IRVING, Texas — Terrell Owens is a force again. Perhaps the Dallas Cowboys are, too.

Bottled up all season, and his frustration over it starting to show, Owens broke out with 213 yards receiving to help the Cowboys beat the San Francisco 49ers 35-22 today and continue what's looking like the start of a playoff push.

Owens' total was the second-most of his career, behind only the 283 yards he had in the 2000 game in which he caught an NFL-record 20 passes, back when he played for the 49ers, and the fifth-best in Cowboys history.

It was the most in the NFL since Philadelphia's Kevin Curtis had 221 in September 2007 and the most by a Dallas player since Tony Hill had 213 against Philadelphia in 1979.

While Owens' big day should help cut some tension in the locker room, the better news for the Cowboys (7-4) was having consecutive victories for the first time since starting 3-0. With sputtering Seattle coming to Texas Stadium on Thanksgiving, Dallas has a chance to go steaming into December in prime position for a wild-card playoff berth.

The Cowboys also should feel good about the way the defense played when the game was close and about Tony Romo having another efficient performance in his second game dealing with a splint covering the broken pinkie on his passing hand.

Romo was 23-of-39 for 341 yards and three touchdowns. He probably will only need the protection for one more game.

The 49ers (3-8) were coming off their first win under interim coach Mike Singletary and had a great chance to grab control early, facing first-and-goal from the 4 on consecutive drives in the first quarter.

But San Francisco only got a pair of field goals out of it. The next drive inside the 20 also resulted in a field goal, then a drive that started on the Cowboys 17 lasted only one snap, an interception in the end zone. The lead swelled to 32-9 before the 49ers got into the end zone.