Why to watch:
This is a rematch of perhaps the most exciting game thus far in the 1999 season, Dallas' 41-35 overtime victory at Washington in Week 1. The 'Skins certainly haven't forgotten how they blew a 21-point lead in the fourth quarter of that contest and disappointed a record home crowd. The trip to Irving, Texas, will provide a very good measuring stick for the Washington defense, which has shown improvement since the hiring of special defensive assistant Bill Arnsparger.

More importantly, however, this is a key battle for NFC East supremacy. The Redskins, who have won four consecutive games following that season-opening debacle, sit alone in first place and own a one-game lead over the Cowboys and a 1½-game edge over the Giants. Dallas will be looking to get back on track after losing consecutive road games to the Eagles and Giants. After averaging 33.3 points per game in starting the season 3-0, the 'Boys have mustered just 10 points per contest in their last two losses. Cowboys coach Chan Gailey is hoping that a date with the 'Skins is just what his offense needs to get going.

Who to watch:
Start with the four starting cornerbacks -- the Redskins' Darrell Green and rookie Champ Bailey, and the Cowboys' Deion Sanders and Kevin Smith. Both secondaries were torched in Week 1, but Dallas had a good excuse -- Sanders and Smith were both out with injuries. Bailey comes off a three-interception performance last week at Arizona and keeps getting better each week.

INJURY REPORT

Redskins: OUT: RB Larry Bowie (ankle); DE Ndukwe Kalu (foot). QUESTONABLE: LB Fred Strickland (knee); P Matt Turk (finger). PROBABLE: RB Stephen Davis (ankle); TE James Jenkins (knee); G Tré Johnson (elbow); C Cory Raymer (toe). Cowboys: OUT: WR Michael Irvin (neck); WR Wane McGarity (shoulder). DOUBTFUL: S George Teague (neck). QUESTONABLE: DT Chad Hennings (neck); S Izell Reese (neck). PROBABLE: CB Kevin Mathis (knee); CB Deion Sanders (ankle); C Mark Stepnoski (back); S Darren Woodson (ankle).

Cowboys WR Raghib Ismail burned the 'Skins with a 76-yard TD catch to win that first meeting for Dallas. But Michael Irvin won't be on the opposite side this time, so Cowboys WR Ernie Mills will have to take some defensive attention away from the Rocket. Cowboys QB Troy Aikman hasn't thrown a TD pass since Irvin went down, and he's thrown just two in October -- but remember he threw for a career-high five TDs in Week 1. Cowboys RB Emmitt Smith was held to 26 yards on 22 carries last week, but the 'Skins run defense ranks 25th in the league.

Redskins QB Brad Johnson threw his first two interceptions of the season last week, and he's tied for second in the NFC with 10 TD passes. Redskins RB Stephen Davis ran for 129 yards and two TDs in the first meeting. Redskins WRs Michael Westbrook (five catches for 159 yards) and Albert Connell (four for 137) also had big days against Dallas in Week 1. 'Skins DE Kenard Lang, who has four sacks this season, will be matched with Cowboys RT Erik Williams in a great battle in the trenches.

Redskins' numbers to know:
Norv Turner is 4-7 against the Cowboys since he left his post as Dallas' offensive coordinator to become the Redskins head coach in 1994. Turner's team is a different club in 1999, however, and that's primarily because of turnovers. The 'Skins lead the NFC with a ratio of plus-6 (12 takeaways and a league-low six giveaways).

Cowboys' numbers to know:
Dallas has won the last four meetings with Washington, and the 'Boys are 11-8 against their biggest rival in the 1990s as they enter their final showdown of the decade.

What it means:
The Redskins can send a clear statement that they are indeed the team to beat in the NFC East. With a victory, Washington will have a two-game lead over Dallas, which has won the division in six of the last seven seasons. The Cowboys, meanwhile, can't afford to lose three straight games to three different divisional opponents. Both teams are struggling on one side of the ball -- the Redskins on defense and the Cowboys on offense. Obviously, one of those units will get well Sunday.

Sean Salisbury's breakdown
Redskins' game plan:
Washington's attack revolves around Brad Johnson. What a difference a good quarterback can make to an offense. You can see what it's done for Michael Westbrook, Stephen Alexander and Stephen Davis. If you're a defense, you have to try to confuse Johnson. But you really can't confuse him, because Johnson knows that offense as well as Norv Turner does. You're not going to beat him blitzing him, because he's going to get it to the right guy. There aren't a whole lot of ways to beat Johnson except to keep the Redskins offense off the field.

The 'Skins will throw to set up the run. Johnson uses the passing game as an extension of the running game. I look for the Redskins to pass first and run second. You're not going to run laterally against the Cowboys because their linebackers are fast. But you can take it right at them and you can beat them throwing the ball downfield. I would go after Deion Sanders a couple of times. I wouldn't allow him to just sit back there and not do anything . I'd be a careful on out-routes and hitch-routes. But with Westbrook's size, I'd challenge Sanders physically.

If the Redskins get ahead, they'll pound you and they'll keep on pounding you. If the defense adjusts and moves up at all to stop the run, the 'Skins will hit you for a home run. The Redskins offense is for real.

Statistically, Washington's defense isn't very good, but it improved last week in Arizona. Dan Wilkinson played better, and the whole defense came out with a lot more enthusiasm. The Redskins brought in Bill Arnsparger, who understands defense. I expect them to play better against a Cowboys team that isn't that great on offense.

If they can stop Emmitt Smith and roll their coverage to Rocket Ismail so that he doesn't get single coverage and a chance to run free, then Washington wins the game.

Cowboys' game plan:
Dallas isn't very good on offense right now. I think we might see a little more of Deion on offense. You don't have Michael Irvin, so Ernie Mills will have to play well. You can be sure that the Redskins won't let Ismail beat them like he did in their first game.

Dallas will take some chances. But their success on offense rests on one thing. Can they run the football? If Emmitt Smith rushes for less than 50 yards, I don't see the Cowboys winning. This is not a team that throws the ball 45 times a game and beats you. What you saw the first time these team's played was a bit of an aberration. If the Cowboys are going to win the game, Aikman's going to throw the ball about 25 times, and Smith is going to get between 80 and 120 yards.

This is one of those games where the Cowboys might not have an all-out game plan on defense. I think you come out the first series and give the Redskins a lot of different looks. Zone blitz them on first down, come back with a nine-man front on second down, and on third down rush three defenders and drop eight.

The Cowboys have to do everything they can to keep the 'Skins guessing and force them to make adjustments. It's a complete guessing game for Dave Campo and the Cowboys defense. If the Redskins offense and the Cowboys defense each play their best, then the Redskins have the advantage.

Pivotal Players:
The Cowboys offensive linemen. They got physically embarrassed last week against the Giants, which is something they're not used to. If Dallas wins the line-of-scrimmage battle, Smith can rush for 100 yards. If they don't, you could put any back in the league back there and he wouldn't get 100 yards.