Owens Is the Star of Texas

Dallas Wide Receiver Has Three TDs in Rout of Houston: Cowboys 34, Texans 6

IRVING, Tex., Oct. 15 -- Terrell Owens stood on a star logo at Texas Stadium again. This time, it led to a standing ovation.

Owens capped his turnaround from local scourge to fan favorite by catching three second-half touchdowns, taking the Dallas Cowboys from a tight game against the Houston Texans to an easy 34-6 victory Sunday.

"I think this is a good start for me," said Owens, who broke a three-game scoring drought, his longest since 2000, with his first three-touchdown game since the night of his infamous skit with one of the "Desperate Housewives" in 2004.

"This is something to build on," he said. "It was a lot of fun."

All the Cowboys (3-2) had to enjoy this one, from the offense putting up 31 points after halftime, scoring on five of six possessions, to the defense not allowing a touchdown for the second straight home game.

It was an emphatic recovery from a tough loss to Philadelphia last week and a great way of avenging an embarrassing loss to the Texans (1-4) four years ago. And with the Eagles losing to New Orleans, the Cowboys moved within a half-game of first place in the NFC East; they're tied with the New York Giants, their foe next Monday night.

Until Sunday, Owens's Cowboys tenure was marked by problems: The hamstring injury that landed him on a stationary bike and off the field for most of the preseason, a fine for being late to work, a broken hand, an accidental overdose, screams of "Why am I here?" during and after the loss against Philadelphia and a shouting match this week with passing game coordinator Todd Haley.

Tension seemed to be mounting again as Owens went nearly the entire first half without a catch and with passes rarely coming his way. Then Haley and Drew Bledsoe made up for it.

Owens caught a three-yard touchdown on the opening drive of the third quarter despite pass interference called on his defender, putting Dallas ahead for the first time. He stretched the lead by making a nice adjustment on a 21-yard pass caught in the end zone between two Texans, then capped his big day with a two-yard score and the kind of celebration everyone has expected since Owens arrived in Dallas.

Making sure he was standing on one of the helmets in the end zone, Owens arched his back and spread his arms in the same look-at-me pose that got him in trouble when he was playing for San Francisco in 2000. After giving the ball to someone in the stands, he ran back across the field waving his arms and fans responded with more cheers and a standing ovation.

Owens finished with five catches for only 45 yards, the same total he had last week against Philadelphia. There was a world of difference in how it felt, though, with Owens calling it a "steppingstone" in his relationship with Bledsoe.

"I told him, 'Dude, just trust me. I know how to play the game. When the ball is in the air, I know how to attack, I know how to go get it,' " Owens said.

Bledsoe went 17 of 28 for 168 yards with no turnovers. He threw the first two touchdowns to Owens.

"He made some really nice plays on the ball. That was great to see," Bledsoe said. "He really got us going."

Owens's third touchdown catch came from Tony Romo, the fourth-year backup who'd never thrown a pass until Sunday. He replaced Bledsoe midway through the final drive and completed both his attempts, a 33-yarder to Sam Hurd, then the lob to an open Owens.

Owens and Haley chatted during the game and even shared a hug after his first score.

"He's my coach and I respect him," Owens said. "That doesn't mean we have to go to lunch together, play cards together."