IRVING – Teammates Terrell Owens and Drew Bledsoe are unlike in many ways. Take, for instance, the way the players dress.
On Wednesday, Owens was decked out in Air Jordan gear, from a hat turned backward to his sneakers. Bledsoe wore a Hurley hat, baggy shorts and flip flops.
But they each felt the same in the days following the Cowboys' 38-24 loss Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles. Owens said he sat in his condominium alone in the dark, and that he found it hard to watch the replay on NFL Network on Tuesday. Bledsoe said he tossed and turned at night.
As he did during the game, Owens on Wednesday wondered about his role in the offense but added that he doesn't regret signing with the Cowboys in March.
"I do question why I am here," he said. "That's not to create a story, but it's just like, I want to win. I came here to help this team win."
The Cowboys are 2-2, and Owens has 17 receptions for 232 yards and a touchdown. Through four games with the Eagles last season, Owens had 32 catches for 506 yards and four touchdowns.
"I haven't even gotten started yet," Owens said. "Honestly guys, I know with the years I've had in the league and the teams I've played on, I know I'm very used to being more involved in the offense ... [with those teams] making more of a conscious effort with my talent to make some plays.
"So far [with the Cowboys], that hasn't happened."
Owens' history with Jeff Garcia in San Francisco and Donovan McNabb in Philadelphia might make any slight toward Bledsoe – real or perceived – an issue.
Bledsoe said he has not heard any of Owens' postgame comments and doesn't care to know what was said. After the game, Bledsoe sent Owens a text message that read, "Stay with me." On Monday, Bledsoe, Owens and receiver Terry Glenn watched game film and worked out together.
"All the good receivers – Jerry Rice ... no matter who you're talking about – they all want the ball," Bledsoe said. "If they're not getting it as much as they want, they don't like it. That's universal.
"I've never had a receiver, at least not one worth anything, happy he's not catching the ball. I told [Owens] when he got here, 'You're not going to be happy all the time if you don't touch the ball enough, and I don't expect you to be. But, at the same time, you've got to keep playing hard for me and give me good information.'
"He's been good about that."
Owens' issues seem to be more with his involvement in the game plan than with any one player, even though he had a team-high 13 passes directed his way against the Eagles. Only Buffalo's Lee Evans (14) had more passes thrown to him Sunday, and that was in a blowout loss against Chicago.
Owens' statistics would be better if he hadn't dropped six passes in four games, including two that would have been touchdowns.
Coach Bill Parcells said Owens has been involved heavily in the first four games, but factors such as pressure on Bledsoe, poor decisions by the quarterback and mental errors by Owens have contributed to the receiver's slow start.
"What the intention was [in a game plan] and what sometimes happens is not always the same," Parcells said.
TOM MIHALEK/AP
Drew Bledsoe can feel Terrell Owens' frustration: 'I've never had a receiver, at least not one worth anything, happy he's not catching the ball.'
Bledsoe said Owens has been his first read as often as Glenn and tight end Jason Witten. Bledsoe also said there are plays designed in every game plan for Owens.
"He's a guy that we know is a huge weapon," he said. "The more often we can put the ball in his hands, the more he can help us."
Things could change for the better for Owens on Sunday. Houston (1-3) has allowed 295.2 passing yards a game, the most in the league. Opponents have a 113.1 passer rating against the Texans, and three receivers have gone for more than 100 yards against them.
"Dude, it's making me hungry each and every week," Owens said. "With the way I came out to practice, regardless of if everybody's on edge or everybody's trying to be focused, that just brings my focus to another level. Because, dude, I don't like losing. I don't want to be a problem. I want to be part of the solution to win a ballgame."
E-mail tarcher@dallasnews.com
Houston (1-3) at Cowboys (2-2), noon Sunday (Ch. 11)
Quarterbacks have feasted on the Texans' defense, which has allowed three 100-yard receivers in four games and ranks last in the NFL in pass defense:
WEEK 1
Eagles 24, at Texans 10
Quarterback
Donovan McNabb, 24-of-35, 314 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT, 1 sack
Leading receiver
Donte' Stallworth, 6 catches, 141 yards, 1 TD
WEEK 2
at Colts 43, Texans 24
Quarterback
Peyton Manning, 26-of-38, 400 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INTs, 2 sacks
Leading receivers
Marvin Harrison, 7 catches, 127 yards, 0 TDs
Reggie Wayne, 6 catches, 135 yards, 0 TDs
WEEK 3
Redskins 31, at Texans 15
Quarterback
Mark Brunell, 24-of-27, 261 yards, 1 TD, 0 INTs, 0 sacks
Leading receiver
Santana Moss, 6 catches, 50 yards, 0 TDs
WEEK 4
at Texans 17, Dolphins 15
Quarterback
Daunte Culpepper, 23-of-39, 249 yards, 1 TD, 0 INTs, 5 sacks
Leading receiver
Ronnie Brown, 8 catches, 62 yards, 0 TDs
