Put the Football in T.O.'s hands? Same thing.

"I've been successful everywhere I've been," Owens said Sunday after another week of As The Terrell Turns at Valley Ranch. "When I get my hands on the ball, things happen. It's not a mystery."

Just because Owens is a goober doesn't mean he's always wrong.

The Cowboys got the ball to Owens against the 49ers, and things happened. Very good things.

Owens caught three long balls - 75, 45 and 52 yards - from Tony Romo in a 15-minute span that turned a sluggish game into a rout. Dallas rode the second-greatest game of Owens' career to a 35-22 thrashing of San Francisco.

"They unleashed me today," T.O. proclaimed as if standing on the Washington Mall.

Owens' seven catches went for 213 yards, the biggest receiving yardage since September 2007 (Philadelphia's Kevin Curtis), Owens' biggest haul since he had 283 yards in a 2000 game as a 49er and the biggest Cowboy receiving game since Tony Hill had 213 against the Eagles in 1979.

All after another tense week on Planet Owens. First, T.O. told Deion Sanders in an NFL Network interview he's frustrated with his numbers and Dallas' style of offense. Then Owens was angered by Jean-Jacques Taylor's column in the Dallas Morning News that suggested the Cowboy offense should refocus away from Owens.

Hell hath no fury like a prima donna receiver scorned.

"So, I ain't got it no more, huh," Owens asked as he entered the post-game press conference.

Owens hauled in Romo's bomb on the third play of the second quarter, then ferried cornerback Nate Clements the final 15 yards for a 75-yard touchdown.

Later in the quarter, Owens pushed Clements to free himself for a 45-yard deep ball that set up a field goal. On the third play of the second half, Owens got free and deep again, this time for a 52-yard play that set up Romo's 10-yard TD pass to Patrick Crayton.

"The demise of Terrell Owens has been greatly exaggerated," said Dallas coach Wade Phillips.

Owens says one thing you always get from him is honesty. But the numbers are honest, too. Owens' production has withered since mid-October: 36, 31, 33, 36 and 38 yards his previous five games.

Had to make you wonder about a receiver who turns 35 in 13 days.

Turns out, T.O. has fuel left in the tank. Romo made the difference; he had missed three games with a broken pinkie before returning, at less than 100 percent, against Washington a week ago.

"I don't know that we changed a whole lot," Phillips said. "Changed quarterbacks, back to Romo. That's a big part of it."

Romo wasn't completely his old self, but his home-run throws looked good. And his favorite receiver suddenly became gruntled.

"We try to do it every week," Phillips said. "We try to get the ball to our best players. Doesn't always work that way. Tony can't just look for him every play."

Romo seems unflapped at his drama queen of a passcatcher. Even called Owens a good teammate who's just like every other receiver. They all just simply want the ball.

As T.O. proved Sunday, just because you talk nonsense doesn't mean you're always wrong.

Berry Tramel: 405-760-8080. Berry Tramel can be heard Monday through Friday from 4:40-5:20 p.m. on The Sports Animal network, including AM-640 and FM-98.1.