JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Terrell Owens gave the Dallas Cowboys almost everything they wanted in the season opener: big plays, a touchdown and no surly behavior.

The only thing missing was a victory.

Byron Leftwich threw a touchdown pass and ran for a score, Fred Taylor had 115 combined yards and the Jacksonville Jaguars spoiled Owens' much-anticipated Dallas debut with a 24-17 win yesterday.

"I was hoping he wouldn't even score a touchdown," said Taylor, who also had a 3-yard TD run with 3:13 to play.

Owens made his presence felt early and late. It was just too early to hurt the Jaguars and too late to help the Cowboys.

He finished with six receptions for 80 yards and a score, but the Jaguars held him without a catch through much of the second half. Still, Owens keyed all three of Dallas' scoring drives, including a 21-yard TD reception with 1:54 to play that cut the lead the 24-17.

Jacksonville recovered the onside kick and was forced to punt. The Cowboys got the ball back with 51 seconds to play, but Drew Bledsoe's third-down pass was intercepted by linebacker Mike Peterson.

It was Bledsoe's third interception of the game and gave the Jaguars their ninth opening-day win in 12 seasons.

"Too many mistakes," Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said. "We had our chances. We just couldn't get it all together there."

Dallas missed several chances, most of them early.

The Cowboys scored on their first two possessions — a touchdown and a field goal — and were looking to make it 17-0 in the second quarter. But Bledsoe overthrew Owens, who was wide open near the goal line.

The Jaguars kicked a field goal on the ensuing possession. Then, instead of running out the clock after a holding penalty with less than two minutes to play in the first half, Bledsoe tried to throw downfield and was picked off for the first time.

Four plays later, Leftwich found Reggie Williams in the end zone for a 6-yard touchdown that tied the game.

EAGLES 24, TEXANS 10

HOUSTON — Donovan McNabb and Donte' Stallworth are on their way to erasing the ugly scar Terrell Owens left on the Eagles.

McNabb threw for 314 yards and three touchdowns, including one to Stallworth, who had six catches for 141 yards.

"For me, it was kind of a joy to get back out on the field and see guys kind of smiling, laughing, pushing each other, motivating each other," McNabb said. "And for us to put points on the board, it's exciting for us right now. It's a different type of attitude this year."

The game was Stallworth's debut with the Eagles after a trade from the Saints, and McNabb's regular-season return after missing the final seven games of last season after surgery to repair a sports hernia.

SAINTS 19, BROWNS 14

CLEVELAND — Reggie Bush neither dazzled nor disappointed in his NFL debut but he got a win, teaming with Drew Brees to lead rebuilt New Orleans and give coach Sean Payton a win in his first game.

Bush finished with 141 total yards. The Heisman Trophy winner had 61 yards rushing on 14 attempts, caught eight passes for 58 yards and returned three punts for 22.

"I would probably give myself a 'B,' " Bush said. "I didn't get in the end zone."

RAVENS 27, BUCS 0

TAMPA, Fla. — Steve McNair started his first game for the Ravens, but it was the defense that stood out as Baltimore broke an 11-game road losing streak.

Chris McAlister returned one of the Ravens' three interceptions 61 yards for a touchdown and 340-pound rookie Haloti Ngata lumbered 60 yards with a tipped pass to set up a field goal.

McNair, who was 17 of 27 for 181 yards, threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Daniel Wilcox at the end of an 80-yard drive.

RAMS 18, BRONCOS 10

ST. LOUIS — Jeff Wilkins kicked a franchise-record six field goals, and the new-look St. Louis defense forced five turnovers making Scott Linehan's NFL coaching debut a success.

The Rams clinched the win when Denver quarterback Jake Plummer threw his third interception.

Jim Haslett, who was New Orleans' head coach the past six seasons, is the new St. Louis defensive coordinator.

The only touchdown came on a 1-yard run by Denver's Mike Bell.