Including playoffs, the Cardinals have forced 38 turnovers in 13 wins, but have just 21 takeaways in 14 losses dating back to '98. They have allowed 3 or more sacks in 3 straight games. The Cardinals have totaled 3 or more sacks in 3 straight games.

Things to look for: The talent-depleted Cowboys proved last week against the Packers that they could still get it done without many of their stars. But that was within the cozy confines of Texas Stadium, not the hostile surroundings of Sun Devil Stadium, where the struggling Cardinals still find themselves in the NFC East chase despite their sub-.500 record. Dallas' defense must step to the forefront here.

Etc.: The Cowboys have lost 4 straight road games. Including playoffs, the Cowboys are 51-21 (2-1 in playoffs) vs. NFC East competition since 1991, including 19-11 vs. divisional competition since '96. The Cardinals are 20-26 at home vs. NFC East competition (1-1 in '99) since moving to Sun Devil Stadium in 1988. WR Rob Moore (605) needs 5 catches to tie both Herman Moore and Keith Byars (610) for 19th place on the NFL's all-time receiving list. Moore (9,131) needs 17 yards to tie Anthony Miller (9,148) for 20th place on the NFL's all-time receiving yardage list.