IRVING, Texas (AP) – Donovan 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 that looked more like a punt.

Freddie Mitchell ran under it for an easy catch, of course. The way the Philadelphia Eagles were rolling against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night, it seemed they could do no wrong.

McNabb led Philadelphia to six touchdowns, throwing three of them to Terrell Owens, and topped them all with his amazing improvisation, then Lito Sheppard added a 101-yard interception return for one final score, helping the Eagles resoundingly bounce back from their first loss of the season with a 49-21 victory over the reeling Cowboys.

The Eagles (8-1) quickly made it known that they still should 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 – and wound up with their most points since beating St. Louis 52-10 in November 1981.

McNabb was 15-of-28 for 345 yards, with four TD passes.

and no interceptions. Owens caught six passes for 134 yards.

Philadelphia scored touchdowns the last five times it had the ball before halftime. 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. Their last three losses have been 21, 23 and, now, 28 points.

This one was historically ugly as Dallas 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.

AP-ES-11-16-04 0028EST