(Best E Casino) - It's been 10 years since the Arizona Cardinals have reached the playoffs, but it's been even longer since the club opened up a season with three straight wins. The Cards try for their first 3-0 start since 1974 when they visit the Washington Redskins this Sunday at FedExField.

Arizona hasn't reached the postseason since 1998, but has put itself in good early position to end that drought by winning its first two games of a season for the first time since 1991. However, things didn't turn out well that year, as the Cardinals dropped a Week 3 test in Washington and ended up going 4-12 on the year.

The Cards' decision to go with Kurt Warner as their starting quarterback has been a good one so far, as the former MVP passed for 361 yards and three touchdowns in last weekend's 31-10 home rout of the Miami Dolphins.

The 31-point outburst was Arizona's 10th straight game in which it has scored at least 20 points, the longest current streak in the NFL. The win was also the 10th for head coach Ken Whisenhunt in just his 18th game, as he became the fastest Arizona head coach to reach that mark since Charley Winner did so in 17 games back in 1966-67.

All three touchdown strikes went to Anquan Boldin, and the two set the tone early by hooking up for a 79-yard score on Arizona's first offensive play from scrimmage following a pair of penalties. Warner also completed a 75-yard pass to Larry Fitzgerald on the Cardinals' next possession that helped set up a three-yard scoring strike to Boldin.

Edgerrin James rushed for 55 yards in the Cardinals' win, becoming the 14th player in NFL history to reach 15,000 yards from scrimmage.

James enters this test second in the league among active players in scrimmage yards, averaging 115.6 per game. He will be opposite Washington's Clinton Portis, who is third in that category at 111.5 yards per game.

Portis was part of a Washington offense that racked up 455 net yards in a 29-24 come-from-behind victory over the New Orleans Saints last Sunday, just over one week after the team mustered only 209 yards in a season-opening loss to the New York Giants.

Portis ran for 96 yards on 21 carries and scored twice, including an eight- yard run in the fourth quarter, while quarterback Jason Campbell launched a career-long 67-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Santana Moss with 3:29 left in the game to cap the comeback. Washington trailed 24-15 heading into the final frame.

The victory was also the first for new head coach Jim Zorn, who was making his home debut.

SERIES HISTORY

The Redskins hold a 72-44-2 edge in their all-time series with the Cardinals, which dates back to the 1932 season, when the then-Chicago Cardinals first faced the then-Boston Braves. Washington has won six straight in the series, including a 19-17 home victory when the teams last met, in Week 7 of the 2007 season. The Cardinals last beat the Redskins in 2000, and are 0-5 in Washington since last winning there in 1998. The two franchises were NFC East rivals from 1970 through 2001.

Arizona's Whisenhunt, who played for the Redskins in 1989 and 1990, is 0-1 against his former team, while Zorn will be meeting both Whisenhunt and the Cardinals for the first time as a head coach.

WHEN THE CARDINALS HAVE THE BALL

Warner (558 passing yards, 4 TD, 0 INT) has been the steady presence in the pocket that the Cardinals need. He had a perfect quarterback rating of 158.3 in the win over Miami, his first flawless mark since October 1, 2000 against San Diego. It was the third time in his career that Warner, the reigning NFC Player of the Week, has posted a perfect quarterback rating, which tied him with Peyton Manning of the Colts for most all-time. Warner has been zeroing in on Boldin (14 receptions, 3 TD), who scored three touchdowns in a game for the first time in his career. The wideout also posted the 22nd 100-yard game of his career, tying Jackie Smith for the all-time Cardinals record. Fitzgerald (9 receptions, 1 TD) added six catches for 153 yards versus the Dolphins, while running back Tim Hightower became the first Arizona rookie ever to rush for a touchdown in his first two games. With Warner lighting things up through the air, the Cardinals haven't had to rely on the running game, as they are currently 19th in the league in yards via the ground.

