By JAIME ARON, AP Sports Writer
November 16, 2004
IRVING, Texas (AP) -- Terrell Owens got the fun started with a 59-yard
touchdown he considered so easy that he celebrated by pretending to ice skate
in the end zone. Then he followed a 27-yarder with his favorite Texas Stadium
pose, spreading out his arms while standing on the Dallas Cowboys' logo.
When he scored again, Owens just dunked the ball over the crossbar. Might as
well save the good stuff for a tight game, because by then the Philadelphia
Eagles were well on their way to a 49-21 victory Monday night.
Donovan McNabb made sure the Eagles (8-1) bounced back from their only loss
this season, throwing four touchdown passes and setting up another with an
incredible, scrambling 60-yard completion. Lito Sheppard capped a
record-setting night for both teams with a 101-yard interception return for
another score in the closing minutes.
``The guys took pride in themselves to come out here and rebound from the
loss last week,'' said Owens, who had 134 yards on six catches. ``We came in
with a passion, the pride and the character of the guys on this team, and it
showed today.''
The Eagles quickly showed why they should still be considered the midseason
favorite to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl by scoring 35 points in the
first half -- more than they'd scored in any game this season. They wound up
with their most points in a regular-season game since beating the St. Louis
Cardinals 52-10 in November 1981.
``It takes a couple plays for us to get a little momentum,'' said McNabb,
who was 15-of-28 for 345 yards with no interceptions. ``Once things get going,
we feel confident that every play that we call is going to be effective and
possibly get in the end zone.''
The most amazing play didn't reach the end zone, but that's a minor quibble.
Facing third-and-10 from the Philadelphia 25, McNabb spun away from one
would-be tackler and sprinted to his right, only to find another defender
waiting. So he went back to his left, chased by two more players, and finally
heaved the ball, letting loose a 60-yard pass to Freddie Mitchell. Replays
showed McNabb held the ball for 14 seconds before the pass.
``It felt like a video game out there,'' he said.
Brian Westbrook followed with a 1-yard TD run, giving Philadelphia
touchdowns the last five times it had the ball before halftime, a streak that
continued on its first drive of the third quarter.
There was the minor interruption of a punt, but the Cowboys (3-6) fumbled
the return, adding to the humiliation of their fifth loss in six games -- and
their eighth in nine tries against the Eagles.
This one was eminently forgettable for Dallas fans as the team gave up its
most points ever at home and its most anywhere since a 50-24 loss at Cincinnati
in December 1985. The Cowboys allowed four touchdowns in one quarter (the
second) for the first time in franchise history and the 35 points Philadelphia
scored in the first half tied another dubious record.
After calling his team ``stupid'' following a 26-3 loss to Cincinnati last
week, Dallas coach Bill Parcells tried holding his tongue.
``We just got to get better,'' he said. ``I'm not going to get into the
state of the union right now.''
The Eagles loved every minute of it, especially Owens.
He was in such a good mood after his first touchdown that he and McNabb
playfully argued on the sideline, mocking their sideline confrontation from
last week. His celebration on the Cowboys' star in the end zone, mocking his
midfield moment four years ago that marked his entry into the realm of
post-touchdown performers.
Owens finished with his second three-TD game of the season and upped his
NFL-best total of scoring catches to 12.
``It's never easy,'' he said. ``I just make it look easy.''
Parcells grimaced through it all, knowing there was little he could do about
yet another lopsided loss. The Cowboys' season is a bust, with the only
curiosity left being when he'll turn the offense over to rookie quarterback
Drew Henson.
Vinny Testaverde, playing two days after turning 41, was decent enough to
keep the future leader on the sideline. He was 21-of-30 for 254 yards with two
touchdowns to Jason Witten. Eddie George added a 15-yard touchdown run.
Testaverde's only interception came in the end zone with about five minutes
left. Sheppard took it all the way, breaking past the defense around the 30.
Keyshawn Johnson grabbed his collar at the goal line and just held on, knowing
he was too late.
Philadelphia's biggest struggle was on third down, a problem that's bothered
the Eagles for weeks. The skid ended on McNabb's 60-yarder to Mitchell.
About the only thing Philadelphia did wrong was call a timeout in the
closing seconds of the first half, when the Cowboys had taken a knee and were
walking to the locker room. Parcells stalked back to midfield, then stared
across the field.
It was the same blank look he wore most of the night. Notes Dallas' last three losses have been by 21, 23 and 28 points. ...
Testaverde passed Dan Fouts for sixth on the career passing list. ... An
official left his microphone on in the third quarter and was heard saying,
``You can tell they're frustrated. Starting to complain a lot.''
Updated on Tuesday, Nov 16, 2004 1:39 am, EST
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