The Cardinals make their first appearance in Miami since 1990 looking for their first-ever victory over the Dolphins.

The Dolphins own a perfect 7-0 mark in this infrequent pairing, posting a 38-10 Sunday evening triumph in 1996 at Sun Devil Stadium in the most recent encounter between the clubs.

The Cardinals are 0-3 lifetime at Miami (0-2 at the Orange Bowl, 0-1 at Pro Player Stadium), their last road tilt in this series resulting in a 23-3 setback in 1990.

Numbers: Including playoffs, the Cardinals have forced 35 turnovers in 11 wins, but have just 12 takeaways in eight losses dating back to '98. Cardinals' QB Jake Plummer has thrown two or more interceptions in 14 of his last 25 contests dating back to '97, including playoffs. The Cardinals have scored 266 points and allowed 280 points in their last 11 games (6-5), including playoffs, dating back to '98. Including playoffs, the Cardinals have committed two or more turnovers in 35 of their last 43 contests dating back to '96.

Since 1996 (including playoffs), under head coach Jimmy Johnson, the Dolphins are 29-5 when they run the ball 25 or more times, 0-18 when they fail to run the ball at least 25 times. In nine home games in '98 (including playoffs), the Dolphins allowed just 99 points, 2,201 yards of total offense (244.6 YPG) and just 7 offensive touchdowns. Since 1996 (including playoffs), under head coach Jimmy Johnson, the Dolphins have totaled 90 sacks and 74 takeaways in 29 wins but just 32 QB traps and 31 takeaways in 23 losses. Including playoffs, the Dolphins have allowed just nine sacks in 12 wins, 17 sacks in seven losses dating back to '98.

Things To Look For: Arizona's rough offseason looked as if it would continue into the regular season as they needed a Jake Plummer miracle to survive at Philadelphia. Meanwhile, Jimmy Johnson's squad was quite impressive in beating the champion Broncos in a game not as close as the score indicated. Miami's defensive package should be a handful for a Cardinals' offensive front that still has some work to do.

Etc.: The Cardinals are 1-0 for the first time since 1991 and haven't opened 2-0 since '91, when they finished 4-12 under since-departed head coach Joe Bugel. The Cardinals have won 4 straight games dating back to '98. They are just 3-13 vs. AFC teams dating back to 1995 (1-3 in '98). Cardinals' WR Rob Moore (594) needs 6 catches to become the 21st player in NFL history with 600 career receptions. Moore has caught at least 1 pass in 103 straight games.

Dolphins' head coach Jimmy Johnson is 8-3 lifetime vs. the Cardinals (7-3 with Dallas, 1-0 with Miami) and has won his last eight meetings with the Cards dating back to 1990 with the Cowboys. The Dolphins are an NFL-best 72-29 lifetime (.713) in interconference games (3-1 in '98) dating back to 1970. They are 16-6 at home vs. NFC competition since moving to Joe Robbie Stadium in 1987. Miami is 12-3 lifetime at home vs. NFC East competition, the lone losses coming to the Giants in '93 (19-14) and '96 (17-7) and Cowboys in '96 (29-10).