The Washington defense recovered nicely from a tough Week 1 loss to the Giants. After getting tagged for 154 yards on the ground against New York, the Redskins limited the Saints to just 55 rushing yards. Linebacker London Fletcher (24 tackles) led the team with seven total tackles, while linebacker H.B. Blades (9 tackles) and cornerback Shawn Springs had six each. Chris Horton, a seventh-round pick of the 2008 draft, grabbed the first two interceptions of his career and also recovered a fumble, while Jason Taylor (6 tackles) posted his first sack as a Redskin. It was the 118th of his career, most among active players. Washington's corners will be busy with the Cardinals' passing game, which could spell trouble for Fred Smoot (12 tackles). Smoot was able to play versus the Saints despite a hip flexor and managed four tackles. Defensive end Andre Carter has five sacks and three forced fumbles in eight career games against Arizona.

WHEN THE REDSKINS HAVE THE BALL

Campbell (454 passing yards, 2 TD, 0 INT) comes into this test off the third 300-yard passing game of his career. He completed 24-of-36 pass attempts for 321 yards, with Moss (12 receptions, 2 TD) making seven catches for 164 yards. Moss has 201 receiving yards through the season's first two weeks. Including the playoffs, he is the first Redskin player to catch a touchdown pass in five straight games since Charlie Brown in 1982. Tight end Chris Cooley added five catches for 72 yards in the win. The ground game for Washington so far has gone through Portis, and Portis only. He has 44 of Washington's 55 rushing attempts and has gained 180 yards on the ground so far. In three career games against the Cardinals, Portis has totaled 376 rushing yards and five touchdowns. That includes a career-best 228 yards versus Arizona while with Denver on December 29, 2002.

The Cardinals, though, were stingy in allowing yards on the ground last week versus Miami. After yielding 108 rushing yards to the 49ers in Week 1, the Arizona defense held the Dolphins to just 72. Linebacker Karlos Dansby (15 tackles) led the way with eight tackles, while corner Rod Hood (8 tackles) chipped in with six. Defensive end Bertrand Berry posted four tackles and a sack, his second of the year, while fellow end Bryan Robinson got to the quarterback for the first time this season. Safeties Adrian Wilson (8 tackles, 1 INT) and Antrel Rolle (3 tackles) have both haunted Washington quarterbacks before, with Wilson having a pick in two of his last three contests against the Redskins. Rolle, a former cornerback, posted an interception in a 2005 meeting with Washington. Up front, nose tackle Gabe Watson has yet to play this year due to a knee injury and is questionable for this contest.

FANTASY FOCUS

After some poor showings versus the Giants in Week 1, Moss and Portis owners who sat either player last week were likely kicking themselves by the end of Sunday's games. Portis is getting almost all of the carries so far and is a must-start, while Moss is on a five-game scoring run and should start as well. The big question will be if Campbell's outstanding Week 2 was just a flash in the pan. The Cardinals defense has been good through two weeks, ranking seventh in yards allowed per game, so this should be an honest test for Campbell this weekend. However, owners shouldn't hesitate in sitting Campbell if a better option is available.

The Cardinals' high-flying offense has been great for fantasy players so far, with Warner, Boldin and Fitzgerald all being outstanding starts for this weekend as well. However, James is showing little value as a fantasy back, as he hasn't been racking up yards and has also watched Hightower score both of Arizona's rushing touchdown this year. Until he gets going, James should be avoided. The Cardinals' defense is a little better start this week than the Redskins, but with Cooley, Moss and Portis lurking, not much can be expected. Though one was a touchdown, Cardinals tight end Leonard Pope has made only two catches on the season and isn't even worth a roster spot at this point.

OVERALL ANALYSIS

While the rest of the NFC West is sputtering out the gate, the Cardinals are trying to establish themselves early on as the team to beat in that division. The Redskins, meanwhile, are in arguably the toughest grouping in the league, the NFC East, and can't afford to give away too many games outside of the division. Washington has the home-field advantage and can dictate the pace better with Portis in the backfield. As long as Campbell can make passes when necessary and Portis can eat up clock and yards all game, the Redskins can avoid getting into a potentially-dooming shootout with the Cardinals. However, if Washington is forced into an aerial showcase with Arizona, all bets are off. The game will come down to Portis, and he is more than capable of shouldering the load.

Best E Casino Predicted Outcome: Redskins 21, Cardinals 17