TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Owens, Dallas Romp To Victory

ADVERTISEMENT

By STEVEN WINE, The Associated Press

Published: September 17, 2007

Updated: 09/16/2007 11:44 pm

MIAMI - Terrell Owens burned the Miami Dolphins, mocked the New England Patriots and savored a 2-0 start by the Dallas Cowboys.

Owens' fourth-down touchdown reception with four minutes left Sunday helped seal the Cowboys' 37-20 win against Miami. He celebrated by leaning against the goal post and holding the ball to his face as if videotaping with it, his way of poking fun at the spying scandal involving Patriots coach Bill Belichick.

'It was all in good fun,' Owens said with a grin. 'I hope they don't give me a hefty fine like they gave Belichick.'

Owens did receive a 15-yard penalty for 'using the goal post as a prop,' but by then the Cowboys were up 30-13, thanks in large part to their ball-hawking defense.

After winning a shootout in the season opener, the Cowboys this time relied on five takeaways. They intercepted Trent Green four times and recovered a fumbled snap. Green also fumbled attempting a spike play late in the first half, possibly costing Miami points.

'I have tough enough skin and broad enough shoulders,' said Green, booed in his home debut for the Dolphins. 'Unfortunately this is not the first time I've had a day like this.'

Dallas came from behind twice and nursed a 20-13 lead early in the fourth quarter, then sealed the win with two touchdowns in the final 4:01. The Cowboys committed no turnovers, while former USF player Anthony Henry had two interceptions, and Ken Hamlin and Roy Williams had one each.

'That definitely helps,' Owens said, 'especially with an offense like ours that can strike at any time.'

Particularly pleased with the takeaways was new Dallas coach Wade Phillips.

'How about the defense?' Phillips said. 'Five turnovers - how about that? That's the kind of defense we have.'

The Cowboys have won their first two games for the first time since 1999.

'You can't crown us champions right now,' Hamlin said. 'It's only the second week of the season.'

Elusive Tony Romo went 14-for-29 for 186 yards and two scores, and added 36 yards on four runs. Romo threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Tony Curtis and hit Owens for a 34-yard score.

Marion Barber scored on runs of 1 and 40 yards and finished with 89 yards to help Dallas control the ball for 35 minutes.

'Marion the Barbarian,' Owens called him.

Miami fell to 0-2 for the third time in four years, and new coach Cam Cameron is off to a rough start in his bid to end a franchise-record five-year playoff drought.

'If you've been in this business long enough, you've been in this position before,' Cameron said. 'I know I have. We're going to stick together.'

The Dolphins' ineptitude included their punt team, which committed penalties on consecutive plays, negating a 53-yard net kick with the second flag. The subsequent punt was returned 49 yards by Patrick Crayton. Three plays later, Curtis scored his first NFL touchdown to put the Cowboys ahead to stay, 17-13.

Mia-FG Feely 37, 7:07.

Dal-FG Folk 26, :07.

Second Quarter

Dal-Barber 1 run (Folk kick), 2:00.

Mia-FG Feely 45, :10.

Third Quarter

Mia-Booker 18 pass from Green (Feely kick), 9:48.

Dal-Curtis 2 pass from Romo (Folk kick), 4:47.

Dal-FG Folk 28, 2:14.

Fourth Quarter

Dal-FG Folk 47, 11:03.

Dal-Owens 34 pass from Romo (Folk kick), 4:08.

Mia-Hagan 21 pass from Green (Feely Kick), 3:37.

Dal-Barber 40 run (Folk kick), 3:26.

A-71,615.

RUSHING-Dallas, Barber 14-89, Romo 4-36, J.Jones 15-32, Owens 1-5, Thompson 2-4. Miami, Brown 11-33, Chatman 3-27, Green 5-9, Ginn Jr. 1-(minus 3), Chambers 1-(minus 5).

PASSING-Dallas, Romo 14-29-0-186. Miami, Green 23-40-4-287.

RECEIVING-Dallas, Owens 5-97, Witten 2-27, Hurd 2-18, Barber 2-6, J.Jones 1-24, Fasano 1-12, Curtis 1-2. Miami, Chambers 9-109, Booker 4-79, Chatman 4-15, Brown 2-36, Hagan 2-33, Martin 2-15.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT