Friday, September 4, 1998

ARIZONA (4-12) AT DALLAS (6-10) 3 p.m., FOX

OPENING LINE - Cowboys by 5-1/2

RECORD VS. SPREAD - Cardinals 8-7; Cowboys 3-11.

SERIES RECORD - Cowboys lead 47-23-1.

LAST TIME MET - Cowboys beat Cardinals 24-5 on Nov. 9, 1997 at Dallas.

KEY ADDITIONS - Cardinals: RB Adrian Murrell, KR-WR Eric Metcalf, QB Dave Brown. Cowboys: coach Chan Gailey, RB Chris Warren, WR Ernie Mills.

KEY LOSSES - Cardinals: QB Kent Graham, WR Kevin Williams. Cowboys: DE Shante Carver, FS Brock Marion.

CARDINALS OFFENSE - RUSH (No. 30), PASS (No. 10), OVERALL (No. 24)

QB Jake Plummer started final 9 games and set team rookie records with 2,203 yards and 15 TDs. Murrell is coming off consecutive 1,000-yard seasons with Jets. FB Larry Centers is versatile back who averaged 100 catches in 1995 and 96. WR Rob Moore (97 receptions) led NFL with 1,584 yards receiving. WR Frank Sanders (75 receptions, 1,017 yards) led league with 31 third-down receptions.

COWBOYS OFFENSE - RUSH (No. 20), PASS (No. 20), OVERALL (No. 20)

QB Troy Aikman had subpar season and will line up in shotgun formation for first time in career. RB Emmitt Smith's 1,074 yards were lowest total since rookie year, and 4 TDs were career low. Backup Warren will miss 6 weeks with groin injury. WR Michael Irvin had 75 catches for 1,180 yards.

CARDINALS DEFENSE - RUSH (No. 27), PASS (No. 15), OVERALL (No. 27)

DT Eric Swann (7-1/2 sacks) is force on line. LB Jamir Miller had career-high 139 tackles. CB Aeneas Williams (63 tackles, 4 INTs), a perennial Pro Bowler, ran back 2 INTs for TDs. DE Simeon Rice (5 sacks) is proven pass rusher. First-round pick Wadsworth is still a holdout.

COWBOYS DEFENSE - RUSH (No. 24), PASS (No. 1), OVERALL (No. 2)

SS Darren Woodson (73 tackles) and CB Deion Sanders (2 INTs) are arguably best in game at their positions. CB Kevin Smith had penalty-plagued 1997. Healthy Chad Hennings and Leon Lett should bolster line.

SPECIAL TEAMS - Cardinals KR Metcalf is threat to score every time he touches ball. Cowboys K Richie Cunningham made 34 of 37 field goals as rookie.

KEY MATCHUP - CB Williams vs. WR Irvin.

STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES - Cardinals enter 100th season. ... Arizona's offensive line allowed a team-record 78 sacks. ... Williams' 27 INTs since 1994 are most in NFL. ... Cardinals had 9 games decided in final minute or overtime and were 3-6 in those games. ... Moore's 2,600 yards over past 2 years lead league. ... Cowboys' 28-9-1 opening game record is NFL's best. ... Smith's 1,697 yards in September over past 5 years is second to Barry Sanders. ... Smith's 112 rushing TDs lead active players and is 12 away from Marcus Allen for first overall.