Philadelphia cruises with Donovan McNabb finding Terrell Owens for three touchdowns.
By Associated Press
Published November 16, 2004
IRVING, Texas - Terrell Owens caught three touchdowns from Donovan McNabb, as the Eagles won in a 49-21 romp over the Cowboys on Monday night.
Owens struck a pose on a star logo in the end zone after his second TD catch, in the second quarter. He celebrated the third with a two-handed dunk over the crossbar, the ball hitting the Cowboys mascot standing nearby.
After leaping and grabbing a 16-yard pass over two defenders, Owens had his second three-touchdown game of the season. He leads the NFL with 12 scoring catches.
Philadelphia, coming off its only loss of the season, had its highest point total of the season by halftime. The Eagles became the first team to score four TDs in one quarter against Dallas and led 35-14 at the half.
McNabb completed 15 of 28 passes for 345 yards and four touchdowns. Owens, booed heartily before the game, had six catches for 134 yards.
Owens avoided an extravagant celebration after his 59-yard touchdown in the first quarter, but teased everyone by running toward the middle of the field. He stopped well short of the Cowboys' star logo and threw the ball to McNabb.
Four years ago, when Owens was with San Francisco, he celebrated two touchdowns on the midfield logo. Running back Emmitt Smith responded to the first by going to the star and mocking Owens, then safety George Teague flattened Owens the next time.
After getting wide open for his 27-yard touchdown catch Monday night and a 21-7 lead in the second quarter, Owens moved to a smaller star logo on a helmet painted in the end zone. He stopped, spread his arms wide open and stared into the sky - just like he did in 2000.
Philadelphia scored on four straight drives in the second quarter, and then again on their first possession of the second half. The Cowboys drove for Eddie George's 15-yard TD run to start the third quarter.
McNabb threw another 59-yard scoring pass, to Todd Pinkston, who wrestled the ball away from rookie cornerback Jacques Reeves at the 5 and then shuffled into the end zone.
Jason Witten then caught his second touchdown from Vinny Testaverde, the Cowboys quarterback who turned 41 on Saturday, to get to 28-14. But the Eagles scored again on Brian Westbrook's 1-yard run.
That last score was set up when McNabb scrambled and completed a 60-yard pass to Freddie Mitchell.
Cornerback Lito Sheppard capped the Eagles' scoring in the fourth quarter with a 101-yard interception return.
