Arizona offense vs. Dallas defense

	CARDINALS OFFENSE
	Ranking in the NFL:
	Run	25
	Pass	23
	Tot. Yds.	26
	Scoring	22
	Int's allowed	31
	Sacks allowed	19
	COWBOYS DEFENSE
	Ranking in the NFL:
	vs. Run	25
	vs. Pass	31
	Total yds. allowed	30
	Ints.	8
	Sacks	21
	Turnover differential	0

The Cardinals' offense was a mess heading into the Monday night showdown with the Niners last week, and it is even worse now. Offensive coordinator Marc Trestman will have a tough time scheming for this division rival with key injuries to WRs David Boston and Rob Moore.

Boston's scapula (shoulder blade) injury prevents him from raising his arm, and Moore's will keep him out of the lineup entirely.

QB Jake Plummer's struggles continued against San Francisco, as he made poor reads throughout and finished with just 176 yards passing, no touchdowns and two interceptions -- giving him nine in three games. In his defense, Plummer is receiving very little protection from his banged up offensive line -- he was sacked five more times by the Niners.

There is very little reason for optimism because the Cards are already playing the best that they have. Aside from replacing LOT Matt Joyce with Anthony Clement, there aren't very many changes that can be made. Joyce surrendered two sacks to the Niners' Charles Haley last week and he will face a similar edge rusher on Sunday. RDE Kavika Pittman is sackless in his first two games, and his speed will be too much for a massive guy like Joyce to handle.

RDC Deion Sanders makes his long-awaited return this week from a turf toe injury but don't expect the Cards to challenge his side of the field. Instead, look for Plummer to target the left side of the Cowboys' defense, where Kevin Smith or Charlie Williams could be easy prey. Deion's man coverage ability will allow the Cowboys to blitz more often on Sunday, which should help mask the deficiencies of their front four. FB Joel Makovicka will earn his paycheck this week on blitz pickups alone.

With Frank Sanders and Andy McCullough the top healthy receivers, Arizona will have to run the football more effectively than they have all season. The offensive line woes that have plagued the passing game are also hindering RB Adrian Murrell. Murrell, who has 154 yards on 60 carries (2.6 avg.), is a much better back than his numbers reflect, but he is having to avoid too many tacklers before he hits the line of scrimmage.

After two games, it's too early to judge Dallas' run defense. Washington RB Stephen Davis shredded them for 109 yards in Week 1 and Atlanta's Byron Hanspard averaged a respectable four yards per carry in place of Jamal Anderson. The stars of this unit thus far have been second-year LDE Greg Ellis and veteran LDT Chad Hennings. Each player has recorded two sacks and should make running over the offensive right side tough for the Cards.

Dallas offense vs. Arizona defense

	COWBOYS OFFENSE
	Ranking in the NFL:
	Run	1
	Pass	13
	Tot. Yds.	5
	Scoring	2
	Int's allowed	27
	Sacks allowed	5
	CARDINALS DEFENSE
	Ranking in the NFL:
	vs. Run	30
	vs. Pass	2
	Total yds. allowed	6
	Ints.	18
	Sacks	18
	Turnover differential	-7

After watching film of the Niners' success on the ground, the Cowboys will surely test the Cards' vulnerable front four. Though Arizona got a big lift last week when RDT Mark Smith returned, he is hardly in playing shape and should again see the majority of his time in nickel situations.

RB Emmit Smith is off to another great season, rushing for 218 yards and three touchdowns in two games. Two great matchups worth watching will be waged on the perimeter, where DEs Simeon Rice and Andre Wadsworth are both playing the best ball of their short careers.

With Eric Swann still sidelined, the Cowboys will surely hammer the ball between the tackles, but the real test will be springing Smith and Chris Warren outside. The bulk of the action will come right at Wadsworth, because an injury to starting ROG Everitt McIver will limit his ability to effectively pull. Head Coach Chan Gailey's outside run game relies on the guards to pull and kick the end to the sideline, which will be exactly what LOG Larry Allen will be asked to do against Wadsworth.

The Cardinals' secondary gave up plenty of underneath routes last week, but they held the Niners' big play receiving trio in check. The play of the front four, and RDT Smith in particular, will dictate how this unit plays on Sunday. LDC Aeneas Williams always saves his best for the Cowboys, so look for QB Troy Aikman to go after second-year RDC Corey Chavous. Chavous looked like a real player towards the end of last season, but he is playing a little too tentative this year.

Dallas WRs Michael Irvin and Raghib Ismail are off to big seasons, but it is Ismail who has made the difference. Irvin hasn't had a deep threat to pull safeties off his unerneath routes since Alvin Harper left town. Irvin had his most productive game last season against the Cards, hauling in nine pass for 119 yards. That was, however, before Chavous was switched to cornerback.

Look for TEs David LaFleur and Eric Bjornson to make a difference against Arizona's multiple zone defenses. LaFleur has the size to be physical and post up smallish OLB Zach Walz, and Bjornson has the experience to find the seams. It will be up to MLB Ronald McKinnon to make sure he gets deep enough drops to prevent the tight ends from settling behind him.

Special teams

	NFL RANK
	Category	ARI	DAL
	Punt return avg.	15	26
	Kickoff return avg.	16	14
	Opp. punt return avg.	6	21
	Opp. kickoff ret. avg.	20	2
	Time of possession	15	4

The Cardinals made a costly mistake last week by activating two kickers. The decision came back to haunt the team when WRs Boston and Moore sustained injuries and there wasn't enough bodies to field some of the Cards' multiple-receiver sets. PK Chris Jacke (8-for-9 on FGs) will probably handle the chores on Sunday, because he has more big game experience.

PR David Boston flashed some potential with a 43-yard return but opponents are starting to pick up on the fact that he carries the ball like a loaf of bread. The Niners forced a fumble on the opening punt deep in Cardinals territory, which led to an easy 49er score.

The Cowboys' special teams were solid in the first two games but PR Wane McGarity isn't making anyone forget Deion Sanders. KOR Jeff Ogden has been unspectacular, as well, but at least Joe Avezzano's troops are covering well.

Key matchups