PHILADELPHIA - With Terrell Owens watching from the sideline, Donovan McNabb turned ordinary receivers into big-time playmakers.

McNabb threw touchdown passes of 40 yards to Reggie Brown and 87 yards to Hank Baskett, and Lito Sheppard returned an interception 102 yards in the final minute to seal the Eagles’ 38-24 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.

As for T.O., the most overhyped homecoming in recent memory was totally ordinary: three catches, 45 yards, 0 on-field drama. In fact, a frustrated Owens might be closer to having one of his infamous sideline blow-ups than another provocative touchdown celebration.

Owens clearly was unhappy after quarterback Drew Bledsoe misfired on a few passes to the star receiver. At one point, Owens was screaming as he walked off the field and took a seat alone on the bench.

As he ran into the locker room, an animated T.O. was yelling and asking why the Cowboys bothered signing him in the offseason, according to a stadium employee who witnessed the tirade but didn’t want to be identified because he is not authorized to talk about team matters.

A short time later, Owens could be seen talking to team owner Jerry Jones, who appeared to be encouraging the player he personally brought to Dallas.

“I’m not going to sit up here and point a finger, so you guys can create a story,” Owens said later during the press conference, refusing to blame Bledsoe for the loss. “It’s not about that.”

Owens’ return to Philadelphia dominated the headlines this week, with Philly fans planning a hostile welcome. But Owens was merely a decoy for most of the game, and those fans were too dazzled by McNabb to fixate much on the erstwhile Eagles receiver who helped them reach the Super Bowl in 2004 before last year’s bitter departure.

“It’s frustrating,” Owens said. “Opportunities were there and we didn’t make them. I’m a competitor. I do not like to lose. Maybe I need to work harder.”

Not only did Owens not score, he didn’t catch a pass until the third quarter — then dropped the next one thrown to him, much to the delight of a frenzied crowd that showered Owens with derisive chants, insults and boos.

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“I was surprised Terrell didn’t have more catches. That was not our plan,” Jones said.

The Eagles (4-1) took the lead for good when McNabb connected with Brown on a flea-flicker pass with 9:13 left that made it 31-24. Brown, a second-year pro who replaced a suspended Owens in the starting lineup last year, beat rookie safety Patrick Watkins and caught the ball deep in the end zone.

The Cowboys (2-2) drove to the Eagles 33 on the ensuing drive. But Sheppard intercepted Bledsoe’s badly underthrown pass — intended for an open Owens.

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Owens angrily snapped at his chin strap, walked off the field and took his usual spot at the end of the bench.

The Cowboys had one more chance after a pass interference penalty on Michael Lewis allowed them to convert a fourth-and-18 from their 37.

But from the Eagles 6, Sheppard stepped in front of Bledsoe’s pass and raced the other way to put the game away. Bledsoe threw three interceptions and was sacked seven times.

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For a while, the Cowboys were doing just fine without getting Owens involved. DeMarcus Ware scored on a 69-yard fumble return and Bledsoe ran in from the 7 to give Dallas a 21-17 halftime lead.

But Philadelphia’s struggling offense turned it around with one big play.

McNabb took a deep drop, eluded a sack, stepped up and heaved a pass downfield. Baskett ran past Watkins, caught the ball in stride, broke a tackle near the 30 and streaked into the end zone for his first career touchdown.

Baskett, acquired in a trade after he was signed by Minnesota as a rookie free agent, was starting for the injured Donte’ Stallworth. He finished with three catches for 112 yards.