IRVING, Texas — Enough with all the headaches T.O. causes. Now the Dallas Cowboys know how much fun it can be to have Terrell Owens around.

Owens caught two third-quarter touchdown passes and another in the fourth, turning a 6-3 halftime deficit into an easy 34-6 victory over the Houston Texans (1-4) yesterday.

Owens' touchdowns covered 3, 21 and 2 yards.

He did a little dance after the first, which gave Dallas (3-2) its first lead, and even shared a hug with his latest sparring partner, passing game coordinator Todd Haley. He capped his second score by standing on the bench with his arms extended, then went all out on the third.

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.

"I think this is a good start for me," said Owens. "This is something to build on. It was a lot of fun."

Until yesterday, his Cowboys tenure was marked by problems: The hamstring injury that sidelined him 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 Haley.

"It was his day," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said. "I'm pleased we got him."

Owens finished with five catches for only 45 yards, but Owens called it a "steppingstone" in his relationship with quarterback Drew 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 made some really nice plays on the ball. That was great to see," Bledsoe said. "He really got us going."

PANTHERS 23, RAVENS 21

BALTIMORE — Jake Delhomme threw for a career-high 365 yards and two scores, helping Carolina win its fourth in a row.

Steve Smith, who missed the first two games with a thigh injury, had eight catches for 189 yards and a touchdown for Carolina (4-2).

"When Steve came back, certainly it helped. In my opinion, it's like taking Michael Vick away from Atlanta, like taking Peyton (Manning) away from the Colts," Delhomme said. "Other teams got to account for him on every play."

The Panthers limited Baltimore (4-2) to 80 yards rushing — the fourth straight game they held the opposition under 100 yards on the ground.

Baltimore quarterback Steve McNair sustained a concussion and sprained neck while being sacked by Michael Rucker and Chris Draft. Kyle Boller replaced McNair and completed 17 for 31 for 226 yards and three touchdowns, two on deflected passes.

LIONS 20, BILLS 17

DETROIT — Roy Williams had 10 receptions for 161 yards — both career highs — and scored a touchdown while Kevin Jones ran for a season-high 127 yards and a score to lead Detroit (1-5) over Buffalo (2-4) and give Rod Marinelli his first win as a head coach.

"It's been a long time coming for him, but it's the first of many," Williams said of Marinelli, who waited more than three decades to become a head coach.

Jones helped seal the victory with a shifty move on a third-down reception, which helped Detroit hold onto the ball long enough to punt it with 22 seconds left.

BUCCANEERS 14, BENGALS 13

TAMPA, Fla. — Michael Clayton extended his arms and lunged toward the end zone, with Tampa Bay's first victory literally at his fingertips.

Clayton's 8-yard dive was a touchdown — barely — lifting the previously winless Bucs (1-4) over Cincinnati (3-2) with 35 seconds remaining.

The reception was initially ruled incomplete but was overturned after a replay, which showed the ball firmly in Clayton's hands as he flew through the air.

"We know it's only one win and this is not the NFC championship," Bucs defensive tackle Anthony McFarland said. "But we've got to start somewhere, and we start with this."

TITANS 25, REDSKINS 22

LANDOVER, Md. — Vince Young has his first NFL victory, with big assists from a Tennessee running back, a kicker and a tight end who blocked a punt.

Young rallied the Titans from an 11-point first-half deficit, leading his previously winless team (1-5) to an upset of Washington (2-4).

"It means a whole lot to me," Young said. "Just last week, I was real upset. I thought we were better than 0-5."

Rob Bironas kicked three field goals, including a 30-yarder with 5:11 to play that decided the game. Travis Henry ran for a career-high 178 yards on 32 carries with one touchdown, his second consecutive 100-yard game. Casey Cramer blocked a punt in the second half to give his team a safety, providing a vital extra two points of cushion in a tight game.

But it was the cool of Young, the No. 3 overall draft pick from Texas making his third start, who engineered an attack that generated 344 yards. He completed 13 of 25 passes for 161 yards with one touchdown.

CHARGERS 48, 49ERS 19

SAN FRANCISCO — LaDainian Tomlinson set a franchise scoring record with a career-best four touchdowns rushing, and Philip Rivers passed for a career-high 334 yards and two scores.

Rivers completed 29 of 39 passes and helped the Chargers (4-1) convert on 12 of 15 third-down conversions and 421 total yards against the 49ers (2-4).

Tomlinson rushed for just 71 yards, but surpassed Lance Alworth's record with his 84th career touchdown in the first quarter. He added three more scores, including one in which he leaped over a goal-line pile.

"It was the highest vertical leap I have ever seen a guy take," coach Marty Schottenheimer said. "It was like he almost cleared everybody who was in front of him, blocking and defending. That was pretty impressive stuff."